Refrigerator

Abstract

This application relates to the field of refrigeration equipment technology, and provides a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a cabinet, a drain pipe, a compressor, and a drip tray. The cabinet has an evaporator chamber for housing an evaporator, and a drain outlet is provided at the bottom of the evaporator chamber. One end of the drain pipe is connected to the drain outlet. The compressor includes a housing, and the drain pipe at least partially abuts against the housing. The drip tray is connected to the end of the drain pipe away from the drain outlet. By configuring the drain pipe to at least partially abut against the compressor housing, the large amount of heat generated by the compressor during normal refrigerator operation can be directly and efficiently transferred to the drain pipe through the housing. The drain pipe then transfers the heat to the drain outlet, reducing the possibility of ice blockage at the drain outlet and ensuring the normal operation of the refrigerator.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of refrigeration equipment technology, and in particular relates to a refrigerator. Background Technology

[0002] In related technologies, the drainage system of frost-cooled refrigerators typically uses a simple drain pipe design to drain defrost water and condensate from the refrigerator compartment. However, due to the low-temperature environment inside the refrigerator, the drain outlet is prone to ice blockage, preventing defrost water from draining smoothly and affecting the refrigerator's normal defrosting and drainage functions. Utility Model Content

[0003] This application provides a refrigerator to solve the problem of ice forming easily at the drain outlet of existing refrigerators.

[0004] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a refrigerator, comprising:

[0005] The housing has an evaporator chamber for housing the evaporator, and a drain outlet is provided at the bottom of the evaporator chamber;

[0006] A drain pipe, one end of which is connected to the drain outlet;

[0007] A compressor, including a housing, wherein the drain pipe at least partially abuts against the housing;

[0008] A water collection tray is connected to the end of the drain pipe furthest from the drain outlet.

[0009] In some embodiments of this application, the outer surface of the housing is provided with a mounting groove, and the drain pipe is at least partially accommodated in the mounting groove.

[0010] In some embodiments of this application, the mounting groove is located at the top of the housing;

[0011] And / or, the mounting groove is provided in a spiral shape around the outer surface of the housing.

[0012] In some embodiments of this application, the drain pipe includes:

[0013] The first connecting section connects to the drain outlet;

[0014] The second connecting section connects to the water receiving tray;

[0015] A heat-conducting section connects the first connecting section and the second connecting section, and the heat-conducting section is accommodated within the mounting groove.

[0016] In some embodiments of this application, a buckle is provided in the mounting groove, and when the drain pipe is accommodated in the mounting groove, the buckle engages with the outer wall of the drain pipe.

[0017] In some embodiments of this application, the number of the buckles is multiple, and the multiple buckles are spaced apart along the extension direction of the mounting groove.

[0018] In some embodiments of this application, the drain pipe is provided with a first heat-conducting element, one end of which is connected to the drain pipe, and the other end of which abuts against the inner wall of the water receiving tray, or the other end of which extends to below the liquid level in the water receiving tray.

[0019] In some embodiments of this application, the drain pipe and the first heat-conducting component are an integral structure;

[0020] And / or, the refrigerator further includes a second heat-conducting element, one end of which is connected to the housing and the other end of which is connected to the drip tray.

[0021] In some embodiments of this application, the refrigerator further includes:

[0022] A temperature sensor is installed at the drain outlet to acquire temperature information of the drain outlet;

[0023] A heating element is provided at the drain outlet;

[0024] A controller is electrically connected to the temperature sensor and the heating element, and the controller is configured to control the heating element to turn on or off based on the temperature information.

[0025] In some embodiments of this application, at least one of the outer surfaces of the housing and the drain pipe is provided with a heat-conducting layer.

[0026] The refrigerator provided in this application includes a cabinet, a drain pipe, a compressor, and a drip tray. The cabinet has an evaporator chamber for housing an evaporator, and a drain outlet is provided at the bottom of the evaporator chamber. One end of the drain pipe is connected to the drain outlet. The compressor includes a housing, and the drain pipe at least partially abuts against the housing. The drip tray is connected to the end of the drain pipe away from the drain outlet. By configuring the drain pipe to at least partially abut against the compressor housing, the large amount of heat generated by the compressor during normal refrigerator cooling operation can be directly and efficiently transferred to the drain pipe through the housing. The drain pipe then transfers the heat to the drain outlet, reducing the possibility of ice blockage at the drain outlet and ensuring the refrigerator can operate normally.

[0027] Additional aspects and advantages of this application will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of this application. Attached Figure Description

[0028] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0029] To gain a more complete understanding of this application and its beneficial effects, the following description will be provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the following description, the same reference numerals denote the same parts.

[0030] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0031] Figure 2 This is a partial schematic diagram of a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0032] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection between the drain pipe and the compressor provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0033] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the connection of the second heat-conducting component provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0034] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection between the drain pipe and the water receiving tray provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0035] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating the refrigerator control method provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0036] Figure label:

[0037] 100. Housing; 110. Evaporator chamber; 111. Drain outlet;

[0038] 200, Drain pipe; 210, First connecting section; 220, Second connecting section; 230, Heat-conducting section; 240, First heat-conducting component;

[0039] 300, Compressor; 310, Housing; 311, Mounting slot; 320, Second heat-conducting component;

[0040] 400. Water tray. Detailed Implementation

[0041] The embodiments of this application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. The following examples are used to illustrate this application, but should not be used to limit the scope of this application.

[0042] In the description of the embodiments of this application, it should be noted that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the embodiments of this application. In addition, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0043] In the description of the embodiments of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected" and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0044] In the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "on top of," and "over" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0045] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment or example, which are included in at least one embodiment or example of the embodiments of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0046] In related technologies, existing air-cooled refrigerator drainage systems typically employ a simple drain pipe design to drain defrost water and condensate from the refrigerator compartments. However, due to the low-temperature environment inside the refrigerator, ice blockage can easily occur at the drain outlet, preventing defrost water from draining smoothly and affecting the normal operation of the refrigerator.

[0047] This application provides a refrigerator to solve the problem of ice easily forming at the drain outlet of existing refrigerators. The following will be discussed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Figures 1-6 Please provide an explanation.

[0048] The refrigerator provided in this application embodiment is referenced. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the device includes a housing 100, a drain pipe 200, a compressor 300, and a drip tray 400. The housing 100 has an evaporator chamber 110 for accommodating an evaporator, and a drain outlet 111 is provided at the bottom of the evaporator chamber 110. One end of the drain pipe 200 is connected to the drain outlet 111. The compressor 300 includes a housing 310, and the drain pipe 200 at least partially abuts against the housing 310. The drip tray 400 is connected to the end of the drain pipe 200 away from the drain outlet 111.

[0049] In this embodiment, the cabinet 100 serves as the main frame of the refrigerator, and its interior contains multiple storage compartments for storing food, such as a refrigerator compartment, a freezer compartment, and a variable temperature compartment. An evaporator chamber 110 is also defined within the cabinet 100. The evaporator chamber 110 houses the evaporator, which exchanges heat with the airflow flowing through it, thereby generating a cooling airflow to supply the storage compartments and cool them.

[0050] Furthermore, a defrosting heater can also be installed in the evaporator chamber 110 to heat and defrost the evaporator. When the evaporator defrosts, defrosting water is generated. The defrosting water is discharged through the drain outlet 111 at the bottom of the evaporator chamber 110 and through the drain pipe 200 to the water collection tray 400. The water collection tray 400 is used to collect the defrosting water flowing out from the drain pipe 200.

[0051] The compressor 300 is typically located in the compressor compartment at the bottom of the refrigerator. During operation, it generates a large amount of heat by compressing refrigerant gas, causing a significant increase in the surface temperature of the compressor housing 310. By directly and physically contacting at least a portion of the drain pipe 200 with the compressor housing 310, a tight and stable contact is ensured to form an efficient heat transfer path. For example, a section of the drain pipe 200 can be directly secured or bundled to the top or side outer surface of the compressor housing 310; or a special groove or boss can be provided on the compressor housing 310 to fix and position the drain pipe 200, ensuring a certain contact pressure; alternatively, a metal clamp or thermally conductive tape with good thermal conductivity can be used to firmly press the drain pipe 200 onto the compressor housing 310, further optimizing heat transfer efficiency.

[0052] The heat generated by the compressor 300 is continuously transferred to the drain pipe 200 and drain outlet 111 through heat conduction, ensuring that the temperature of the drain outlet 111 and drain pipe 200 is always maintained above the freezing point (0℃). This reduces the possibility of ice formation on the drain outlet 111 and drain pipe 200, ensuring smooth drainage of defrost water and greatly improving the long-term stability and reliability of the refrigerator's defrosting and drainage functions. Furthermore, no additional energy is consumed during this process, achieving full utilization of the heat from the compressor 300 and reducing energy consumption. Simultaneously, the contact between the drain pipe 200 and the compressor 300's casing 310 allows for heat dissipation from the compressor 300, lowering its operating temperature, improving its performance, and thus extending its service life.

[0053] In one alternative implementation, refer to Figure 3 As shown, the outer surface of the housing 310 is provided with a mounting groove 311, and the drain pipe 200 is at least partially accommodated in the mounting groove 311.

[0054] In this embodiment, in order to further optimize the heat transfer efficiency and structural stability between the drain pipe 200 and the housing 310 of the compressor 300, an installation groove 311 is provided on the outer surface of the housing 310, and at least a portion of the drain pipe 200 is securely accommodated and confined within the installation groove 311.

[0055] Optionally, the shape of the mounting groove 311 is adapted to the outer contour of the drain pipe 200 (e.g., a semi-circular or U-shaped groove), allowing the lower half of the circumferential surface of the drain pipe 200 to be fully embedded and fitted within the mounting groove 311. This increases the contact area, resulting in faster and more uniform heat transfer, improving heat conduction efficiency, and thus enhancing the anti-ice-clogging capability of the drain outlet 111. Furthermore, the mounting groove 311 provides a precise installation position and physical limit for the drain pipe 200, reducing the possibility of displacement or detachment of the drain pipe 200 during transportation, installation, or daily operation of the refrigerator, ensuring continuous and stable heat transfer performance.

[0056] In one alternative implementation, refer to Figure 3 As shown, the mounting slot 311 is located on the top of the housing 310.

[0057] Understandably, based on the thermodynamic principle of rising hot air, the top of the housing 310 is relatively hotter than the sides and other parts of the housing 310. Placing the drain pipe 200 in the mounting groove 311 on the top of the housing 310 provides better heating effect for the drain outlet 111. At the same time, placing the mounting groove 311 on top of the drain pipe 200 also facilitates the installation of the drain pipe 200.

[0058] In one alternative implementation, refer to Figure 3 As shown, the mounting groove 311 is spirally arranged around the outer surface of the housing 310. This spiral design significantly extends the heat conduction path between the drain pipe 200 and the housing 310 of the compressor 300, further increasing the heat conduction area and ensuring sufficient heat exchange between the drain pipe 200 and the housing 310. This improves the evaporation efficiency of the defrost water in the drain pipe 200 and prevents excessive water accumulation in the drip tray 400, which could lead to bacterial growth and contamination. Unevaporated defrost water in the drain pipe 200 can flow along the drain pipe 200 to the drip tray 400 for storage.

[0059] In one optional implementation, combined with Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the drain pipe 200 includes a first connecting section 210, a second connecting section 220 and a heat-conducting section 230. The first connecting section 210 is connected to the drain outlet 111, the second connecting section 220 is connected to the water receiving tray 400, and the heat-conducting section 230 is connected to the first connecting section 210 and the second connecting section 220, and the heat-conducting section 230 is accommodated in the mounting groove 311.

[0060] Understandably, the first connecting section 210 is the upstream part of the drain pipe 200, and its main function is connection and sealing. One end of the first connecting section 210 is tightly connected to the drain port 111 located at the bottom of the evaporator chamber 110, ensuring that defrosting water can flow from the evaporator chamber 110 into the drain pipe 200 without leakage. The second connecting section 220 is the downstream part of the drain pipe 200, and its function is to guide the defrosting water into the drip tray 400. The heat-conducting section 230 is located between the first connecting section 210 and the second connecting section 220. The heat-conducting section 230 is accommodated in the mounting groove 311 on the housing 310 of the compressor 300, and is used for direct heat exchange with the high-temperature housing 310 of the compressor 300.

[0061] Optionally, the materials of the first connecting section 210, the second connecting section 220 and the heat-conducting section 230 can be the same or different. For example, the material of the heat-conducting section 230 can be a material with excellent thermal conductivity (such as copper, aluminum, aluminum alloy or special thermally conductive composite material) to improve the thermal conductivity of the heat-conducting section 230.

[0062] In an optional embodiment, a snap fastener (not shown in the figure) is provided in the mounting groove 311, and when the drain pipe 200 is accommodated in the mounting groove 311, the snap fastener engages with the outer wall of the drain pipe 200.

[0063] Optionally, the buckle can be an elastic structure set in the mounting groove 311. When the drain pipe 200 is installed in the mounting groove 311, the buckle can undergo elastic deformation and abut against the outer wall of the drain pipe 200 to limit and fix the drain pipe 200, providing reliable mechanical fixation, enhancing structural stability, and also simplifying the assembly process of the drain pipe 200.

[0064] In one optional embodiment, there are multiple clips, and the multiple clips are spaced apart along the extension direction of the mounting groove 311. By setting multiple clips, the installation stability of the drain pipe 200 can be improved, and the drain pipe 200 can be prevented from shaking and falling off.

[0065] In one alternative implementation, refer to Figure 5 As shown, the drain pipe 200 is provided with a first heat-conducting element 240. One end of the first heat-conducting element 240 is connected to the drain pipe 200, and the other end of the first heat-conducting element 240 abuts against the inner wall of the water receiving pan 400, transferring heat to the wall surface of the water receiving pan 400; or the other end of the first heat-conducting element 240 extends to below the liquid level in the water receiving pan 400, transferring heat to the accumulated water in the water receiving pan 400, and evaporating the water.

[0066] Understandably, the heat from the compressor 300 is conducted to the drain pipe 200, evaporating the defrost water in the drain pipe 200. Any unevaporated defrost water in the drain pipe 200 flows into the drip tray 400. Simultaneously, the drain pipe 200 is equipped with a first heat-conducting element 240, which directs heat into the drip tray 400, evaporating the water in the drip tray 400. This avoids the risk of bacteria growth, odors, and contamination due to water accumulation in the drip tray 400, significantly improving the internal cleanliness of the refrigerator.

[0067] In one optional embodiment, the drain pipe 200 and the first heat-conducting element 240 are integrated into one structure, which reduces thermal resistance, improves heat conduction efficiency, and thus improves the evaporation efficiency of water in the water receiving tray 400.

[0068] In one alternative implementation, refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the refrigerator also includes a second heat-conducting component 320, one end of which is connected to the housing 310, and the other end is connected to the drip tray 400. The heat from the compressor 300 is directly transferred to the drip tray 400 through the second heat-conducting component 320, ensuring that the water in the drip tray 400 is fully evaporated, further reducing the possibility of water accumulation in the drip tray 400.

[0069] In an alternative embodiment, at least one of the outer surfaces of the housing 310 and the drain pipe 200 is provided with a thermally conductive layer.

[0070] For example, the thermally conductive layer can be graphene superconducting material, which has high thermal conductivity, as well as good corrosion resistance and antibacterial properties.

[0071] In an optional embodiment, the refrigerator further includes a temperature sensor, a heating element, and a controller. The temperature sensor is disposed at the drain outlet 111 to acquire temperature information of the drain outlet 111. The heating element is disposed at the drain outlet 111. The controller is electrically connected to the temperature sensor and the heating element and is configured to control the heating element to turn on or off based on the temperature information.

[0072] For example, the heating element can be an electric heating wire, and the temperature sensor is attached to the inside of the drain outlet 111 to monitor the temperature of the drain outlet 111 in real time. When the temperature of the drain outlet 111 is lower than a certain value, the electric heating wire is activated to supplement the heating and assist the drain outlet 111 in defrosting.

[0073] It should be noted that ice blockage at drain outlet 111 usually occurs during the first cooling cycle after the evaporator defrosts. When the refrigerator defrosts, the electric heater heats the evaporator chamber, and the frost on the evaporator melts, forming water or residual ice that falls near drain outlet 111. When the compressor 300 starts for the first time after defrosting, the water droplets and residual ice near drain outlet 111 will immediately condense into ice, thus causing ice blockage.

[0074] Since most ice blockage problems occur when defrost water or residual ice fails to drain properly after defrosting, to ensure thorough defrosting at drain outlet 111 when the ambient temperature is low, a heating element is added for supplementary heating during the first start of compressor 300 after defrosting. (Refer to...) Figure 6 As shown, the refrigerator's dynamic control logic is as follows: When the compressor 300 starts for the first time after defrosting, it triggers the defrosting process; if it's not the first start after defrosting, the system remains in standby mode and does not perform defrosting. A temperature sensor detects the temperature of drain outlet 111. If the temperature is below a certain value, the electric heating wire is activated; if the temperature is below the specified value, the electric heating wire does not work. When the temperature of drain outlet 111 is detected to be above the specified value, the electric heating wire supplements the defrosting process. At this time, the temperature sensor works in real-time to control the temperature of drain outlet 111. When the temperature of drain outlet 111 is detected to be above the specified value, the electric heating wire stops heating, thus efficiently solving the problem of ice blockage in drain outlet 111 and avoiding the risk of incomplete defrosting of drain outlet 111 due to long-term refrigerator operation.

[0075] The refrigerator provided in this application embodiment includes a cabinet 100, a drain pipe 200, a compressor 300, and a drip tray 400. The cabinet 100 has an evaporator chamber 110 for accommodating an evaporator, and a drain outlet 111 is provided at the bottom of the evaporator chamber 110. One end of the drain pipe 200 is connected to the drain outlet 111. The compressor 300 includes a housing 310, and the drain pipe 200 at least partially abuts against the housing 310. The drip tray 400 is connected to the end of the drain pipe 200 away from the drain outlet 111. By configuring the drain pipe 200 to at least partially abut against the housing 310 of the compressor 300, the large amount of heat generated by the compressor 300 during normal refrigerator cooling operation can be directly and efficiently transferred to the drain pipe 200 through the housing 310. The drain pipe 200 then transfers the heat to the drain outlet 111, reducing the possibility of ice blockage at the drain outlet 111 and ensuring the normal operation of the refrigerator.

[0076] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions in other embodiments.

[0077] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate this application and are not intended to limit this application. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that various combinations, modifications, or equivalent substitutions of the technical solutions of this application do not depart from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of this application and should all be covered within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, characterized in that, include: The housing has an evaporator chamber for housing the evaporator, and a drain outlet is provided at the bottom of the evaporator chamber; A drain pipe, one end of which is connected to the drain outlet; A compressor, including a housing, wherein the drain pipe at least partially abuts against the housing; A water collection tray is connected to the end of the drain pipe furthest from the drain outlet.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer surface of the housing is provided with a mounting groove, and the drain pipe is at least partially accommodated in the mounting groove.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, characterized in that, The mounting slot is located at the top of the housing; And / or, the mounting groove is provided in a spiral shape around the outer surface of the housing.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 2, characterized in that, The drain pipe includes: The first connecting section connects to the drain outlet; The second connecting section connects to the water receiving tray; A heat-conducting section connects the first connecting section and the second connecting section, and the heat-conducting section is accommodated within the mounting groove.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 2, characterized in that, A buckle is provided in the mounting groove, and when the drain pipe is accommodated in the mounting groove, the buckle engages with the outer wall of the drain pipe.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 5, characterized in that, The number of the buckles is multiple, and the multiple buckles are spaced apart along the extension direction of the mounting groove.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drain pipe is provided with a first heat-conducting element. One end of the first heat-conducting element is connected to the drain pipe, and the other end of the first heat-conducting element abuts against the inner wall of the water receiving tray, or the other end of the first heat-conducting element extends to below the liquid level in the water receiving tray.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, characterized in that, The drain pipe and the first heat-conducting component are an integral structure; And / or, the refrigerator further includes a second heat-conducting element, one end of which is connected to the housing and the other end of which is connected to the drip tray.

9. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The refrigerator also includes: A temperature sensor is installed at the drain outlet to acquire temperature information of the drain outlet; A heating element is provided at the drain outlet; A controller is electrically connected to the temperature sensor and the heating element, and the controller is configured to control the heating element to turn on or off based on the temperature information.

10. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, At least one of the outer surfaces of the housing and the drain pipe is provided with a heat-conducting layer.

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