Refrigeration equipment

Abstract

The embodiment of the utility model relates to the refrigeration technology, in particular to refrigeration equipment. According to the refrigeration equipment, the heater is arranged in the evaporation bin to defrost the evaporator. The heater generates heat by electrifying a heating core, and a mounting cavity is formed by arranging a shell assembly so as to accommodate and mount the heating core; by arranging the air bag, when the evaporator refrigerates, the air bag is folded in the mounting cavity to occupy the space of the mounting cavity, so that the actual volume for containing air in the mounting cavity is reduced, and the air pressure difference between the interior and the exterior of the mounting cavity is reduced. When the heating core is electrified for heating, the air bag expands towards the outside of the mounting cavity to enlarge the actual volume of air in the mounting cavity, so that the air pressure difference inside and outside the mounting cavity is reduced. The air pressure in the mounting cavity is adjusted by arranging the air bag, so that the stress change of the shell assembly during refrigeration of the evaporator and heating of the heater is reduced, fatigue damage caused by repeated expansion force and contraction force is reduced, and the service life of the heater is prolonged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to refrigeration technology, and more particularly to a refrigeration device. Background Technology

[0002] During refrigerator use, the food stored in the storage compartment and the air contain moisture, causing frost to form when the air passes through the evaporator. When the frost reaches a certain thickness, it affects the smooth flow of air through the evaporator, thus impacting cooling efficiency. Therefore, refrigerators need to be defrosted regularly.

[0003] In related technologies, a heater is usually installed below the evaporator to melt frost using the heat generated by the heater. However, the heater is repeatedly subjected to expansion and contraction forces during defrosting and evaporator cooling processes, making it prone to damage. Utility Model Content

[0004] This application provides a refrigeration device to extend the service life of the heater used for defrosting the evaporator.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a refrigeration device, which includes:

[0006] The housing is constructed to form a storage chamber and an evaporation chamber; an evaporator is installed in the evaporation chamber to reduce the air temperature inside the evaporation chamber; an air duct is provided between the evaporation chamber and the storage chamber to allow cold air from the evaporation chamber to flow into the storage chamber;

[0007] A heater for defrosting the evaporator; the heater is installed inside the evaporation chamber and in contact with the evaporator; the heater includes:

[0008] A housing assembly is connected to the evaporator and contacts the fins of the evaporator; the housing assembly is configured to form a mounting cavity.

[0009] A heating element is installed inside the mounting cavity, and the heating element generates defrosting heat when energized;

[0010] The airbag is connected to the outer shell assembly;

[0011] When the evaporator is cooling, the air bladder is retracted into the mounting cavity; when the heating core is energized, the air bladder expands outward toward the mounting cavity.

[0012] The refrigeration device of this application embodiment includes an evaporator installed in an evaporation chamber to provide cold air to the storage compartment; and a heater installed in the evaporation chamber to defrost the evaporator. The heater generates heat by energizing a heating element, and a housing assembly forms a mounting cavity to accommodate and install the heating element. An air bladder is incorporated; when the evaporator is cooling, the air bladder retracts into the mounting cavity, occupying space within the cavity and reducing the actual volume of gas within it, thereby reducing the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the cavity. When the heating element is energized, the air bladder expands outwards from the mounting cavity, increasing the actual volume of gas within the cavity and further reducing the pressure difference. By regulating the pressure within the mounting cavity using the air bladder, the stress changes on the housing assembly during evaporator cooling and heater heating are reduced, thereby reducing fatigue damage caused by repeated expansion and contraction forces and helping to extend the service life of the heater.

[0013] In some embodiments of this application, the housing assembly includes:

[0014] An outer casing, the outer casing extending along a first direction, and the outer casing having an opening at one end along the first direction;

[0015] A sealing sleeve is fitted onto one open end of the outer casing; the sealing sleeve and the outer casing are used to form the mounting cavity; along the first direction, the end of the sealing sleeve protrudes from one open end of the outer casing.

[0016] The airbag and the sealing sleeve protrude from the outer shell and are connected, so that the airbag is located at the end of the outer shell, making the overall structure of the heater compact and requiring little installation space. Moreover, compared to the connection between the airbag and the outer shell, the connection between the airbag and the sealing sleeve is relatively simple and reliable.

[0017] In some embodiments of this application, the airbag includes:

[0018] The cystic portion encloses and forms a cystic cavity with an opening on one side;

[0019] A connecting part is attached to the outside of the bladder body and located at one end of the opening of the bladder body; the connecting part is connected to the sealing sleeve.

[0020] The airbag in this embodiment is provided with a bladder body that can deform under the action of gas to adjust the actual volume inside the mounting cavity; by providing a connecting part on the outside of the opening of the bladder body and connecting it with the sealing sleeve, the connection between the airbag and the sealing sleeve is realized, thus avoiding affecting the deformation of the bladder body.

[0021] In some embodiments of this application, the end of the connecting portion opposite to the opening of the bladder portion forms a limiting surface;

[0022] One end of the opening of the outer shell forms an abutment portion, which abuts against the limiting surface.

[0023] In this embodiment, an abutment portion is formed at one end of the opening of the outer shell, which abuts against the limiting surface of the connecting portion to limit the size of the airbag inserted into the outer shell.

[0024] In some embodiments of this application, the airbag further includes a guide portion connected to one end of the connecting portion opposite to the opening of the airbag body portion; the guide portion is located on the side of the airbag body portion; the guide portion is configured to slide relative to the outer shell to allow the airbag body portion to be installed inside the outer shell.

[0025] The airbag in this embodiment of the application has a guide part, which guides the airbag when it is inserted into the installation cavity, thus avoiding wear on the airbag body during installation.

[0026] In some embodiments of this application, along the extending direction of the outer shell, one end of the connecting portion opposite to the bladder portion protrudes from the end of the sealing sleeve.

[0027] This design provides space for the bladder to expand outwards, reducing the size of the bladder protruding from the connection when expanding outwards from the mounting cavity. Furthermore, the connection between the connection and the sealing sleeve is simple.

[0028] In some embodiments of this application, when the heating core is energized and heated, the bladder portion expands outward toward the mounting cavity until it does not protrude beyond the end of the connecting portion.

[0029] This design ensures that the bladder is located inside the connecting part when it expands outward, preventing it from being damaged by collisions with other structures during expansion and thus improving the safety of the heater.

[0030] In some embodiments of this application, the outer casing is a metal casing.

[0031] It not only has excellent heat transfer performance, but also provides protection and mechanical strength for the internal heating core.

[0032] In some embodiments of this application, the outer casing has an opening at the other end along the first direction and is provided with a sealing element, the sealing element, the outer casing, and the sealing sleeve enclose the mounting cavity; the sealing element is provided with a wire through hole;

[0033] The power supply cable of the heating core extends through the through hole to the outside of the housing assembly.

[0034] The housing assembly of this application embodiment uses a sealing element to block the opening at the other end of the housing, making the structure of the housing simple and forming a relatively sealed mounting cavity using the sealing element.

[0035] In some embodiments of this application, the airbag and the sealing sleeve are thermally fused together.

[0036] Heating the airbag and sealing sleeve causes parts of them to melt and bond together, resulting in a stable connection and helping to ensure the sealing performance of the installation cavity, thereby improving the heater's waterproof and moisture-proof performance.

[0037] In some embodiments of this application, the airbag is located on the side of the end plate of the evaporator away from the fins.

[0038] This design provides space for the airbag to expand outwards and also leaves the outer side of the airbag unstructured, reducing the likelihood of the airbag being damaged in a collision. Attached Figure Description

[0039] To more clearly illustrate the implementation methods in the embodiments of this application or related technologies, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments or related technologies will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings.

[0040] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a refrigeration device provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0041] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the evaporator and heater provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0042] Figure 3 Front view of the evaporator and heater provided for some embodiments of this application;

[0043] Figure 4 Schematic diagrams of the heater provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0044] Figure 5 Exploded views of heaters provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0045] Figure 6 for Figure 5 An enlarged schematic diagram of region P in the diagram;

[0046] Figure 7 Schematic diagrams of the heater provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0047] Figure 8 for Figure 7 AA section view in the middle;

[0048] Figure 9 for Figure 8 An enlarged schematic diagram of the Q region in the diagram;

[0049] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the heater during heating provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0050] Figure 11 A side view of an evaporator and heater provided for some embodiments of this application;

[0051] Figure 12 A schematic diagram of the end face of a heater provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0052] Figure 13 for Figure 12 BB section view in the middle;

[0053] Figure 14 for Figure 13 An enlarged diagram of region R in the diagram;

[0054] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an airbag provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0055] Figure 16 A side view of an airbag provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0056] Figure 17 for Figure 16 CC section view in the middle;

[0057] Figure 18 for Figure 8 An enlarged schematic diagram of region S in the diagram.

[0058] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0059] 100: Box body; 101: Storage room;

[0060] 200: Door body;

[0061] 300: Evaporator; 310: Refrigerant pipe; 320: Fins; 330: End plate; 331: Mounting port;

[0062] 400: Heater; 410: Housing assembly; 4101: Mounting cavity; 411: Housing; 4111: Abutment part; 412: Sealing sleeve; 413: Seal; 420: Heating core; 421: PTC element; 422: Insulating layer; 423: Positive electrode; 4231: Body part; 4232: Connecting terminal; 4233: Cylindrical structure; 424: Negative electrode; 425: Positive cable; 426: Negative cable; 427: Insulating sleeve;

[0063] 430: Airbag; 431: Airbag body; 4311: Airbag cavity; 432: Connecting part; 4321: Limiting surface; 433: Guide part. Detailed Implementation

[0064] To make the objectives, implementation methods and advantages of this application clearer, the exemplary implementation methods of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the exemplary embodiments of this application. Obviously, the described exemplary embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments.

[0065] It should be noted that the brief descriptions of terms in this application are only for the convenience of understanding the embodiments described below, and are not intended to limit the embodiments of this application. Unless otherwise stated, these terms should be understood in their ordinary and common meaning.

[0066] Furthermore, the terms “comprising” and “having”, and any variations thereof, are intended to cover but not exclusively include, for example, a product or device that includes a series of components is not necessarily limited to those that are explicitly listed, but may include other components that are not explicitly listed or that are inherent to such product or device.

[0067] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0068] The terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0069] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0070] During refrigerator use, the food stored in the storage compartment and the air contain moisture, causing frost to form when the air passes through the evaporator. When the frost reaches a certain thickness, it affects the smooth flow of air through the evaporator, thus impacting cooling efficiency. Therefore, refrigerators need to be defrosted regularly.

[0071] In related technologies, a heater is typically installed below the evaporator, using the resistance wire of the heater to generate heat to melt frost. However, resistance wire heaters have disadvantages such as high energy consumption, susceptibility to overheating, and large installation space requirements.

[0072] PTC heaters have significant advantages such as low thermal resistance, high safety performance, long lifespan, and small size, and are widely used in various fields such as car battery preheating, air conditioning heating, dryer heating, and medical equipment insulation. However, for refrigerator evaporator defrosting, the heater needs to be in a constantly humid environment, and water flow occurs during defrosting. Therefore, when using PTC heaters in refrigerators, due to their poor sealing and waterproofing performance, safety issues such as short circuits and fires may occur.

[0073] The researchers of this application discovered that by using a sealing structure to seal both ends of the PTC heater's outer casing, the sealing and waterproof properties of the PTC heater can be improved, thus solving the short circuit problem caused by moisture or immersion in water.

[0074] However, the sealing structure of the outer shell and its ends is still prone to damage. Research has found that the sealing structure creates a closed space within the shell. During defrosting, the PTC heater operates at a relatively high temperature, such as 250°C; while during cooling, the evaporator operates at a very low temperature, such as -30°C, resulting in a significant temperature difference within the PTC heater's environment. The gas within this closed space expands and contracts with temperature changes; the gas pressure at high temperatures is approximately 2.15 times that at low temperatures and 1.77 times that at room temperature. During PTC heating, the air within the closed space expands due to heat, exerting outward pressure on the outer shell and sealing structure; during defrosting, the air contracts due to cold, exerting inward pressure on the outer shell and sealing structure. Thus, under the repeated action of inward and outward forces, the sealing structure is prone to failure, and the outer shell is easily deformed, affecting the service life of the PTC heater.

[0075] Therefore, this application provides a PTC heater with an air bladder at its end, which communicates with a closed space. When the PTC heater heats, the air bladder expands to increase the space for the expanding gas, reducing the expansion force on the outer shell and sealing structure. When the evaporator cools, the air bladder contracts, bearing the force exerted by the external atmosphere on the PTC heater shell, thus reducing the contraction force on the shell and sealing structure. This ensures that the forces acting on the PTC heater shell and sealing structure are relatively balanced during heating and cooling, contributing to an increased service life of the PTC heater.

[0076] The technical solutions of 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 of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0077] Reference Figure 1 This application provides a refrigeration device, which may be a refrigerator, freezer, or freezer cabinet. The refrigeration device may include a cabinet 100, which is configured to form a storage compartment 101 with an access opening for storing items.

[0078] Multiple storage compartments 101 can be provided to expand storage space. Depending on the storage temperature of the storage compartments 101, they can include at least one refrigerated compartment and at least one frozen compartment. The internal temperature of the refrigerated compartment can be maintained between approximately 0°C and 5°C for storing items in refrigeration mode; the internal temperature of the frozen compartment can be maintained between approximately -30°C and 0°C for storing items in freezing mode.

[0079] In some possible implementations, at least one of the storage chambers 101 may also be configured as a vacuum chamber or a variable temperature chamber, etc., which will not be described in detail in the embodiments of this application.

[0080] For example, two storage compartments 101 can be provided, which can be stacked vertically or arranged side by side horizontally. One of them can be a refrigerator compartment and the other can be a freezer compartment.

[0081] Continue to refer to Figure 1 The refrigeration device in this embodiment may further include a door 200, which is rotatably connected to the housing 100 to open or close the loading / unloading port. For example, the door 200 is hinged to the housing 100.

[0082] Each storage room 101 may be provided with one door 200; or, each storage room 101 may be provided with two doors 200, which may rotate in opposite directions to open or close the storage room 101.

[0083] Of course, in some possible implementations, the storage compartment 101 is provided with drawers, and the outer end of the drawers forms a door 200.

[0084] The refrigeration device in this embodiment may further include a refrigeration system for reducing the air temperature in the storage compartment 101. Exemplarily, the refrigeration system may be housed within the enclosure 100. The refrigeration system may include a compressor, condenser, expansion valve, and evaporator connected in a cycle.

[0085] During refrigeration system operation, the compressor compresses refrigerant vapor to generate high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant vapor, which is then transported to the condenser. The condenser liquefies the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant vapor, generating high-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant liquid, which is then transported to the expansion valve. The expansion valve reduces the pressure of the refrigerant liquid, transforming the high-pressure, low-temperature refrigerant liquid into a low-pressure, low-temperature refrigerant liquid, which is then transported to the evaporator. The evaporator receives the low-pressure, low-temperature refrigerant liquid and boils it under isobaric conditions, absorbing heat and vaporizing to form refrigerant vapor, thereby lowering the temperature inside storage compartment 101.

[0086] In some embodiments, there may be one evaporator, which may be located at the rear of the freezer compartment, providing cold air to both the freezer and refrigerator compartments.

[0087] In other embodiments, an evaporator may be provided. The refrigeration equipment may only have a cold storage compartment, to which the evaporator provides cold air.

[0088] In some other embodiments, there may be two evaporators, one located at the rear of the freezer compartment and the other at the rear of the refrigerator compartment. The evaporator located in the freezer compartment provides cold air to the freezer compartment, and the evaporator located in the refrigerator compartment provides cold air to the refrigerator compartment.

[0089] In this embodiment, the housing 100 is configured to form an evaporation chamber. An evaporator is installed inside the evaporation chamber to reduce the air temperature inside the evaporation chamber; an air duct is provided between the evaporation chamber and the storage chamber 101 to allow cold air from the evaporation chamber to flow into the storage chamber 101.

[0090] In some embodiments, the refrigeration equipment may further include an air duct assembly installed on the rear side of the storage compartment 101, which together with the storage compartment 101 forms an air duct.

[0091] A fan can be installed inside the air duct, and the fan drives the cold air in the evaporation chamber to enter the storage chamber 101 through the air duct. A return air vent is also provided between the storage chamber 101 and the evaporation chamber so that the air in the storage chamber 101 can flow back to the evaporation chamber through the return air vent.

[0092] Combination Figure 2 and Figure 3In some embodiments of this application, the refrigeration device may further include a heater 400 for defrosting the evaporator 300. The heater 400 is installed inside the evaporation chamber and is in contact with the evaporator 300.

[0093] The heater 400 can be installed on the evaporator 300 to prevent the heater 400 from contacting the wall of the evaporation chamber and overheating.

[0094] The evaporator 300 may include a refrigerant pipe 310 and multiple fins 320. The refrigerant pipe 310 is used for refrigerant circulation, and the fins 320 are provided with through holes for the refrigerant pipe 310 to pass through, so that the fins 320 can be sleeved on the outside of the refrigerant pipe 310 to increase the heat exchange area between the refrigerant pipe 310 and the air.

[0095] The refrigeration pipe 310 may include straight pipe sections and U-shaped pipe sections, with the two ends of the U-shaped pipe sections connected to the straight pipe sections, making the refrigeration pipe 310 approximately S-shaped. Figure 2 In the middle, the straight section of the refrigeration pipe 310 extends along the X-axis direction.

[0096] Multiple fins 320 can be arranged at intervals along the length of the refrigerant pipe 310, so that the projection of the evaporator 300 on the bottom surface of the casing 100 is approximately rectangular. The length of the refrigerant pipe 310 extends in the same direction as the straight pipe section, corresponding to... Figure 2 The X-axis direction in the diagram.

[0097] The evaporator 300 may also include an end plate 330, which may be arranged parallel to the fins 320. The end plate 330 may have through holes for the refrigerant pipe 310 to pass through, allowing the fins 320 to be fitted over the outside of the refrigerant pipe 310, thus providing support for both the refrigerant pipe 310 and the fins 320. The end cap may also be connected to other structures of the refrigerator to facilitate the installation of the evaporator 300.

[0098] There can be two end plates 330, located at both ends of the length extension direction of the cooling pipe 310, and all the fins 320 are located between the two end plates 330.

[0099] In some embodiments, each of the two end plates 330 is provided with a mounting port 331, so that both ends of the heater 400 pass through the mounting port 331, thereby mounting the heater 400 on the end plate 330. With this configuration, the heater 400 is inserted into the evaporator 300 and comes into direct contact with the fins 320, which helps to directly transfer heat to the fins 320, thereby helping to improve defrosting efficiency.

[0100] In some embodiments, the heater 400 extends along the length of the cooling pipe 310, in Figure 3In the middle, the heater 400 extends along the X-axis, which gives the heater 400 more contact points with the evaporator 300, which helps to improve defrosting efficiency.

[0101] Reference Figures 4 to 9 In some embodiments, the heater 400 includes a housing assembly 410 connected to an end plate 330 of the evaporator 300. The housing assembly 410 contacts the fins 320 of the evaporator 300 to transfer heat to the fins 320 of the evaporator 300. The housing assembly 410 is configured to form a mounting cavity 4101.

[0102] The heater 400 may also include a heating core 420, which is installed in the mounting cavity 4101 and generates defrosting heat when energized.

[0103] The heating element 420 may include a PTC element 421, which may be made of ceramic materials such as barium titanate. The material of the PTC element 421 exhibits a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) effect within a specific temperature range, meaning that the material's resistance increases with increasing temperature. When the temperature reaches a certain set value, the resistance of the PTC element 421 increases rapidly, thereby reducing the current flowing through it and lowering heat generation. This allows the heater 400 to automatically reduce power input after reaching the set temperature, preventing overheating and contributing to safety and energy efficiency.

[0104] The heating element 420 may also include a positive electrode 423 and a negative electrode 424, which are located on opposite sides of the PTC element 421 and are used to conduct electricity so that current can effectively pass through the PTC element 421.

[0105] In this embodiment, the positive electrode 423 and the negative electrode 424 are in the form of plates and are located on opposite sides of the PTC element 421. The positive electrode 423 is connected to the positive cable 425, and the negative electrode 424 is connected to the negative cable 426 to supply power to the PTC element 421.

[0106] Reference Figure 5 and Figure 6 Taking the electrical connection of the positive electrode 423 as an example, the electrical connection structure between the electrode and the power supply cable is described. The positive electrode 423 includes a body part 4231 and a connecting terminal 4232. The body part 4231 contacts the PTC element 421. The connecting terminal 4232 protrudes from the end of the body part 4231, and the end of the connecting terminal 4232 facing away from the body part 4231 is curled to form a cylindrical structure 4233. The positive cable 425 is inserted into the cylindrical structure 4233 to realize the electrical connection between the positive cable 425 and the positive electrode 423. The connection method is simple and the structure is compact.

[0107] The heating core 420 may also have two insulating sleeves 427. The two insulating sleeves 427 are respectively fitted on the outside of the connection terminal 4232 of the positive electrode 423 and the connection of the cable. This can not only insulate the connection terminal 4232 from the outer shell assembly 410, but also protect the connection.

[0108] The heating core 420 may also be covered by an insulating layer 422 covering the PTC element 421, the positive electrode 423 and the negative electrode 424, so that the electrodes are insulated from the housing assembly 410 and do not conduct electricity.

[0109] Continue to refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 The heater 400 in this embodiment may further include an air bladder 430, which is connected to the housing assembly 410. The air bladder 430 is configured to expand or contract under the action of gas.

[0110] In some embodiments, the airbag 430 may be an elastic airbag 430, which is configured to be elastically deformable under the action of gas.

[0111] In other embodiments, the airbag 430 may be a pleated structure, which can be expanded or contracted under the action of gas.

[0112] Reference Figures 7 to 9 In some embodiments of this application, when the evaporator 300 is cooling, the airbag 430 retracts into the mounting cavity 4101. When the evaporator 300 is cooling, the air in the mounting cavity 4101 is cooled and contracts, causing the air pressure in the mounting cavity 4101 to decrease. Under the action of external air pressure, the airbag 430 deforms toward the mounting cavity 4101 and retracts into the mounting cavity 4101. The airbag 430 occupies the volume of the mounting cavity 4101, thereby reducing the actual volume of the mounting cavity 4101 used to contain gas, thus reducing the air pressure difference inside and outside the mounting cavity 4101 and reducing the contraction pressure on the outer shell assembly 410.

[0113] Reference Figure 10 When the heating element 420 is energized, the airbag 430 expands outward toward the mounting cavity 4101. During defrosting of the evaporator 300, the heating element 420 is energized and generates heat. The air inside the mounting cavity 4101 expands due to heat, increasing the air pressure within the cavity and causing the airbag 430 to expand outward, thus increasing the actual volume of gas within the cavity. This reduces the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the cavity, thereby reducing the expansion force on the outer casing assembly 410. At this time, the air pressure inside the mounting cavity 4101 needs to drive the airbag 430 to expand; therefore, the air pressure inside the cavity 4101 is slightly higher than the external air pressure.

[0114] like Figure 8 and Figure 9 As shown, in the initial state, the airbag 430 is retracted within the mounting cavity 4101. The initial state can be understood as the state before the refrigerator starts operating, after the heater 400 is assembled. Thus, during transportation and assembly, the airbag 430 remains retracted within the mounting cavity 4101, protecting the heater 400 and preventing damage during transport and assembly.

[0115] In some embodiments, a portion of the housing assembly 410 is attached to the heating core 420 to facilitate the dissipation of heat from the heating core 420.

[0116] The airbag 430 can be located at the end of the housing assembly 410, which makes the overall appearance of the heater 400 more regular. Moreover, the end of the housing assembly 410 has an insulating layer 422 for sealing, which provides a certain space to close the airbag 430, making the overall structure of the heater 400 more compact.

[0117] Reference Figure 11 In some embodiments of this application, the airbag 430 is located on the side of the end plate 330 of the evaporator 300 away from the fins 320. This arrangement provides space for the outward expansion of the airbag 430 and also makes the outer side of the airbag 430 unstructured, reducing the possibility of the airbag 430 being damaged by impact.

[0118] In some embodiments, the heater 400 may be located between two U-shaped sections of the cooling pipe 310, with the two U-shaped sections protecting the ends of the heater 400.

[0119] Therefore, the refrigeration equipment of this application embodiment has an evaporator 300 installed in the evaporation chamber to provide cold air to the storage compartment 101; and a heater 400 installed in the evaporation chamber to defrost the evaporator 300. The heater 400 is in contact with the fins 320 of the evaporator 300 to achieve constant temperature heat conduction defrosting. Zero-distance heating not only improves defrosting efficiency, but also has the advantages of low energy consumption and small room temperature rise. It can also reduce the installation space occupied by the heater 400 and the evaporator 300, providing space for the large volume design of the refrigerator. The heater 400 generates heat by energizing the heating core 420. The housing assembly 410 forms a mounting cavity 4101 to house and mount the heating core 420. An air bladder 430 is incorporated; when the evaporator 300 is cooling, the air bladder 430 retracts into the mounting cavity 4101, occupying space and reducing the actual volume of gas within the cavity, thus decreasing the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the cavity. When the heating core 420 is energized, the air bladder 430 expands outwards from the mounting cavity 4101, increasing the actual volume of gas within the cavity and further reducing the pressure difference. By regulating the pressure within the mounting cavity 4101 through the air bladder 430, the stress on the housing assembly 410 is reduced during evaporator 300 cooling and heater 400 heating, thus minimizing fatigue damage caused by repeated expansion and contraction forces and helping to extend the service life of the heater 400.

[0120] Continue to refer to Figure 5 In some embodiments, the housing assembly 410 includes: a housing 411, the housing 411 being along a first direction (corresponding to...) Figure 5 The housing 411 extends along the X-axis direction and is open at one end along the first direction. The heating element 420 is installed inside the housing 411.

[0121] The outer casing 411 can be a metal casing, which not only has good heat transfer performance but also provides protection and mechanical strength for the internal heating core 420. Of course, the outer casing 411 can also be a plastic casing, provided that it has sufficient heat resistance and corrosion resistance.

[0122] In some embodiments, the outer shell 411 is in surface contact with the heating core 420, resulting in a large contact surface between the outer shell 411 and the heating core 420. This is beneficial for improving the heat transfer performance of the heating core 420 through the outer shell 411, thereby improving the reliability of the heater 400.

[0123] The housing assembly 410 may include a sealing sleeve 412, which is annular and fitted onto one open end of the housing 411. The sealing sleeve 412 and the housing 411 form a mounting cavity 4101. The sealing sleeve 412 and the housing 411 may be connected by a vulcanization process to ensure a tight seal between the sealing sleeve 412 and the housing 411.

[0124] Reference Figures 12 to 14 Along the first direction (corresponding to) Figure 13 (in the X-axis direction), the end of the sealing sleeve 412 protrudes from one end of the opening of the outer shell 411.

[0125] The airbag 430 is connected to the sealing sleeve 412, which protrudes from the outer shell 411, so that the airbag 430 is located at the end of the outer shell 411, making the overall structure of the heater 400 compact and requiring little installation space. Moreover, compared to the connection between the airbag 430 and the outer shell 411, the connection between the airbag 430 and the sealing sleeve 412 is relatively simple and reliable.

[0126] In some embodiments, the airbag 430 and the sealing sleeve 412 are thermally fused together. Heating the airbag 430 and the sealing sleeve 412 causes parts of the airbag 430 and the sealing sleeve 412 to melt and bond together, which not only ensures a stable connection but also helps to guarantee the sealing performance of the mounting cavity 4101, thereby improving the waterproof and moisture-proof performance of the heater 400.

[0127] In some embodiments, the airbag 430 and the sealing sleeve 412 may both be made of rubber material. The airbag 430 and the sealing sleeve 412 may be connected by a vulcanization sealing process. By heating and adding sulfur or other vulcanizing agents, the rubber is made to form a cross-linked structure, which not only makes the airbag 430 and the sealing sleeve 412 sealed together, but also helps to improve the strength and durability of the connection between the airbag 430 and the sealing sleeve 412.

[0128] Reference Figures 15 to 17 In some embodiments, the airbag 430 includes a body portion 431 that surrounds a cavity 4311 with an opening on one side. The body portion 431 deforms under the action of gas to adjust the actual volume within the mounting cavity 4101.

[0129] It should be noted here that, Figure 17 In the middle, the sac body portion 431 is arc-shaped, but this is not a limitation on the shape of the sac body portion 431. The sac body portion 431 can also be pleated, etc.

[0130] The airbag 430 also includes a connecting portion 432, which is connected to the outside of the airbag body 431 and located at one end of the opening of the airbag body 431; the connecting portion 432 is connected to the sealing sleeve 412. The connecting portion 432 is annular and located outside the opening of the airbag body 431.

[0131] The airbag 430 of this application embodiment is provided with a bladder body 431, which can be deformed under the action of gas to adjust the actual volume in the mounting cavity 4101; by providing a connecting part 432 on the outside of the opening of the bladder body 431, which is connected to the sealing sleeve 412, the airbag 430 and the sealing sleeve 412 are connected, thus avoiding affecting the deformation of the bladder body 431.

[0132] In some embodiments, combined with Figure 15 and Figure 17 The end of the connecting part 432 that is away from the opening of the bladder part 431 forms a limiting surface 4321.

[0133] Reference Figure 13 and Figure 14 The opening end of the outer shell 411 forms an abutment portion 4111, which abuts against the limiting surface 4321. The abutment portion 4111 can be formed by providing a protruding structure on the outer shell 411. In some embodiments of this application, the opening end of the outer shell 411 is located inside the sealing sleeve 412, forming the abutment portion 4111. That is, the end face of the opening end of the outer shell 411 abuts against the limiting surface 4321. This configuration simplifies the structure of the outer shell 411.

[0134] In this embodiment, an abutment portion 4111 is formed at one end of the opening of the outer shell 411, which abuts against the limiting surface 4321 of the connecting portion 432, thereby limiting the size of the airbag 430 inserted into the outer shell 411.

[0135] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 16 and Figure 17 The airbag 430 also includes a guide portion 433, which is connected to the end of the connecting portion 432 away from the opening of the airbag body portion 431; the guide portion 433 is located on the side of the airbag body portion 431.

[0136] Combination Figure 14 The guide portion 433 is configured to slide relative to the housing 411 so that the bladder portion 431 is installed inside the housing 411.

[0137] The airbag 430 in this embodiment of the application has a guide portion 433, which guides the airbag 430 when it is inserted into the mounting cavity 4101, thus preventing the airbag 430 from being worn by the body portion 431 during installation.

[0138] The guide part 433, the connecting part 432 and the bladder part 431 are integrally formed as one piece, which not only has a stable structure but also good sealing performance.

[0139] In some embodiments, two guide portions 433 may be provided, with the two guide portions 433 located on opposite sides of the connecting portion 432, and the bladder portion 431 located between the two guide portions 433, thereby improving the protection of the bladder portion 431.

[0140] In some embodiments, the connecting portion 432 may be located inside the sealing sleeve 412, such that the end of the connecting portion 432 away from the bladder portion 431 does not protrude from the end of the sealing sleeve 412, making the heater 400 structure compact.

[0141] Combination Figure 10 and Figure 14 In some embodiments of this application, along the extending direction of the outer shell 411, one end of the connecting portion 432 opposite to the bladder portion 431 protrudes from the end of the sealing sleeve 412. This can be understood as the end of the connecting portion 432 opposite to the bladder portion 431 being located on the outside of the sealing sleeve 412.

[0142] This design provides space for the bladder portion 431 to expand outward, reducing the size of the bladder portion 431 protruding from the connecting portion 432 when expanding outward into the mounting cavity 4101. Furthermore, the connection between the connecting portion 432 and the sealing sleeve 412 is simple.

[0143] In some embodiments, when the heater 400 heats and defrosts the evaporator 300, the bladder portion 431 expands outward toward the mounting cavity 4101, and the bladder portion 431 can protrude to the outside of the connecting portion 432. Thus, when installing the heater 400, space needs to be reserved for the protrusion of the bladder portion 431 to avoid the bladder portion 431 from contacting the structure of the evaporator 300 and being damaged when it protrudes.

[0144] In other embodiments, when the heating core 420 is energized and heated, the bladder portion 431 expands outward toward the mounting cavity 4101 until it does not protrude from the end of the connecting portion 432. This arrangement ensures that the bladder portion 431 is located inside the connecting portion 432 when it expands outward, which can prevent the bladder portion 431 from being damaged by collisions with other structures when it expands outward, thus helping to improve the safety of the heater 400.

[0145] Reference Figure 8 and Figure 18 In some embodiments of this application, the outer shell 411 has an opening at the other end along the first direction, and a sealing member 413 is provided at the opening. The sealing member 413, the outer shell 411, and the sealing sleeve 412 surround and form an installation cavity 4101.

[0146] In some embodiments, the seal 413 is provided with a blind hole, so that the seal 413 can be fitted onto the end of the housing 411 opposite to the sealing sleeve 412, making installation and disassembly simple. Moreover, the seal 413 protects the end of the housing 411.

[0147] The seal 413 may also be provided with a wire hole so that the power supply cable of the heating core 420 can be passed through the wire hole to the outside of the housing assembly 410. The power supply cable includes a positive cable 425 and a negative cable 426.

[0148] In this embodiment, the airbag 430 and the power supply cable are located at both ends of the housing 411, which not only provides sufficient space for their arrangement but also avoids mutual interference between the airbag 430 and the power supply cable.

[0149] The housing assembly 410 of this application embodiment seals the other end opening of the housing 411 by providing a sealing member 413, which simplifies the structure of the housing 411 and forms a relatively sealed mounting cavity 4101 by using the sealing member 413.

[0150] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

[0151] For ease of explanation, the above description has been provided in conjunction with specific embodiments. However, the above exemplary discussion is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the specific forms disclosed above. Various modifications and variations can be obtained based on the above teachings. The selection and description of the above embodiments are for the purpose of better explaining the principles and practical applications, thereby enabling those skilled in the art to better utilize the described embodiments and various different variations of embodiments suitable for specific use considerations.

Claims

1. A refrigeration appliance characterized in that, The application relates to a refrigerator, which comprises a cabinet (100) configured to form a storage compartment (101) and an evaporation chamber; an evaporator (300) is arranged in the evaporation chamber and used to reduce the air temperature in the evaporation chamber; an air duct is arranged between the evaporation chamber and the storage compartment (101) to allow cold air in the evaporation chamber to flow into the storage compartment (101); a heater (400) is arranged in the evaporation chamber and in contact with the evaporator (300); the heater (400) comprises an outer shell assembly (410) connected with the evaporator (300) and in contact with fins (320) of the evaporator (300); the outer shell assembly (410) is configured to form a mounting cavity (4101); a heating core (420) is arranged in the mounting cavity (4101) and generates defrosting heat when electrified; an air bag (430) is connected with the outer shell assembly (410); when the evaporator (300) is refrigerating, the air bag (430) is retracted into the mounting cavity (4101); when the heating core (420) is electrified and heated, the air bag (430) expands outwards of the mounting cavity (4101). The outer shell assembly (410) comprises an outer shell (411) extending along a first direction and having an open end along the first direction; a sealing sleeve (412) is arranged at the open end of the outer shell (411); the sealing sleeve (412) and the outer shell (411) are used to form the mounting cavity (4101); the end of the sealing sleeve (412) protrudes out of the open end of the outer shell (411) along the first direction; the air bag (430) is connected with the part of the sealing sleeve (412) protruding out of the outer shell (411). The air bag (430) comprises a bag body (431) forming a bag cavity (4311) with an open side; a connecting part (432) is connected to the outer side of the bag body (431) and located at the open end of the bag body (431); the connecting part (432) is connected with the sealing sleeve (412); the connecting part (432) is formed with a limiting surface (4321) at the end away from the open end of the bag body (431); the open end of the outer shell (411) is formed with an abutting part abutting against the limiting surface (4321); the air bag (430) further comprises a guide part (433) connected with the end of the connecting part (432) away from the open end of the bag body (431); the guide part (433) is located at the side of the bag body (431); the guide part (433) is configured to slide relative to the outer shell (411) to allow the bag body (431) to be mounted into the outer shell (411). ​ ​ ​ ​ 2. The refrigeration appliance of claim 1, wherein, ​ ​ ​ ​ 3. The refrigeration appliance of claim 2, wherein, ​ ​ ​ 4. The refrigeration appliance of claim 3, wherein, ​ ​ 5. The refrigeration appliance of claim 3, wherein, ​ 6. The refrigeration appliance of claim 3, wherein, The connecting part (432) protrudes from the end of the sealing sleeve (412) along the extension direction of the shell (411) and away from the end of the capsule part (431).

7. The refrigeration appliance of claim 6, wherein, When the heating core (420) is powered to heat, the capsule part (431) expands outwardly toward the mounting cavity (4101) to not protrude from the end of the connecting part (432).

8. The refrigeration appliance of any of claims 2-7, wherein, The shell (411) is a metal shell. The other end of the shell (411) is open along the first direction, and a sealing member (413) is arranged, the sealing member (413), the shell (411) and the sealing sleeve (412) enclosing form the mounting cavity (4101); the sealing member (413) is provided with a threading hole; The power cable of the heating core (420) passes out of the shell assembly (410) through the threading hole.

9. The refrigeration appliance of any of claims 2-7, wherein, The air bag (430) is heat-fused with the sealing sleeve (412).

10. The refrigeration appliance of any of claims 1-7, wherein, The air bag (430) is located on the side of the end plate (330) of the evaporator (300) away from the fin (320).

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