Food storage device and refrigerator

Abstract

This application relates to a food storage device and a refrigerator. The food storage device includes: an air pump, a molecular sieve tower, a vacuum preservation space, an oxygen preservation space, and a nitrogen preservation space. The air pump's inlet is connected to the vacuum preservation space, the first exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower is connected to the oxygen preservation space, and the second exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower is connected to the nitrogen preservation space. The air pump is used to deliver air from the vacuum preservation space to the molecular sieve tower; the molecular sieve tower is used to convert the air delivered by the air pump into nitrogen and oxygen. The first exhaust end is used to deliver oxygen, and the second exhaust end is used to deliver nitrogen. This application solves the problem of difficulty in providing multiple gas environments when food storage equipment has limited space.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of food preservation, and in particular to food storage devices and refrigerators. Background Technology

[0002] The ideal storage conditions vary depending on the type of food. For example, some fruits and vegetables can better maintain their freshness and reduce spoilage in an environment with lower oxygen concentration and higher carbon dioxide concentration; some meats and nuts can have their shelf life extended when stored in a vacuum environment; and some cut fruits and vegetables require a high oxygen environment for storage.

[0003] Therefore, when dealing with various types of ingredients, multiple spaces are often needed for their categorized storage, and different storage spaces typically rely on their own independent control devices or modules to achieve environmental regulation. Given the limited space in food storage equipment, there is a challenge in providing diverse gas environments. Utility Model Content

[0004] This application provides a food storage device and a refrigerator to at least solve the problem in the related art where it is difficult to provide a variety of gas environments when the space of the food storage device is limited.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a food storage device, the device comprising: an air pump, a molecular sieve tower, a vacuum preservation space, an oxygen preservation space, and a nitrogen preservation space; wherein, the air pump's inlet is connected to the vacuum preservation space, the molecular sieve tower's first exhaust end is connected to the oxygen preservation space, and the molecular sieve tower's second exhaust end is connected to the nitrogen preservation space; wherein...

[0006] The air pump is used to deliver the air from the vacuum preservation space to the molecular sieve tower;

[0007] The molecular sieve tower is used to convert the air delivered by the gas pump into nitrogen and oxygen. The first exhaust end is used to deliver oxygen, and the second exhaust end is used to deliver nitrogen.

[0008] In some embodiments, the device further includes a first solenoid valve, a second solenoid valve, and a third solenoid valve; wherein,

[0009] The first solenoid valve is connected to both the vacuum preservation space and the air pump.

[0010] The second solenoid valve is connected to both the oxygen preservation space and the first exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower.

[0011] The third solenoid valve is connected to both the nitrogen preservation space and the second exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower.

[0012] In some embodiments, the device further includes an oxygen storage module and a fourth solenoid valve, wherein the second solenoid valve is connected to the oxygen preservation space and the first exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower, respectively, and includes:

[0013] The first end of the second solenoid valve is connected to the first end of the oxygen storage module, the second end of the oxygen storage module is connected to the first end of the fourth solenoid valve, and the second end of the fourth solenoid valve is connected to the oxygen preservation space.

[0014] The second end of the second solenoid valve is connected to the first exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower.

[0015] In some embodiments, the device further includes a nitrogen storage module and a fifth solenoid valve, the third solenoid valve being connected to both the nitrogen preservation space and the second exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower, and includes:

[0016] The first end of the third solenoid valve is connected to the first end of the nitrogen storage module, the second end of the nitrogen storage module is connected to the first end of the fifth solenoid valve, and the second end of the fifth solenoid valve is connected to the nitrogen preservation space.

[0017] The second end of the third solenoid valve is connected to the second exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower.

[0018] In some embodiments, the device further includes a first muffler, a second muffler, and a third muffler;

[0019] The first silencer is connected to both the vacuum preservation space and the air inlet of the air pump.

[0020] The second silencer is connected to both the oxygen preservation space and the first exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower.

[0021] The third silencer is connected to both the nitrogen preservation space and the second exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower.

[0022] In some embodiments, the surfaces of the first muffler, the second muffler, and the third muffler are each provided with a groove, and / or, the centers of the first muffler, the second muffler, and the third muffler are provided with protrusions.

[0023] In some embodiments, the air pump includes a gas compression module and a vibration damping module. The vibration damping module includes a first vibration damper, a second vibration damper, a third vibration damper, and a sound insulation layer. The hardness of the first and second vibration dampers is greater than the hardness of the third vibration damper.

[0024] The first shock absorber is disposed on the upper side inside the chamber where the gas compression module is located;

[0025] The second shock absorber is disposed on the lower side of the chamber where the gas compression module is located;

[0026] The third shock absorber is disposed around the side of the chamber where the gas compression module is located, but does not cover the upper and lower sides of the chamber.

[0027] The sound insulation layer is arranged around the outside of the chamber where the gas compression module is located.

[0028] In some embodiments, the first damping member, the second damping member, and the third damping member are each provided with at least two layers of silicone with different Shore hardness ranges.

[0029] In some embodiments, the chamber of the vacuum preservation space is made of a single piece of metal.

[0030] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a refrigerator, which includes: a vacuum preservation space, an oxygen preservation space, a nitrogen preservation space, and the food storage device described in the first aspect.

[0031] Compared to related technologies, the food storage device and refrigerator provided in this application embodiment achieve oxygen preservation and nitrogen preservation by connecting the two output ends of the molecular sieve tower to different spaces; a negative pressure environment can be provided by connecting the input end of the gas pump to the vacuum preservation space; thus, different gas environments can be constructed through a simple structure, solving the problem of difficulty in providing multiple gas environments when the space of the food storage device is limited.

[0032] Details of one or more embodiments of this application are set forth in the following drawings and description to make other features, objects and advantages of this application more readily apparent. Attached Figure Description

[0033] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of this application and form part of this application, illustrate exemplary embodiments and are used to explain this application, but do not constitute an undue limitation of this application. In the drawings:

[0034] Figure 1 This is a structural block diagram of a food storage device according to an embodiment of this application;

[0035] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a muffler in one embodiment of this application;

[0036] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the air pump structure in one embodiment of this application;

[0037] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the connection of the air pump bracket in one embodiment of this application;

[0038] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the refrigerator storage space in one embodiment of this application;

[0039] Figure 6 This is a structural block diagram of a food storage device according to another embodiment of this application;

[0040] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the refrigerator's operation process in another embodiment of this application.

[0041] Reference numerals: 1. Food storage device; 10. Air pump; 101. First shock absorber; 102. Second shock absorber; 103. Third shock absorber; 104. Sound insulation layer; 105. Support; 11. Molecular sieve tower; 12. First solenoid valve; 13. Second solenoid valve; 14. Third solenoid valve; 15. Fourth solenoid valve; 16. Fifth solenoid valve; 17. First silencer; 18. Second silencer; 19. Third silencer; 170. Groove; 171. Protrusion; 2. Vacuum preservation space; 3. Oxygen preservation space; 4. Nitrogen preservation space. Detailed Implementation

[0042] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the application is described and illustrated below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments provided in this application without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this application. Furthermore, it is understood that although the efforts made in such a development process may be complex and lengthy, for those skilled in the art related to the content disclosed in this application, modifications to design, manufacturing, or production based on the technical content disclosed in this application are merely conventional technical means and should not be construed as insufficient disclosure of the content of this application.

[0043] In this application, the reference to "embodiment" means that a specific feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It will be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described in this application may be combined with other embodiments without conflict.

[0044] Unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used in this application shall have the ordinary meaning understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains. The terms “a,” “an,” “an,” “the,” and similar words used in this application do not indicate quantity limitation and may indicate singular or plural. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and any variations thereof used in this application are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion; for example, a process, method, system, product, or device that includes a series of steps or modules (units) is not limited to the listed steps or units, but may also include steps or units not listed, or may include other steps or units inherent to these processes, methods, products, or devices. The terms “connected,” “linked,” “coupled,” and similar words used in this application are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but may include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. “Multiple” used in this application means two or more. “And / or” describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships may exist; for example, “A and / or B” can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, and B alone. The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., used in this application are merely to distinguish similar objects and do not represent a specific ordering of the objects.

[0045] This embodiment provides a food storage device 1. Figure 1 This is a structural block diagram of the food storage device 1 in this application, as shown below. Figure 1 As shown, the food storage device 1 includes: an air pump 10, a molecular sieve tower 11, a vacuum preservation space 2, an oxygen preservation space 3, and a nitrogen preservation space 4. The air inlet of the air pump 10 is connected to the vacuum preservation space 2, the first exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower 11 is connected to the oxygen preservation space 3, and the second exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower 11 is connected to the nitrogen preservation space 4. The air pump 10 is used to deliver air from the vacuum preservation space 2 to the molecular sieve tower 11. The molecular sieve tower 11 is used to convert the air delivered by the air pump 10 into nitrogen and oxygen. The first exhaust end is used to deliver oxygen, and the second exhaust end is used to deliver nitrogen.

[0046] The gas pump 10 and the molecular sieve tower 11 can be connected via a piping system. The gas pump 10 is responsible for delivering the gas from the inlet end, i.e., the gas in the vacuum preservation space 2, into the molecular sieve tower 11 at a certain pressure. Furthermore, the inlet end of the gas pump 10 can also be connected to other external spaces besides the vacuum preservation space 2. The vacuum preservation space 2 and other external spaces provide the gas input to the gas pump 10. It is understood that these other external spaces are different from the oxygen preservation space 3 and the nitrogen preservation space 4.

[0047] The inlet of the molecular sieve tower 11 is used to receive gas from the gas pump 10. The molecular sieve tower 11 uses the molecular sieve material filled inside to selectively adsorb or filter the gas. In the nitrogen-oxygen separation process, the molecular sieve can selectively adsorb smaller oxygen molecules, allowing larger nitrogen molecules to pass through. The oxygen is then transported to the oxygen preservation space 3 through the first exhaust end, and the nitrogen is transported to the nitrogen preservation space 4 through the second exhaust end.

[0048] Vacuum preservation space 2, oxygen preservation space 3, and nitrogen preservation space 4 are multiple separate storage areas, which can store ingredients with different preservation requirements.

[0049] In this embodiment, the air pump 10 is connected to the vacuum preservation space 2. When the air pump 10 is running, the vacuum preservation space 2 is adjusted to a negative pressure environment by evacuating air. The first output end and the second output end of the molecular sieve tower 11 are connected to the oxygen preservation space 3 and the nitrogen preservation space 4, respectively, to provide the oxygen preservation space 3 and the nitrogen preservation space 4 with an oxygen-rich environment and a nitrogen-rich environment, respectively. By constructing multiple gas environments through a simple connection structure, the problem of difficulty in providing multiple gas environments when the space of the food storage equipment is limited is solved.

[0050] In some embodiments, the food storage device 1 further includes a first solenoid valve 12, a second solenoid valve 13, and a third solenoid valve 14; wherein the first solenoid valve 12 is connected to the vacuum preservation space 2 and the air pump 10 respectively; the second solenoid valve 13 is connected to the oxygen preservation space 3 and the first exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower 11 respectively; and the third solenoid valve 14 is connected to the nitrogen preservation space 4 and the second exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower 11 respectively.

[0051] The first solenoid valve 12 controls the opening and closing of the fluid channel between the air pump 10 and the vacuum preservation space 2, as well as the gas flow rate and pressure entering the molecular sieve tower 11, thereby adjusting the gas pressure in the vacuum preservation space 2. The second solenoid valve 13 controls the fluid channel between the first exhaust end and the oxygen preservation space 3. The second solenoid valve 13 can adjust the oxygen flow rate and pressure input into the oxygen preservation space 3, thereby adjusting the gas concentration in the oxygen preservation space 3. Similarly, the third solenoid valve 14 controls the fluid channel between the second exhaust end and the nitrogen preservation space 4. The third solenoid valve 14 can adjust the nitrogen flow rate and pressure input into the nitrogen preservation space 4, thereby adjusting the gas concentration in the nitrogen preservation space 4.

[0052] Optionally, the opening degrees of the first solenoid valve 12, the second solenoid valve 13, and the third solenoid valve 14 can be adjusted in response to user commands. Alternatively, the solenoid valve states can be automatically adjusted using sensors; for example, an oxygen sensor module and a nitrogen sensor module can be respectively installed in the oxygen preservation space 3 and the nitrogen preservation space 4. The oxygen sensor module is connected to the second solenoid valve 13, and the nitrogen sensor module is connected to the third solenoid valve 14. When the oxygen sensor module or the nitrogen sensor module detects that the gas concentration is greater than a specified value, it changes the opening degree of the corresponding connected second solenoid valve 13 or third solenoid valve 14. Alternatively, a timer can be used in conjunction with the solenoid valves. For example, multiple timer modules can be connected to the three solenoid valves respectively, and the solenoid valves can be opened or closed based on a specified time length.

[0053] In this embodiment, the first solenoid valve 12 is connected to the air pump 10 and the vacuum preservation space 2, and the second solenoid valve 13 and the third solenoid valve 14 are connected to the molecular sieve tower 11 and the oxygen preservation space 3 and the nitrogen preservation space 4, respectively, so as to realize the control of the environmental state of the vacuum preservation space 2, the oxygen preservation space 3 and the nitrogen preservation space 4.

[0054] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the device further includes an oxygen storage module and a fourth solenoid valve 15, and a second solenoid valve 13 is connected to the oxygen preservation space 3 and the first exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower 11 respectively, including: the first end of the second solenoid valve 13 is connected to the first end of the oxygen storage module, the second end of the oxygen storage module is connected to the first end of the fourth solenoid valve 15, the second end of the fourth solenoid valve 15 is connected to the oxygen preservation space 3; and the second end of the second solenoid valve 13 is connected to the first exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower 11.

[0055] The oxygen storage module stores the oxygen output from the molecular sieve tower 11. The oxygen storage module can be a sealed container such as an oxygen cylinder or oxygen tank. The fourth solenoid valve 15 regulates the gas flow rate and output time from the oxygen storage module to the oxygen preservation space 3. Optionally, opening the second solenoid valve 13 delivers the oxygen output from the first exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower 11 to the oxygen storage module. When oxygen preservation is required, opening the fourth solenoid valve 15 allows for a stable supply of oxygen to the oxygen preservation space 3.

[0056] In this embodiment, considering the unstable oxygen output of the molecular sieve tower 11, oxygen is pre-stored through the oxygen storage module, which helps to achieve the stability of oxygen delivery in the oxygen preservation space 3.

[0057] In one embodiment, the device further includes a nitrogen storage module and a fifth solenoid valve. The third solenoid valve 14 is connected to the nitrogen preservation space 4 and the second exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower 11, respectively. The third solenoid valve 14 is connected to the first end of the nitrogen storage module, the second end of the nitrogen storage module is connected to the first end of the fifth solenoid valve, the second end of the fifth solenoid valve is connected to the nitrogen preservation space 4, and the second end of the third solenoid valve 14 is connected to the second exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower 11.

[0058] The nitrogen storage module stores the nitrogen output from the molecular sieve tower 11. The nitrogen storage module can be a sealed container such as a nitrogen cylinder or nitrogen tank. The fifth solenoid valve regulates the gas flow rate and output time from the nitrogen storage module to the nitrogen preservation space 4. Optionally, opening the third solenoid valve 14 allows the nitrogen output from the second exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower 11 to be transported and stored in the nitrogen storage module. When nitrogen preservation is required, opening the fifth solenoid valve can stably output nitrogen to the nitrogen preservation space 4.

[0059] In this embodiment, considering the unstable nitrogen output of the molecular sieve tower 11, oxygen is pre-stored through the nitrogen storage module, which helps to achieve the stability of nitrogen delivery in the nitrogen preservation space 4.

[0060] In one embodiment, the device further includes a first silencer 17, a second silencer 18, and a third silencer 19; the first silencer 17 is connected to the air inlet of the vacuum preservation space 2 and the air pump 10, respectively; the second silencer 18 is connected to the first exhaust end of the oxygen preservation space 3 and the molecular sieve tower 11, respectively; and the third silencer 19 is connected to the second exhaust end of the nitrogen preservation space 4 and the molecular sieve tower 11, respectively.

[0061] The structures of the first silencer 17, the second silencer 18, and the third silencer 19 can be the same or different, and this is not limited. Optionally, the air inlet of the vacuum preservation space 2 and the air pump 10 are connected by a pipe. Similarly, the first exhaust of the oxygen preservation space 3 and the first exhaust of the molecular sieve tower 11, and the second exhaust of the nitrogen preservation space 4 and the second exhaust of the molecular sieve tower 11 are connected by different pipes. The first silencer 17, the second silencer 18, and the third silencer 19 can be installed inside the corresponding pipes. Optionally, when there is a lot of low-frequency noise, the silencer can be installed near the noise source, i.e., at the air inlet of the air pump 10, and at the first and second exhausts of the molecular sieve tower 11; when there is a lot of high-frequency noise, the silencer can be placed in the middle of the pipe or near the receiving end, i.e., at the vacuum preservation space 2, the nitrogen preservation space 4, and the oxygen preservation space 3. The specific installation positions of the first silencer 17, the second silencer 18, and the third silencer 19 can be adjusted according to actual needs.

[0062] Optionally, when the food storage device 1 includes a first solenoid valve 12, a second solenoid valve 13, and a third solenoid valve 14, the first silencer 17, the second silencer 18, and the third silencer 19 are connected as follows: the first silencer 17 is connected to the vacuum preservation space 2 and the first solenoid valve 12 respectively; the second silencer 18 is connected to the oxygen preservation space 3 and the second solenoid valve 13 respectively; and the third silencer 19 is connected to the nitrogen preservation space 4 and the second solenoid valve 13 respectively.

[0063] During the operation of the air pump 10 and the molecular sieve tower 11, turbulence, impact, and friction generated during gas flow may produce significant aerodynamic noise, and the operation of the air pump 10 and the molecular sieve tower 11 may cause vibration noise. In this embodiment, noise can be reduced and user experience improved by installing a first silencer 17, a second silencer 18, and a third silencer 19.

[0064] In one embodiment, the surfaces of the first muffler 17, the second muffler 18, and the third muffler 19 are each provided with a groove 170, and / or, the centers of the first muffler 17, the second muffler 18, and the third muffler 19 are provided with a protrusion 171.

[0065] The groove 170 can be a groove with a V-shaped, semi-circular, or U-shaped cross-section; the edge of the groove 170 can be wavy, straight, or irregular. The protrusion 171 can be dome-shaped, conical, pyramid-shaped, etc. For ease of understanding, Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a muffler is provided. Figure 2 (a) is a schematic diagram of the groove 170 on the surface of the muffler. The groove 170 on the surface can divert the airflow, thereby reducing aerodynamic noise and reducing resonance. Figure 2 (b) is a schematic diagram of the central protrusion 171 of the muffler. The central protrusion 171 of the muffler can also form an airflow impact diversion zone to reduce aerodynamic noise.

[0066] Optionally, the first muffler 17, the second muffler 18, and the third muffler 19 can be designed as a one-piece expanded muffler. Each muffler surface is provided with a wavy groove 170 with a width of 4 mm and a depth of 2 mm; simultaneously, a dome-shaped protrusion 171 with a diameter of approximately 10 mm is provided at the center of the muffler. It is understood that the dimensions of the groove 170 and the protrusion 171 can be adjusted, and the first muffler 17, the second muffler 18, and the third muffler 19 can also only have the groove 170, or only have the protrusion 171.

[0067] In this embodiment, aerodynamic noise can be effectively reduced by providing grooves 170 and / or protrusions 171 in the muffler.

[0068] In one embodiment, the air pump 10 includes a gas compression module and a vibration damping module. The vibration damping module includes a first vibration damper 101, a second vibration damper 102, a third vibration damper 103, and a sound insulation layer 104. The first and second vibration dampers 101 and 102 have a higher hardness than the third vibration damper 103. The first vibration damper 101 is disposed on the upper side of the cavity containing the gas compression module; the second vibration damper 102 is disposed on the lower side of the cavity containing the gas compression module; and the third vibration damper 103 is disposed around the side of the cavity containing the gas compression module, but does not cover the upper and lower sides of the cavity. The sound insulation layer 104 is disposed around the outer side of the cavity containing the gas compression module.

[0069] The gas compression module contains a moving part of the air pump 10, which transports airflow. The first damping component 101, the second damping component 102, and the third damping component 103 can be made of materials with damping capabilities, such as rubber or silicone. Since the axial noise of the air pump 10 is greater than the radial noise, setting the hardness of the first damping component 101 and the second damping component 102 to be greater than the hardness of the third damping component 103 can effectively reduce the axial noise of the air pump 10. Optionally, the first damping component 101, the second damping component 102, and the third damping component 103 are made of silicone, and the hardness of the silicone damping components of the first and second damping components 101 and 102 is 5HA greater than the hardness of the silicone damping component of the third damping component 103. Optionally, the first damping component 101, the second damping component 102, and the third damping component 103 can be made of honeycomb silicone obtained through secondary molding technology for high-frequency sound absorption, and non-porous silicone can be used to suppress structural sound transmission. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the air pump 10 in one embodiment of this application.

[0070] The sound insulation layer 104 can be made of sound insulation board, sound absorption material, etc. Optionally, an aluminum plate sound insulation layer 104 with a thickness of more than 1mm can be used to surround the outside of the cavity. The aluminum plate can effectively reduce low-frequency noise in the range of 20-500Hz.

[0071] In this embodiment, by setting shock-absorbing components and sound insulation layer 104, the noise of the food storage device 1 during operation can be effectively controlled.

[0072] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the first damping member 101, the second damping member 102, and the third damping member 103 are each provided with at least two layers of silicone with different Shore hardness ranges.

[0073] The different Shore hardness ranges of the silicone layers result in varying vibration absorption capabilities. Optionally, the silicone layers can be either honeycomb silicone sound-absorbing layers with a thickness of 10-20 mm and a pore diameter of 2 mm, or solid silicone layers with a thickness of 2 mm. The preferred Shore hardness range for the honeycomb silicone sound-absorbing layers is 25-45 HA, while the preferred range for the solid silicone layers is 55-75 HA. The honeycomb silicone sound-absorbing layers can effectively reduce high-frequency noise in the 2000-15000 Hz range, while the solid silicone layers can effectively reduce mid-frequency noise in the 500-2000 Hz range by damping energy loss and suppressing structural sound transmission. Combined with an aluminum plate sound insulation layer 104 with a thickness of 1 mm or more, low-frequency noise can be reduced from 58 dB to 43 dB, mid-frequency noise from 62 dB to 41 dB, and high-frequency noise from 64 dB to 36 dB.

[0074] In this embodiment, noise reduction is achieved by selecting silicone layers with different Shore hardness ranges for each frequency band during the operation of the air pump 10, thereby improving the noise reduction effect.

[0075] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the air pump 10 can be fixed to the food storage device 1 by multiple brackets 105. To better achieve shock absorption, holes can be made in the brackets 105 of the air pump 10 to achieve a cushioning effect. Figure 4 A connection diagram of a support bracket 105 for an air pump 10 is provided, as shown below. Figure 4 As shown, the air pump 10 can be mounted on the frame of the food storage device 1 via four plastic supports 105, and the plastic supports 105 are perforated for better shock absorption.

[0076] In one embodiment, the vacuum preservation space 2 is made of a single piece of metal. This single-piece metal construction allows the vacuum preservation space 2 to withstand high pressure. Optionally, to ensure convenient on-site installation, the nitrogen preservation drawer, vacuum preservation drawer, and oxygen preservation drawer can be fitted with a single large assembly component. To ensure the vacuum drawer compartment can withstand high pressure, the interior of the vacuum drawer compartment can use 0.5mm thick metal, with other parts constructed by embedding this metal in a single piece.

[0077] In one embodiment, addressing the issue that multiple drawers in a refrigerator only support one type of gas environment, making it impossible to provide customized gas environments for different types of food or offer different gas environment solutions for different foods, Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the refrigerator storage space in one embodiment of this application, as shown below. Figure 5As shown, the refrigerator has three types of preservation drawers: a nitrogen preservation drawer, a vacuum preservation drawer, and an oxygen preservation drawer. The space in the nitrogen preservation drawer is designated as nitrogen preservation space 4; the space in the vacuum preservation drawer is designated as vacuum preservation space 2; and the space in the oxygen preservation drawer is designated as oxygen preservation space 3. The nitrogen preservation drawer, vacuum preservation drawer, and oxygen preservation drawer are independent of each other and do not affect each other. The food storage device 1 can be located at the top or rear of the refrigerator compartment. Optionally, the food storage device 1 is located at... Figure 5 The top of the nitrogen-filled food preservation drawer.

[0078] Figure 6 Another structural block diagram of a food storage device 1 is provided, such as Figure 6 As shown, in the food storage device 1, the exhaust end of the air pump 10 is connected to the air inlet end of the molecular sieve tower 11. The food storage device 1 also includes a first solenoid valve 12, a second solenoid valve 13, a third solenoid valve 14, a fourth solenoid valve 15, and a fifth solenoid valve; a first silencer 17, a second silencer 18, and a third silencer 19; and an oxygen tank and a nitrogen tank. The oxygen tank is an oxygen storage device, and the nitrogen tank is a nitrogen storage device. The vacuum preservation extraction and other parts of the refrigerator are connected to the first silencer 17 via the first solenoid valve 12, and the first silencer 17 is also connected to the air inlet end of the air pump 10. The first exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower 11 is connected to the second end of the second solenoid valve 13 via the second silencer 18, the first end of the second solenoid valve 13 is connected to the first end of the fourth solenoid valve 15 via the oxygen tank, and the second end of the fourth solenoid valve 15 is connected to the oxygen preservation drawer. The second exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower 11 is connected to the second end of the third solenoid valve 14 through the third silencer 19. The first end of the third solenoid valve 14 is connected to the first end of the fifth solenoid valve through the nitrogen tank. The second end of the fifth solenoid valve is connected to the oxygen preservation drawer.

[0079] Optionally, the nitrogen preservation drawer and the oxygen preservation drawer are equipped with oxygen sensors, and the vacuum preservation drawer is equipped with a pressure sensor. The control device controls the first solenoid valve 12, the second solenoid valve 13, and the third solenoid valve 14 through the oxygen sensor and the pressure sensor. Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the refrigerator's operation process in the embodiment, such as... Figure 7 As shown, after the refrigerator starts operating, if the refrigerator door, vacuum preservation drawer, oxygen preservation drawer, and nitrogen preservation space (four drawers) are closed, the pressure sensor collects the pressure data and determines whether the pressure in the vacuum preservation drawer exceeds a preset value. The preset value can be set to 70 kPa. If the pressure in the vacuum preservation drawer exceeds the preset value, the first solenoid valve 12 is opened, and the air pump 10 operates according to a preset cycle.

[0080] If the pressure in the vacuum preservation drawer is less than or equal to a preset value, it is determined whether the nitrogen tank concentration is lower than a first nitrogen concentration, or whether the oxygen tank concentration is lower than a first oxygen concentration. The first nitrogen concentration is 95%, and the first oxygen concentration is 40%. If the nitrogen tank concentration is lower than the first nitrogen concentration, or the oxygen tank concentration is lower than the first oxygen concentration, the first solenoid valve 12 is activated, and the air pump 10 operates according to a preset cycle. One operating cycle of the air pump 10 is set to 60 seconds: within one cycle, the air pump 10 runs for 30 seconds and then stops for 30 seconds. Optionally, while the air pump 10 is running, the refrigerator's condensation and dehumidification module is also controlled to operate. During the 30-second operation of the air pump 10, the second solenoid valve 13 is activated to fill the oxygen tank. During the 30-second stop of the air pump 10, the third solenoid valve 14 is activated to fill the nitrogen tank.

[0081] If the nitrogen tank concentration is not lower than the first nitrogen concentration, and the oxygen tank concentration is not lower than the first oxygen concentration; or, if the air pump 10 has completed its operation based on a preset cycle, then if the oxygen concentration in the oxygen preservation extraction is lower than the second oxygen concentration, the fourth solenoid valve 15 is opened to fill the oxygen preservation drawer with oxygen; if the nitrogen concentration in the nitrogen preservation extraction is lower than the second nitrogen concentration, the fifth solenoid valve is opened to fill the nitrogen preservation drawer with nitrogen. Subsequently, the step of determining whether the pressure of the vacuum preservation drawer is greater than a preset value is executed again. The second nitrogen concentration is 35%, and the second oxygen concentration is 90%. The operating cycle, oxygen and nitrogen concentration thresholds, etc., can be modified according to requirements.

[0082] In this embodiment, a food storage device 1 separates nitrogen and oxygen, and simultaneously provides three compartments with different preservation functions: vacuum preservation, nitrogen preservation, and oxygen preservation. The nitrogen preservation drawer uses high concentrations of nitrogen and low concentrations of oxygen to preserve vegetables, while the oxygen preservation drawer uses high concentrations of oxygen to preserve the color of meat and inhibit the growth of anaerobic bacteria. The vacuum preservation drawer uses atmospheric pressure to preserve fruits.

[0083] Based on the same concept, this application also provides a refrigerator for implementing the food storage device 1 mentioned above. The solution provided by this refrigerator is similar to the solution described in the above method. Therefore, the specific limitations of one or more refrigerator embodiments provided below can be found in the limitations of the food storage device 1 above, and will not be repeated here.

[0084] In one embodiment, a refrigerator is provided, including a food storage device 1 from any of the above-described device embodiments. Optionally, the food storage device 1 includes: an air pump 10 and a molecular sieve tower 11. The air inlet of the air pump 10 is connected to a vacuum preservation space 2, the first exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower 11 is connected to an oxygen preservation space 3, and the second exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower 11 is connected to a nitrogen preservation space 4. The air pump 10 is used to deliver air from the vacuum preservation space 2 to the molecular sieve tower 11; the molecular sieve tower 11 is used to convert the air delivered by the air pump 10 into nitrogen and oxygen, the first exhaust end is used to deliver oxygen, and the second exhaust end is used to deliver nitrogen.

[0085] In some embodiments, the food storage device 1 further includes a first solenoid valve 12, a second solenoid valve 13, and a third solenoid valve 14; wherein the first solenoid valve 12 is connected to the vacuum preservation space 2 and the air pump 10 respectively; the second solenoid valve 13 is connected to the oxygen preservation space 3 and the first exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower 11 respectively; and the third solenoid valve 14 is connected to the nitrogen preservation space 4 and the second exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower 11 respectively.

[0086] Optionally, the food storage device 1 further includes an oxygen storage module and a fourth solenoid valve 15. The second solenoid valve 13 is connected to the oxygen preservation space 3 and the first exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower 11, respectively. The second solenoid valve 13 is connected to the first end of the oxygen storage module, the second end of the oxygen storage module is connected to the first end of the fourth solenoid valve 15, the second end of the fourth solenoid valve 15 is connected to the oxygen preservation space 3, and the second end of the second solenoid valve 13 is connected to the first exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower 11.

[0087] Optionally, the food storage device 1 further includes a nitrogen storage module and a fifth solenoid valve. The third solenoid valve 14 is connected to the nitrogen preservation space 4 and the second exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower 11, respectively. The third solenoid valve 14 is connected to the first end of the nitrogen storage module, the second end of the nitrogen storage module is connected to the first end of the fifth solenoid valve, the second end of the fifth solenoid valve is connected to the nitrogen preservation space 4, and the second end of the third solenoid valve 14 is connected to the second exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower 11.

[0088] In some embodiments, the food storage device 1 further includes a first silencer 17, a second silencer 18, and a third silencer 19; the first silencer 17 is connected to the air inlet of the vacuum preservation space 2 and the air pump 10, respectively; the second silencer 18 is connected to the first exhaust end of the oxygen preservation space 3 and the molecular sieve tower 11, respectively; and the third silencer 19 is connected to the second exhaust end of the nitrogen preservation space 4 and the molecular sieve tower 11, respectively. Optionally, the surfaces of the first silencer 17, the second silencer 18, and the third silencer 19 are each provided with a groove 170, and / or, the centers of the first silencer 17, the second silencer 18, and the third silencer 19 are provided with protrusions 171.

[0089] In some embodiments, the air pump 10 includes a gas compression module and a vibration damping module. The vibration damping module includes a first vibration damper 101, a second vibration damper 102, a third vibration damper 103, and a sound insulation layer 104. The hardness of the first vibration damper 101 and the second vibration damper 102 is greater than the hardness of the third vibration damper 103. The first vibration damper 101 is disposed on the upper side of the cavity containing the gas compression module; the second vibration damper 102 is disposed on the lower side of the cavity containing the gas compression module; the third vibration damper 103 is disposed around the side of the cavity containing the gas compression module, but does not cover the upper and lower sides of the cavity; the sound insulation layer 104 is disposed around the outer side of the cavity containing the gas compression module. Optionally, each of the first vibration damper 101, the second vibration damper 102, and the third vibration damper 103 has at least two layers of silicone with different Shore hardness ranges.

[0090] It should be noted that the above modules can be functional modules or program modules, and can be implemented through software or hardware. For modules implemented through hardware, the above modules can reside in the same processor; or the above modules can be located in different processors in any combination.

[0091] Those skilled in the art should understand that the technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments have been described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0092] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of this patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this patent application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A food storage device, characterized by, The device includes: an air pump, a molecular sieve tower, a vacuum preservation space, an oxygen preservation space, and a nitrogen preservation space. The air pump's inlet is connected to the vacuum preservation space, the molecular sieve tower's first exhaust outlet is connected to the oxygen preservation space, and the molecular sieve tower's second exhaust outlet is connected to the nitrogen preservation space. The air pump is used to deliver air from the vacuum preservation space to the molecular sieve tower; The molecular sieve tower is used to convert the air delivered by the gas pump into nitrogen and oxygen. The first exhaust end is used to deliver oxygen, and the second exhaust end is used to deliver nitrogen.

2. The food storage device of claim 1, wherein The device further includes a first solenoid valve, a second solenoid valve, and a third solenoid valve; wherein... The first solenoid valve is connected to both the vacuum preservation space and the air pump. The second solenoid valve is connected to both the oxygen preservation space and the first exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower. The third solenoid valve is connected to the nitrogen preservation space and the second exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower, respectively.

3. The food storage device of claim 2, wherein, The device further includes an oxygen storage module and a fourth solenoid valve. The second solenoid valve is connected to the oxygen preservation space and the first exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower, respectively. The first end of the second solenoid valve is connected to the first end of the oxygen storage module, the second end of the oxygen storage module is connected to the first end of the fourth solenoid valve, and the second end of the fourth solenoid valve is connected to the oxygen preservation space. The second end of the second solenoid valve is connected to the first exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower.

4. The food storage device of claim 2, wherein The device further includes a nitrogen storage module and a fifth solenoid valve. The third solenoid valve is connected to the nitrogen preservation space and the second exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower, respectively, and includes: The first end of the third solenoid valve is connected to the first end of the nitrogen storage module, the second end of the nitrogen storage module is connected to the first end of the fifth solenoid valve, and the second end of the fifth solenoid valve is connected to the nitrogen preservation space. The second end of the third solenoid valve is connected to the second exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower.

5. The food storage device of claim 1, wherein The device also includes a first muffler, a second muffler, and a third muffler; The first silencer is connected to both the vacuum preservation space and the air inlet of the air pump. The second silencer is connected to both the oxygen preservation space and the first exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower. The third silencer is connected to both the nitrogen preservation space and the second exhaust end of the molecular sieve tower.

6. The food storage device of claim 5, wherein, The surfaces of the first muffler, the second muffler, and the third muffler are each provided with a groove, and / or the center of the first muffler, the second muffler, and the third muffler is provided with a protrusion.

7. The food storage device of claim 1, wherein The air pump includes a gas compression module and a vibration damping module. The vibration damping module includes a first vibration damping component, a second vibration damping component, a third vibration damping component, and a sound insulation layer. The hardness of the first and second vibration damping components is greater than the hardness of the third vibration damping component. The first shock absorber is disposed on the upper side of the chamber where the gas compression module is located; The second shock absorber is disposed on the lower side of the chamber where the gas compression module is located; The third shock absorber is disposed around the side of the chamber where the gas compression module is located, but does not cover the upper and lower sides of the chamber. The sound insulation layer is arranged around the outside of the chamber where the gas compression module is located.

8. The food storage device of claim 7, wherein, The first damping component, the second damping component, and the third damping component are each provided with at least two layers of silicone with different Shore hardness ranges.

9. The food storage device of claim 1, wherein, The vacuum preservation space is made of a single piece of metal.

10. A refrigerator characterized by comprising: The refrigerator includes: the food storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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