A water pan assembly and a refrigerator

Abstract

The application provides a water pan assembly and a refrigerator. The refrigerator comprises an evaporator and a heater for heating the evaporator. The water pan assembly comprises a water pan body arranged at the bottom of the evaporator along the direction of gravity, and the water pan body is used for receiving defrosting water on the surface of the evaporator. The water pan body is formed with a drain port used for connecting a drain pipe. The periphery of the drain port on the water pan body is provided with a heat absorption part used for absorbing heat of the heater. The water pan assembly provided by the application can prevent the drain pipe from being frozen and affecting the discharge of defrosting water.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of refrigerator technology, and particularly relates to a water tray assembly and a refrigerator. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, the evaporator of frost-free refrigerators is typically equipped with a heater and a drip tray. The drip tray drains defrost water into the compressor compartment via a drain pipe. To prevent the drain pipe from freezing, existing technology usually wraps a heating wire around its outer perimeter. However, this method is costly and increases the refrigerator's energy consumption. Utility Model Content

[0003] This application provides a drip tray assembly and a refrigerator to solve the problem of easy ice blockage in the drain pipe of existing refrigerators.

[0004] This application provides a drip tray assembly for use in a refrigerator, the refrigerator including an evaporator and a heater, the heater being used to heat the evaporator, and the drip tray assembly including:

[0005] The drip tray body is disposed at the bottom of the evaporator along the direction of gravity. The drip tray body is used to receive defrost water on the surface of the evaporator. The drip tray body has a drain outlet for connecting to a drain pipe.

[0006] The periphery of the drain outlet on the water receiving tray body is provided with a heat-absorbing part, which is used to absorb the heat of the heater.

[0007] Optionally, the heat-absorbing part includes a heat-absorbing coating, which is applied at least to the periphery of the drain outlet.

[0008] Optionally, the heat-absorbing coating is applied to the side of the water receiving tray facing the heater.

[0009] Optionally, the heat-absorbing part may be made of one or more of polyurethane, epoxy resin, and phenolic resin.

[0010] Optionally, the heat-absorbing part is black.

[0011] Optionally, the heat-absorbing part includes a heat-absorbing ring, which is attached to the periphery of the drain outlet.

[0012] Optionally, the water receiving tray body includes a flow guiding portion surrounding the periphery of the drain outlet, the flow guiding portion being frustoconical in shape and gradually decreasing in size towards the drain outlet on the inner radial side;

[0013] The heat-absorbing ring is frustum-shaped and conformally attached to the flow-guiding portion.

[0014] Optionally, it also includes a heat-conducting pipe, which is connected to the heat-absorbing ring and extends into the drain pipe, the heat-conducting pipe being used to guide the heat on the heat-absorbing ring into the drain pipe.

[0015] Optionally, the heat-absorbing ring is detachably connected to the water-receiving tray body.

[0016] This application embodiment also provides a refrigerator, which includes an evaporator and a heater, the heater being used to heat the evaporator, and also includes a drip tray assembly as described above.

[0017] The drip tray assembly provided in this application embodiment has a heat-absorbing part around the drain outlet of the drip tray body because the end of the drain pipe closest to the drain outlet is most prone to freezing. When the heater is turned on to heat the evaporator for defrosting, the heat-absorbing part absorbs the heat emitted by the heater to increase the temperature around the drain outlet, preventing the drain outlet temperature from being too low and freezing, thereby avoiding the drain pipe freezing and affecting the discharge of defrosting water. It has low manufacturing cost and utilizes the residual heat energy of the heater, improving energy utilization and reducing the total energy consumption of the refrigerator. Attached Figure Description

[0018] 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.

[0019] 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.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the water tray assembly provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0021] Figure 2 An exploded view of the water tray assembly and evaporator provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0022] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the heat-absorbing part of the water tray assembly provided in an embodiment of this application in one example.

[0023] Figure 4 Experimental data for the water tray assembly provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0024] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0025] 1. Water receiving tray body; 11. Drain outlet; 12. Heat absorption part; 13. Heat conduction pipe; 2. Drain pipe; 3. Evaporator; 4. Heater. Detailed Implementation

[0026] 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 a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0027] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," and "counterclockwise," etc., indicating orientation or positional relationships based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing 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, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the stated features. In the description of this application, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0028] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" 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, an electrical connection, or a connection that allows communication between them; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication between two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0029] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature being directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature being directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0030] The following disclosure provides many different embodiments or examples for implementing different structures of this application. To simplify the disclosure, specific examples of components and arrangements are described below. Of course, 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. In addition, various specific examples of processes and materials are provided in this application, but those skilled in the art will recognize the application of other processes and / or the use of other materials.

[0031] Currently, the evaporator of frost-free refrigerators is typically equipped with a heater and a drip tray. The drip tray drains defrost water into the compressor compartment via a drain pipe. To prevent the drain pipe from freezing, existing technology usually wraps a heating wire around its outer perimeter. However, this method is costly and increases the refrigerator's energy consumption.

[0032] This application provides a drip tray assembly and a refrigerator to solve the problem of easy ice blockage in the drain pipe of existing refrigerators. The following description is in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0033] The drip tray assembly provided in this application embodiment is applied to a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes an evaporator 3 and a heater 4. The heater 4 is used to heat the evaporator 3. The drip tray assembly includes a drip tray body 1. Please refer to [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 1 and Figure 2 The water receiving tray body 1 is set at the bottom of the evaporator 3 along the direction of gravity. The water receiving tray body 1 is used to receive the defrosting water on the surface of the evaporator 3. The water receiving tray body 1 has a drain outlet 11, which is used to connect the drain pipe 2. The periphery of the drain outlet 11 on the water receiving tray body 1 is provided with a heat absorption part 12, which is used to absorb the heat of the heater 4.

[0034] The drip tray assembly provided in this application embodiment is designed so that the end of the drain pipe 2 closest to the drain outlet 11 is most prone to freezing. Therefore, a heat-absorbing part 12 is provided around the drain outlet 11 of the drip tray body 1. When the heater 4 is turned on to heat the evaporator 3 for defrosting, the heat-absorbing part 12 absorbs the heat emitted by the heater 4 to increase the temperature around the drain outlet 11, preventing the drain outlet 11 from freezing due to excessively low temperature. This avoids the drain pipe 2 freezing and affecting the discharge of defrost water. The manufacturing cost is low, and the residual heat energy of the heater 4 is utilized to improve energy utilization and reduce the total energy consumption of the refrigerator.

[0035] Optionally, please refer to Figure 1The heat-absorbing part 12 includes a heat-absorbing coating, which is applied at least to the periphery of the drain outlet 11. The application method of the heat-absorbing coating is not further limited here. In some examples, it can be physical coating, such as physical vapor deposition (sputtering, evaporation), or thermal spraying; in other examples, it can be chemical coating, such as chemical vapor deposition, electroplating / electrodeposition, sol-gel method, or anodizing. The shape and size of the heat-absorbing coating are not further limited here, as long as the heat absorption capacity of the coating is sufficient to prevent ice formation at the drain outlet 11. For example, it can be circular, square, or irregularly shaped.

[0036] By coating the periphery of the drain outlet 11 with a heat-absorbing coating, the process is simple and the structure is simple. It also utilizes the residual energy of the heater 4 to improve energy efficiency.

[0037] Optionally, the side of the water tray body 1 facing the heater 4 is coated with a heat-absorbing coating. That is, the entire surface of the water tray body 1 facing the heater 4 is coated with a heat-absorbing coating, which improves the heat absorption and heat absorption efficiency of the surface of the water tray body 1, and further reduces the risk of ice formation at the drain outlet 11.

[0038] Optionally, the heat-absorbing part 12 may be made of one or more of polyurethane, epoxy resin, and phenolic resin. Preferably, the heat-absorbing part 12 may be made of a mixture of polyurethane, epoxy resin, and phenolic resin.

[0039] Optionally, the heat-absorbing part 12 is black. Utilizing the high heat absorption capacity of the black coating, it quickly absorbs the heat generated on the surface of the heater 4; at the same time, the black coating also has a strong thermal radiation capacity. According to the Stefan-Boltzmann law, the emissivity of a black object is close to 1 (ideal blackbody), which can more effectively dissipate heat to the surrounding environment, further increasing the temperature of the drain outlet 11.

[0040] For details, please refer to the appendix. Figure 4 The experimental data were collected, with group a being a standard water collection tray and group b being a water collection tray with a black heat-absorbing coating around the drain outlet 11. Thermocouples were placed at the drain outlet 11 of both group a and group b to collect the temperature at drain outlet 11. Heater 4 was turned on, and the temperature of each thermocouple was recorded at different times after heater 4 was turned on. (See attached...) Figure 4 The experimental data shows that the water receiving tray with a black heat-absorbing coating around the drain outlet 11 has a faster temperature rise after the heater 4 is turned on. At the same time, the temperature of the drain outlet 11 with a black heat-absorbing coating around its perimeter is 5°C to 10°C higher than that of the ordinary drain outlet 11. That is, the temperature of the drain outlet 11 with a black heat-absorbing coating around its perimeter rises above 0°C faster, reducing the risk of freezing.

[0041] Alternatively, as another specific embodiment, the heat-absorbing part 12 can also be a heat-absorbing ring, which is attached to the periphery of the drain outlet 11. Specifically, the heat-absorbing ring is relatively thin so that it can be attached to the water receiving tray and avoid affecting the discharge of defrost water.

[0042] Optionally, the water receiving tray body 1 includes a flow guiding portion surrounding the drain outlet 11. The flow guiding portion is frustum-shaped and gradually decreases in size towards the drain outlet 11. The heat absorption ring is also frustum-shaped and conformally fitted to the flow guiding portion. Because the flow guiding portion is frustum-shaped and gradually decreases in size towards the drain outlet 11, the defrost water in the water receiving tray is guided to the drain outlet 11 by the inclined surface of the flow guiding portion. Compared to making the periphery of the drain outlet 11 flat, the flow guiding effect of the frustum-shaped flow guiding portion is better, further reducing the amount of residual water in the water receiving tray. The frustum-shaped flow guiding portion further reduces the probability of the heat absorption ring blocking the defrost water. This not only reduces the risk of ice blockage in the drain outlet 11 by using the heat absorption ring, but also avoids the heat absorption ring blocking the discharge of defrost water. At the same time, the structure is simple and has no complex design.

[0043] Optionally, the water receiving tray assembly provided in this application embodiment may further include a heat-conducting pipe 13. Please refer to [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 3 The heat-conducting pipe 13 is connected to the heat-absorbing ring and extends into the drain pipe 2. The heat-conducting pipe 13 guides the heat from the heat-absorbing ring into the drain pipe 2. By setting up the heat-absorbing pipe, the utilization rate of the heat dissipated by the heater 4 is further improved. The heat absorbed by the heat-absorbing ring is further guided into the drain pipe 2 through the heat-conducting pipe 13, further reducing the risk of the drain pipe 2 freezing. It is understood that the diameter of the heat-conducting pipe 13 is smaller than the diameter of the drain pipe 2. Since the end of the drain pipe 2 near the water receiving tray body 1 is usually at risk of freezing, the heat-conducting pipe 13 can be shorter, eliminating the need for a long design and avoiding material waste.

[0044] Optionally, the heat-absorbing ring and the water-receiving pan body 1 are detachably connected. The specific connection method between the heat-absorbing ring and the water-receiving pan body 1 is not further limited here. In some examples, the heat-absorbing ring and the water-receiving pan body 1 are snap-fitted together; in other examples, the heat-absorbing ring and the water-receiving pan body 1 are welded together; in still other examples, the heat-absorbing ring and the water-receiving pan body 1 are glued together.

[0045] This application embodiment also provides a refrigerator, which includes an evaporator 3 and a heater 4. The heater 4 is used to heat the evaporator 3, and also includes a drip tray assembly as described above. The drip tray assembly includes a drip tray body 1. The drip tray body 1 is disposed at the bottom of the evaporator 3 along the direction of gravity. The drip tray body 1 is used to collect defrost water on the surface of the evaporator 3. The drip tray body 1 has a drain outlet 11, which is used to connect to a drain pipe 2. A heat-absorbing part 12 is provided around the drain outlet 11 on the drip tray body 1. The heat-absorbing part 12 is used to absorb heat from the heater 4.

[0046] Optionally, the refrigerator provided in this application embodiment can be a frost-free refrigerator.

[0047] Optionally, the heater 4 is located between the evaporator 3 and the water receiving pan.

[0048] 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.

[0049] The water tray assembly and refrigerator provided in the embodiments of this application have been described in detail above. Specific examples have been used to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of this application. The description of the above embodiments is only for the purpose of helping to understand the method and core ideas of this application. At the same time, for those skilled in the art, there will be changes in the specific implementation methods and application scope based on the ideas of this application. Therefore, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

Claims

1. A drip tray assembly for use in a refrigerator, the refrigerator including an evaporator and a heater, the heater being used to heat the evaporator, characterized in that, The water receiving tray assembly includes: The drip tray body is disposed at the bottom of the evaporator along the direction of gravity. The drip tray body is used to receive defrost water on the surface of the evaporator. The drip tray body has a drain outlet for connecting to a drain pipe. The periphery of the drain outlet on the water receiving tray body is provided with a heat-absorbing part, which is used to absorb the heat of the heater.

2. The water receiving tray assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat-absorbing part includes a heat-absorbing coating, which is applied at least to the periphery of the drain outlet.

3. The drain pan assembly of claim 2, wherein, The heat-absorbing coating is applied to the side of the water receiving tray facing the heater.

4. The water receiving tray assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat-absorbing part is made of one or more of polyurethane, epoxy resin, and phenolic resin.

5. The water receiving tray assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat-absorbing part is black.

6. The drain pan assembly of claim 1, wherein, The heat-absorbing part includes a heat-absorbing ring, which is attached to the periphery of the drain outlet.

7. The drain pan assembly of claim 6, wherein, The water receiving tray body includes a flow guiding portion surrounding the periphery of the drain outlet. The flow guiding portion is frustum-shaped and gradually decreases in size on the side of its inner radial direction closest to the drain outlet. The heat-absorbing ring is frustum-shaped and conformally attached to the flow-guiding portion.

8. The water receiving tray assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that, It also includes a heat-conducting pipe, which is connected to the heat-absorbing ring and extends into the drain pipe. The heat-conducting pipe is used to guide the heat on the heat-absorbing ring into the drain pipe.

9. The water receiving tray assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that, The heat-absorbing ring is detachably connected to the water-receiving tray body.

10. A refrigerator comprising an evaporator and a heater for heating the evaporator, characterized in that, It also includes the water tray assembly as described in any one of claims 1-9.

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