A refrigerator

Abstract

This utility model relates to a refrigerator, comprising: a hollow interior and an open front; a drawer for storing items, movable in and out of the open front of the refrigerator, the drawer having a panel and a heat insulation layer behind the panel; further comprising: a heating element disposed between the heat insulation layer and the panel; a conductive sheet for connecting to a power circuit disposed in the refrigerator body; and a contact switch disposed in the drawer and connected to the heating element, wherein the contact switch is triggered when the drawer enters the refrigerator body and closes the open front of the refrigerator body; and the contact switch disengages from the conductive sheet when the drawer moves out of the refrigerator body and opens the open front of the refrigerator body. This utility model reduces costs while preventing condensation on the front panel of the drawer.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] Refrigerators, as a common household appliance, are frequently used to refrigerate and / or freeze food and household goods. During rainy weather, condensation may occur on the door of a household refrigerator due to high humidity and insufficient foam insulation, especially on the front panel of drawer-type doors.

[0003] Traditional solutions for preventing condensation on drawer doors involve using the drawer panel and a thermal insulation foam layer to isolate cold air conduction, or adding a vacuum insulation board between the drawer panel and the foam layer, or increasing the thickness of the foam layer. However, adding a vacuum insulation board increases costs, and increasing the thickness of the foam layer increases the drawer thickness, overall weight, and cost. Utility Model Content

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to provide a refrigerator that can reduce costs and prevent condensation from appearing on the front panel of the drawers, in light of the current state of the technology.

[0005] The technical solution adopted by this utility model to solve the above-mentioned technical problems is: a refrigerator, comprising:

[0006] The box-shaped structure is hollow inside and has an open front.

[0007] The drawer for storing items can move back and forth into and out of the front opening of the box, and the front of the drawer is provided with a panel and a heat insulation layer located behind the panel.

[0008] Its characteristic is that it also includes:

[0009] A heating element is disposed between the heat insulation layer and the panel;

[0010] A conductive sheet for connecting the power supply circuit is provided in the housing;

[0011] A contact switch is disposed in the drawer and connected to the heating element. When the drawer enters the cabinet and closes the front opening of the cabinet, the contact switch contacts the conductive sheet and is triggered; when the drawer moves out of the cabinet and opens the front opening of the cabinet, the contact switch disengages from the conductive sheet.

[0012] Therefore, when the drawer enters the cabinet and closes the front opening, the heating element, connected to the power circuit via a conductive sheet, operates to provide heat, preventing condensation on the front panel of the drawer. Furthermore, the interaction between the contact switch and the conductive sheet in this invention does not affect the drawer's opening and closing. Moreover, compared to adding insulation boards or thickening the insulation layer, the design cost of the heating element, conductive sheet, and contact switch in this invention is lower, and it does not increase the drawer's thickness.

[0013] Preferably, the contact switch and the conductive sheet generate an attractive magnetic force, causing the contact switch and the conductive sheet to magnetically attract each other when the drawer enters the cabinet and closes the front opening of the cabinet. This magnetic attraction allows for more stable contact between the contact switch and the conductive sheet to trigger the contact switch. Simultaneously, the magnetic structure more stably restrains the drawer within the cabinet and does not hinder the drawer from overcoming the magnetic attraction and moving out of the cabinet under external force.

[0014] Preferably, the conductive sheet is magnetic. The contact switch is preferably a conventional magnetic conductive contact switch.

[0015] In the above scheme, preferably, there are two conductive sheets, which are located opposite each other on the left and right sides of the cabinet; the number of contact switches matches the number of conductive sheets, and each contact switch is located on the left and right sides of the drawer corresponding to its respective conductive sheet.

[0016] Furthermore, the heating element is a heating wire arranged in a meandering pattern, with each end of the heating wire connected to a corresponding contact switch. This ensures heating of the panel and prevents condensation from forming on the panel.

[0017] Furthermore, the side wall of the cabinet is provided with a first mounting groove for constraining the conductive sheet, and correspondingly, the side of the drawer is provided with a second mounting groove for constraining the contact switch. When the drawer enters the cabinet and closes the front opening of the cabinet, the openings of the first mounting groove and the second mounting groove are aligned. The design of the first and second mounting grooves can constrain the conductive sheet and the contact switch respectively, without affecting the forward and backward movement of the drawer or the operation between the conductive sheet and the contact switch.

[0018] In the above-mentioned solutions, preferably, the following further includes:

[0019] A temperature and humidity sensor, located on the panel, is used to detect the temperature and humidity of the external environment;

[0020] The controller, connected to the temperature and humidity sensor and the power supply circuit, controls the operation of the power supply circuit based on the signal output by the temperature and humidity sensor. Thus, when the temperature and humidity parameters of the external environment reach a preset range, the controller activates the power supply circuit to power the heating element, thereby removing condensation from the panel surface.

[0021] Compared with existing technologies, the advantages of this invention are as follows: Through the arrangement of the heating element, conductive sheet, and contact switch, when the drawer enters the cabinet and the front opening of the cabinet is closed, the heating element, connected to the power circuit via the conductive sheet, can operate and provide heat, preventing condensation on the front panel of the drawer. Furthermore, the cooperation between the contact switch and the conductive sheet in this invention does not affect the opening and closing of the drawer. At the same time, compared to adding insulation boards or thickening the insulation layer, the design cost of the heating element, conductive sheet, and contact switch in this invention is lower, and it does not additionally increase the thickness of the drawer. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0023] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of a partial structure of an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0024] Figure 3 This is a longitudinal sectional view of a partial structure of an embodiment of the present utility model. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0026] like Figures 1-3 The image shows a preferred embodiment of a refrigerator according to the present invention. The refrigerator includes a cabinet 1, a drawer 2, a heating element 3, a conductive sheet, a contact switch, a temperature and humidity sensor 4, and a controller.

[0027] The front side is the side of the box 1 facing the user. The interior of the box 1 is hollow and the front is open.

[0028] The drawer 2, used for storing items, can move back and forth into and out of the front opening of the cabinet 1. The front of the drawer 2 is provided with a panel 21 and a foam layer behind the panel 21 as a heat insulation layer 22. The design of the panel 21 and the heat insulation layer 22 are conventional designs of existing refrigerators and will not be described in detail here.

[0029] The heating element 3 is a conventional heating wire (preferably a resistance heating wire), arranged in a tortuous manner between the heat insulation layer 22 and the panel 21 to heat the panel 21 over a larger area. The two ends of the heating wire are located on the left and right sides of the drawer 2.

[0030] There are two conductive plates connecting the power supply circuit, respectively located on the left and right sides of the housing 1. Specifically, the side wall of the housing 1 is provided with a first mounting groove 11 for constraining the corresponding conductive plate, with the openings of the two first mounting grooves 11 facing each other from left to right. The conductive plates are existing technology, have magnetic properties, and are embedded in their respective first mounting grooves 11.

[0031] There are two contact switches, located on the left and right sides of drawer 2, and connected to both ends of the heating wire. When drawer 2 enters the housing 1 and closes the front opening of housing 1, each contact switch is magnetically attracted to its corresponding conductive sheet and triggered. When drawer 2 moves out of housing 1 and opens the front opening of housing 1, the contact switch disengages from the conductive sheet. In this embodiment, the contact switches are existing magnetic conductive contact switches. To install the contact switches, the left and right sides of drawer 2 are respectively provided with second mounting grooves 23 for constraining their respective contact switches. When drawer 2 enters the housing 1 and closes the front opening of housing 1, the opening of the second mounting groove 23 on the left side of the drawer is opposite to the opening of the first mounting groove 11 on the left side of the housing, and the opening of the second mounting groove 23 on the right side of the drawer is opposite to the opening of the first mounting groove 11 on the right side of the housing. This allows the corresponding contact switches to come into close contact with the conductive sheet through magnetic attraction after the drawer enters the housing, forming a circuit to supply power to the heating wire and make the heating wire work. In this embodiment, the contact switch is constrained within the second mounting groove 23 by elastic elements such as springs and spring sheets. When the drawer 2 enters the housing 1 and closes the front opening of the housing 1, the contact switch overcomes the elasticity of the elastic element and moves towards the corresponding conductive sheet, magnetically attracting it. When the drawer is removed, the contact switch is embedded in the second mounting groove 23 under the action of the elastic element.

[0032] The temperature and humidity sensor 4 mentioned above is located on panel 21 and is used to detect the temperature and humidity of the external environment.

[0033] The controller is connected to the temperature and humidity sensor 4 and the power supply circuit, and is used to control the operation of the power supply circuit according to the signal output by the temperature and humidity sensor 4.

[0034] In the specification and claims of this utility model, terms indicating direction, such as "front," "rear," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "side," "top," and "bottom," are used to describe various exemplary structural parts and elements of this utility model. However, the use of these terms is merely for the purpose of explanation and is based on the exemplary orientations shown in the accompanying drawings. Since the embodiments disclosed in this utility model can be arranged in different orientations, these terms indicating direction are for illustrative purposes only and should not be regarded as limitations. For example, "upper" and "lower" are not necessarily limited to directions opposite to or consistent with the direction of gravity.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, comprising: The box (1) is hollow inside and open at the front; The drawer (2) for storing items can move back and forth into and out of the front opening of the box (1), and the front side of the drawer (2) is provided with a panel (21) and a heat insulation layer (22) located behind the panel (21). characterized in that It also includes: A heating element (3) is disposed between the heat insulation layer (22) and the panel (21); A conductive sheet for connecting the power supply circuit is provided in the housing (1); A contact switch is provided in the drawer (2) and connected to the heating element (3). When the drawer (2) enters the box (1) and closes the front opening of the box (1), the contact switch contacts the conductive sheet and is triggered; when the drawer (2) moves out of the box (1) and opens the front opening of the box (1), the contact switch disengages from the conductive sheet.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The contact switch and the conductive sheet can generate a magnetic attraction, so that when the drawer (2) enters the box (1) and closes the front opening of the box (1), the contact switch and the conductive sheet are magnetically attracted together.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, characterized in that: The conductive sheet is magnetic.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that: There are two conductive sheets, which are located on the left and right sides of the box (1); the number of contact switches matches the number of conductive sheets, and each contact switch is located on the left and right sides of the drawer (2) corresponding to its respective conductive sheet.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, characterized in that: The heating element (3) is a heating wire arranged in a meandering manner, with each end of the heating wire connected to its corresponding contact switch.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 4, characterized in that: The side wall of the box (1) is provided with a first mounting groove (11) for constraining the conductive sheet therein. Correspondingly, the side of the drawer (2) is provided with a second mounting groove (23) for constraining the contact switch therein. When the drawer (2) enters the box (1) and closes the front opening of the box (1), the opening of the first mounting groove (11) is opposite to the opening of the second mounting groove (23).

7. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: It also includes: A temperature and humidity sensor (4) is provided on the panel (21) for detecting the temperature and humidity of the external environment; The controller is connected to the temperature and humidity sensor (4) and the power supply circuit, and is used to control the operation of the power supply circuit according to the signal output by the temperature and humidity sensor (4).

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