Evaporator mechanism and refrigerator

Abstract

This application relates to the field of refrigerator refrigeration technology, and more particularly to an evaporator mechanism and a refrigerator. The evaporator mechanism includes a guide rail and an evaporator assembly. The guide rail is disposed within the refrigerator; the evaporator assembly is disposed on the guide rail and can slide along the guide rail or be locked to the guide rail; the evaporator assembly can move to different positions on the guide rail and lock to adjust the temperature of the corresponding position in the refrigerator after locking. The technical solution provided by this application can solve the problem that in the prior art, the refrigerator evaporator is generally installed in a specific position inside the refrigerator, but the position of the evaporator is difficult to adapt to the different usage needs of users for the internal space of the refrigerator, which may lead to poor cooling effect in some areas.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of refrigerator refrigeration technology, and more particularly to an evaporator mechanism and a refrigerator. Background Technology

[0002] With economic development and the improvement of people's living standards, refrigerators, as an indispensable household appliance, primarily function to maintain a low-temperature environment inside the refrigerator through a refrigeration system, thereby extending the shelf life of food. The refrigeration system of a traditional refrigerator typically includes components such as a compressor, condenser, expansion valve, and evaporator, among which the evaporator is the key component used to absorb heat.

[0003] In existing technologies, refrigerator evaporators are typically installed in a specific location inside the refrigerator. However, the location of the evaporator is difficult to adapt to the different user needs for the internal space of the refrigerator, which may result in poor cooling performance in certain areas. Utility Model Content

[0004] This application provides an evaporator mechanism and a refrigerator to solve the problem that in the prior art, the evaporator of a refrigerator is generally installed in a specific position inside the refrigerator body, but the position of the evaporator is difficult to adapt to the different users' needs for the use of the internal space of the refrigerator, which may lead to poor cooling effect in some areas.

[0005] In a first aspect, this application provides an evaporator mechanism for use in a refrigerator, comprising: A guide rail, which is disposed on the refrigerator; An evaporator assembly is disposed on the guide rail and can slide along the guide rail or be locked to the guide rail; the evaporator assembly can move to different positions on the guide rail and be locked to adjust the temperature of the corresponding position of the refrigerator after locking.

[0006] Optionally, the guide rail has a first extension section and a second extension section, one end of the first extension section is connected to the middle of the second extension section, and the first extension section and the second extension section are arranged at an angle.

[0007] Optionally, the guide rail is provided with two third extension sections, the two ends of the second extension section are respectively connected to the middle of the third extension section, and the second extension section and the third extension section are arranged at an angle.

[0008] Optionally, the evaporator assembly includes an evaporator body, an inlet pipe, and an outlet pipe, wherein the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe are both arranged around the evaporator body and communicate with the evaporator body.

[0009] Optionally, the pipe sections connected to the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe are both flexible pipes.

[0010] Optionally, the evaporator assembly includes a fan connected to the evaporator body, the fan being used to transfer cold air from the evaporator body to the refrigerator.

[0011] Optionally, the evaporator assembly is provided with a cold-collecting element, and a cold-collecting channel is opened in the cold-collecting element. The evaporator body and the fan are both located in the cold-collecting channel.

[0012] Secondly, this application also proposes a refrigerator, comprising: The enclosure contains a storage space and an installation space, and heat transfer is possible between the storage space and the installation space. The evaporator mechanism proposed in the first aspect of this application includes a guide rail disposed in the installation space; the evaporator assembly can be moved to different positions on the guide rail and locked to adjust the temperature of the corresponding position in the storage space after locking.

[0013] Optionally, a partition is provided between the storage space and the installation space, and the partition has a refrigeration air outlet and a freezer air outlet.

[0014] Optionally, the refrigerator includes a drive unit, a controller, and a temperature sensor. The drive unit is used to drive the evaporator assembly to move on the guide rail. The temperature sensor is used to detect the temperature of the storage space. The controller is electrically connected to the temperature sensor and the drive unit.

[0015] The technical solutions provided in this application have the following advantages compared with the prior art: The evaporator mechanism provided in this application achieves adjustable evaporator position by mounting the evaporator assembly on a guide rail. Specifically, the evaporator assembly is connected to the guide rail via a slider or slide rail, allowing it to move horizontally or vertically along the guide rail and lock at any position. The evaporator assembly can move along the guide rail from top to bottom or from left to right to adjust the temperature at different positions. This evaporator mechanism, with its movable evaporator assembly, significantly improves the uniformity and flexibility of cooling inside the refrigerator. This design also avoids food spoilage caused by insufficient localized cooling, improving the refrigerator's preservation performance. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application.

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example with reference numerals in the accompanying drawings. These illustrations do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments. Elements with the same reference numerals in the drawings are denoted as similar elements. Unless otherwise stated, the figures in the drawings are not to be limited by scale.

[0019] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the refrigerator structure provided in this application embodiment. Figure 1 ; Figure 2 for Figure 1 A magnified view of a portion at point A; Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the guide rail and evaporator assembly structure provided in the embodiments of this application Figure 1 ; Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the guide rail and evaporator assembly structure provided in the embodiments of this application Figure 2 ; Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the refrigerator structure provided in this application embodiment. Figure 2 ; Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the refrigerator structure provided in this application embodiment. Figure 3 ; Figure 7 This is a motion diagram of the evaporator body provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 8 A correlation curve of temperature and time in the first chamber provided for an embodiment of this application; Figure 9 A graph showing the relationship between the moving speed and time of the evaporator body in an embodiment of this application.

[0020] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1. Cabinet body; 1a. Storage space; 1b. Installation space; 11. Shelves; 1c. Refrigerator air outlet; 1d. Freezer air outlet; 2. Guide rail; 21. First extension section; 22. Second extension section; 23. Third extension section; 3. Evaporator assembly; 31. Evaporator body; 32. Liquid inlet pipe; 33. Liquid outlet pipe; 34. Fan; 35. Cold-retaining component; 35a. Cold-retaining aisle. Detailed Implementation

[0021] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0022] The following disclosure provides numerous different embodiments or examples for implementing various structures of this application. To simplify the disclosure, specific examples of components and arrangements are described below. These are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of this application. Furthermore, reference numerals and / or letters may be repeated in different examples. Such repetition is for simplification and clarity and does not in itself indicate a relationship between the various embodiments and / or arrangements discussed.

[0023] For ease of description, spatial relative terms may be used in the text to describe the relative position or movement of one element or feature relative to another element or feature, as shown in the figure. These relative terms include, for example, "inside," "outside," "middle," "outer," "below," "below," "above," "front," "back," etc. Such spatial relative terms are intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation, other than those depicted in the figure. For example, if the device in the figure undergoes a positional flip, orientation change, or change of motion, these directional indications will change accordingly. For instance, an element described as "below other elements or features" or "below other elements or features" will subsequently be oriented "above other elements or features" or "above other elements or features." Therefore, the example term "below" can include both upper and lower orientations. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or in other directions), and the spatial relative descriptors used in the text will be interpreted accordingly.

[0024] To address the technical problem that in existing refrigerators, the evaporator is typically installed in a specific location within the refrigerator body 1, but the location of the evaporator is difficult to adapt to the different user needs for the internal space of the refrigerator, which may lead to poor cooling performance in certain areas, this application provides an evaporator mechanism. By installing a guide rail 2 inside the refrigerator, the evaporator assembly 3 is slidably mounted on the guide rail 2, thereby achieving adjustable position of the evaporator assembly 3 and precisely adjusting the temperature of the evaporator assembly 3 at the corresponding location inside the refrigerator.

[0025] Figures 1 to 6An evaporator mechanism is provided in an embodiment of this application. The evaporator mechanism includes a guide rail 2 and an evaporator assembly 3. The guide rail 2 is disposed in a refrigerator. The evaporator assembly 3 is disposed in the guide rail 2 and can slide along the guide rail 2 or be locked to the guide rail 2. The evaporator assembly 3 can move to different positions on the guide rail 2 and be locked to adjust the temperature of the corresponding position in the refrigerator after locking.

[0026] In this embodiment, the guide rail 2 can be fixed to the rear wall of the refrigerator, and the evaporator assembly 3 is connected to the guide rail 2 via a sliding device, allowing it to move freely on the guide rail 2. Once the evaporator assembly 3 has moved to the desired position, it is fixed to the guide rail 2 using bolts or clips to ensure stability during operation. For example, the guide rail 2 can be designed as a straight line, with the evaporator assembly 3 engaging with the guide rail 2 via a slider. The slider is equipped with a locking mechanism, such as a clip or locking screw, to lock the evaporator assembly 3 at any position on the guide rail 2. Users can manually or via the control unit move the evaporator assembly 3 to the appropriate position and lock it according to the cooling needs of different areas inside the refrigerator, thereby achieving precise temperature adjustment in different locations within the refrigerator.

[0027] This application provides an evaporator mechanism that can slide and lock along guide rail 2, effectively solving the problem of uneven cooling caused by the fixed position of the evaporator in traditional refrigerators. This design allows the evaporator assembly 3 to be flexibly adjusted according to user needs and locked in a selected position, thereby achieving precise temperature adjustment in different areas of the refrigerator. Users can move the evaporator assembly 3 to a specific position in the refrigerator or freezer compartment and lock it according to the placement of food in the refrigerator, ensuring that the area receives a more concentrated supply of cold air, improving the cooling effect and food preservation performance. In addition, this adjustable evaporator mechanism also enhances the adaptability and flexibility of the refrigerator, meeting the needs of different users for the use of the refrigerator's internal space and improving the user experience.

[0028] Please see Figures 1 to 6 In order to enable the evaporator assembly 3 to move to the refrigerator compartment at the top and the freezer compartment at the bottom of the refrigerator, a first extension section 21 is provided at one end of the installation space 1b near the refrigerator compartment, and a second extension section 22 is provided at one end of the installation space 1b near the freezer compartment. The guide rail 2 has a first extension section 21 and a second extension section 22. One end of the first extension section 21 is connected to the middle of the second extension section 22, and the first extension section 21 and the second extension section 22 are set at an angle.

[0029] In one embodiment of this application, a first extension section 21 is disposed at one end of the refrigerator installation space 1b near the refrigerator compartment, and a second extension section 22 is disposed at one end near the freezer compartment. The first extension section 21 can extend upward along the rear wall of the refrigerator to the refrigerator compartment area, while the second extension section 22 extends from one end of the first extension section 21 to the freezer compartment area. This structure allows the evaporator assembly 3 to move along the first extension section 21 to the upper part of the refrigerator compartment or along the second extension section 22 to the lower part of the freezer compartment. The first extension section 21 and the second extension section 22 can be made of metal to ensure structural stability and durability. The evaporator assembly 3 can be connected to the guide rail 2 via a slider, and a drive motor can be mounted on the slider to realize automatic movement of the evaporator assembly 3. For example, when the user needs to quickly cool the food in the upper part of the refrigerator compartment, the evaporator assembly 3 can move along the first extension section 21 to the upper part of the refrigerator compartment; when the user needs to cool the food in the lower part of the freezer compartment, the evaporator assembly 3 can move along the second extension section 22 to the lower part of the freezer compartment.

[0030] The guide rail 2 design of this application utilizes the angle between the first extension section 21 and the second extension section 22, typically 90 degrees, to allow the guide rail 2 to extend to a greater extent within the installation space 1b. This enables the evaporator assembly 3 to move flexibly between the refrigerator and freezer compartments, significantly improving the refrigerator's cooling efficiency and flexibility. This design allows the evaporator assembly 3 to be precisely moved to the upper refrigerator compartment or the lower freezer compartment according to the user's needs, thus achieving targeted cooling for different areas. When the user places perishable food in the upper part of the refrigerator compartment, the evaporator assembly 3 can quickly move to that area, providing more efficient cooling and extending the food's shelf life. Simultaneously, this design avoids the uneven cooling problem caused by the fixed position of the evaporator in traditional refrigerators.

[0031] Please see Figures 1 to 6 In order to further expand the working space of the evaporator assembly 3, the guide rail 2 is provided with two third extension sections 23. The two ends of the second extension section 22 are respectively connected to the middle of the third extension section 23, and the second extension section 22 and the third extension section 23 are set at an angle.

[0032] In one embodiment, the second extension segment 22 can be designed to connect to the first extension segment 21 at its middle position inside the refrigerator, and two third extension segments 23 can be connected to both ends of the second extension segment 22. The second extension segment 22 can extend downward along the rear wall of the refrigerator to the freezer compartment area, while the two third extension segments 23 extend upward and downward from both ends of the second extension segment 22, respectively. This structure allows the evaporator assembly 3 to not only move along the first extension segment 21 and the second extension segment 22, but also to further extend its range of motion along the two third extension segments 23. The third extension segments 23 can be designed to form an angle of 90 degrees or any angle with the second extension segment 22 to adapt to different internal refrigerator structures and user needs. When the user needs to cool a corner area of ​​the freezer compartment, the evaporator assembly 3 can move along the third extension segments 23 to that area, providing a more uniform cooling effect.

[0033] It should be noted that this application significantly expands the working space of the evaporator assembly 3 by setting two third extension sections 23 on the guide rail 2, further improving the refrigeration flexibility and uniformity of the refrigerator. This design allows the evaporator assembly 3 to cover more areas inside the refrigerator, especially corners that are difficult to reach in traditional designs. For example, when a user places a large amount of food in a corner of the freezer, the evaporator assembly 3 can move along the third extension section 23 to that area, ensuring that the food receives sufficient cooling, thereby extending its shelf life. At the same time, the refrigerator can also add a variable temperature space, allowing for more precise control of the temperature inside the refrigerator body 1 through the movement of the evaporator assembly 3. This expanded working space can also be flexibly adjusted according to the user's usage habits and the distribution of items inside the refrigerator, providing a more personalized refrigeration solution.

[0034] Please see Figures 4 to 6 In order to improve the cooling effect of the evaporator body 31, the evaporator assembly 3 includes the evaporator body 31, the liquid inlet pipe 32 and the liquid outlet pipe 33. The liquid inlet pipe 32 and the liquid outlet pipe 33 are arranged around the evaporator body 31 and are connected to the evaporator body 31.

[0035] In one embodiment of this application, both the inlet pipe 32 and the outlet pipe 33 are arranged around and connected to the evaporator body 31. The evaporator body 31 can be designed as a flat or finned structure to increase the contact area with air and improve heat exchange efficiency. The inlet pipe 32 and the outlet pipe 33 can be spirally wound around the evaporator body 31 to ensure uniform distribution and flow of refrigerant within the evaporator body 31. The evaporator body 31 can be made of a high thermal conductivity aluminum alloy, while the portions of the inlet pipe 32 and the outlet pipe 33 surrounding the evaporator body 31 can be made of copper tubing to ensure good thermal conductivity. The refrigerant enters the evaporator body 31 through the inlet pipe 32, absorbs heat within the evaporator body 31, and then flows out through the outlet pipe 33. This design ensures more uniform flow of refrigerant within the evaporator body 31, thereby improving the cooling effect. The spirally wound inlet pipe 32 and outlet pipe 33 increase the residence time of the refrigerant within the evaporator body 31, improving the adequacy of heat exchange. The selection of materials with high thermal conductivity further enhances the performance of the evaporator. This design not only improves the refrigerator's cooling efficiency but also reduces the amount of refrigerant used, thus lowering energy consumption.

[0036] Please see Figures 1 to 6 To prevent the evaporator body 31 from moving within the installation space 1b, the rigid inlet pipe 32 and outlet pipe 33 are not suitable for this refrigerator. The pipe sections connected to the inlet pipe 32 and outlet pipe 33 are all flexible pipes.

[0037] In this embodiment, to ensure the flexibility and adaptability of the evaporator body 31 when moving within the refrigerator, the pipe sections connected to the inlet pipe 32 and the outlet pipe 33 are all designed with flexible tubing. Specifically, the pipe sections connected to the inlet pipe 32 and the outlet pipe 33 are made of materials with good flexibility and pressure resistance, such as rubber or polyurethane flexible tubing. These flexible tubings are connected to the evaporator body 31 via quick connectors to ensure reliable and airtight connections. When the evaporator body 31 moves along the guide rail 2 within the refrigerator, the flexible tubing can freely expand, contract, and bend, without being restricted by rigid tubing, thus preventing any impact on the evaporator's movement. The length of the flexible tubing can be customized according to the specific dimensions of the refrigerator, ensuring that the flexible tubing maintains sufficient slack when the evaporator is moved to any position, avoiding damage due to excessive stretching.

[0038] Please see Figures 3 to 6 In order to allow the cold air generated by the evaporator body 31 to directly enter the storage space 1a, the evaporator assembly 3 includes a fan 34, which is connected to the evaporator body 31 and is used to transfer the cold air from the evaporator body 31 to the refrigerator.

[0039] In one embodiment, a fan 34 is installed between the evaporator body 31 and the refrigerator compartment or freezer compartment, directly blowing cold air generated by the evaporator body 31 to the refrigerator compartment or freezer compartment. The fan 34 can be installed on the side of the evaporator body 31, guiding the cold air to different areas of the refrigerator compartment or freezer compartment. The fan 34 can be driven by a DC brushless motor to achieve low noise and high efficiency operation. Furthermore, the fan speed of the fan 34 is adjustable; the user can adjust the fan speed as needed via the refrigerator control panel or a mobile application, thereby controlling the flow and distribution of cold air. For example, when the user needs to quickly cool food in the refrigerator compartment, the fan 34 can be switched to high-speed mode to increase the amount of cold air delivered.

[0040] Please see Figure 3 and Figure 4 In order to gather the cold air generated by the evaporator body 31 and prevent cold air leakage, the evaporator assembly 3 is provided with a cold gathering element 35, and a cold gathering channel 35a is opened in the cold gathering element 35. The evaporator body 31 and the fan 34 are both located in the cold gathering channel 35a.

[0041] In this embodiment, the cold-collecting component 35 is made of heat-insulating material to reduce heat loss of cold air within the cold-collecting channel 35a. The cold-collecting component 35 can be made of heat-insulating materials such as polyurethane foam or vacuum insulation panels, which have good heat insulation properties and can effectively prevent heat loss of cold air during transmission. The shape of the cold-collecting channel 35a can be designed according to the dimensions of the evaporator body 31 and the fan 34, and is typically cuboid or cylindrical. The fan 34 extracts the cold air from the cold-collecting channel 35a and directly transmits it to the refrigerator's crisper or freezer compartment. This design effectively prevents cold air leakage during transmission, ensuring that cold air enters the refrigerator efficiently.

[0042] Please see Figures 1 to 6 This application also proposes a refrigerator, including a cabinet 1 and an evaporator mechanism. The cabinet 1 is provided with a storage space 1a and an installation space 1b, and heat transfer can be carried out between the storage space 1a and the installation space 1b. A guide rail 2 is provided in the installation space 1b. The evaporator assembly 3 can be moved to different positions on the guide rail 2 and locked to adjust the temperature of the corresponding position in the storage space 1a after locking.

[0043] In one embodiment of this application, the mounting space 1b of the cabinet 1 is located behind or on the side of the storage space 1a, and the guide rail 2 is fixed to the inner wall of the mounting space 1b. The evaporator assembly 3 is connected to the guide rail 2 via a sliding device (such as a slider or slide rail) and can move freely on the guide rail 2. When the evaporator assembly 3 moves to the desired position, it is fixed to the guide rail 2 by a locking device (such as an electromagnetic lock or mechanical latch). For example, the evaporator assembly 3 can move to the upper, middle, or lower part of the refrigerator compartment, as well as different positions in the freezer compartment, and lock in each position. The user can select the area that needs to be refrigerated via buttons on the refrigerator control panel or a mobile application, and the control unit drives the evaporator assembly 3 to move to the corresponding position and lock it according to the selection.

[0044] This application significantly improves the refrigerator's cooling flexibility and temperature control accuracy by incorporating a movable and lockable evaporator assembly 3 within the refrigerator. This design allows the evaporator assembly 3 to be moved to different locations within the refrigerator and locked according to user needs, ensuring sufficient cooling for specific areas and thus improving the uniformity and efficiency of cooling. For example, when a user places perishable food in the upper part of the refrigerator compartment, the evaporator assembly 3 can be moved to that area and locked, extending the food's shelf life. Furthermore, this design reduces uneven cooling caused by a fixed evaporator position, improving the overall performance of the refrigerator. Through precise temperature control, the refrigerator can operate more efficiently, reducing energy consumption, while providing users with a more personalized and efficient cooling solution, enhancing the user experience.

[0045] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 5 as well as Figure 6 In order to allow the cold air generated by the evaporator assembly 3 to smoothly enter the location that needs to be refrigerated and to facilitate the storage of items in the refrigerator, a partition 11 is provided between the storage space 1a and the installation space 1b. The partition 11 has a refrigeration air outlet 1c and a freezer air outlet 1d.

[0046] In this embodiment, the partition 11 can be installed inside the refrigerator to separate the storage space 1a from the installation space 1b. The refrigerator air outlet 1c is located at the end of the partition 11 near the first extension section 21, while the freezer air outlet 1d is located at the end of the partition 11 near the second extension section 22. The first extension section 21 is located in the upper part of the refrigerator compartment, and the second extension section 22 is located in the lower part of the freezer compartment. The refrigerator air outlet 1c and the freezer air outlet 1d on the partition 11 correspond to these two areas respectively. When the evaporator assembly 3 moves to the upper part of the refrigerator compartment, cold air enters the refrigerator compartment through the refrigerator air outlet 1c; when the evaporator assembly 3 moves to the lower part of the freezer compartment, cold air enters the freezer compartment through the freezer air outlet 1d. The refrigerator air outlet 1c and the freezer air outlet 1d can be designed as multiple small holes or elongated openings to ensure that the cold air is evenly distributed. Furthermore, the air outlets can be equipped with adjustable dampers, allowing users to adjust the flow and direction of the cold air as needed. This application ensures that the cold air generated by the evaporator assembly 3 can smoothly and accurately enter the areas requiring cooling by setting a refrigerator air outlet 1c and a freezer air outlet 1d on the partition 11, while improving the utilization efficiency of the refrigerator's internal space. This design allows cold air to flow directly to the key areas of the refrigerator and freezer compartments, avoiding disordered flow of cold air inside the refrigerator, thereby improving cooling efficiency and uniformity.

[0047] Please see Figures 1 to 6 In order to achieve automatic temperature regulation within the storage space 1a, the refrigerator includes a drive unit, a controller, and a temperature sensor. The drive unit is used to drive the evaporator assembly 3 to move on the guide rail 2, the temperature sensor is used to detect the temperature of the storage space 1a, and the controller is electrically connected to the temperature sensor and the drive unit.

[0048] In one embodiment, a drive unit is mounted on the evaporator assembly 3 or near the guide rail 2 to drive the evaporator assembly 3 to move on the guide rail 2. Temperature sensors are installed at different locations in the storage space 1a to detect the actual temperature within the storage space 1a. The controller is electrically connected to the temperature sensors and the drive unit to form a closed-loop control system. For example, the temperature sensors can be thermistors or semiconductor temperature sensors, which can detect temperature changes in real time and transmit signals to the controller. Based on a preset temperature range and the actual detected temperature value, the controller sends instructions to the drive unit to move the evaporator assembly 3 to the optimal position. The drive unit can be a stepper motor or a servo motor, which can precisely control the movement position and speed of the evaporator assembly 3. For example, when the temperature sensor in the refrigerator compartment detects a temperature higher than a preset value, the controller instructs the drive unit to move the evaporator assembly 3 to the corresponding position in the refrigerator compartment to increase the cold air supply until the temperature returns to the preset range.

[0049] The refrigerator of this application includes a controller and a temperature sensor. The storage space of the refrigerator includes at least two compartments, and the at least two compartments include a first compartment; the first compartment is a freezer compartment. In the initial state, the position of the evaporator assembly on the guide rail corresponds to the position of the compartment outside the freezer. The preset temperature range t of the first compartment is T1≤t≤T2, which is generally -14℃ to -10℃. The temperature T1d in the first chamber was measured; When the temperature sensor inside the freezer compartment detects a temperature Tld ≥ T2, the freezer compartment needs cooling. The controller then moves the evaporator assembly 3 to the freezer compartment to perform cooling. When Tld ≤ T1, the freezer compartment does not need cooling, and the controller moves the evaporator assembly away from the freezer compartment. By controlling the movement of the evaporator assembly 3 to perform cooling, the system can accurately cool the areas inside the refrigerator that require cooling, effectively preventing energy waste and ensuring timely cooling.

[0050] In one embodiment, the temperature of a second compartment adjacent to the first compartment is detected to determine whether it needs to be cooled down, wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment, respectively; If cooling is required, when Tld is greater than T1 and Tld-T1 is less than the preset value T0, the controller controls the evaporator assembly to move between the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment. The preset value T0 can be set from 1°C to 3°C, but the preset value T0 cannot be greater than Tld-T1, i.e., 4°C. When Tld≤T1, the first chamber does not require cooling, and the controller controls the evaporator assembly to move away from the position of the first chamber.

[0051] In specific embodiments, the foregoing embodiments are described as follows: the first compartment and the second compartment are the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment, respectively. In other embodiments, the refrigerator may also include a fresh food compartment, for a total of three compartments.

[0052] Taking the freezer and refrigerator compartments as an example, the temperature range of the freezer compartment is -14℃ to -10℃. When the temperature Tld of the freezer compartment is -12℃ and the preset temperature T0 is 3℃, Tld-T1 is less than the preset value T0. At this time, the controller controls the evaporator assembly 3 to move between the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment to reduce the cooling of the freezer compartment. When the temperature Tld of the freezer compartment is -15℃, and when Tld≤T1, the first compartment does not need to be refrigerated. The controller controls the evaporator assembly 3 to move away from the freezer compartment and refrigerate the refrigerator compartment separately.

[0053] It should be noted that this method can further save refrigerator energy. When Tld is greater than T1 and Tld-T1 is less than the preset value T0, the evaporator assembly is located between the freezer and refrigerator compartments, which can cool both the freezer and refrigerator compartments at the same time, preventing defrosting inside the freezer compartment while cooling the refrigerator compartment.

[0054] In this embodiment, when Tld is greater than T1 and Tld-T1 is less than a preset value T0, the controller controls the evaporator assembly to move between the first and second chambers, including: Please see Figure 7 T0 is divided into N equal parts. The evaporator assembly is moved in N steps. First, 1 / N is moved, that is, (N-1) / N is in the first chamber, 1 / N is in the second chamber, 2 / N is moved the second time, and 3 / N is moved the third time.

[0055] In specific embodiments, the foregoing embodiments are described as follows: the refrigerator includes two compartments, a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment; in other embodiments, the refrigerator may also include a fresh food compartment, for a total of three compartments.

[0056] Taking the freezer and refrigerator compartments as an example, the temperature range of the freezer compartment is -14℃ to -10℃.

[0057] When using evaporator assembly 3 to cool the freezer compartment, in the aforementioned embodiment, the temperature is directly lowered to the lower limit of the freezer compartment's temperature before moving evaporator assembly 3. In practical applications, if evaporator assembly 3 is moved after the temperature has been lowered to the lower limit, it will continue to cool the freezer compartment during the movement, causing the temperature to remain below the lower limit. For example, if the ideal temperature range for a certain food item is -14°C to -10°C, in this case, evaporator assembly 3 will continue to lower the temperature after the freezer compartment has reached -14°C, potentially reducing it to -16°C, which could damage the items inside the freezer compartment.

[0058] In this embodiment of the application, T0 is set to 1°C. When the temperature drops to -13°C, the evaporator assembly 3 is moved in advance so that the evaporator assembly 3 continues to cool down to -14°C during the movement. When the temperature reaches -14°C, the evaporator assembly 3 has little impact on the temperature of the freezer compartment.

[0059] This embodiment divides the movement of the evaporator assembly into multiple equal micro-intervals, specifically set according to the evaporator assembly's cooling performance. This adjustment can effectively finely control the movement of the evaporator assembly, further stabilizing the temperature control of the freezer and refrigerator compartments inside the refrigerator. In specific implementation, N can be 4, 5, or 6. Through the temperature change of the preset value T0, the controller controls the evaporator assembly to make minute position adjustments. Each temperature value corresponds to a segment of the evaporator assembly's movement position, achieving fine control of the evaporator's position and fine adjustment of its temperature.

[0060] In one embodiment, it is detected whether the temperature of the second chamber adjacent to the first chamber needs to be cooled; If cooling is required, when Tld is greater than T1 and Tld-T1 is less than the preset value T0, the cooling rate of the first chamber is obtained, and the moving speed of the evaporator assembly is determined based on the cooling rate. The evaporator assembly is moved between the first and second chambers according to the moving speed; When Tld≤T1, the first chamber does not require cooling, and the controller controls the evaporator assembly to move away from the position of the first chamber.

[0061] When using evaporator assembly 3 to cool the freezer compartment, in the aforementioned embodiment, the temperature is directly lowered to the lower limit of the freezer compartment's temperature before moving evaporator assembly 3. In practical applications, if evaporator assembly 3 is moved after the temperature has been lowered to the lower limit, it will continue to cool the freezer compartment during the movement, causing the temperature to remain below the lower limit. For example, if the ideal temperature range for a certain food item is -14°C to -10°C, in this case, evaporator assembly 3 will continue to lower the temperature after the freezer compartment has reached -14°C, potentially reducing it to -16°C, which could damage the items inside the freezer compartment.

[0062] In this embodiment of the application, when the temperature drops to -13°C, the evaporator is moved in advance so that the evaporator continues to cool down to -14°C during the movement, and when it reaches -14°C, the evaporator has little impact on the temperature of the freezer compartment.

[0063] Please see Figure 8 As shown in the table below, when a refrigerator cools down, the temperature drops faster at high temperatures and slower at low temperatures. For example, ice cubes placed at room temperature initially heat up slowly and melt slowly, but melt faster as the temperature rises. In this embodiment, the cooling rate of the freezer compartment is statistically analyzed.

[0064]

[0065] Please see Figure 8 and Figure 9By calculating the cooling rate Vh from -13℃ to -14℃, the time t for the temperature to drop from -13℃ to -14℃ is determined.

[0066] The length L of the evaporator assembly 3 from the edge of the freezer compartment is obtained. Since the evaporator assembly 3 needs to move beyond the edge of the freezer compartment within t seconds starting at -13℃, the speed of the evaporator assembly 3 during movement is VL = L / t. However, under normal circumstances, the cooling rate of the refrigerator will gradually slow down as the temperature decreases. At this time, VL = L / (ΔH / vh), where ΔH is the amount of temperature drop in the freezer compartment per unit time.

[0067] The dynamic adjustment mechanism of the evaporator assembly is further refined through temperature control of the refrigerator. This method first detects whether the temperature of the refrigerator compartment adjacent to the freezer compartment needs to be lowered. If the detection result indicates that the refrigerator compartment needs to be lowered, and the target temperature (Tld) of the freezer compartment is greater than the current temperature (T1) of the freezer compartment, while the temperature difference between the two (Tld-T1) is less than a preset value (T0), the system will obtain the cooling rate of the freezer compartment. Based on this cooling rate, the controller calculates and determines the moving speed of the evaporator assembly to ensure that the cooling capacity can be efficiently and accurately transferred from the freezer compartment to the refrigerator compartment. The controller controls the evaporator assembly to move between the freezer and refrigerator compartments according to the calculated moving speed, realizing the dynamic distribution of cooling capacity. If the target temperature (Tld) of the freezer compartment is less than or equal to the current temperature (T1) of the freezer compartment, it indicates that the freezer compartment does not need cooling. In this case, the controller will instruct the evaporator assembly to move away from the freezer compartment position to avoid unnecessary energy consumption.

[0068] This embodiment of the refrigerator temperature control method further enhances the refrigerator's intelligence and cooling efficiency by introducing a temperature detection and dynamic adjustment mechanism for the refrigerator compartment. This method can precisely adjust the movement speed and position of the evaporator assembly based on the temperature requirements and actual temperature differences between adjacent compartments, ensuring efficient and reasonable distribution of cooling capacity among different compartments. Between the refrigerator and freezer compartments, this method effectively avoids increased energy consumption and poor cooling performance caused by excessive concentration or uneven distribution of cooling capacity. By dynamically adjusting the position of the evaporator assembly, this method not only improves the refrigerator's cooling efficiency but also extends the shelf life of food, while reducing energy consumption and enhancing the user experience.

[0069] It should be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular exemplary embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “described” as used herein may also include the plural forms. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” and “having” are inclusive and therefore indicate the presence of the stated features, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or combinations thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not construed as requiring them to be performed in a particular order described or illustrated unless the order of performance is explicitly indicated. It should also be understood that additional or alternative steps may be used.

[0070] Although terms such as first, second, third, etc., may be used in this document to describe multiple elements, components, regions, layers, and / or segments, these elements, components, regions, layers, and / or segments should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be used only to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, or segment from another. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, terms such as "first," "second," and other numerical terms used herein do not imply order or sequence. Therefore, the first element, component, region, layer, or segment discussed below may be referred to as the second element, component, region, layer, or segment without departing from the teachings of the exemplary embodiments.

[0071] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, enabling those skilled in the art to understand or implement this application. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this application. Therefore, this application is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features claimed herein.

Claims

1. An evaporator mechanism applied to a refrigerator, characterized by, include: Guide rail (2), the guide rail (2) is disposed on the refrigerator; Evaporator assembly (3), the evaporator assembly (3) is disposed on the guide rail (2) and can slide along the guide rail (2) or be locked to the guide rail (2); the evaporator assembly (3) can move to different positions on the guide rail (2) and be locked to adjust the temperature of the corresponding position of the refrigerator after locking.

2. The evaporator mechanism according to claim 1, characterized by The guide rail (2) has a first extension section (21) and a second extension section (22), one end of the first extension section (21) is connected to the middle of the second extension section (22), and the first extension section (21) and the second extension section (22) are set at an angle.

3. The evaporator mechanism of claim 2, wherein, The guide rail (2) is provided with two third extension sections (23). The two ends of the second extension section (22) are respectively connected to the middle of the third extension section (23). The second extension section (22) and the third extension section (23) are set at an angle.

4. The evaporator mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by, The evaporator assembly (3) includes an evaporator body (31), an inlet pipe (32), and an outlet pipe (33). The inlet pipe (32) and the outlet pipe (33) are both arranged around the evaporator body (31) and communicate with the evaporator body (31).

5. The evaporator mechanism of claim 4, wherein, The pipe sections connected to the inlet pipe (32) and the outlet pipe (33) are all flexible pipes.

6. The evaporator mechanism of claim 5, wherein, The evaporator assembly (3) includes a fan (34) connected to the evaporator body (31) and the fan (34) is used to transfer the cold air from the evaporator body (31) to the refrigerator.

7. The evaporator mechanism of claim 6, wherein, The evaporator assembly (3) is provided with a cold-collecting element (35), and a cold-collecting channel (35a) is opened in the cold-collecting element (35). The evaporator body (31) and the fan (34) are both located in the cold-collecting channel (35a).

8. A refrigerator characterized by comprising: include: The box (1) has a storage space (1a) and an installation space (1b) inside, and heat transfer can be carried out between the storage space (1a) and the installation space (1b); According to any one of claims 1-7, the guide rail (2) is provided in the installation space (1b); the evaporator assembly (3) can be moved to different positions on the guide rail (2) and locked to adjust the temperature of the corresponding position of the storage space (1a) after locking.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 8, characterized in that, A partition (11) is provided between the storage space (1a) and the installation space (1b), and the partition (11) has a refrigeration air outlet (1c) and a freezer air outlet (1d).

10. The refrigerator according to claim 8, characterized in that, The refrigerator includes a drive unit, a controller, and a temperature sensor. The drive unit is used to drive the evaporator assembly (3) to move on the guide rail (2). The temperature sensor is used to detect the temperature of the storage space (1a). The controller is electrically connected to the temperature sensor and the drive unit.

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