A refrigerator

Abstract

This utility model provides a refrigerator, including: an evaporator, a freezer compartment, a drain pipe, an outer pipe, and an insulation layer. The evaporator is located above the freezer compartment, and the insulation layer is located on one side of the freezer compartment in the horizontal direction. At least a portion of the drain pipe is disposed within the insulation layer. The outer pipe is sleeved on the outer periphery of at least a portion of the drain pipe or disposed on the inner periphery of at least a portion of the drain pipe. Condensate generated by the evaporator can be received in the drain pipe, and refrigerant can be introduced into the outer pipe so that the refrigerant can heat the condensate and prevent the drain pipe from freezing or frosting. This utility model can simultaneously achieve a thinner overall refrigerator size and ensure that the drain pipe does not freeze or frost; effectively solving the problem in existing refrigerators that cannot simultaneously ensure that the evaporator drain pipe does not freeze or frost and achieve a thinner overall refrigerator size.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of refrigerator technology, and specifically to a refrigerator. Background Technology

[0002] Traditional refrigerators have the evaporator located at the back, with the drain outlet leading directly to the external water collection box of the compressor chamber. This design dictates that the evaporator must be close to the compressor chamber, limiting its space and taking up considerable space at the back of the refrigerator. However, the current market trend for refrigerators is towards integration with home decor, with built-in refrigerators becoming the mainstream. Built-in refrigerators require a thinner depth; for example, a flush-mounted refrigerator integrated with a kitchen cabinet has a relatively thin overall thickness, including the door. Placing the evaporator at the back would affect the refrigerator's depth, resulting in shallow drawers and limiting food storage.

[0003] To address these shortcomings, existing patented refrigerators use a horizontally placed evaporator at the bottom, which improves the depth volume to some extent. However, placing the evaporator at the bottom does not conform to the principle of cold air sinking, requiring additional power to blow the cold air upwards, and the uniformity is not guaranteed. Another existing patented refrigerator uses a horizontally placed evaporator on the central beam, but to drain defrost water and prevent it from freezing, the drain box is designed with a large angle, occupying a significant amount of space. Furthermore, the water pipes need to be buried within the insulation layer, requiring a thicker insulation layer, which also reduces the depth volume of the refrigerator.

[0004] On the other hand, since the evaporator is placed away from the compressor chamber, the drain pipe inevitably has to pass through the freezer compartment. When a pre-embedded insulation layer is used for the drain pipe, the insulation layer must be designed with a certain thickness, which affects the overall volume ratio of the refrigerator. A large volume ratio is an important factor in improving energy efficiency. Therefore, a pre-embedded drain pipe with a thin insulation layer needs to be designed, while minimizing the angle of the drain pipe to avoid occupying effective volume space.

[0005] Because existing refrigerators have technical problems such as the need to increase the thickness of the insulation layer to ensure that the evaporator drain pipe does not freeze or frost, making it impossible to make the overall thickness of the refrigerator thinner, this utility model researches and designs a refrigerator. Utility Model Content

[0006] Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to overcome the defects of existing refrigerators that cannot simultaneously ensure that the evaporator drain pipe does not freeze or frost and that the overall thickness of the refrigerator is thin, thereby providing a refrigerator.

[0007] To solve the above problems, this utility model provides a refrigerator, which includes:

[0008] The system comprises an evaporator, a freezer compartment, a drain pipe, an outer pipe, and an insulation layer. The evaporator is located above the freezer compartment, and the insulation layer is located on one side of the freezer compartment in the horizontal direction. At least a portion of the drain pipe is disposed within the insulation layer. The outer pipe is fitted around the outer periphery of at least a portion of the drain pipe or disposed around the inner periphery of at least a portion of the drain pipe. The drain pipe can receive condensate produced by the evaporator, and refrigerant can flow through the outer pipe to heat the condensate and prevent the drain pipe from freezing or frosting.

[0009] In some implementations...

[0010] The outer tube is sleeved around at least a portion of the outer periphery of the drain pipe, and at least a portion of the structure of the outer tube is also disposed in the insulation layer. The insulation layer is located at the rear of the freezer compartment in the horizontal direction, that is, the insulation layer is located on the back side of the refrigerator.

[0011] In some implementations...

[0012] It also includes a crossbeam located above the freezer compartment and extending horizontally, with the evaporator mounted on the crossbeam. One end of the drain pipe extends to a position that can collect the condensate from the evaporator, and the other end extends into the insulation layer. The top of the insulation layer connects with the crossbeam. The drain pipe extends along the crossbeam to the top of the insulation layer, enters the insulation layer, and extends downward within the insulation layer.

[0013] In some implementations...

[0014] It also includes a refrigeration cycle system, which includes a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, a throttling device, and a first pipe. The refrigerator also includes a second pipe and a third pipe. The first pipe is connected between the condenser and the throttling device. One end of the second pipe is connected to the first pipe, and the other end is connected to the inside of the outer pipe, so that refrigerant can be introduced from the first pipe into the outer pipe. One end of the third pipe is connected to the outer pipe, and the other end is connected to the first pipe, so that refrigerant in the outer pipe can be discharged into the first pipe.

[0015] In some implementations...

[0016] A switching valve is provided at the position where the second pipeline connects to the first pipeline, which can switch whether the second pipeline is connected to the first pipeline. A one-way valve is provided on the third pipeline, which only allows refrigerant to flow from the outer pipeline to the first pipeline. It also includes a fan, which can drive the airflow in the freezer to pass through the evaporator for heat exchange and send the heat-exchanged airflow back to the freezer.

[0017] In some implementations...

[0018] A valve anti-condensation pipe and a filter are also provided between one end of the throttling device and the switching valve. One end of the first pipeline is connected to the condenser and the other end is connected to the valve anti-condensation pipe. The other end of the throttling device is connected to one end of the evaporator, and the other end of the evaporator is connected to the compressor. The second pipeline and the third pipeline are both capillary tubes.

[0019] In some implementations...

[0020] It also includes a first welded sleeve and a second welded sleeve. The drain pipe is longer than the outer pipe. The drain pipe enters the internal space of the outer pipe from one end and exits from the other end of the outer pipe. The first welded sleeve is provided at one end of the outer pipe, and the first welded sleeve welds one end of the outer pipe to the drain pipe. The second welded sleeve welds the other end of the outer pipe to the drain pipe. The second pipeline is connected to the inside of the first welded sleeve, and the first welded sleeve is connected to the inside of the outer pipe. The third pipeline is connected to the inside of the second welded sleeve, and the second welded sleeve is connected to the inside of the outer pipe.

[0021] In some implementations...

[0022] The lower part of the freezer compartment has a compression chamber, in which the compressor is located. The compression chamber is located below the insulation layer, and the lower end of the drain pipe passes through the outer pipe and the insulation layer before entering the compression chamber.

[0023] In some implementations...

[0024] When a crossbeam is included, the drain pipe includes a U-shaped pipe and a straight pipe. The U-shaped pipe is disposed on the crossbeam and extends horizontally. One end of the U-shaped pipe forms the water inlet of the drain pipe to draw in condensate from the evaporator. The other end of the U-shaped pipe is connected to the upper end of the straight pipe. The straight pipe extends vertically, with a section of the straight pipe located inside the insulation layer, and the lower end of the straight pipe extending through the insulation layer and into the compression chamber.

[0025] In some implementations...

[0026] The outer tube includes a U-shaped outer tube and a straight outer tube. The U-shaped outer tube is sleeved on the outer periphery of the U-shaped tube, and the straight outer tube is sleeved on the outer periphery of the straight tube. One end of the U-shaped outer tube is connected to the upper end of the straight outer tube by a bend, and a third welding sleeve is provided at the connection point. The third welding sleeve welds the U-shaped outer tube and the bend together.

[0027] The refrigerator provided by this utility model has the following beneficial effects:

[0028] This invention, by placing the evaporator above the freezer compartment, effectively avoids the excessive thickness of the refrigerator in the horizontal direction caused by placing it at the rear of the freezer compartment, thus effectively reducing the overall thickness. Simultaneously, the condensate from the evaporator is led out through a drain pipe, at least part of which is located within the insulation layer at the rear of the freezer compartment, effectively preventing the water in the drain pipe from freezing or frosting. Furthermore, the use of an outer pipe structure, fitted around the outer circumference or located within the inner circumference of at least one section of the drain pipe, allows refrigerant to be introduced into the outer pipe, thereby heating and insulating the condensate in the drain pipe, effectively preventing freezing or frosting. Therefore, it simultaneously achieves a thinner overall refrigerator thickness and ensures the drain pipe does not freeze or frost, effectively solving the problem in existing refrigerators where it is impossible to simultaneously ensure the evaporator drain pipe does not freeze or frost and achieve a thinner overall refrigerator thickness. Moreover, through the positional design of the evaporator and drain pipe and the structural design of the outer pipe, this invention ensures the drain pipe does not freeze or frost, and also avoids the situation where a tilted drain pipe would occupy refrigerator space, improving the refrigerator's volume utilization rate. Attached Figure Description

[0029] Figure 1 This is a side view of the internal structure of the refrigerator of this utility model. Figure 1 ;

[0030] Figure 2 This is a side view of the internal structure of the refrigerator of this utility model. Figure 2 ;

[0031] Figure 3 This is a top-view perspective view of the refrigerator of this utility model at the crossbeam.

[0032] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 Enlarged structural view of the junction of the drain pipe, inner pipe and crossbeam;

[0033] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 Enlarged view of the section where the drain pipe and inner pipe meet;

[0034] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 Longitudinal sectional view of the structure;

[0035] Figure 7 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the drainage pipe, inner pipe, and welded sleeve of this utility model;

[0036] Figure 8This is a diagram of the refrigeration cycle system (refrigeration mode) of this utility model;

[0037] Figure 9 This is a diagram of the refrigeration cycle system (defrosting mode) of this utility model;

[0038] Figure 10 This is the control flowchart of the refrigerator of this utility model.

[0039] The reference numerals in the attached figures are as follows:

[0040] 1. Evaporator; 2. Freezer compartment; 3. Drain pipe; 4. Outer pipe; 5. Insulation layer; 6. Crossbeam; 7. Compressor; 8. Condenser; 9. Throttling device; 10. Switching valve; 11. Check valve; 12. Door anti-condensation pipe; 13. Filter; 14. First welded sleeve; 15. Second welded sleeve; 16. Compression chamber; 17. U-shaped pipe; 18. Straight pipe; 19. U-shaped outer pipe; 20. Straight section of outer pipe; 21. Bend; 22. Third welded sleeve; 23. Fan; 101. First pipeline; 102. Second pipeline; 103. Third pipeline. Detailed Implementation

[0041] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is merely illustrative and is in no way intended to limit the present utility model or its application or use. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present utility model without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present utility model.

[0042] It should be noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to this application. As used herein, the singular form is intended to include the plural form as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, it should be understood that when the terms "comprising" and / or "including" are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, devices, components, and / or combinations thereof.

[0043] Unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangement, numerical expressions, and values ​​of the components and steps described in these embodiments do not limit the scope of this invention. It should also be understood that, for ease of description, the dimensions of the various parts shown in the drawings are not drawn to actual scale. Techniques, methods, and devices known to those skilled in the art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, such techniques, methods, and devices should be considered part of the specification. In all examples shown and discussed herein, any specific values ​​should be interpreted as merely exemplary and not as limitations. Therefore, other examples of exemplary embodiments may have different values. It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters in the following drawings denote similar items; therefore, once an item is defined in one drawing, it need not be further discussed in subsequent drawings.

[0044] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the directional terms such as "front, back, up, down, left, right", "horizontal, vertical, horizontal" and "top, bottom" 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 utility model and simplifying the description. Unless otherwise stated, these directional terms 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, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation on the scope of protection of this utility model. The directional terms "inner" and "outer" refer to the inner and outer contours of each component itself.

[0045] For ease of description, spatial relative terms such as "above," "on top of," "on the upper surface of," "above," etc., are used herein to describe the spatial positional relationship of a device or feature as shown in the figures to other devices or features. It should be understood that spatial relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations in use or operation beyond the orientation of the device as described in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures were inverted, a device described as "above" or "on top of" other devices or structures would subsequently be positioned as "below" or "under" other devices or structures. Thus, the exemplary term "above" can include both "above" and "below." The device may also be positioned in other different ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatial relative descriptions used herein will be interpreted accordingly.

[0046] Furthermore, it should be noted that the use of terms such as "first" and "second" to define components is merely for the purpose of distinguishing the corresponding components. Unless otherwise stated, the above terms have no special meaning and therefore cannot be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this utility model.

[0047] like Figure 1-10 As shown, this utility model provides a refrigerator, which includes:

[0048] The system comprises an evaporator 1, a freezer compartment 2, a drain pipe 3, an outer pipe 4, and an insulation layer 5. The evaporator 1 is located above the freezer compartment 2, and the insulation layer 5 is located on one side of the freezer compartment 2 in the horizontal direction. At least a portion of the structure of the drain pipe 3 is disposed within the insulation layer 5. The outer pipe 4 is sleeved on the outer periphery of the drain pipe 3 or disposed on the inner periphery of the drain pipe 3. The drain pipe 3 can be connected to the condensate produced by the evaporator 1, and the outer pipe 4 can be circulated with refrigerant so that the refrigerant can heat the condensate and prevent the drain pipe 3 from freezing or frosting.

[0049] This invention, by placing the evaporator above the freezer compartment, effectively avoids the excessive thickness of the refrigerator in the horizontal direction caused by placing it at the rear of the freezer compartment, thus effectively reducing the overall thickness. Simultaneously, the condensate from the evaporator is led out through a drain pipe, at least part of which is located within the insulation layer at the rear of the freezer compartment, effectively preventing the water in the drain pipe from freezing or frosting. Furthermore, the use of an outer pipe structure, fitted around the outer circumference or located within the inner circumference of at least one section of the drain pipe, allows refrigerant to be introduced into the outer pipe, thereby heating and insulating the condensate in the drain pipe, effectively preventing freezing or frosting. Therefore, it simultaneously achieves a thinner overall refrigerator thickness and ensures the drain pipe does not freeze or frost, effectively solving the problem in existing refrigerators where it is impossible to simultaneously ensure the evaporator drain pipe does not freeze or frost and achieve a thinner overall refrigerator thickness. Moreover, through the positional design of the evaporator and drain pipe and the structural design of the outer pipe, this invention ensures the drain pipe does not freeze or frost, and also avoids the situation where a tilted drain pipe would occupy refrigerator space, improving the refrigerator's volume utilization rate.

[0050] In some implementations...

[0051] The outer pipe 4 is sleeved on the outer periphery of at least a portion of the drain pipe 3, and at least a portion of the structure of the outer pipe 4 is also disposed in the insulation layer 5. The insulation layer 5 is located behind the freezer compartment 2 in the horizontal direction, that is, the insulation layer 5 is located on the back side of the refrigerator.

[0052] This is a preferred configuration of the outer pipe of this utility model, namely, it is sleeved on the outer periphery of at least a section of the drain pipe, and at least a part of the structure of the outer pipe is set in the insulation layer. This allows the refrigerant inside the outer pipe in the insulation layer to heat and insulate the condensate in the drain pipe, which greatly ensures that the water in the drain pipe will not freeze or frost. The insulation layer is located behind the freezer in the horizontal direction, which ensures that the freezer will not affect the interior, such as the walls.

[0053] In some implementations...

[0054] It also includes a crossbeam 6, which is located above the freezer compartment 2 and extends horizontally. The evaporator 1 is disposed on the crossbeam 6. One end of the drain pipe 3 extends to a position that can collect the condensate from the evaporator 1, and the other end extends into the insulation layer 5. The upper part of the insulation layer 5 is connected to the crossbeam 6. The drain pipe 3 extends along the crossbeam 6 to the upper part of the insulation layer 5 and enters the insulation layer 5, and extends downward in the insulation layer 5.

[0055] This is a preferred structural form of the present invention, in which an evaporator can be installed on the horizontal beam extending above the freezer compartment, thereby effectively moving the evaporator from the back of the freezer compartment to the top, effectively reducing the horizontal thickness of the refrigerator, and allowing it to be effectively installed in spaces with relatively small thicknesses, such as inside the cabinet. Furthermore, the drain pipe extends along the beam to the position of the insulation layer and enters the insulation layer to extend downwards, effectively avoiding the situation where the drain pipe is set at an inclined angle to pass through the freezer compartment, minimizing the possibility of the drain pipe passing through the freezer compartment, and minimizing the possibility of water freezing or frost forming in the drain pipe.

[0056] according to Figure 3 The assembly diagram shows that the drainage interface of this utility model only needs to be set at the lowest point inside the crossbeam duct to collect drainage (when the water volume is large, it automatically flows to the lowest point). At this lowest point, only a small tilt angle (e.g., 1°) is needed, or even no tilt angle is required. This is because the drainage inner pipe, after being heated by the high-temperature airflow, can radiate the accumulated water in the surrounding area, causing it to melt and enter the drainage inner pipe.

[0057] In some implementations...

[0058] The refrigerator also includes a refrigeration cycle system, which includes a compressor 7, a condenser 8, an evaporator 1, a throttling device 9, and a first pipe 101. The refrigerator also includes a second pipe 102 and a third pipe 103. The first pipe 101 is connected between the condenser 8 and the throttling device 9. One end of the second pipe 102 is connected to the first pipe 101, and the other end is connected to the interior of the outer pipe 4, so that refrigerant can be introduced from the first pipe 101 into the outer pipe 4. One end of the third pipe 103 is connected to the outer pipe 4, and the other end is connected to the first pipe 101, so that the refrigerant in the outer pipe 4 can be discharged into the first pipe 101.

[0059] This invention connects the first pipe at the outlet of the refrigerant condenser in the refrigeration cycle system to the second pipe, allowing the hotter refrigerant at the condenser outlet to be drawn out and placed into the outer pipe. This heats the condensate inside the drain pipe, preventing the water in the drain pipe from freezing or frostping. The heated refrigerant is then guided back to the first pipe through the second pipe, ensuring continuous and effective refrigerant flow. This improves the heating and insulation effect on the condensate in the drain pipe, further enhancing the prevention of frost or freezing of the condensate in the drain pipe.

[0060] In some implementations...

[0061] A switching valve 10 is provided at the position where the second pipe 102 connects to the first pipe 101, which can switch whether the second pipe 102 is connected to the first pipe 101. A one-way valve 11 is provided on the third pipe 103, which only allows refrigerant to flow from the outer pipe 4 to the first pipe 101. It also includes a fan 23, which can drive the airflow in the freezer 2 to exchange heat through the evaporator 1 and send the heat-exchanged airflow back to the freezer 2.

[0062] This invention, through the switching valve installed on the second pipeline, can control whether the refrigerant enters the outer pipe to heat the drain pipe according to the refrigerator's operating mode and actual conditions. The one-way valve can effectively prevent the refrigerant from flowing back to the outer pipe through the third pipeline. The fan can drive the airflow in the freezer compartment to be cooled by passing through the evaporator before entering the freezer compartment again, ensuring the cooling temperature in the freezer compartment.

[0063] like Figure 1 As shown, this utility model provides a sleeve-type drain pipe. The drain pipe can be made of thin-walled aluminum, copper, or stainless steel. A welded sleeve is welded to the top and bottom of the outer pipe, and then welded together with the outer pipe. The size of the outer pipe (also a thin-walled aluminum, copper, or stainless steel pipe) can be customized according to the outlet and compressor chamber height. The welded sleeve has holes, and capillary tube connectors are welded to the top and bottom, respectively, and welded to a one-way valve and a switching valve, connecting to the entire system. When refrigerant flows in through the capillary tube connectors, it only passes through the internal space of the outer pipe and contacts the outer wall of the inner drain pipe, forming a closed system, preventing refrigerant leakage.

[0064] In some implementations...

[0065] A door anti-condensation pipe 12 and a filter 13 are also provided between one end of the throttling device 9 and the switching valve 10. One end of the first pipe 101 is connected to the condenser 8 and the other end is connected to the door anti-condensation pipe 12. The other end of the throttling device 9 is connected to one end of the evaporator 1, and the other end of the evaporator 1 is connected to the compressor 7. The second pipe 102 and the third pipe 103 are both capillary tubes.

[0066] This invention, through the aforementioned door anti-condensation pipe, can be installed at the refrigerator door to heat the door area, preventing the door from freezing shut and becoming impossible to open. The filter can filter the refrigerant coming out of the door condensation pipe. The second and third pipes are preferably capillary tubes, which can provide a small amount of refrigerant into the outer pipe, ensuring the insulation of the drain pipe, preventing the temperature from rising too much, and not affecting the refrigerant flow rate in the main refrigeration cycle.

[0067] In some implementations...

[0068] It also includes a first welding sleeve 14 and a second welding sleeve 15. The length of the drain pipe 3 is longer than that of the outer pipe 4. The drain pipe 3 enters the internal space of the outer pipe 4 from one end and exits from the other end of the outer pipe 4. The first welding sleeve 14 is provided at one end of the outer pipe 4, and the first welding sleeve 14 welds one end of the outer pipe 4 to the drain pipe 3. The second welding sleeve 15 welds the other end of the outer pipe 4 to the drain pipe 3. The second pipeline 102 is connected to the inside of the first welding sleeve 14, and the first welding sleeve 14 is connected to the inside of the outer pipe 4. The third pipeline 103 is connected to the inside of the second welding sleeve 15, and the second welding sleeve 15 is connected to the inside of the outer pipe 4.

[0069] This invention, through the aforementioned first and second welded sleeves, can fix and seal the connection between the outer pipe and the drain pipe. The second pipe, connected to the inside of the first welded sleeve, allows refrigerant to be introduced into the first welded sleeve, and then, through the connection between the first welded sleeve and the outer pipe, the refrigerant enters the outer pipe. The third pipe, connected to the inside of the second welded sleeve, allows the refrigerant, after heat exchange in the outer pipe, to be introduced into the second welded sleeve, and then, through the connection between the second welded sleeve and the third pipe, the refrigerant is discharged into the third pipe, thus returning to the first pipe.

[0070] In some implementations...

[0071] The lower part of the freezer compartment 2 has a compression chamber 16, and the compressor 7 is disposed in the compression chamber 16. The compression chamber 16 is located below the insulation layer 5. The lower end of the drain pipe 3 passes through the outer pipe 4 and the insulation layer 5 and enters the compression chamber 16.

[0072] This invention, through the aforementioned configuration of the compression chamber, allows the compressor to be housed within it. The compression chamber is located below the insulation layer, and the lower end of the drain pipe extends through the outer pipe and the insulation layer before entering the compression chamber. This effectively allows the condensate in the drain pipe to be channeled into the compression chamber, cooling the compressor and other components while also evaporating the condensate. The evaporated water vapor can be discharged from the refrigerator or re-enter the freezer compartment for circulation.

[0073] In some implementations...

[0074] When the crossbeam 6 is included, the drain pipe 3 includes a U-shaped pipe 17 and a straight pipe 18. The U-shaped pipe 17 is disposed on the crossbeam 6 and extends horizontally. One end of the U-shaped pipe 17 forms the water inlet of the drain pipe 3 to draw in the condensate of the evaporator 1. The other end of the U-shaped pipe 17 is connected to the upper end of the straight pipe 18. The straight pipe 18 extends vertically. A section of the straight pipe 18 is located inside the insulation layer 5, and the lower end of the straight pipe 18 extends out of the insulation layer 5 and enters the compression chamber 16.

[0075] This is a further preferred structural form of the drain pipe of this utility model, namely, it is formed as a connection between a U-shaped pipe and a straight pipe. The U-shaped pipe extends on the crossbeam, which can increase the heat exchange area and heat exchange length between the drain pipe and the outer pipe, and reduce the length or area of ​​the drain pipe set in the insulation layer. While ensuring the heating, insulation and anti-freezing or anti-frost of the condensate in the drain pipe, it also effectively avoids the increase of the insulation layer thickness, further realizing the reduction of the refrigerator thickness and improving its application range.

[0076] 1. This utility model designs a sleeve-type drain pipe. When the evaporator is placed on the crossbeam or middle beam using the idle space, there is no need to pre-embed a thick insulation layer when passing through the freezing zone, thus solving the problem of freezing and defrosting inside the drain pipe when it must pass through the freezing chamber.

[0077] 2. This utility model designs a drain pipe that can be placed horizontally at low temperatures, solving the problem that drain pipes must be designed with a large tilt angle. This makes the design of drain pipes in the freezer compartment no longer a major bottleneck due to the large tilt angle that occupies space, thus improving the overall volume ratio of the refrigerator and allowing for more flexible pipe routing.

[0078] In some implementations...

[0079] The outer tube 4 includes a U-shaped outer tube 19 and a straight outer tube 20. The U-shaped outer tube 19 is sleeved on the outer periphery of the U-shaped tube 17, and the straight outer tube 20 is sleeved on the outer periphery of the straight tube 18. One end of the U-shaped outer tube 19 is connected to the upper end of the straight outer tube 20 by a bend 21, and a third welding sleeve 22 is provided at the connection. The third welding sleeve 22 welds the U-shaped outer tube 19 and the bend 21 together.

[0080] This is a further preferred structural form of the outer tube of this utility model. Through the structure of the U-shaped outer tube and the straight outer tube, the U-shaped outer tube is sleeved on the outer circumference of the U-shaped tube, which can increase the heat exchange area of ​​the U-shaped drain pipe. The straight outer tube is sleeved on the outer circumference of the straight tube, which can make the straight drain pipe located in the insulation layer continuously heated and insulated by the straight outer tube, further improving the anti-freezing or anti-frost effect of the drain pipe. The bend is used to connect the U-shaped outer tube and the straight outer tube. The third welding sleeve can weld and fix the U-shaped outer tube and the bend.

[0081] The sleeve-type drainage pipe assembly of this utility model can also be connected in a combined manner. For example, when it is in the crossbeam, it is designed as a horizontal pipe. After the drainage pipe 3 is inserted into the outer pipe 4, they are bent together into an L-shape, U-shape or other shapes. Then, a welded sleeve is fitted onto one end and welded to seal it. Figure 7 As shown, first, slip the movable welded sleeve onto the other end, sliding it inwards in the direction of the arrow. Then, align the similarly bent drain pipe 3 and outer pipe 4 with drain pipe 3, and weld the U-shaped pipe and straight pipe securely. Next, slip the welded sleeve onto the outer surface of the outer pipe 4, and then weld both ends of the welded sleeve to the U-shaped outer pipe and the straight outer pipe respectively to seal them. This forms a sealed outer pipe, while the inner and outer pipes have a gap to allow the refrigerant to flow through. Finally, connect the capillary tube and connecting pipe to the first welded sleeve 14 and the second welded sleeve 15 respectively, and connect them to the system (e.g., Figure 9 (As shown). Once the whole assembly is formed, the drain pipe 3 is connected to the water receiving tray structure in the crossbeam, which allows water to be discharged from the U-shaped pipe to the straight pipe, while the inner drain pipe can extend to the water receiving box in the external compressor cavity.

[0082] Figures 1-3 This is a schematic diagram of a combined sleeve drain pipe placed inside the refrigerator. During defrosting, water droplets from the evaporator fall into the water inlet and are discharged through the sleeve drain pipe to the water inlet box in the compressor chamber. Figure 3 The casing is arranged on the left and the centrifugal fan on the right (taking the front of the refrigerator as an example to distinguish left and right). Figure 1 Based on the cross-sectional view of the casing center section, Figure 2 This is a side view of the cross-section of the centrifugal fan's center section.

[0083] This utility model also provides a refrigerator control method as described above, which includes:

[0084] The detection step involves detecting the tube temperature of the evaporator 1;

[0085] The judgment step is to determine whether the tube temperature T0 of evaporator 1 is continuously lower than the first preset temperature T1 within the first preset time t1.

[0086] In the control steps, when T0 remains lower than T1 for a period of time t1, the system enters the strong cooling stage, controls the compressor 7 to increase its frequency, and controls the fan 23 to increase its speed; at the same time, the system controls the switching valve 10 to open the connection between the second pipeline 102 and the first pipeline 101, so that the refrigerant enters the outer pipe 4 to heat the drain pipe 3.

[0087] This is the preferred control form of the first stage of the refrigerator of this utility model. When the freezer is in a low temperature condition, the system first controls the system to enter a strong cooling stage. By increasing the frequency of the compressor and speeding up the fan, the evaporator and freezer can be quickly defrosted by the high temperature airflow. The refrigerant connection of the external pipe is opened to heat and insulate the drain pipe, thereby achieving defrosting of the drain pipe and allowing the drainage to be discharged continuously and smoothly.

[0088] Figure 8 The diagram shows the system operation with a sleeve-type drain pipe assembly. A switching valve is installed between the condenser and the anti-condensation pipe, and the switching valve is connected to the sleeve-type drain pipe assembly. During cooling operation, the switching valve is set to level one. When defrosting is required, it first enters the strong cooling stage. At this time, the compressor increases its frequency, and the cold-side fan inside the refrigerator increases its speed, lowering the freezer temperature by a certain amount, for example, from a set temperature of -18℃ to -24℃ during the strong cooling stage. After entering strong cooling or running strong cooling for a period of time, the switching valve switches to level two, as shown below. Figure 9 As shown, the high-temperature gas flow from the compressor exhaust first passes through the condenser, then flows into the outer tube of the sleeve-type drain pipe assembly, making full contact with the inner drain pipe before flowing out and entering the anti-condensation pipe. At this time, the high-temperature gas can efficiently transfer heat to the inner drain pipe, quickly melting the frost in the inner drain pipe. When a large amount of water accumulates, it is directly discharged through the inner drain pipe and evaporated in the water collection box in the compressor chamber. Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a sleeve-type drain assembly installed in a refrigerator. As you can see, only a thin insulation layer is needed to embed the entire assembly. Even if the low temperature in the freezer compartment freezes and blocks the water remaining in the inner tube of the sleeve-type drain pipe during the cooling phase, it can be quickly defrosted by high-temperature airflow during the initial strong cooling phase of defrosting. Therefore, drainage can remain unobstructed.

[0089] In some implementations...

[0090] The detection step also includes detecting the temperature of the freezer compartment 2 after entering the strong cooling stage;

[0091] The judgment step involves determining whether the difference between the temperature of the freezer compartment 2 and the second preset temperature T2 is greater than the third preset temperature T3.

[0092] In the control steps, if the temperature difference between the freezer compartment 2 and T2 is greater than T3, the strong cooling stage is ended and the defrosting stage is entered. The heater of the evaporator 1 is turned on. When entering the defrosting stage, the switching valve 10 is also controlled to close the connection between the second pipe 102 and the first pipe 101, so that the refrigerant does not enter the outer pipe 4, and the cooling direction is switched back. If the temperature difference between the freezer compartment and T2 is less than or equal to T3, the strong cooling stage is maintained.

[0093] This is the preferred control form for the second stage of this utility model, namely the control form for the defrosting stage after the strong cooling stage. When the temperature of the freezer compartment is significantly higher than the second preset temperature (indicating severe frost on the evaporator and the freezer compartment being unable to guarantee normal and effective cooling to meet the demand), the evaporator heater is turned on to defrost the evaporator. At this time, the refrigerant does not enter the external pipe to ensure that the refrigerant does not flow in the main circulation pipeline. The compressor and the refrigeration fan are stopped to prevent the degree of frost from increasing. The evaporator is heated and defrosted before the cooling is turned on again. If the temperature of the freezer compartment is not significantly higher than the second preset temperature, strong cooling is maintained (indicating that the frost on the evaporator is not severe and does not affect normal refrigeration). In this case, a large high-temperature refrigerant airflow is continuously used to defrost the evaporator.

[0094] In some implementations...

[0095] The judgment step, during the defrosting stage, determines whether the evaporator tube temperature T0 is greater than T1;

[0096] In the control steps, if T0 > T1, the defrosting stage is ended, the heater of the evaporator 1 is turned off, and the switching valve 10 is opened to connect the second pipe 102 and the first pipe 101, so that the refrigerant enters the outer pipe 4 to heat the drain pipe 3; and after heating the drain pipe 3 for a second preset time t2, the pre-cooling stage is entered, the compressor 7 is turned on, and the fan 23 is turned on after a third preset time t3; if the defrosting stage determines that T0 ≤ T1, the defrosting stage is maintained.

[0097] This is the preferred control method after the defrosting stage of this utility model. T0 > T1 indicates that the risk of frosting has been eliminated. The heater is then turned off, and the second pipeline is opened to allow refrigerant to be introduced into the outer pipe to heat the drain pipe, ensuring the heating and insulation of the drain pipe and achieving normal drainage. This allows the high-temperature gas to impact the inside of the drain pipe again when the compressor is started after the evaporator defrosts, melting and removing the ice residue remaining in the drain pipe. After heating for the second preset time, the compressor is turned on first without the fan, ensuring that the evaporator is pre-cooled for a period of time without exchanging heat with the airflow in the freezer compartment. The fan is then turned on for normal cooling when the evaporator temperature is low.

[0098] This invention stops the compressor and refrigeration fan during the evaporator defrosting process after the initial strong cooling cycle. When the compressor is restarted after evaporator defrosting, the high-temperature gas impacts the inside of the drain pipe again, melting and removing any remaining ice. Then, the switching valve is switched to position one to enter the pre-cooling stage (the refrigeration fan stops until the evaporator temperature is low enough before restarting for normal cooling). A one-way valve is connected to one end of the capillary tube of the drain pipe to prevent refrigerant from entering the drain pipe and causing backflow when the switching valve is in position one.

[0099] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this utility model and is not intended to limit the utility model. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of this utility model should be included within the protection scope of this utility model. The above description is only a preferred embodiment of this utility model. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the technical principles of this utility model, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, characterized in that: include: The evaporator (1), freezer (2), drain pipe (3), outer pipe (4), and insulation layer (5) are provided. The evaporator (1) is located above the freezer (2). The insulation layer (5) is located on one side of the freezer (2) in the horizontal direction. At least part of the structure of the drain pipe (3) is provided in the insulation layer (5). The outer pipe (4) is sleeved on the outer periphery of at least part of the drain pipe (3) or provided on the inner periphery of at least part of the drain pipe (3). The drain pipe (3) can be connected to the condensate generated by the evaporator (1). The outer pipe (4) can be connected to the refrigerant so that the refrigerant can heat the condensate and prevent the drain pipe (3) from freezing or frosting.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer tube (4) is sleeved on the outer periphery of at least a portion of the drain pipe (3), and at least a portion of the structure of the outer tube (4) is also disposed in the insulation layer (5). The insulation layer (5) is located behind the freezer compartment (2) in the horizontal direction, that is, the insulation layer (5) is located on the back side of the refrigerator.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a crossbeam (6) located above the freezer chamber (2) and extending horizontally, and the evaporator (1) is disposed on the crossbeam (6). One end of the drain pipe (3) extends to a position that can receive the condensate from the evaporator (1), and the other end extends into the insulation layer (5). The top of the insulation layer (5) is connected to the crossbeam (6). The drain pipe (3) extends along the crossbeam (6) to the top of the insulation layer (5), enters the insulation layer (5), and extends downward in the insulation layer (5).

4. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that: The refrigerator also includes a refrigeration cycle system, which includes a compressor (7), a condenser (8), an evaporator (1), a throttling device (9), and a first pipe (101). The refrigerator also includes a second pipe (102) and a third pipe (103). The first pipe (101) is connected between the condenser (8) and the throttling device (9). One end of the second pipe (102) is connected to the first pipe (101), and the other end is connected to the interior of the outer pipe (4) so ​​that refrigerant can be introduced from the first pipe (101) into the outer pipe (4). One end of the third pipe (103) is connected to the outer pipe (4), and the other end is connected to the first pipe (101) so that refrigerant in the outer pipe (4) can be discharged to the first pipe (101).

5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, characterized in that: A switching valve (10) is provided at the position where the second pipeline (102) connects to the first pipeline (101), which can switch whether the second pipeline (102) is connected to the first pipeline (101). A one-way valve (11) is provided on the third pipeline (103), which only allows refrigerant to flow from the outer pipe (4) to the first pipeline (101). It also includes a fan (23), which can drive the airflow in the freezer (2) to exchange heat through the evaporator (1) and send the heat-exchanged airflow back to the freezer (2).

6. The refrigerator according to claim 5, characterized in that: A door anti-condensation pipe (12) and a filter (13) are also provided between one end of the throttling device (9) and the switching valve (10). One end of the first pipeline (101) is connected to the condenser (8) and the other end is connected to the door anti-condensation pipe (12). The other end of the throttling device (9) is connected to one end of the evaporator (1), and the other end of the evaporator (1) is connected to the compressor (7). The second pipeline (102) and the third pipeline (103) are both capillary tubes.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 4, characterized in that: It also includes a first welding sleeve (14) and a second welding sleeve (15). The length of the drain pipe (3) is longer than that of the outer pipe (4). The drain pipe (3) enters the inner space of the outer pipe (4) from one end and exits from the other end of the outer pipe (4). The first welding sleeve (14) is provided at one end of the outer pipe (4). The first welding sleeve (14) welds one end of the outer pipe (4) to the drain pipe (3). The second welding sleeve (15) welds the other end of the outer pipe (4) to the drain pipe (3). The second pipeline (102) is connected to the inside of the first welding sleeve (14). The first welding sleeve (14) is connected to the inside of the outer pipe (4). The third pipeline (103) is connected to the inside of the second welding sleeve (15). The second welding sleeve (15) is connected to the inside of the outer pipe (4).

8. The refrigerator according to claim 4, characterized in that: The lower part of the freezer compartment (2) has a compression chamber (16), and the compressor (7) is disposed in the compression chamber (16). The compression chamber (16) is located below the insulation layer (5). The lower end of the drain pipe (3) passes through the outer pipe (4) and the insulation layer (5) and enters the compression chamber (16).

9. The refrigerator according to claim 8, characterized in that: When the crossbeam (6) is included, the drain pipe (3) includes a U-shaped pipe (17) and a straight pipe (18). The U-shaped pipe (17) is disposed on the crossbeam (6) and extends horizontally. One end of the U-shaped pipe (17) is formed as the water inlet of the drain pipe (3) to draw in the condensate of the evaporator (1). The other end of the U-shaped pipe (17) is connected to the upper end of the straight pipe (18). The straight pipe (18) extends vertically. A section of the straight pipe (18) is located inside the insulation layer (5), and the lower end of the straight pipe (18) extends through the insulation layer (5) and into the compression chamber (16).

10. The refrigerator according to claim 9, characterized in that: The outer tube (4) includes a U-shaped outer tube (19) and a straight outer tube (20). The U-shaped outer tube (19) is sleeved on the outer periphery of the U-shaped tube (17), and the straight outer tube (20) is sleeved on the outer periphery of the straight tube (18). One end of the U-shaped outer tube (19) is connected to the upper end of the straight outer tube (20) by a bend (21), and a third welding sleeve (22) is provided at the connection. The third welding sleeve (22) welds the U-shaped outer tube (19) and the bend (21) together.

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