Damper assembly and refrigerator thereof

Abstract

The utility model relates to domestic appliance technical field, especially a kind of air door assembly and refrigerator thereof. Air door assembly includes air duct plate, trigger piece, connecting piece and air door, air duct plate is set with air port, air port is used to and air duct communication;Trigger piece is hollowly arranged and internally provided with temperature change piece, temperature change piece is configured to expand or shrink in response to the temperature change of the space where trigger piece is located;Connecting piece is movably connected with trigger piece, the expansion or shrink of temperature change piece can drive connecting piece to move;Air door is connected with connecting piece, and moves synchronously with connecting piece, air door moves in the area where air port is located, to adjust the opening of air port. Its advantage lies in, by setting the overall structure of trigger piece, connecting piece and air door containing temperature change piece, realize pure mechanical temperature sensing and air door adjustment. Temperature change piece expands or shrinks in response to temperature change, directly drives connecting piece and air door to move, without electric control equipment, to prevent supercooling to cause melon and fruit vegetables food to be frozen.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of household appliance technology, and in particular to a damper assembly and its refrigerator. Background Technology

[0002] A refrigerator is a refrigeration device that can continuously maintain a low temperature. Through the low-temperature storage function of a refrigerator, the storage time of food such as fruits and vegetables can be effectively extended.

[0003] The existing method of controlling and adjusting the internal temperature of a refrigerator generally involves opening an air outlet, connecting the air outlet to an air duct, installing a temperature sensor inside the refrigerator, and installing an electric damper in the air duct. The temperature sensor detects the temperature, and when the temperature reaches the set temperature, it sends a temperature signal to the main control board. The main control board then issues a command to activate the electric damper motor, closing the electric damper and stopping the airflow.

[0004] However, due to the instability of electronic control components, if the temperature sensor malfunctions and the temperature is incorrect, or if the control fails, the electric damper will remain open and continuously blow cold air. Alternatively, the electric damper may malfunction and fail to close. Or, the control board may malfunction and the control module may not output a signal, causing it to continuously blow cold air. All of these problems will cause the damper to continuously draw in cold air, which will freeze the food inside the refrigerator, especially fruits and vegetables. Utility Model Content

[0005] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this utility model provides a damper assembly.

[0006] An air damper assembly includes: an air duct plate with an air vent for communicating with an air duct; a trigger element, hollow and internally configured to expand or contract in response to temperature changes in the space where the trigger element is located; a connector movably connected to the trigger element, wherein the expansion or contraction of the temperature-changing element can drive the connector to move; and an air damper connected to the connector and moving synchronously with the connector, wherein the air damper moves within the area where the air vent is located to adjust the opening degree of the air vent.

[0007] This design, through the overall structure including a trigger, connector, and damper containing a temperature-sensitive element, achieves purely mechanical temperature sensing and damper adjustment. The temperature-sensitive element expands or contracts in response to temperature changes; for example, when it expands, its increased volume directly drives the connector and damper to move, eliminating the need for electronic sensors, control circuits, or motors. This fundamentally avoids the problem of continuous cold air supply caused by electronic component failures and prevents excessive cooling that could damage fruits and vegetables.

[0008] In one embodiment, the damper has at least three working positions: a first position in which the damper completely blocks the air vent; a second position in which the damper partially blocks the air vent; and a third position in which the damper fully opens the air vent.

[0009] In one embodiment, a sliding unit is provided on the air duct plate, and the air outlet is formed in the sliding unit. The air damper is slidably connected to the sliding unit.

[0010] In one embodiment, the sliding unit includes a fixed seat and a fixed plate. The fixed seat is connected to the air duct plate, and the fixed plate is connected to the fixed seat. The fixed seat is hollow, and both the fixed plate and the air damper are located at least partially inside the fixed seat. The fixed plate has a first opening, which is the air outlet.

[0011] In one embodiment, the damper includes a shielding portion and an opening portion, the shielding portion and the opening portion are connected, and a second opening is provided on the opening portion. The area of ​​the shielding portion and the area of ​​the second opening are both larger than the area of ​​the first opening.

[0012] In one embodiment, the air duct plate has a third opening, the fixing seat is arranged around the edge of the third opening, the fixing plate covers the third opening, and along the opening direction of the third opening, the first opening and the third opening at least partially overlap.

[0013] In one embodiment, the trigger is configured as a piston rod structure, and a piston is disposed inside the trigger. The connecting member includes at least a first connecting rod, a second connecting rod, and a third connecting rod. One end of the first connecting rod extends into the trigger and is connected to the piston, and the other end is located outside the trigger and is connected to the second connecting rod. At least a portion of the second connecting rod is arranged parallel to the trigger and is connected to the damper through the third connecting rod.

[0014] This utility model also provides a refrigerator, including the damper assembly as described above. The refrigerator also includes a drawer, which is connected to the air duct plate. The trigger, the connector, and the damper are all located inside the drawer, and the air vent communicates with the interior of the drawer.

[0015] In one embodiment, the trigger extends along the width direction of the refrigerator, and both the connector and the damper move along the width direction of the refrigerator.

[0016] In one embodiment, the air duct plate is provided with a guide groove, which is opened along the width direction of the refrigerator, and the air damper is movably connected to the guide groove.

[0017] Compared to existing technologies, this invention employs a purely mechanical temperature-controlled damper assembly, using a trigger and a temperature-changing element as sensing units. The volume change of the temperature-changing element in response to temperature is converted into kinetic energy for the movement of the connecting parts and the damper, thereby controlling the timely opening and closing of the damper vents. Furthermore, combined with a piston-linkage transmission mechanism and a multi-position adjustable damper structure, it achieves autonomous and precise temperature control within the refrigerator drawer. This effectively maintains a suitable storage temperature for food, improves preservation, and prevents freezing damage caused by excessive cold, providing a stable and energy-efficient temperature control solution for storing fruits and vegetables in the refrigerator. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 A front view of one embodiment of the damper assembly provided by this utility model;

[0019] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Enlarged view of section A in the image;

[0020] Figure 3 A perspective view of one embodiment of the damper assembly provided by this utility model;

[0021] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Enlarged view of section B in the image;

[0022] Figure 5 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of one embodiment of the refrigerator provided by this utility model.

[0023] The symbols in the diagram represent the following meanings:

[0024] 100. Damper assembly; 10. Duct plate; 11. Air outlet; 20. Trigger; 30. Connector; 31. First link; 32. Second link; 33. Third link; 40. Damper; 41. Shielding part; 42. Opening part; 421. Second opening; 50. Slide unit; 51. Fixing base; 511. Guide groove; 52. Fixing plate; 521. First opening; 200. Drawer. Detailed Implementation

[0025] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of this application. However, this application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of this application. Therefore, this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0026] It should be noted that when a mechanism is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another mechanism, it can be directly on the other mechanism or there may be an intervening mechanism. When a mechanism is considered to be "connected to" another mechanism, it can be directly connected to the other mechanism or there may be an intervening mechanism. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used in this application's specification are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0027] 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 technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0028] In 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 and the second feature are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" the second feature can mean that the first feature is 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 can mean that the first feature is 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.

[0029] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used in this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application. The term "and / or" as used in this application includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0030] This utility model provides a damper assembly 100, which has a temperature-changing element that can expand or contract according to temperature in the trigger element 20. This realizes the functional replacement of the traditional electronic control system, and directly converts the physical state change of the temperature-changing element into control logic, eliminating the intermediate sensing and execution links, thereby completely avoiding the problem of food freezing.

[0031] Please see Figures 1-5The damper assembly 100 includes a duct plate 10, a trigger 20, a connector 30, and a damper 40. The duct plate 10 has an air vent 11 for communicating with the duct. The trigger 20 is hollow and has a temperature-sensitive element inside, which is configured to expand or contract in response to temperature changes in the space where the trigger 20 is located. The connector 30 is movably connected to the trigger 20, and the expansion or contraction of the temperature-sensitive element can drive the connector 30 to move. The damper 40 is connected to the connector 30 and moves synchronously with the connector 30. The damper 40 moves within the area where the air vent 11 is located to adjust the opening degree of the air vent 11.

[0032] Thus, by setting up an overall structure including a trigger 20 with a temperature-sensitive element, a connector 30, and a damper 40, purely mechanical temperature sensing and damper 40 adjustment are achieved. The temperature-sensitive element expands or contracts in response to temperature changes. For example, when it expands, its volume increases, directly driving the connector 30 and damper 40 to move. The damper 40 then opens or closes the air vent 11. No electronic sensors, control circuits, or motors are required, fundamentally avoiding the problem of continuous cold air supply due to electronic component failure and preventing excessive cold from causing frost damage to fruits and vegetables.

[0033] It should be explained that an air duct is provided on the rear side of the air duct plate 10. As a conventional structure in refrigerators, the air duct is set in the fresh food compartment or the freezer compartment. The air duct is used to provide cold air to the front side of the air duct plate 10.

[0034] Furthermore, the damper 40 has at least three working positions. In the first position, the damper 40 completely blocks the air vent 11; in the second position, the damper 40 partially blocks the air vent 11; and in the third position, the damper 40 fully opens the air vent 11. By setting the damper 40 to at least three working positions (fully closed, partially open, and fully open), the damper 40 can achieve multi-level airflow adjustment according to temperature changes. This structure can gradually reduce the air supply area when the temperature approaches a preset value, avoiding drastic temperature fluctuations caused by sudden closing or full opening, thereby achieving stable cooling and effectively preventing food from freezing due to sudden overcooling. For example, please refer to... Figure 4 At this time, damper 40 is in the third position.

[0035] For example, the trigger 20 is configured as a metal heat-conducting component with a metal heat-conducting cavity inside, while the temperature-changing component is configured as a gas-liquid mixture with a high coefficient of thermal expansion. Taking the damper assembly 100 disposed inside the drawer 200 as an example, when hot food is placed inside the drawer 200, the internal temperature of the drawer 200 rises, causing the gas-liquid mixture inside the metal heat-conducting cavity to expand due to heat. This causes the connecting component 30 to move, pushing the damper 40 to the third position, so that the air outlet 11 is in a fully open state, thereby quickly sending the cold airflow into the drawer 200 where the damper assembly 100 is applied, accelerating the cooling process. As the temperature gradually decreases, the damper 40 is located between the second and third positions, and the temperature has not yet reached the preset temperature range, which is equivalent to a temperature range. In the buffer zone, when the temperature drops further and the temperature inside drawer 200 approaches the preset temperature, the gas-liquid mixture inside the metal heat-conducting cavity begins to contract, causing the damper 40 slide to move. The damper 40 moves to the third position, gradually reducing the air supply area of ​​the air outlet 11 to avoid rapid cooling caused by the air outlet 11 being fully open, which could lead to food freezing. After the air outlet 11 is reduced, the inside of drawer 200 cools down slowly. When the temperature drops to the preset freezing temperature for commonly used food, the damper 40 moves to the first position and completely blocks the air outlet 11, closing all air outlets and ceasing air supply.

[0036] As described above, no electric drive is required, overcoming the high dependence on the reliability of electronic components. The purely mechanical structure ensures stability and reliability. This "passive sensing + active adjustment" purely mechanical solution is more stable and reliable, with a simple structure and low maintenance costs.

[0037] Furthermore, a sliding unit 50 is provided on the duct plate 10, and an air outlet 11 is formed within the sliding unit 50. The damper 40 is slidably connected to the sliding unit 50. Thus, the sliding unit 50 is used for the installation and engagement of the damper 40, enhancing the stability and guiding nature of the damper 40's movement. This ensures that the damper 40 is not easily misaligned or jammed during repeated opening and closing, improving the durability of the mechanical system and facilitating long-term reliable operation.

[0038] Specifically, the slide unit 50 includes a fixed base 51 and a fixed plate 52. The fixed base 51 is connected to the air duct plate 10, and the fixed plate 52 is connected to the fixed base 51. The fixed base 51 is hollow, and both the fixed plate 52 and the damper 40 are at least partially located inside the fixed base 51. The fixed plate 52 has a first opening 521, which serves as an air vent 11. Thus, the slide unit 50 is composed of the fixed base 51 and the fixed plate 52. The fixed plate 52 has a first opening 521 as an air vent 11. The fixed base 51 and the fixed plate 52 are independently manufactured for easy assembly and maintenance. At the same time, the damper 40 slides inside the fixed base 51, reducing interference from external foreign objects and protecting the internal mechanical structure.

[0039] The damper 40 includes a blocking part 41 and an opening part 42, which are connected. A second opening 421 is formed on the opening part 42. The areas of both the blocking part 41 and the second opening 421 are larger than the area of ​​the first opening 521. When the damper 40 is in the first position, the blocking part 41 blocks the first opening 521, and since the area of ​​the blocking part 41 is larger than the area of ​​the first opening 521, the blocking part 41 can completely block the first opening 521. Similarly, the area of ​​the second opening 421 is larger than the area of ​​the air vent 11, thus ensuring that the air vent 11 can be fully opened when the damper 40 is in the third position. This makes the adjustment of the damper 40 more linear and precise, avoiding localized air leakage or adjustment blind spots.

[0040] A third opening is provided on the air duct plate 10. A fixing base 51 is arranged around the edge of the third opening, and a fixing plate 52 is placed over the third opening. Along the opening direction of the third opening, the first opening 521 and the third opening at least partially overlap. Therefore, the fixing plate 52 covers and seals the third opening, and the first opening 521 on the fixing plate 52 communicates with the third opening, thus serving as an air vent 11 for air circulation. The fixing base 51 is arranged around the third opening, which realizes a smooth connection between the air duct and the air vent 11, optimizes the airflow path, reduces wind resistance and noise, and ensures that cold air can be efficiently and evenly delivered into the drawer 200, improving cooling efficiency and energy saving.

[0041] Understandably, in other embodiments, the third opening may not be provided, and the fixing plate 52 and the air duct plate 10 may be directly integrated into one piece. In this case, the first opening 521 opened on the fixing plate 52 can be directly used as the air outlet 11.

[0042] Preferably, the trigger 20 is configured as a piston rod structure, and a piston is disposed inside the trigger 20. The connecting member 30 includes at least a first connecting rod 31, a second connecting rod 32, and a third connecting rod 33. One end of the first connecting rod 31 extends into the trigger 20 and is connected to the piston, while the other end is located outside the trigger 20 and is connected to the second connecting rod 32. At least a portion of the second connecting rod 32 is arranged parallel to the trigger 20 and is connected to the damper 40 through the third connecting rod 33. In this way, the piston rod structure, as the trigger 20, in conjunction with the multi-link transmission mechanism, transmits the minute amplitude displacement of the temperature-changing component to the damper 40. Since the piston rod structure is usually configured as a slender structure, it has a slender cavity structure inside, so the volume change of the temperature-changing component is amplified. This mechanical amplification mechanism improves the sensitivity of temperature sensing and transmission efficiency, enabling the system to respond promptly to small temperature differences and enhancing temperature control accuracy.

[0043] In this embodiment, the piston rod structure is relatively long to accommodate the volume changes of the temperature-sensitive component. Therefore, a portion of the piston rod structure, i.e., the trigger element 20, extends to the first side of the air vent 11. The first connecting rod 31 extends into the trigger element 20 and moves synchronously with the piston inside the trigger element 20, also moving towards the first side. At this time, the second connecting rod 32 connects to the first connecting rod 31 and bends towards the second side, opposite to the first side, thus saving space in the direction of the first side. In this embodiment, the first side is in the lateral direction, thus saving lateral space. After the second connecting rod 32 bends and extends towards the second side, the third connecting rod 33 bends at least once more to connect with the damper 40. The damper 40 is installed on the lower side in the vertical direction. As described above, the space occupied by the damper assembly 100 is optimized, making its structure more compact and its space usage smaller.

[0044] This utility model also provides a refrigerator, including the damper assembly 100 as described above. The refrigerator also includes a drawer 200, which is connected to the air duct plate 10. The trigger 20, the connector 30, and the damper 40 are all located inside the drawer 200, and the air vent 11 communicates with the interior of the drawer 200. Thus, by applying the damper assembly 100 to the refrigerator drawer 200, autonomous mechanical control of the internal temperature of the drawer 200 is achieved.

[0045] Preferably, in this embodiment, the drawer 200 is specifically used to store food items such as fruits and vegetables that are greatly affected by low temperatures, ensuring their stable storage.

[0046] Furthermore, the trigger 20 extends along the width of the refrigerator, and the connector 30 and the damper 40 both move along the width of the refrigerator. By arranging the movement directions of the trigger 20, connector 30, and damper 40 along the width of the refrigerator, the internal layout of the drawer 200 becomes more compact and reasonable, without occupying too much storage space. It also facilitates integration with existing refrigerator air duct systems, improving the product's versatility and installability. The drawer 200 is arranged laterally along the width of the refrigerator, and the air vent 11 is also opened laterally. The size of the air vent 11 is linearly adjusted through the laterally moving damper 40.

[0047] The air duct plate 10 has a guide groove 511, which is opened along the width direction of the refrigerator. The damper 40 is movably connected within the guide groove 511. In this way, the guide groove 511 on the air duct plate 10 allows the damper 40 to move along the groove, further enhancing the stability and directional controllability of the damper 40's movement.

[0048] Preferably, in this embodiment, the fixing plate 52 is also installed in the guide groove 511. The fixing seat 51 and the air duct plate 10 are directly integrally formed. The side of the fixing seat 51 facing away from the drawer 200 is the third opening. The fixing plate 52 is installed into the interior of the fixing seat 51 through the guide groove 511 to simplify the assembly process and reduce the processing difficulty. After the fixing plate 52 is assembled, it covers the third opening. At this time, the first opening 521 on the fixing plate 52 serves as the air vent 11. After the fixing plate 52 is installed, there is still space between the guide groove 511 and the fixing plate 52, and the damper 40 can be inserted into this space. Furthermore, since the damper 40 is connected to the third connecting rod 33, it can move through the linkage of the connecting piece 30.

[0049] Compared to existing technologies, this invention employs a purely mechanical temperature-controlled damper assembly 100, using a trigger 20 and a temperature-changing element as sensing units. The volume change of the temperature-changing element in response to temperature is converted into kinetic energy for the movement of the connecting element 30 and the damper 40, thereby controlling the damper 40 to open and close the air vent 11 in a timely manner. Furthermore, combined with a piston-linkage transmission mechanism and a multi-position adjustable damper 40 structure, it achieves autonomous and precise temperature control within the refrigerator drawer 200. This effectively maintains a suitable storage temperature for food, improves preservation, avoids freezing damage caused by excessive cold, and provides a stable and energy-efficient temperature control solution for storing fruits and vegetables in the refrigerator.

[0050] The refrigerator can be controlled by a voice module, which is equipped with a controller, a voice receiving module, and a voice parsing module. The voice receiving module receives user commands, and the voice parsing module parses the commands. Based on the parsed commands, the controller controls the refrigerator to perform corresponding operations, thereby realizing intelligent control of the refrigerator and improving the user experience.

[0051] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0052] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementations of this utility model, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the utility model patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this utility model, and these all fall within the protection scope of this utility model. Therefore, the protection scope of this utility model patent should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A damper assembly, characterized in that, include: The air duct plate (10) has an air vent (11) for connecting with the air duct; The trigger (20) is hollow and has a temperature-sensitive element inside, which is configured to expand or contract in response to temperature changes in the space where the trigger (20) is located; The connector (30) is movably connected to the trigger (20), and the expansion or contraction of the temperature-sensitive element can drive the connector (30) to move; The damper (40) is connected to the connector (30) and moves synchronously with the connector (30). The damper (40) moves within the area where the air vent (11) is located to adjust the opening of the air vent (11).

2. The damper assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The damper (40) has at least three working positions; In the first position, the damper (40) completely blocks the air outlet (11). In the second position, the damper (40) partially blocks the air outlet (11). In the third position, the damper (40) fully opens the air vent (11).

3. The damper assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air duct plate (10) is provided with a sliding unit (50), and the air outlet (11) is formed in the sliding unit (50). The air door (40) is slidably connected to the sliding unit (50).

4. The damper assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that, The sliding unit (50) includes a fixed seat (51) and a fixed plate (52). The fixed seat (51) is connected to the air duct plate (10), and the fixed plate (52) is connected to the fixed seat (51). The fixed seat (51) is hollow, and at least part of the fixed plate (52) and the air damper (40) are located inside the fixed seat (51). The fixed plate (52) has a first opening (521), which is the air outlet (11).

5. The damper assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, The damper (40) includes a shielding part (41) and an opening part (42). The shielding part (41) and the opening part (42) are connected, and a second opening (421) is provided on the opening part (42). The area of ​​the shielding part (41) and the area of ​​the second opening (421) are both larger than the area of ​​the first opening (521).

6. The damper assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, The air duct plate (10) has a third opening, the fixing seat (51) is arranged around the edge of the third opening, the fixing plate (52) covers the third opening, and along the opening direction of the third opening, the first opening (521) and the third opening have at least partial overlap.

7. The damper assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The trigger (20) is configured as a piston rod structure, and a piston is provided inside the trigger (20). The connecting member (30) includes at least a first connecting rod (31), a second connecting rod (32) and a third connecting rod (33). One end of the first connecting rod (31) extends into the trigger (20) and is connected to the piston, and the other end is located outside the trigger (20) and is connected to the second connecting rod (32). At least a portion of the second connecting rod (32) is arranged parallel to the trigger (20) and is connected to the damper (40) through the third connecting rod (33).

8. A refrigerator, characterized in that, The refrigerator includes the damper assembly as described in any one of claims 1-7, and further includes a drawer (200) connected to the air duct plate (10), wherein the trigger (20), the connector (30) and the damper (40) are all located inside the drawer (200), and the air vent (11) communicates with the interior of the drawer (200).

9. The refrigerator according to claim 8, characterized in that, The trigger (20) extends along the width direction of the refrigerator, and the connector (30) and the damper (40) both move along the width direction of the refrigerator.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 9, characterized in that, The air duct plate (10) is provided with a guide groove (511), which is opened along the width direction of the refrigerator, and the air door (40) is movably connected in the guide groove (511).

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