Drain pipe assembly and refrigerator

Abstract

The utility model provides a drain pipe assembly and a refrigerator, the drain pipe assembly comprises a water receiving pipe assembly arranged in a refrigerator body, a water outlet pipe assembly arranged in the refrigerator body, a water outlet pipe assembly arranged in the refrigerator body, and a water outlet pipe assembly arranged in the water outlet pipe assembly, the air inlet pipe assembly is arranged on the outer side of the water receiving pipe assembly, and the air inlet pipe assembly communicates with the water receiving pipe assembly; a floating ball valve is arranged in the air inlet pipe assembly and movably connected into the air inlet pipe assembly. When the air pressure value in the refrigeration chamber is equal to the environment air pressure value, the floating ball valve is located at a first state position; when the air pressure value in the refrigeration chamber is smaller than the environment air pressure value, the floating ball valve is located at the second state position, air in the compressor bin enters the refrigeration chamber through the air inlet pipe assembly, and the air pressure value in the refrigeration chamber is made to be equal to the environment air pressure value. And abnormal sound is easily generated when the door of the refrigerator is opened due to the water storage phenomenon.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of refrigeration equipment component technology, and in particular to a drain pipe assembly and a refrigerator. Background Technology

[0002] Most frost-free refrigerators on the market now come with an automatic defrost function. A defrost heater heats the evaporator to defrost, and the defrost water is drained through a drain pipe into a drip tray outside the refrigerator. In this design, the drain pipe is directly connected to the humid, hot air near the drip tray. When the refrigerator is not defrosting, this humid, hot air enters the evaporator chamber through the drain pipe, exchanging heat with the cold air inside the evaporator, increasing the refrigerator's heat load and thus its energy consumption. Furthermore, the humid, hot air entering the evaporator chamber directly encounters the cold evaporator, easily causing frost and ice to form on its surface, increasing the reliability of the defrosting process and further increasing energy consumption during defrosting.

[0003] Currently, the impact of heat load on refrigerator energy consumption is eliminated by installing a water seal at the drain outlet. However, when the user opens the refrigerator door, the hot and humid outside air enters the refrigerator and cools down rapidly, resulting in a large instantaneous negative pressure between the inside and outside, making it very difficult to open the door again. Moreover, water can accumulate in the water seal structure of the drain pipe, causing abnormal noises when the refrigerator door is opened, affecting the user experience. Utility Model Content

[0004] This application provides a drain pipe assembly and a refrigerator to solve the technical problem that existing drain pipe assemblies, by setting a water seal, make it very difficult to open the refrigerator door and cause water to accumulate, which leads to abnormal noise when the refrigerator door is opened and affects the user experience.

[0005] The first aspect of this application provides a drain pipe assembly applied to a housing, the housing being provided with a refrigeration chamber and a compressor compartment; the refrigeration chamber is provided with an evaporator, and the compressor compartment is provided with a water collection tray; comprising:

[0006] Located inside the box:

[0007] A water inlet assembly, one end of which is connected to the defrost drain port of the evaporator, and the other end extends into the water inlet pan;

[0008] An air intake pipe assembly is provided outside the water inlet pipe assembly and is connected to the water inlet pipe assembly; a float valve is provided inside the air intake pipe assembly and is movably connected inside the air intake pipe assembly.

[0009] Specifically, when the air pressure inside the refrigeration chamber is equal to the ambient air pressure, the float valve is in the first position; when the air pressure inside the refrigeration chamber is less than the ambient air pressure, the float valve is in the second position, and the gas in the compressor compartment enters the refrigeration chamber through the air inlet pipe assembly, so that the air pressure inside the refrigeration chamber is equal to the ambient air pressure.

[0010] In some embodiments, the water inlet assembly includes:

[0011] A defrost water collection pipe is provided, one end of which is connected to the defrost drain port of the evaporator, and the other end is provided with a defrost water collection port; the defrost water collection port is connected to one end of the drain pipe, and the other end of the drain pipe extends into the water receiving tray; the defrost water collection port is configured to discharge defrost water into the drain pipe according to a preset water output.

[0012] In some embodiments, the horizontal position of the defrost water collection port is lower than the horizontal position at the connection point between the water inlet assembly and the air inlet assembly.

[0013] In some embodiments, the drain pipe includes:

[0014] The first drain pipe, one end of which is connected to the defrost water collection port;

[0015] The second drain pipe has one end connected to the first drain pipe and the other end extending into the water receiving tray; the inner diameter of the second drain pipe is smaller than the inner diameter of the first drain pipe.

[0016] In some embodiments, a sealing baffle is provided at one end of the second drain pipe near the water receiving tray; the sealing baffle includes:

[0017] A rotating shaft is connected to the outlet end of the second drain pipe;

[0018] A movable cover plate is rotatably connected to the rotating shaft, and the projection of the movable cover plate toward the outlet end of the second drain pipe completely covers the outlet end of the second drain pipe.

[0019] In some embodiments, the movable cover is provided with a raised structure that fits tightly against the inner wall of the second drain pipe.

[0020] In some embodiments, the intake manifold assembly includes:

[0021] A sleeve, one end of which is connected to the water inlet pipe assembly, and the other end of which is provided with a sleeve opening that extends vertically; the float valve is movably connected inside the sleeve.

[0022] Wherein, the inner diameter of the sleeve opening is smaller than the outer diameter of the float valve, and the outer diameter of the float valve is smaller than the inner diameter of the sleeve.

[0023] In some embodiments, a limiting device is provided inside the sleeve, and the limiting devices are disposed opposite each other inside the sleeve; the distance between the limiting devices is less than the outer diameter of the float valve;

[0024] The limiting device and the sleeve opening are surrounded by an active space, and the float valve is movably connected within the active space.

[0025] In some embodiments, at least one fixing hole is provided on the outside of the water inlet pipe assembly; the drain pipe assembly is installed inside the box by bolts passing through the fixing hole and the partition provided between the refrigeration chamber and the compressor compartment.

[0026] A second aspect of this application provides a refrigerator, comprising:

[0027] A drain pipe assembly as described in any of the first aspects above;

[0028] One end of the drain pipe assembly is connected to the defrost drain port of the evaporator, and the other end extends into the water receiving tray.

[0029] This application provides a drain pipe assembly and a refrigerator, applied to a cabinet, the cabinet having a refrigeration chamber and a compressor compartment; an evaporator is provided in the refrigeration chamber, and a water collection tray is provided in the compressor compartment; the drain pipe assembly includes: a water collection pipe assembly disposed within the cabinet, one end of the water collection pipe assembly being connected to the defrost drain port of the evaporator, and the other end extending into the water collection tray; an air inlet pipe assembly disposed outside the water collection pipe assembly, the air inlet pipe assembly being connected to the water collection pipe assembly; and a float valve disposed within the air inlet pipe assembly. The valve is connected to the air intake pipe assembly. When the air pressure inside the refrigeration chamber is equal to the ambient air pressure, the float valve is in a first position. When the air pressure inside the refrigeration chamber is less than the ambient air pressure, the float valve is in a second position. Gas from the compressor compartment enters the refrigeration chamber through the air intake pipe assembly, making the air pressure inside the refrigeration chamber equal to the ambient air pressure. This solves the problem that the current drain pipe assembly, by setting a water seal, makes it very difficult to open the refrigerator door and causes water to accumulate, resulting in abnormal noise when the refrigerator door is opened, which affects the user experience. Attached Figure Description

[0030] To more clearly illustrate the technical solution of this application, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0031] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the drainage pipe assembly within the housing in this application;

[0032] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the drainage pipe assembly in this application;

[0033] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the intake manifold assembly in this application;

[0034] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the sealing baffle in one embodiment of the present application;

[0035] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the sealing baffle in another embodiment of this application.

[0036] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0037] 1-Box body; 11-Refrigeration chamber; 111-Evaporator; 12-Compressor compartment; 121-Water tray; 2-Water pipe assembly; 21-Defrost water collection pipe; 22-Drain pipe; 221-First drain pipe; 222-Second drain pipe; 23-Fixing hole; 3-Inlet pipe assembly; 31-Float valve; 32-Sleeve; 321-Limiting device; 4-Sealing baffle; 41-Rotating shaft; 42-Modible cover; 421-Protruding structure. Detailed Implementation

[0038] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions in this application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort should fall within the scope of protection of this application.

[0039] In some technologies, the water seal in the drain pipe assembly makes opening the refrigerator door very difficult and causes water to accumulate, resulting in abnormal noises when opening the door and affecting the user experience. To solve this technical problem, this application provides a drain pipe assembly and a refrigerator. The structure of each part of the drain pipe assembly and the refrigerator is described below:

[0040] For example, in a refrigeration system, frost will form on the surface of the evaporator due to low temperatures. The presence of frost will affect the heat exchange efficiency of the evaporator, reduce the cooling effect, and may even lead to equipment malfunction. Therefore, regular defrosting is necessary to remove the frost from the evaporator surface. Most air-cooled refrigerators on the market now have an automatic defrosting function. A defrosting heater heats the evaporator to defrost, and defrost water is drained into a drip tray outside the refrigerator through a drain pipe. During the defrosting process, a large amount of defrost water is generated as the frost melts. This defrost water mainly comes from the following sources: Frost melting: The frost gradually melts into water under the action of hot air, electric heating, or water heating. Refrigerant evaporation: During the hot air defrosting process, some refrigerant will also evaporate and produce condensate (the amount of condensate is relatively small).

[0041] For example, in the aforementioned structure, the drain pipe is directly connected to the humid and hot air near the external water tray. When the refrigerator is not defrosting, the humid and hot air near the drain pipe will enter the evaporator chamber through the drain pipe, exchanging heat with the cold air inside the evaporator chamber, increasing the refrigerator's heat load and thus increasing its power consumption. Furthermore, the humid and hot air entering the evaporator chamber directly encounters the cold evaporator, easily causing frost and ice to form on its surface, increasing the reliability risk of defrosting and further increasing energy consumption during defrosting. Currently, a water seal is used at the drain outlet to eliminate the impact of this heat load on refrigerator energy consumption. However, when the user opens and closes the refrigerator door again, the outside humid and hot air enters the interior, causing the interior to cool rapidly, resulting in a large instantaneous negative pressure between the inside and outside, making it very difficult for the user to open the door again. Moreover, the water seal structure of the aforementioned drain pipe also has the problem of water retention, which can easily cause abnormal noises when the user opens the door, affecting the user experience.

[0042] For example, to address the aforementioned problem, the current method avoids it by installing an air inlet pipe on the drain pipe and a water seal structure at the end of the drain pipe connected to a water collection tray. A float valve is installed inside the air inlet pipe to balance the internal and external air pressure. However, because the air inlet pipe is located on the drain pipe, defrosting water can easily enter the air inlet pipe, affecting the opening and closing effect of the float valve, thus failing to fundamentally solve the problem of a large pressure difference between the inside and outside of the enclosure.

[0043] like Figure 1 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the drain pipe assembly located inside the housing 1 in this application.

[0044] To address the aforementioned issues, the first aspect of this application provides a drain pipe assembly applied to a housing 1, wherein the housing 1 is provided with a refrigeration chamber 11 and a compressor compartment 12; the refrigeration chamber 11 is provided with an evaporator 111, and the compressor compartment 12 is provided with a water collection tray 121; the refrigeration chamber 11 can be a refrigerator compartment or a freezer compartment, and the compressor compartment 12 is used to house refrigeration equipment or other equipment, and the compressor compartment 12 is connected to the external environment.

[0045] For example, the process of generating defrost water in the evaporator typically occurs during the defrost cycle of the refrigeration system. During the refrigeration process, the temperature of the evaporator surface decreases. When water vapor in the air comes into contact with the cold evaporator surface, it condenses into frost. To ensure its normal operation and refrigeration efficiency, a defrosting operation is required. During the defrosting process, the evaporator surface is heated to raise the temperature of the frost above the freezing point, thereby melting it into water. The melted defrost water is discharged from the water receiving pipe assembly 2 through the defrost drain port inside the evaporator and discharged into the water receiving pan 121 to ensure the normal operation of the refrigeration equipment.

[0046] like Figure 2 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of a drainage pipe assembly.

[0047] The drain pipe assembly includes:

[0048] The following components are installed inside the cabinet 1: a water pipe assembly 2, one end of which is connected to the defrost drain port of the evaporator 111, and the other end extends into the water collection tray 121; the water pipe assembly 2 is a drain pipe used to drain defrost water from inside the refrigerator.

[0049] An air intake pipe assembly 3 is disposed outside the water inlet pipe assembly 2 and is connected to the water inlet pipe assembly 2. A float valve 31 is disposed inside the air intake pipe assembly 3 and is movably connected to the air intake pipe assembly 3. The air intake pipe assembly 3 and the water inlet pipe assembly 2 are arranged side by side to connect or block external gas in order to balance the internal and external air pressure of the refrigerator, and a float valve 31 is provided to balance the internal and external air pressure. The water inlet pipe assembly 2 and the air intake pipe assembly 3 are integrated structures to improve the connection and fixation between the water inlet pipe assembly 2 and the air intake pipe assembly 3.

[0050] When the air pressure inside the refrigeration chamber 11 is equal to the ambient air pressure, the float valve 31 is in the first state position; when the air pressure inside the refrigeration chamber 11 is less than the ambient air pressure, the float valve 31 is in the second state position, and the gas in the compressor compartment 12 enters the refrigeration chamber 11 through the air inlet pipe assembly 3, so that the air pressure inside the refrigeration chamber 11 is equal to the ambient air pressure.

[0051] For example, the float valve 31 is made of lightweight material, or optionally, the float valve 31 is made of plastic. The mass of the float valve 31 is in the range of 0.1g to 5g. By setting the mass of the float valve 31 to a lightweight material, it is possible to prevent the float valve 31 from being unable to detach from the air inlet end of the air inlet pipe assembly 3 due to excessive mass, thereby affecting the function of the drain pipe assembly in balancing air pressure.

[0052] This application provides a drain pipe assembly. By arranging the water inlet pipe assembly 2 and the air inlet pipe assembly 3 side by side, the air inlet pipe assembly 3 is independently set outside the water inlet pipe assembly 2. This allows it to have both drainage and ventilation functions, while also preventing defrost water from entering the air inlet pipe assembly 3 and affecting the ventilation function of the drain pipe assembly. By setting a float valve 31, the air pressure difference between the inside and outside of the refrigerator can be quickly balanced when the user opens the door, making it easy to open. At the same time, it effectively blocks external humid and hot air from entering the refrigerator body 1 or the refrigeration compartment 11 through the defrost drain pipe during the refrigeration operation, reducing the refrigerator's energy consumption.

[0053] The water inlet pipe assembly 2 includes:

[0054] A defrost water collection pipe 21 is provided, one end of which is connected to the defrost drain port of the evaporator 111, and the other end is provided with a defrost water collection port. The defrost water collection port is connected to one end of a drain pipe 22, and the other end of the drain pipe 22 extends into the water receiving tray 121. The defrost water collection port is configured to discharge defrost water into the drain pipe 22 according to a preset water flow rate. After entering the defrost water collection pipe 21, the defrost water first stagnates at the defrost water collection port, and then flows through the defrost water collection port to the drain pipe 22 according to the preset water flow rate, and is discharged into the water receiving tray 121.

[0055] In this embodiment, to prevent excessive defrost water from being generated in a short period of time, which could cause splashing after flowing from the water receiving pipe assembly 2 into the water receiving tray 121, this application reduces the flow rate of defrost water by setting a defrost water collection port, i.e., by making the inner diameter of the defrost water collection port smaller than the inner diameter of the defrost water collection pipe 21, thus avoiding the occurrence of splashing after the defrost water flows out into the water receiving tray 121.

[0056] In this embodiment, the horizontal position of the defrost water collection port is lower than the horizontal position at the connection between the water inlet assembly 2 and the air inlet assembly 3. To prevent defrost water from flowing into the air inlet assembly 3, this application sets the horizontal position of the defrost water collection port to be lower than the horizontal position at the connection between the water inlet assembly 2 and the air inlet assembly 3. This prevents defrost water from accumulating at the defrost water collection port and overflowing into the air inlet assembly 3 from the connection between the air inlet assembly 3 and the water inlet assembly 2. Because the float valve 31 has a low mass, when defrost water flows into the air inlet assembly 3, it will cause the float valve 31 to float, affecting the pressure balancing function of the drain pipe assembly.

[0057] In this embodiment, the drain pipe 22 includes: a first drain pipe 221, one end of which is connected to the defrost water collection port; and a second drain pipe 222, one end of which is connected to the first drain pipe 221, and the other end extending into the water receiving tray 121; the inner diameter of the second drain pipe 222 is smaller than the inner diameter of the first drain pipe 221. In this application, the inner diameter of the second drain pipe 222 is smaller than the inner diameter of the first drain pipe 221, so that the flow rate of the defrost water increases after flowing from the first drain pipe 221 to the second drain pipe 222, thereby preparing for the opening of the movable cover 42.

[0058] It is understandable that the defrosting water may have a low flow rate after flowing out of the defrosting water collection port, resulting in insufficient impact force to open the movable cover 42. This application improves the defrosting impact force by setting the inner diameter of the second drain pipe 222 to be smaller than the inner diameter of the first drain pipe 221, thereby increasing the flow speed of the defrosting water after it flows from the first drain pipe 221 to the second drain pipe 222, so that it can open the movable cover 42 and fall into the water receiving tray 121.

[0059] like Figure 4 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the sealing baffle 4 in one embodiment of this application.

[0060] For example, when the air pressure inside the cabinet 1 is equal to the outside air pressure, the float valve 31, under its own weight, is positioned at the opening of the sleeve 32, sealing the pipe opening. Since the gap between the outlet of the drain pipe 22 and the bottom of the drip tray 121 is very small, a drip groove coaxial with the drain pipe 22 is arranged around the outlet of the drain pipe 22, and an overflow hole is provided on the side wall. The horizontal plane where the overflow hole is located is higher than the horizontal plane where the outlet of the drain pipe 22 is located. Therefore, during the use of the refrigerator, there will always be a section of defrost water in the drip tray 121, and the outlet of the drain pipe 22 is immersed in the defrost water. Thus, the entire drain pipe assembly is isolated from the outside air to prevent outside hot air from entering the refrigerator's cooling compartment through the drain pipe assembly and affecting the cooling effect.

[0061] In this embodiment, a sealing baffle 4 is provided at one end of the second drain pipe 222 near the water receiving tray 121; the sealing baffle 4 is provided at the end of the second drain pipe 222 to prevent external hot air from entering the cabinet 1 through the bottom of the second drain pipe 222; by providing the sealing baffle 4, compared with the above-mentioned structural arrangement, it is possible to better prevent external hot air from entering the refrigerator's cooling compartment through the drain pipe assembly, thereby further ensuring the refrigerator's cooling effect.

[0062] The sealing baffle 4 includes: a rotating shaft 41 connected to the outlet end of the second drain pipe 222; and a movable cover 42 rotatably connected to the rotating shaft 41, the projection of the movable cover 42 onto the outlet end of the second drain pipe 222 completely covering the outlet end of the second drain pipe 222. The outer contour of the movable cover 42 is consistent with the outlet end of the second drain pipe 222, and the area of ​​the movable cover 42 is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the second drain pipe 222, to ensure complete coverage of the outlet end of the second drain pipe 222, thereby preventing hot air from entering the refrigerator's cooling compartment through the drain pipe assembly and improving the refrigerator's cooling effect.

[0063] like Figure 5 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the sealing baffle 4 in another embodiment of this application.

[0064] In this embodiment, the movable cover 42 is provided with a protruding structure 421, which fits tightly against the inner wall of the second drain pipe 222. The outer contour of the protruding structure 421 is consistent with the water outlet end of the second drain pipe 222. When the movable cover 42 is in a closed and sealed state, the protruding structure 421 fits tightly against the inner wall of the second drain pipe 222, further improving the sealing performance between the sealing baffle 4 and the second drain pipe 222, and enhancing the cooling effect of the refrigerator.

[0065] For example, the sealing baffle 4 is installed at the end of the second drain pipe 222, that is, the drain end of the water receiving pipe assembly 2. The sealing baffle 4 includes: a movable cover plate 42 and a rotating shaft 41. The rotating shaft 41 is fixed or integrally formed at the end of the second drain pipe 222. The movable cover plate 42 is mounted on the rotating shaft 41 and rotates. When the impact of the discharged water can open the movable cover plate 42, and when there is little or no drainage, the movable cover plate 42 can rotate through the rotating shaft 41 and rely on its own gravity to return to the state of closing and sealing the drain end of the water receiving pipe assembly 2.

[0066] For example, the outer edge of the movable cover 42 is consistent with the outer edge of the end of the drain pipe 22. The outer dimensions of the movable cover 42 are larger than the dimensions of the end edge of the drain pipe 22. The plane of the movable cover 42 near the second drain pipe 222 has a raised surface, namely a raised structure 421. The shape of the raised surface is consistent with the shape of the movable cover 42, and the size of the raised surface is closely matched with the size of the end edge of the second drain pipe 222, so that the raised structure 421 is tightly attached to the inner wall of the second drain pipe 222, preventing external gas from entering the box 1 through the water receiving pipe assembly 2.

[0067] like Figure 3The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the intake manifold assembly 3 in this application.

[0068] The intake manifold assembly 3 includes:

[0069] A sleeve 32 is provided, one end of which is connected to the water inlet pipe assembly 2, and the other end is provided with a sleeve opening that extends vertically; a float valve 31 is movably connected inside the sleeve 32; wherein, the inner diameter of the sleeve opening is smaller than the outer diameter of the float valve 31, and the outer diameter of the float valve 31 is smaller than the inner diameter of the sleeve 32.

[0070] For example, the float valve 31 is a spherical float. The air inlet pipe assembly 3 includes: a sleeve 32 and a sleeve opening disposed at the lower end of the sleeve 32; the float valve 31 is disposed inside the sleeve 32, the inner diameter of the sleeve opening is smaller than the outer diameter of the float valve 31, and the outer diameter of the float valve 31 is smaller than the inner diameter of the sleeve 32, so that the float valve 31 floats or falls inside the sleeve 32 according to the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the refrigerator, thereby keeping the air pressure inside and outside the cabinet 1 consistent.

[0071] For example, when there is a pressure difference between the refrigerator's cooling compartment 11 and the outside, such as when the refrigerator door is opened, new air cannot be quickly replenished into the cooling compartment 11, causing the cooling compartment 11 to be under negative pressure during the door opening process, resulting in a tight opening force. At this time, there is a pressure difference between the inner and outer sides of the sleeve 32. Under the action of the outside air pressure, the float valve 31 floats up and disengages from the sleeve opening of the sleeve 32, allowing the air inlet pipe assembly 3 to connect with the outside. Atmospheric air quickly replenishes the cabinet 1, balancing the air pressure inside and outside the cabinet 1, making it easier to open the refrigerator door without increasing the refrigerator's energy consumption. After the refrigerator door is closed, the pressure inside the refrigerator increases rapidly, forming a positive pressure inside the cabinet 1. The float valve 31 quickly falls, thus forming a good seal to prevent hot outside air from entering the refrigerator's cooling compartment through the drain pipe assembly and affecting the cooling effect.

[0072] In this embodiment, a limiting device 321 is provided inside the sleeve 32, and the limiting devices 321 are disposed opposite to each other inside the sleeve 32; the distance between the limiting devices 321 is less than the outer diameter of the float valve 31; wherein, a movable space is formed between the limiting devices 321 and the sleeve opening, and the float valve 31 is movably connected within the movable space. To prevent the float valve 31 from being pressure-adhered to the connection between the water inlet pipe assembly 2 and the air inlet pipe assembly 3, thus preventing air from entering the housing 1 through the air inlet pipe assembly 3 to complete the function of balancing air pressure, this application provides a limiting device 321 inside the sleeve 32, wherein the distance between the limiting devices 321 is less than the outer diameter of the float valve 31, thereby restricting the movement space of the float valve 31 within the sleeve 32, i.e., within the movable space.

[0073] In this embodiment, at least one fixing hole 23 is provided on the outer side of the water inlet pipe assembly 2; the drain pipe assembly is installed inside the housing 1 by bolts passing through the fixing hole 23 and the partition provided between the refrigeration chamber 11 and the compressor compartment 12. This application installs the drain pipe assembly inside the housing 1 by providing the fixing hole 23.

[0074] This application provides a drain pipe assembly that combines drainage and ventilation functions. The drain pipe and exhaust pipe are connected in parallel. A defrost water collection port is located at the top of the drain pipe, with the horizontal position of the collection port lower than that of the exhaust pipe. This allows defrost water to drain more smoothly through the drain pipe, ensuring gas connectivity between the cabinet outlet, exhaust pipe, and defrost drain pipe while preventing interference between the defrost pipe and exhaust pipe. This ensures effective exhaust from the exhaust unit. It also allows for quick pressure equalization when the door is opened again, making opening the door effortless. Furthermore, it effectively prevents external hot air from entering the compartment or evaporator chamber through the defrost drain pipe during cooling operation, reducing energy consumption and improving refrigerator reliability. Additionally, a movable cover 42 is located at the bottom of the drain pipe 22, guiding the defrost water flow. The downstream side of the drain pipe is narrower than the upstream side to fully utilize the water pressure difference and gravity, ensuring the defrost water can smoothly open the movable cover 42. This also minimizes water accumulation at the bottom of the drain pipe 22, eliminating water seal noise.

[0075] A second aspect of this application provides a refrigerator, comprising:

[0076] A drain pipe assembly as described in any of the first aspects above; one end of the drain pipe assembly is connected to the defrost drain port of the evaporator 111, and the other end extends into the water receiving tray 121. The effects of the refrigerator embodiment in operation can be found in the effects of the drain pipe assembly embodiment described above, and will not be repeated here.

[0077] This application provides a drain pipe assembly and a refrigerator, which have the following advantages:

[0078] It combines drainage and ventilation functions: the drain pipe and the exhaust pipe are connected in parallel, and the upper part of the drain pipe is equipped with a drain collection port. The horizontal position of the drain collection port is lower than that of the exhaust pipe, so that the defrost water can be discharged more smoothly through the drain pipe. While ensuring that the gas is connected to the water outlet of the box, the exhaust pipe and the defrost drain pipe, the defrost pipe and the exhaust pipe do not interfere with each other, ensuring the exhaust effect of the exhaust unit.

[0079] A movable cover 42 is provided at the bottom of the defrost drain outlet: the drain pipe 22 is guided along the direction of the defrost water flow, and the downstream side of the drain is narrower than the upstream side, so as to make full use of the water pressure difference and water gravity to ensure that the defrost water can open the movable cover 42 smoothly, and the amount of water at the bottom is small, eliminating water seal noise.

[0080] The outer edge of the movable cover 42 is consistent with the outer edge of the drain pipe 22, and its outer dimensions are larger than the outer edge dimensions of the drain pipe 22 opening. The movable cover 42 has an inner flat surface with a raised surface. The shape of the raised surface is consistent with the shape of the cover plate, and the size of the raised surface is closely matched with the inner edge dimensions of the defrost drain pipe 22 outlet, resulting in a better sealing effect.

[0081] The air intake channel is a cylindrical passage connecting the internal and external gases. The float valve 31 can move up and down under the pressure difference between the internal and external parts of the cylindrical passage. A limiting device 321 is provided at the upper part of the cylindrical passage to limit the upward movement of the float valve 31, thereby limiting the movement distance of the float valve 31 and ensuring the function of the float valve 31 in balancing the air pressure.

[0082] The above detailed embodiments further illustrate the purpose, technical solution, and beneficial effects of the embodiments of this application. It should be understood that the above are merely specific embodiments of the embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit the protection scope of the embodiments of this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made on the basis of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application should be included within the protection scope of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. A drain pipe assembly applied to a housing (1), the housing (1) being provided with a refrigeration chamber (11) and a compressor compartment (12); an evaporator (111) is provided in the refrigeration chamber (11), and a water collection tray (121) is provided in the compressor compartment (12); characterized in that, include: Located within the housing (1): Water inlet assembly (2), one end of which is connected to the defrost drain port of the evaporator (111), and the other end extends into the water inlet tray (121); An air intake pipe assembly (3) is provided outside the water inlet pipe assembly (2) and is connected to the water inlet pipe assembly (2); a float valve (31) is provided inside the air intake pipe assembly (3) and is movably connected inside the air intake pipe assembly (3); When the air pressure in the refrigeration chamber (11) is equal to the ambient air pressure, the float valve (31) is in the first state position; when the air pressure in the refrigeration chamber (11) is less than the ambient air pressure, the float valve (31) is in the second state position, and the gas in the compressor compartment (12) enters the refrigeration chamber (11) through the air inlet pipe assembly (3), so that the air pressure in the refrigeration chamber (11) is equal to the ambient air pressure.

2. A drain pipe assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water inlet assembly (2) includes: A defrost water collection pipe (21) is provided, one end of which is connected to the defrost drain port of the evaporator (111), and the other end is provided with a defrost water collection port; the defrost water collection port is connected to one end of a drain pipe (22), and the other end of the drain pipe (22) extends into the water receiving tray (121); the defrost water collection port is configured to discharge defrost water into the drain pipe (22) according to a preset water output.

3. A drainage pipe assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The horizontal position of the defrosting water collection port is lower than the horizontal position of the connection between the water inlet assembly (2) and the air inlet assembly (3).

4. A drain pipe assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The drain pipe (22) includes: The first drain pipe (221) has one end connected to the defrost water collection port; The second drain pipe (222) has one end connected to the first drain pipe (221) and the other end extending into the water receiving tray (121); the inner diameter of the second drain pipe (222) is smaller than the inner diameter of the first drain pipe (221).

5. A drain pipe assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, A sealing baffle (4) is provided at one end of the second drain pipe (222) near the water receiving tray (121); the sealing baffle (4) includes: A rotating shaft (41) is connected to the outlet end of the second drain pipe (222); A movable cover (42) is rotatably connected to the rotating shaft (41), and the projection of the movable cover (42) toward the outlet end of the second drain pipe (222) completely covers the outlet end of the second drain pipe (222).

6. A drain pipe assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, The movable cover (42) is provided with a protruding structure (421), which is in close contact with the inner wall of the second drain pipe (222).

7. A drain pipe assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The intake manifold assembly (3) includes: A sleeve (32) is provided, one end of which is connected to the water inlet pipe assembly (2), and the other end is provided with a sleeve opening that extends vertically; the float valve (31) is movably connected inside the sleeve (32); Wherein, the inner diameter of the sleeve opening is smaller than the outer diameter of the float valve (31), and the outer diameter of the float valve (31) is smaller than the inner diameter of the sleeve (32).

8. A drain pipe assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that, A limiting device (321) is provided inside the sleeve (32), and the limiting devices (321) are arranged opposite to each other inside the sleeve (32); the distance between the limiting devices (321) is less than the outer diameter of the float valve (31); The limiting device (321) and the sleeve opening are provided with an active space, and the float valve (31) is movably connected in the active space.

9. A drain pipe assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water inlet pipe assembly (2) has at least one fixing hole (23) on its outer side; the drain pipe assembly is installed inside the housing (1) by bolts passing through the fixing hole (23) and the partition between the refrigeration chamber (11) and the compressor compartment (12).

10. A refrigerator, characterized in that, include: A drain pipe assembly as described in any one of claims 1 to 9 above; One end of the drain pipe assembly is connected to the defrost drain port of the evaporator (111), and the other end extends into the water receiving tray (121).

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