Refrigerator

Abstract

The utility model relates to a refrigerator which comprises an evaporator (1), a heating device (2) and a heat insulation device (3), and the heating device (2) is configured to heat the evaporator (1) so that the evaporator (1) can be defrosted; the heat insulation device (3) has a first state and a second state, and in the first state, the heat insulation device (3) is configured to cover a to-be-insulated surface of the evaporator (1) so as to block at least part of heat from the heating device (2) between the heat insulation device (3) and the evaporator (1); and in the second state, the heat insulation device (3) is configured to uncover the surface to be subjected to heat insulation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of refrigeration equipment, and particularly to a refrigerator. Background Art

[0002] In the technical field of air-cooled refrigerators, the cooling inside the refrigerator is achieved by the phase change heat absorption of the refrigerant in the fin evaporator and the forced convection heat transfer of the fan. However, the moisture contained in the food stored in the refrigerator and the water vapor entering the refrigerator when the door is opened will form a frost layer on the surface of the evaporator. In this regard, in the related art, the method of adding a heater to heat the evaporator is adopted to realize the defrosting treatment of the evaporator.

[0003] However, the defrosting effect is not ideal by the method of adding a heater.

[0004] It should be noted that the information disclosed in the background art part of the present application is only intended to increase the understanding of the overall background of the present application, and should not be regarded as an admission or any form of suggestion that this information constitutes the prior art known to those skilled in the art. Utility Model Content

[0005] The present application provides a refrigerator.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present application, there is provided a refrigerator, comprising:

[0007] An evaporator;

[0008] A heating device configured to heat the evaporator to defrost the evaporator; and

[0009] A heat insulation device having a first state and a second state. In the first state, the heat insulation device is configured to cover the surface to be heat-insulated of the evaporator to block at least part of the heat from the heating device between the heat insulation device and the evaporator; in the second state, the heat insulation device is configured to release the covering of the surface to be heat-insulated.

[0010] Setting a heating device to heat the evaporator can actively control the defrosting process, reduce the influence of the frost layer accumulated on the evaporator on its working efficiency, thereby improving the operating efficiency of the refrigerator and reducing energy consumption. And setting a heat insulation device and making it have two states can make it adjust the state according to the needs of the refrigerator working stage, so as to maintain a higher efficiency of the refrigerator.

[0011] In some embodiments, the refrigerator further comprises a box body, in which a refrigerating compartment, a freezing compartment and a freezing air damper are provided. The freezing air damper communicates the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment. The evaporator is arranged in the box body, and the surface to be heat-insulated includes the surface of the evaporator close to the freezing air damper.

[0012] The surface to be heat-insulated is set to include the surface of the evaporator near the refrigerating air damper, which can effectively ensure that heat is concentrated near the evaporator during defrosting, reduce the flow of heat used for defrosting to the refrigerating compartment or the freezing compartment, thereby improving the defrosting efficiency of the evaporator and maintaining the temperature stability of each compartment in the refrigerator.

[0013] In some embodiments, in the vertical direction, the heating device is arranged below the evaporator, and the surface to be heat-insulated includes the upper surface of the evaporator.

[0014] Since the heating device is arranged below the evaporator and heat naturally tends to flow upward and is thus easily dissipated through the upper surface of the evaporator, setting the surface to be heat-insulated to include the upper surface of the evaporator allows the upper surface to be covered by a heat-insulating device, thereby effectively blocking the heat from being dissipated from above, which helps to improve the defrosting efficiency.

[0015] In some embodiments, the heat-insulating device includes a rigid heat-insulating plate and / or a flexible heat-insulating film.

[0016] In practical applications, the form, material, structure, etc. of the heat-insulating device can be flexibly set according to needs. The rigid heat-insulating plate usually has high mechanical strength, is not easily deformed, and has a long service life. The flexible heat-insulating film has good flexibility, is easy to bend or fold, and is suitable for installation environments with limited space.

[0017] In some embodiments, the heat-insulating device includes a first driving device and a heat-insulating film, and the first driving device is configured to drive the heat-insulating film to unfold or retract along the surface to be heat-insulated.

[0018] By setting the first driving device to drive the heat-insulating film to unfold or retract, the heat-insulating film can be conveniently unfolded or retracted, so that the heat-insulating device can be switched between the first state and the second state, effectively improving the operation flexibility of the heat-insulating device.

[0019] In some embodiments, the heat-insulating device further includes a rotating shaft, the heat-insulating film is wound around the rotating shaft, and the first driving device is configured to drive the rotating shaft to rotate to drive the heat-insulating film to wind or unwind relative to the rotating shaft.

[0020] The first driving device can be used to drive the rotating shaft to rotate forward, driving the heat-insulating film to unwind relative to the rotating shaft, so that the heat-insulating film unfolds along the surface to be heat-insulated, and the heat-insulating device enters the first state; the first driving device can be used to drive the rotating shaft to rotate backward, driving the heat-insulating film to wind relative to the rotating shaft, realizing the retraction of the heat-insulating film, and the heat-insulating device enters the second state.

[0021] In some embodiments, the heat-insulating device further includes a mounting box for storing the heat-insulating film. The mounting box includes a cylindrical first guiding portion and a planar second guiding portion. In the extending direction of the heat-insulating film, the first guiding portion is located between the second guiding portion and the rotating shaft.

[0022] The installation box can store and keep the heat insulation film. When the heat insulation film is not needed, it can be rolled up and stored in the installation box, which can not only save the space inside the refrigerator, but also reduce the adverse effects of the low temperature inside the refrigerator on the properties of the heat insulation film, and avoid collisions and scratches on the heat insulation film when storing items in the refrigerator, so as to extend the service life of the heat insulation film.

[0023] By providing the cylindrical first guiding part, the movement path during the unrolling and rolling of the heat insulation film can be matched, so as to guide the heat insulation film to achieve stable unfolding and retraction. The flat second guiding part further guides the movement direction of the heat insulation film near the outlet of the installation box, so that the heat insulation film can smoothly transition from the first guiding part to the surface to be heat-insulated of the evaporator.

[0024] In some embodiments, the refrigerator further includes a guiding part. There is a preset included angle between the leading-out direction of the second guiding part and the surface to be heat-insulated, and the guiding part is configured to guide the heat insulation film led out from the second guiding part to the surface to be heat-insulated.

[0025] By providing the guiding part, the heat insulation film can be guided to the surface to be heat-insulated. When the heat insulation film is retracted from the surface to be heat-insulated, it can also move under the guidance of the guiding part, so that the unfolding and retraction process of the heat insulation film is smoother, and the risk of bending or even damage is reduced.

[0026] In some embodiments, the surface to be heat-insulated is perpendicular to the leading-out direction of the second guiding part. The guiding part includes a first protruding part arranged on the surface to be heat-insulated, and the first protruding part gradually extends from the surface to be heat-insulated towards the leading-out port close to the second guiding part.

[0027] The heat insulation film extending out from the second guiding part can move along the contour of the first protruding part and gradually move to the surface to be heat-insulated, and then reach a state where the heat insulation film is parallel to the surface to be heat-insulated.

[0028] In some embodiments, the heat insulation film includes heat-insulating paper, fiberglass cotton felt or sodium-based heat-insulating soft felt.

[0029] In specific applications, the material of the heat insulation film can be selected according to actual needs. For example, it can be considered based on factors such as the smoothness of movement, the wear resistance of multiple uses, or the thinness and lightness of storage, so as to make different selections.

[0030] In some embodiments, the heat insulation device includes a heat insulation board and a second driving device. The second driving device is configured to drive the heat insulation board to flip, so that the heat insulation board covers the surface to be heat-insulated or releases the covering of the surface to be heat-insulated.

[0031] The rigid heat insulation board has the characteristics of stable structure, not easy to deform, and strong durability, and can provide good heat insulation effect.

[0032] In some embodiments, the refrigerator further includes a second protruding portion protruding from the surface to be insulated, and the second protruding portion contacts the heat insulation device, so that there is a gap between the heat insulation device and the surface to be insulated.

[0033] On the one hand, since the evaporator includes a plurality of heat dissipation fins, providing the second protruding portion can reduce the direct contact between the heat insulation device and the heat dissipation fins, avoid scratching of the heat insulation device by the edges of the heat dissipation fins, reduce the risk of wear of the heat insulation device, and extend its service life.

[0034] On the other hand, by providing a gap between the heat insulation device and the surface to be insulated, an air layer is formed in the gap, and air is a poor heat conduction medium, so that heat conduction and dissipation can be effectively blocked, and the heat insulation effect of the heat insulation device can be improved.

[0035] In some embodiments, the refrigerator further includes a controller and a compressor. The compressor, the heating device, and the heat insulation device are all signal-connected to the controller. The refrigerator has a defrosting mode and a refrigeration mode.

[0036] In the defrosting mode, the controller is configured to control the compressor to stop operating, control the heating device to start to heat the evaporator, and control the heat insulation device to enter the first state; and

[0037] In the refrigeration mode, the controller is configured to turn off the heating device to stop heating the evaporator.

[0038] The controller can perform coordinated control and management on the compressor, the heating device, and the heat insulation device to control the operating states of the above different components according to the actual operating conditions of the refrigerator, so that the refrigerator can operate stably under different working conditions.

[0039] Among them, when the compressor is stopped in the defrosting mode, that is, the refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator is paused. Therefore, heating the evaporator by the heating device will not affect the refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator; and the controller controls the heat insulation device to enter the first state, so that the heat insulation device covers the surface to be insulated of the evaporator, which can effectively reduce heat dissipation, ensure sufficient defrosting efficiency, and thus reduce the overall energy consumption of the refrigerator.

[0040] In the refrigeration mode, the controller turns off the heating device, which can avoid the heating device from continuously generating heat, and thus helps the refrigerator to resume the normal refrigeration cycle and maintain the temperature stability of the internal environment of the refrigerator.

[0041] In some embodiments, in the refrigeration mode, the controller is configured to control the heat insulation device to enter the second state, or control the heat insulation device to enter the first state or the second state according to the shutdown duration of the compressor.

[0042] When the defrosting mode ends and the refrigerator switches to the refrigeration mode, the heat insulation device is made to enter the second state, that is, the covering of the evaporator by the heat insulation device is removed, so that the evaporator can release cold energy to the refrigerator compartment in time, thereby restoring the normal refrigeration cycle in the refrigerator.

[0043] During the refrigeration period of the refrigerator, the compressor usually operates intermittently. The controller can adjust the state of the heat insulation device according to the shutdown duration of the compressor, so as to regulate the heat exchange process between the cold energy released by the evaporator and the surrounding environment, and enable the refrigerator to obtain better performance in the refrigeration mode.

[0044] In some embodiments, in the refrigeration mode, the controller is further configured:

[0045] When the continuous shutdown duration T of the compressor is ≤ T1, the heat insulation device is made to enter the second state;

[0046] When the continuous shutdown duration T1 < T ≤ T2 of the compressor, the heat insulation device is made to enter the first state; and

[0047] When the continuous shutdown duration T of the compressor is > T2, the heat insulation device is made to enter the second state.

[0048] That is to say, when the shutdown duration T of the compressor is short (T ≤ T1), the controller keeps the heat insulation device in the shutdown state (the second state), avoiding unnecessary energy consumption caused by frequent startup of the heat insulation device.

[0049] When the shutdown duration T of the compressor is long (T1 < T ≤ T2), the controller makes the heat insulation device enter the first state to block the heat-insulated surface of the evaporator, so as to reduce the rate of cold energy loss of the evaporator (equivalent to playing a heat preservation role). This can not only reduce the temperature change rate in the refrigerator compartment, that is, improve the temperature stability in the refrigerator during the shutdown period of the compressor, but also reduce the energy consumption required when restarting the compressor.

[0050] In addition, when the shutdown duration T of the compressor is greater than the preset threshold T2, the controller makes the heat insulation device enter the second state, that is, removes the blockage of the heat-insulated surface of the evaporator, so that the cold energy of the evaporator can be fully released into the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment of the refrigerator, so as to avoid affecting the quality of the items stored therein due to the increase in the temperature in the refrigerator compartment caused by the long-term shutdown of the compressor.

[0051] Based on the above technical solution, the present application can actively control the defrosting process by setting a heating device for heating the evaporator, reduce the influence of the frost layer accumulated on the evaporator on its working efficiency, thereby improving the operating efficiency of the refrigerator and reducing energy consumption. By setting a heat insulation device and enabling it to have two states, the state can be adjusted according to the needs of the working stage of the refrigerator, so as to maintain a relatively high energy efficiency of the refrigerator. During the defrosting process of the refrigerator, the heat insulation device can be switched to the first state, and the heat insulation surface to be insulated of the evaporator can be covered by the heat insulation device, so that at least part of the heat from the heating device is concentrated near the evaporator, thereby reducing heat dissipation and improving the defrosting efficiency; during the refrigeration process of the refrigerator, the heat insulation device can be switched to the second state to release the covering of the evaporator, so as not to hinder the heat exchange between the evaporator and each area in the refrigerator and ensure the refrigeration effect of the refrigerator. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0052] The drawings described herein are used to provide a further understanding of the present application and constitute a part of the present application. The schematic embodiments of the present application and their descriptions are used to explain the present application and do not constitute an improper limitation to the present application. In the drawings:

[0053] Figure 1 FIG. 9 shows a first-angle schematic diagram of an evaporator, a heating device, and a heat insulation device in an embodiment of the refrigerator of the present application.

[0054] Figure 2 FIG. 13 shows a second-angle schematic diagram of an evaporator, a heating device, and a heat insulation device in an embodiment of the refrigerator of the present application.

[0055] Figure 3 FIG. 17 shows a schematic structural diagram of a mounting box in an embodiment of the refrigerator of the present application.

[0056] Figure 4 FIG. 21 shows a control flow chart in an embodiment of the refrigerator of the present application.

[0057] In the figures:

[0058] 1, evaporator; 11, first side; 12, second side; 13, third side; 2, heating device; 3, heat insulation device; 31, first driving device; 32, heat insulation film; 33, rotating shaft; 34, mounting box; 341, first guiding part; 342, second guiding part; 4, first protruding part; 5, second protruding part; 6, liquid reservoir. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0059] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present application without creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0060] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by the terms "center", "transverse", "longitudinal", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "upper", "lower", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc. is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and is only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and thus should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the present application.

[0061] Regarding the problem that the defrosting effect is still not ideal after adding a heater in the related art, the applicant has conducted careful research and found that the key to the problem lies in that the flow direction of the heat provided by the heater is not controlled, resulting in most of the heat being dissipated during the process of flowing to the evaporator. In this way, not only can the evaporator not be effectively heated, but also phenomena such as too long defrosting time, increased power consumption, and increased temperature inside the refrigerator will occur, and additional energy is required to reduce the temperature inside the refrigerator, resulting in energy waste.

[0062] Based on the above research, the present application has improved the structure of the refrigerator.

[0063] Refer to Figure 1 As shown, in some embodiments of the refrigerator provided by the present application, the refrigerator includes an evaporator 1, a heating device 2, and a heat insulation device 3. The heating device 2 is configured to heat the evaporator 1 to enable the evaporator 1 to defrost; the heat insulation device 3 has a first state and a second state. In the first state, the heat insulation device 3 is configured to cover the surface to be heat-insulated of the evaporator 1 to block at least part of the heat from the heating device 2 between the heat insulation device 3 and the evaporator 1. In the second state, the heat insulation device 3 is configured to remove the covering of the surface to be heat-insulated.

[0064] The present application sets the heating device 2 to heat the evaporator 1, which can actively control the defrosting process, reduce the influence of the frost layer accumulated on the evaporator 1 on its working efficiency, thereby improving the operating efficiency of the refrigerator and reducing energy consumption. And setting the heat insulation device 3 and enabling it to have two states can make it adjust the state according to the needs of the working stage of the refrigerator to maintain higher performance.

[0065] For example, during the defrosting process of the refrigerator, the heat insulation device 3 can be switched to the first state, and the heat insulation device covers the surface to be heat-insulated of the evaporator, so that at least part of the heat from the heating device 2 is concentrated near the evaporator 1, especially between the surface to be heat-insulated and the heat insulation device 3, thereby reducing heat dissipation, improving the defrosting efficiency, and reducing the time required for the refrigerator to defrost.

[0066] Moreover, the heat insulation device 3 can also prevent the heat generated by the heating device 2 from dissipating to other areas inside the refrigerator that do not require heating, avoiding the temperature rise of the storage space inside the refrigerator, thereby preventing the items stored in the refrigerator from deteriorating, and also being able to reduce the energy and time consumed by the refrigerator to lower the temperature in the heated area again, reducing the overall energy consumption of the refrigerator.

[0067] During the refrigeration process of the refrigerator, the heat insulation device 3 can be switched to the second state to release the covering of the evaporator 1, so as not to hinder the heat exchange between the evaporator 1 and various areas inside the refrigerator, enabling the cold air inside the refrigerator to circulate effectively, ensuring the refrigeration effect of the refrigerator, and thus maintaining the temperature stability inside the refrigerator.

[0068] Among them, the surface to be heat-insulated can be the surface of the evaporator 1 with a larger open area, a surface with stronger convective heat transfer, a surface through which the heat flow path passes, or a surface that is more prone to frosting found in practice, etc. The specific selection of the surface to be heat-insulated can refer to factors such as the specifications, structure, and installation position of the evaporator 1.

[0069] In some embodiments, the refrigerator further includes a cabinet body, a refrigerating compartment, a freezing compartment, and a freezing air damper are provided inside the cabinet body. The freezing air damper communicates the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment. The evaporator 1 is disposed inside the cabinet body, and the surface to be heat-insulated includes the surface of the evaporator 1 close to the freezing air damper.

[0070] For example, in Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment, the evaporator 1 includes a first side surface 11 and a second side surface 12 arranged in parallel. The first side surface 11 is installed on the inner side wall of the refrigerator, and the second side surface 12 is close to the freezing air damper of the refrigerator.

[0071] The freezing air damper is used to control the cold air exchange between the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment of the refrigerator. Therefore, the gas convection effect near the freezing air damper is usually stronger.

[0072] Setting the surface to be heat-insulated to include the surface of the evaporator 1 close to the freezing air damper ( Figure 2 the second side surface 12 shown in

[0073] In some embodiments, in the vertical direction, the heating device 2 is disposed below the evaporator 1, and the surface to be thermally insulated includes the upper surface of the evaporator 1.

[0074] Since the heating device 2 is disposed below the evaporator 1, and heat naturally tends to flow upward, thus being prone to dissipation through the upper surface of the evaporator 1. Therefore, by setting the surface to be thermally insulated to include the upper surface of the evaporator 1, the upper surface can be covered by the thermal insulation device 3, thereby effectively blocking the heat from dissipating upward, which helps to improve the defrosting efficiency.

[0075] In Figure 1 the illustrated embodiment, the refrigerator further includes a liquid reservoir 6, and the liquid reservoir 6 is disposed above the evaporator 1. The upper surface of the evaporator 1 is Figure 1 the third side surface 13 close to the liquid reservoir 6 shown in

[0076] In the above embodiments, there are various choices for the structure and material of the thermal insulation device. In practical applications, the form, material, structure, etc. of the thermal insulation device 3 can be flexibly set according to needs.

[0077] For example, the thermal insulation device can be set to have a flat plate structure, a rolling curtain structure or a folding structure, or a vacuum thermal insulation structure can also be set.

[0078] The thermal insulation device can adopt heat-reflective materials such as aluminum foil and metallized polyester, or porous materials, foam materials or fiber materials with low thermal conductivity. These materials contain a large number of tiny pores, which can effectively reduce heat conduction.

[0079] In some embodiments, the thermal insulation device 3 includes a rigid thermal insulation board and / or a soft thermal insulation film.

[0080] The rigid thermal insulation board usually has high mechanical strength and has characteristics such as being not easily deformed and having a long service life.

[0081] The soft thermal insulation film has good flexibility and is easy to bend or fold, and is suitable for installation environments with limited space.

[0082] When designing the thermal insulation device 3, factors such as the structure of the refrigerator and the installation position of the evaporator 1 can be considered. According to needs, the thermal insulation device 3 can be set to include a rigid thermal insulation board or a soft thermal insulation film. Of course, a rigid thermal insulation board and a soft thermal insulation film can also be used simultaneously in the thermal insulation device 3 to match the thermal insulation requirements of the surfaces to be thermally insulated with different specifications and positions on the evaporator 1.

[0083] Specifically, referring to Figure 2As shown, in some embodiments, the heat insulation device 3 includes a first driving device 31 and a heat insulation film 32. The first driving device 31 is configured to drive the heat insulation film 32 to unfold or retract along the surface to be heat insulated.

[0084] By arranging the first driving device 31 to drive the heat insulation film 32 to unfold or retract, the heat insulation film 32 can be conveniently unfolded or retracted, so that the heat insulation device 3 can be switched between the first state and the second state, effectively improving the operation flexibility of the heat insulation device 3.

[0085] Furthermore, by adjusting the output parameters (such as output step, output power) of the first driving device 31, etc., the speed or position of the unfolding / retracting of the heat insulation film 32 can be controlled, so as to ensure that the heat insulation film stably and accurately covers one or more surfaces to be heat insulated of the evaporator 1, so as to obtain different heat insulation effects under different working conditions and effectively improve the overall efficiency of the refrigerator.

[0086] Among them, since the heat insulation film 32 has good flexibility, its storage method can be winding type, folding type, etc., so as to effectively save the installation space occupied by the heat insulation device 3 and achieve a relatively compact layout.

[0087] Reference Figure 3 As shown, in some embodiments, the heat insulation device 3 further includes a rotating shaft 33. The heat insulation film 32 is wound around the rotating shaft 33. The first driving device 31 is configured to drive the rotating shaft 33 to rotate to drive the heat insulation film 32 to wind or unwind relative to the rotating shaft 33.

[0088] Among them, there are various choices for the specific structural form of the first driving device 31. For example, devices such as motors and lead screws can be used.

[0089] Specifically, in the embodiment where the first driving device 31 is set as a motor, the motor is drivingly connected to the rotating shaft 33. The forward rotation of the motor can be used to drive the forward rotation of the rotating shaft 33, driving the heat insulation film 32 to unwind relative to the rotating shaft 33, so that the heat insulation film 32 unfolds along the surface to be heat insulated, and the heat insulation device 3 enters the first state; the reverse rotation of the motor can be used to drive the reverse rotation of the rotating shaft 33, driving the heat insulation film 32 to wind relative to the rotating shaft 33, realizing the retraction of the heat insulation film 32, and the heat insulation device 3 enters the second state.

[0090] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, in some embodiments, the heat insulation device 3 further includes a mounting box 34 for storing the heat insulation film 32. The mounting box 34 includes a cylindrical first guiding portion 341 and a planar second guiding portion 342. In the extending direction of the heat insulation film 32, the first guiding portion 341 is located between the second guiding portion 342 and the rotating shaft 33.

[0091] The installation box 34 can store the heat insulation film 32. When the heat insulation film 32 is not needed, it can be rolled up and stored in the installation box, which can not only save the space inside the refrigerator, but also reduce the adverse effects of the low temperature inside the refrigerator on the properties of the heat insulation film, and avoid collisions and scratches on the heat insulation film when storing items in the refrigerator, so as to extend the service life of the heat insulation film.

[0092] In the embodiment where the heat insulation film 32 is wound around the rotating shaft 33 for storage, by providing the cylindrical first guiding portion 341, the movement path during the unwinding and winding of the heat insulation film 32 can be matched, so as to guide the heat insulation film 32 to achieve stable unfolding and retraction.

[0093] The planar second guiding portion 342 further guides the movement direction of the heat insulation film 32 near the outlet of the installation box 34, so that the heat insulation film 32 can smoothly transition from the first guiding portion 341 to the heat insulation surface to be insulated of the evaporator 1.

[0094] In practical applications, due to the limited space inside the refrigerator, the installation position of the installation box 34 may be restricted by other structures inside the refrigerator (such as fans, pipes, etc.), resulting in an angle that hinders the movement between the leading-out direction of the heat insulation film 32 and the heat insulation surface to be insulated of the evaporator 1, causing the heat insulation film 32 to jam, bend, etc. In this case, the movement direction of the heat insulation film 32 can be adjusted at the outlet of the installation box 34 to ensure that the heat insulation film 32 can smoothly move to the heat insulation surface to be insulated.

[0095] Therefore, in some embodiments, the refrigerator further includes a guiding portion, and there is a preset angle between the leading-out direction of the second guiding portion 342 and the heat insulation surface to be insulated, and the guiding portion is configured to guide the heat insulation film 32 led out from the second guiding portion 342 to the heat insulation surface to be insulated.

[0096] By providing the guiding portion, the heat insulation film 32 can be guided to the heat insulation surface to be insulated. When the heat insulation film 32 is retracted from the heat insulation surface to be insulated, it can also move under the guidance of the guiding portion, so that the unfolding and retraction processes of the heat insulation film 32 are smoother, reducing the risk of bending or even damage to it.

[0097] Further referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, the heat insulation surface to be insulated is perpendicular to the leading-out direction of the second guiding portion 342, and the guiding portion includes a first convex portion 4 provided on the heat insulation surface to be insulated, and the first convex portion 4 gradually extends from the heat insulation surface to be insulated towards the outlet of the second guiding portion 342.

[0098] Specifically, the leading direction of the second guiding portion is vertically downward, while the surface to be heat-insulated (the third side surface 13 of the evaporator 1) near the outlet of the mounting box 34 is a surface extending in the horizontal direction. The first convex portion 4 has a circular arc contour protruding upward, so that the heat-insulating film 32 extending from the second guiding portion 342 can move along this contour and gradually move to move horizontally, so as to reach a state where the heat-insulating film 32 is parallel to the third side surface 13.

[0099] During the continuous extension of the heat-insulating film 32, when it moves from the third side surface 13 to the second side surface 12, the heat-insulating film 32 can naturally bend downward under the action of gravity and gradually transition to move vertically, so as to reach a state where the heat-insulating film 32 is parallel to the second side surface 12.

[0100] In the above embodiment, the material of the heat-insulating film 32 can be selected according to actual needs. For example, different selections can be made based on factors such as the smoothness of movement, the wear resistance of multiple uses, or the thinness and lightness of storage.

[0101] In some embodiments, the heat-insulating film 32 includes heat-insulating paper, glass fiber cotton felt or sodium-based heat-insulating soft felt.

[0102] In addition to the soft heat-insulating structure such as the heat-insulating film 32, the heat-insulating device 3 can also adopt a hard heat-insulating structure, such as a heat-insulating board.

[0103] The hard heat-insulating board has the characteristics of stable structure, not easy to deform, strong durability, etc., and can provide good heat-insulating effect.

[0104] In some embodiments, the heat-insulating device 3 includes a heat-insulating board and a second driving device, and the second driving device is configured to drive the heat-insulating board to flip so that the heat-insulating board covers the surface to be heat-insulated or releases the covering of the surface to be heat-insulated.

[0105] In as Figure 1 shown in some embodiments, the heating device 2 is installed below the evaporator, and the evaporator 1 is vertically arranged and its upper surface is horizontal.

[0106] When the heating device 2 heats the evaporator 1, most of its heat is lost upward. In this case, the heat-insulating board can be installed on the top of the evaporator 1, and the heat-insulating board is set to have a horizontal state and a vertical state. When the heat-insulating board is in the horizontal state, it can block the rising air flow to achieve heat insulation, and when the heat-insulating board is in the vertical state, the rising air flow can pass through without affecting the normal circulation of the cold air in the refrigerator.

[0107] Specifically, the second driving device can be a motor (such as a damper motor).

[0108] When the refrigerator is refrigerating normally, the heat insulation board flips upward (i.e., opens to the vertical state). When the refrigerator enters the defrosting condition, the heat insulation board flips down (i.e., closes to the horizontal state) to prevent the hot air from the heating device 2 below from dissipating from the upper surface of the evaporator 1.

[0109] In addition to setting the second driving device to drive the heat insulation board to flip, the second driving device can also be set to drive the heat insulation board to slide.

[0110] In the first state of the heat insulation device 3, the second driving device drives the heat insulation board to slide in place to cover the heat insulation surface to be insulated of the evaporator 1; in the second state of the heat insulation device 3, the second driving device drives the heat insulation board to slide away from the heat insulation surface to be insulated to remove the covering.

[0111] A magnetic - type second driving device and heat insulation board can also be adopted.

[0112] Specifically, magnetic materials can be loaded on the heat insulation board, and then the movement of the heat insulation board can be driven by controlling the strength of the magnetism of the second driving device (such as an electromagnet). For example, the second driving device is set to include two parts, one part is arranged near the heat insulation surface to be insulated of the evaporator 1, and the other part is arranged at a position far from the heat insulation surface to be insulated of the evaporator 1. By adjusting the strength of the magnetism of these two parts, in the first state of the heat insulation device 3, the heat insulation board is adsorbed to the part of the second driving device near the heat insulation surface to be insulated of the evaporator 1; in the second state, the heat insulation board is adsorbed to the part of the second driving device far from the heat insulation surface to be insulated of the evaporator 1.

[0113] In some embodiments, the refrigerator further includes a second convex portion 5 protruding from the heat insulation surface to be insulated, and the second convex portion 5 contacts the heat insulation device 3 so that there is a gap between the heat insulation device 3 and the heat insulation surface to be insulated.

[0114] On the one hand, since the evaporator 1 includes a plurality of heat - dissipating fins, setting the second convex portion 5 can reduce the direct contact between the heat insulation device 3 (especially when the heat insulation device 3 includes a soft heat insulation film structure) and the heat - dissipating fins, avoid the heat insulation device 3 being scratched by the edges of the heat - dissipating fins, reduce the wear risk of the heat insulation device 3, and extend its service life; on the other hand, by making there be a gap between the heat insulation device 3 and the heat insulation surface to be insulated, an air layer is formed in the gap, and air is a poor heat - conducting medium, so that heat conduction and dissipation can be effectively prevented, and the heat insulation effect of the heat insulation device 3 can be improved.

[0115] There are various choices for the specific structure of the second convex portion 5, such as dot - shaped protrusions, block - shaped protrusions, strip - shaped protrusions, or a combination of the above several protrusion structures, as long as it can play the role of lifting the heat insulation device 3 to generate a gap between it and the heat insulation surface to be insulated.

[0116] In some embodiments, the refrigerator further includes a controller and a compressor. The compressor, the heating device 2, and the heat insulation device 3 are all signal-connected to the controller. The refrigerator has a defrosting mode and a refrigeration mode.

[0117] In the defrosting mode, the controller is configured to control the compressor to stop operating, control the heating device 2 to start heating the evaporator 1, and control the heat insulation device 3 to enter the first state; and

[0118] In the refrigeration mode, the controller is configured to turn off the heating device 2 to stop heating the evaporator 1.

[0119] The controller can perform coordinated control and management of the compressor, the heating device 2, and the heat insulation device 3 to control the operating states of the above different components according to the actual operating conditions of the refrigerator, enabling the refrigerator to operate stably under different working conditions.

[0120] Among them, when the compressor stops operating in the defrosting mode, that is, the refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator is paused. Therefore, using the heating device 2 to heat the evaporator 1 will not affect the refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator; and the controller controls the heat insulation device 3 to enter the first state, so that the heat insulation device 3 covers the surface to be heat-insulated of the evaporator 1, which can effectively reduce heat dissipation, ensure sufficient defrosting efficiency, and thus reduce the overall energy consumption of the refrigerator.

[0121] During non-defrosting periods (i.e., in the refrigeration mode), the controller turns off the heating device 2, which can prevent the heating device 2 from generating heat continuously, thus helping the refrigerator to resume the normal refrigeration cycle and maintaining the temperature stability of the internal environment of the refrigerator.

[0122] In the above embodiments, the switching timing between the defrosting mode and the refrigeration mode can be determined according to the actual operating conditions of the refrigerator.

[0123] For example, it can be determined whether to defrost by monitoring the thickness of the frost layer on the evaporator 1. It can also be set to defrost once every preset time (such as 24 hours), or it can be determined whether to enter the defrosting mode according to the change of the temperature inside the refrigerator. After defrosting is completed, the refrigerator can be switched back to the refrigeration mode.

[0124] In addition, the heat insulation device 3 can not only operate in the defrosting mode to improve the defrosting efficiency, but also be set to operate based on set conditions in the refrigeration mode of the refrigerator to achieve the effect of reducing the energy consumption of the refrigerator.

[0125] Specifically, in some embodiments, in the refrigeration mode, the controller is configured to control the heat insulation device 3 to enter the second state, or control the heat insulation device 3 to enter the first state or the second state according to the shutdown duration of the compressor.

[0126] When the defrosting mode ends and the refrigerator switches to the refrigeration mode, the heat insulation device 3 is brought into the second state, that is, the covering of the evaporator 1 by the heat insulation device 3 is removed, so that the evaporator 1 can release cold to the refrigerator compartment in time, thereby restoring the normal refrigeration cycle in the refrigerator.

[0127] During the refrigeration period of the refrigerator, the compressor is usually in an intermittent operation state. The controller can adjust the state of the heat insulation device 3 according to the shutdown duration of the compressor, so as to regulate the heat exchange process between the cold released by the evaporator 1 and the surrounding environment, and make the refrigerator obtain better performance in the refrigeration mode.

[0128] Specifically, in some embodiments, in the refrigeration mode, the controller is further configured:

[0129] When the continuous shutdown duration T of the compressor satisfies T ≤ T1, the heat insulation device 3 is brought into the second state;

[0130] When the continuous shutdown duration T of the compressor satisfies T1 < T ≤ T2, the heat insulation device 3 is brought into the first state; and

[0131] When the continuous shutdown duration T of the compressor satisfies T > T2, the heat insulation device 3 is brought into the second state.

[0132] That is to say, when the shutdown duration T of the compressor is short (T ≤ T1), the controller keeps the heat insulation device 3 in the shutdown state (the second state), avoiding unnecessary energy consumption caused by frequent startup of the heat insulation device 3.

[0133] When the shutdown duration T of the compressor is long (T1 < T ≤ T2), the controller brings the heat insulation device into the first state to block the heat-insulating surface of the evaporator 1, so as to reduce the rate of cold loss of the evaporator 1 (equivalent to playing a heat-preserving role). This can not only reduce the temperature change rate in the refrigerator compartment, that is, improve the temperature stability in the refrigerator during the shutdown of the compressor, but also reduce the energy consumption required when the compressor is restarted.

[0134] In addition, when the shutdown duration T of the compressor is greater than the preset threshold T2, the controller brings the heat insulation device 3 into the second state, that is, removes the block of the heat-insulating surface of the evaporator 1, so that the cold of the evaporator 1 can be fully released into the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment of the refrigerator, so as to avoid affecting the quality of the items stored therein due to the increase in the temperature in the refrigerator compartment caused by the long-term shutdown of the compressor.

[0135] Among them, T2 should be much greater than T1, and T2 represents the time node when the heat insulation device 3 returns to the second state when the compressor does not start for a long time.

[0136] The following describes the specific embodiments of the refrigerator of the present application:

[0137] Refer toFigures 1 to 3 As shown in the figure, the refrigerator of the present application includes a box body, a controller, a compressor, an evaporator 1, a heating device 2, a heat insulation device 3, a guiding part, a second convex part 5 and a liquid reservoir 6.

[0138] Among them, the heat insulation device 3 has a first state and a second state. In the first state, the heat insulation device 3 is configured to cover the heat-insulating surface of the evaporator 1 to block at least part of the heat from the heating device 2 between the heat insulation device 3 and the evaporator 1. In the second state, the heat insulation device 3 is configured to remove the covering of the heat-insulating surface to open the heat-insulating surface.

[0139] A refrigerating compartment, a freezing compartment and a freezing air damper are provided in the box body. The freezing air damper communicates with the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment, and the freezing air damper is used to control the cold quantity exchange between the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment of the refrigerator.

[0140] The evaporator 1 is installed in the box body, and the first side surface 11 (rear side surface) of the evaporator 1 is installed on the inner side wall of the refrigerator, and the second side surface 12 of the evaporator 1 is close to the freezing air damper of the refrigerator.

[0141] In the vertical direction, the heating device 2 is arranged below the evaporator 1, and the liquid reservoir 6 is arranged above the evaporator 1.

[0142] In this embodiment, the heat-insulating surface of the evaporator 1 includes the second side surface 12 (front surface) and the third side surface 13 (upper surface) of the evaporator 1.

[0143] In this embodiment, the heat insulation device 3 is arranged above the evaporator 1. The heat insulation device 3 includes a first driving device 31, a heat insulation film 32, a rotating shaft 33 and a mounting box 34. The heat insulation film 32 is wound around the rotating shaft 33 and stored in the mounting box 34. The first driving device 31 is configured to drive the rotating shaft 33 to rotate, thereby driving the heat insulation film 32 to unwind and unfold along the upper surface and the front surface of the evaporator 1, or driving the heat insulation film 32 to wind up and retract relative to the upper surface and the front surface of the evaporator 1.

[0144] Among them, the heat insulation film 32 can be selected from heat-insulating and heat-preserving paper, glass fiber cotton felt or sodium-based heat-insulating soft felt, etc.

[0145] In this embodiment, the guiding part is connected to the side plate of the evaporator 1, and the guiding part includes a first convex part 4 arranged on the upper surface of the evaporator 1. The first convex part 4 gradually extends from the upper surface of the evaporator 1 towards the direction close to the outlet of the second guiding part 342. The first convex part 4 has a convex arc-shaped contour, so that the heat insulation film 32 extending from the second guiding part 342 can move along this contour and gradually move to move horizontally, and then the heat insulation film 32 can reach a state parallel to the upper surface of the evaporator 1.

[0146] In this embodiment, the second convex portion 5 protrudes from the front surface of the evaporator 1. When the heat insulation film 32 continues to extend from the upper surface of the evaporator 1 to the front surface, the heat insulation film 32 can naturally bend downward under the action of gravity and gradually transition to moving in the vertical direction. Then, the second convex portion 5 jacks up the heat insulation film 32, so that there is a gap between the heat insulation film 32 and at least the front surface of the evaporator 1.

[0147] In this embodiment, the refrigerator has a defrosting mode and a refrigeration mode. The compressor, the heating device 2, and the heat insulation device 3 are all connected to the controller in a signal manner. In the defrosting mode and the refrigeration mode, the controller can cooperate to control and manage each component such as the compressor, the heating device 2, and the heat insulation device 3.

[0148] Based on the above settings, the operating states of each component in the refrigerator can be controlled through the controller according to the actual operating conditions of the refrigerator, so that the refrigerator can operate stably under different working conditions. Specifically, referring to Figure 4 the flowchart shown, the control of each component such as the compressor, the heating device 2, and the heat insulation device 3 in the refrigerator by the controller at least includes the following steps:

[0149] In the defrosting mode, the controller shuts down the compressor:

[0150] When the heating device 2 starts to work, the controller starts the heat insulation device 3, and the heat insulation film 32 extends out of the installation box 34 and unfolds to block the third side surface 13 of the evaporator 1 and its second side surface 12 close to the freezing air damper;

[0151] When the heating device 2 stops working, the controller synchronously closes the heat insulation device 3, and the first driving device 31 drives the rotating shaft 33 to reverse to retract the heat insulation film 32 into the installation box 34;

[0152] In the refrigeration mode, the controller makes the compressor enter an intermittent operation state:

[0153] When the compressor stops running,

[0154] When the shutdown duration T satisfies T ≤ T1, that is, when the shutdown duration of the compressor is extremely short, the controller keeps the heat insulation device 3 in a non-operating state;

[0155] When the shutdown duration T satisfies T1 < T ≤ T2, the controller starts the heat insulation device 3, and the heat insulation film 32 unfolds along the surface of the heat dissipation fins of the evaporator 1;

[0156] When the shutdown duration T satisfies T > T2, the controller closes the heat insulation device 3, and the first driving device 31 drives the rotating shaft 33 to reverse to retract the heat insulation film 32 into the installation box 34.

[0157] Through the description of multiple embodiments of the refrigerator of the present application, it can be seen that the refrigerator of the present application has at least the following advantages:

[0158] Setting a heating device to heat the evaporator can actively control the defrosting process, reduce the accumulation of frost on the evaporator, and improve the operating efficiency of the refrigerator;

[0159] Setting a heat insulation device to cover the heat-insulated surface of the evaporator can reduce heat dissipation and improve the defrosting efficiency;

[0160] Setting a guiding part to guide the movement of the heat insulation device can ensure the smooth start and closing actions of the heat insulation device and extend its service life;

[0161] Setting a second protrusion to form a gap between the heat insulation device and the heat-insulated surface can not only reduce the direct contact between the heat insulation device and the heat dissipation fins of the evaporator, reduce the risk of wear of the heat insulation device, and extend its service life, but also form an air layer through the gap to improve the heat insulation effect of the heat insulation device;

[0162] In the defrosting mode, starting the heat insulation device can reduce heat dissipation, thereby improving the defrosting efficiency and reducing the energy consumption during the defrosting process;

[0163] In the refrigeration mode, the state of the heat insulation device can be controlled according to the shutdown duration of the compressor, which can not only slow down the loss of cold energy, but also ensure sufficient cold energy supply, effectively ensuring the temperature stability in the refrigerator compartment.

[0164] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application and are not intended to limit them; although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that: without departing from the principle of the present application, modifications can still be made to the specific implementation manners of the present application or equivalent replacements can be made to some technical features, and these modifications and equivalent replacements should all be covered within the scope of the technical solutions claimed in the present application.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, characterized in that, Comprising: An evaporator (1); A heating device (2) configured to heat the evaporator (1) so that the evaporator (1) defrosts; And A heat insulation device (3) having a first state and a second state. In the first state, the heat insulation device (3) is configured to cover the heat-insulating surface to be insulated of the evaporator (1) to block at least part of the heat from the heating device (2) between the heat insulation device (3) and the evaporator (1); in the second state, the heat insulation device (3) is configured to remove the cover of the heat-insulating surface to be insulated.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The refrigerator further includes a box body, a refrigerating compartment, a freezing compartment and a freezing air damper are provided in the box body, the freezing air damper communicates the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment, the evaporator (1) is arranged in the box body, and the heat-insulating surface to be insulated includes the surface of the evaporator (1) close to the freezing air damper.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the vertical direction, the heating device (2) is arranged below the evaporator (1), and the heat-insulating surface to be insulated includes the upper surface of the evaporator (1).

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat insulation device (3) includes a rigid heat insulation board and / or a soft heat insulation film.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat insulation device (3) includes a first driving device (31) and a heat insulation film (32), and the first driving device (31) is configured to drive the heat insulation film (32) to unfold or retract along the heat-insulating surface to be insulated.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 5, characterized in that, The heat insulation device (3) further includes a rotating shaft (33), the heat insulation film (32) is wound around the rotating shaft (33), and the first driving device (31) is configured to drive the rotating shaft (33) to rotate to drive the heat insulation film (32) to wind or unwind relative to the rotating shaft (33).

7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein The heat insulation device (3) further includes a mounting box (34) for storing the heat insulation film (32), and the mounting box (34) includes a cylindrical first guiding portion (341) and a planar second guiding portion (342). In the extending direction of the heat insulation film (32), the first guiding portion (341) is located between the second guiding portion (342) and the rotating shaft (33).

8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, characterized in that, It further includes a guiding portion. A preset angle is formed between the leading-out direction of the second guiding portion (342) and the heat-insulating surface to be insulated, and the guiding portion is configured to guide the heat insulation film (32) led out from the second guiding portion (342) to the heat-insulating surface to be insulated.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein, The heat-insulating surface to be insulated is perpendicular to the leading-out direction of the second guiding portion (342), and the guiding portion includes a first convex portion (4) provided on the heat-insulating surface to be insulated, and the first convex portion (4) gradually extends from the heat-insulating surface to be insulated towards the outlet of the second guiding portion (342).

10. The refrigerator according to claim 5, characterized in that, The heat insulation film (32) includes heat-insulating paper, fiberglass felt or sodium-based heat-insulating soft felt.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein The heat insulation device (3) includes a heat insulation board and a second driving device, and the second driving device is configured to drive the heat insulation board to flip so that the heat insulation board covers the heat-insulating surface to be insulated or removes the cover of the heat-insulating surface to be insulated.

12. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein, Further included is a second protrusion (5) protruding from the surface to be thermally insulated, and the second protrusion (5) contacts the thermal insulation device (3) so that there is a gap between the thermal insulation device (3) and the surface to be thermally insulated.

13. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that, Further included are a controller and a compressor. The compressor, the heating device (2) and the thermal insulation device (3) are all in signal connection with the controller. The refrigerator has a defrosting mode and a refrigeration mode. In the defrosting mode, the controller is configured to control the compressor to stop operating, control the heating device (2) to start heating the evaporator (1), and control the thermal insulation device (3) to enter the first state; and In the refrigeration mode, the controller is configured to turn off the heating device (2) to stop heating the evaporator (1).

14. The refrigerator according to claim 13, wherein, In the refrigeration mode, the controller is configured to control the thermal insulation device (3) to enter the second state, or control the thermal insulation device (3) to enter the first state or the second state according to the continuous shutdown duration of the compressor.

15. The refrigerator according to claim 14, wherein, In the refrigeration mode, the controller is further configured: When the continuous shutdown duration T of the compressor satisfies T ≤ T1, to make the thermal insulation device (3) enter the second state; When the continuous shutdown duration T of the compressor satisfies T1 < T ≤ T2, to make the thermal insulation device (3) enter the first state; and When the continuous shutdown duration T of the compressor satisfies T > T2, to make the thermal insulation device (3) enter the second state.

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