Refrigerator and manufacturing method for refrigerator

Abstract

To provide a refrigerator that can shorten a defrosting time by early recovering a refrigerant from a cooler during refrigerant recovery operation.SOLUTION: A refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment comprises a refrigerator body 2 provided with a heat insulation material 5 between an inner box 4 and an outer box 3, interior components 8, 62, 76, and 103 provided inside the inner box 4, and catalyst layers 13, 65, 78, and 104 comprising a catalyst formed on surfaces of the interior components by providing a liquid mixture of the catalyst and volatile liquid on the surfaces of the interior components 8, 62, 76, and 103 and drying the liquid.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a refrigerator and a method for manufacturing a refrigerator. [Background technology]

[0002] In order to maintain the freshness of stored items in refrigerators, it has been proposed to provide a purification device in the cold air flow path inside the refrigerator that sterilizes and deodorizes the air circulating inside the refrigerator.

[0003] Such a purification device comprises a porous body carrying a catalyst and a light-emitting device that outputs light such as ultraviolet light. By irradiating the light output from the light-emitting device onto the porous body, bacteria and odorous components contained in the air in the cold air flow path are decomposed and removed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0004] However, since the porous body that constitutes the purification device is formed from a resin material with a catalyst kneaded into it, the catalyst that is not exposed on the surface of the porous body does not come into contact with the air and is therefore unable to purify the air. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5251229 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that can purify the air inside the refrigerator while reducing the amount of catalyst used. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A refrigerator in one embodiment includes a refrigerator body having an insulating material provided between an inner box and an outer box, an internal component provided inside the inner box, and a catalyst layer made of the catalyst formed on the surface of the internal component by providing a mixed liquid of a catalyst and a volatile liquid on a surface of the internal component and drying the liquid. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a front view of a partition member in a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] A-A cross section of Figure 2 [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a main part of FIG. 1. [Diagram 5] Schematic cross-sectional view of the sterilization device DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] The following embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are merely examples, and the scope of the invention is not limited thereto. The following embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The following embodiments and their modifications are within the scope of the invention and its equivalents as set forth in the claims. This is what we have in mind.

[0010] In the following description, the left-right direction, front-rear direction, and up-down direction refer to the directions when the refrigerator is viewed from the front, and the left-right direction corresponds to the width direction of the refrigerator. Furthermore, the terms right, left, top, bottom, back, rear, and front refer to positions or sides when the refrigerator is viewed from the front unless otherwise specified. Furthermore, the side of the inner box 4 of the refrigerator 1 that faces the storage space is the inside side, and the side facing the outer box 3 through the insulation material is the insulation space side.

[0011] (1) Configuration of Refrigerator 1 First, the overall configuration of the refrigerator 1 will be described. Fig. 1 shows the refrigerator 1 of the embodiment. The refrigerator body 2 of the refrigerator 1 is configured by combining an outer box 3 forming the outer shell of the refrigerator 1 with an inner box 4 having a storage space formed therein, and providing an insulating material 5 such as a foam insulating material or a plate-shaped insulating material in an insulating space formed between the outer box 3 and the inner box 4.

[0012] The inside of the refrigerator body 2 is divided into upper and lower parts by an insulating partition wall 6. The upper side of the insulating partition wall 6 is the refrigerating space. The refrigerating space is maintained at a refrigerating temperature that is a temperature suitable for refrigerated storage. The lower side of the insulating partition wall 6 is the freezing space. The freezing space is maintained at a freezing temperature that is a temperature suitable for frozen storage. The refrigerating space and the freezing space each have a plurality of storage compartments for storing food. Each storage compartment has an opening at the front, through which users can put food in and take it out.

[0013] The refrigerated space is divided into front and rear parts by a partition member 50, with a refrigerated storage space for storing stored goods being formed in front of the partition member 50, and cold air flow paths such as the first cooling chamber 30, supply flow paths 31, 32, return flow paths 33, 34, etc. being formed behind the partition member 50.

[0014] The refrigerated storage space is divided into upper and lower sections by a partition wall 7. A refrigerator compartment 20 is provided above the partition wall 7, and a vegetable compartment 22 is provided below the partition wall 7. A communication passage 7a connecting the refrigerator compartment 20 and the vegetable compartment 22 is provided at the rear of the partition wall 7. The interior of the refrigerator compartment 20 is maintained within a refrigeration temperature range, for example, at 2 to 5°C, and the interior of the vegetable compartment 22 is maintained within a refrigeration temperature range, for example, at 4 to 7°C.

[0015] A plurality of storage shelves 8 are provided vertically at intervals in the refrigeration compartment 20. The space below the lowest storage shelf 8 is a chilled compartment within the refrigeration compartment 20 that is maintained at an especially low temperature.

[0016] The storage shelf 8 includes, for example, a shelf plate on which the storage items are placed and a frame provided so as to surround the shelf plate, and for example, a synthetic resin frame is integrally formed around the shelf plate made of a transparent glass plate. A catalyst layer 13, which will be described later, is formed on the lower surface of the shelf plate of the storage shelf 8.

[0017] A lighting device 9 for illuminating the inside of the refrigerator compartment 20 is provided on the ceiling wall of the refrigerator body 2, which forms the ceiling surface of the refrigerator compartment 20, on the inside of the refrigerator.

[0018] The front opening of the refrigerator compartment 20 is opened and closed by a pair of left and right French-style (double-leaf) refrigerator compartment doors 21. The opening and closing of the refrigerator compartment door 21 is detected by a door sensor provided at the front end of the refrigerator compartment 20.

[0019] The front opening of the vegetable compartment 22 is opened and closed by a drawer-type vegetable compartment door 23. A drawer-type storage container 70 is attached to the inside of the vegetable compartment door 23. When the user opens the vegetable compartment door 23, the storage container 70 is pulled out together with the vegetable compartment door 23 to the outside of the compartment, and when the vegetable compartment door 23 is closed, the storage container 70 is stored in the vegetable compartment 22 together with the vegetable compartment door 23.

[0020] The partition member 50 provided at the rear of the refrigerating space includes a flow path assembly 51 and a back member 60.

[0021] The flow path assembly 51 is provided behind the upper part of the chilled compartment and the vegetable compartment 22 arranged at the bottom of the refrigerator compartment 20, and forms the first cooler compartment 30 between the flow path assembly 51 and the back surface of the inner box 4. The flow path assembly 51 is also provided with a first supply flow path 31 connecting the first cooler compartment 30 and the chilled compartment, a first return flow path 33 connecting the refrigerator compartment 20 and the first cooler compartment 30, and a second return flow path 34 connecting the vegetable compartment 22 and the first cooler compartment 30.

[0022] The back surface member 60 is disposed above the flow path assembly 51 so as to separate the refrigerating space into front and rear portions. The back surface member 60 forms a second supply flow path 32 extending upward from the first cooling chamber 30 between itself and the back surface of the inner box 4. The second supply flow path 32 connects the first cooling chamber 30 and the refrigerating chamber 20.

[0023] The first cooling chamber 30 is provided with a fin-tube-type first cooling device 40, a first fan 41, and a sterilization device 100. When the first cooling device 40 cools the air flowing in the first cooling chamber 30, the first fan 41 supplies the air in the first cooling chamber 30 cooled by the first cooling device 40 to the chilled chamber via the first supply flow path 31, and also supplies it to the second supply flow path 32 formed between the back member 60 and the back surface of the inner box 4. The cold air introduced into the second supply flow path 32 flows upward and is blown out and supplied to the refrigerator chamber 20 from the air outlet 35 provided in the back member 60.

[0024] The air supplied to the chilled compartment and the refrigerator compartment 20 flows while cooling the chilled compartment and the refrigerator compartment 20. Then, a part of the air that flows through the chilled compartment and the refrigerator compartment 20 flows into the first return flow path 33 from the suction port provided at the rear of the partition wall 7 and returns to the first cooler compartment 30, and the remaining air flows into the vegetable compartment 22 through the communication passage 7a provided at the rear of the partition wall 7.

[0025] The air that flows into the vegetable compartment 22 flows inside the vegetable compartment 22 while being cooled, then flows into the second return flow path 34 from the suction port provided at the lower end of the flow path assembly 51, and returns to the first cooler chamber 30 together with the air that flowed into the first return flow path 33, and is then cooled again in the first cooler 40.

[0026] The freezer space is divided into front and rear parts by a partition member 52, with a freezer storage space for storing stored goods being formed in front of the partition member 52, and cold air flow paths such as a second cooling chamber 44, a cold air flow path 45, and a return flow path 46 being formed behind the partition member 52.

[0027] The freezer storage space is provided with an ice-making compartment, a first freezer compartment 26, and a second freezer compartment 28 as storage compartments. The ice-making compartment and first freezer compartment 26 are arranged side by side on the left and right at the top of the freezer space. Second freezer compartment 28 is arranged below the ice-making compartment and first freezer compartment 26. The insides of the ice-making compartment and second freezer compartment 28 are maintained within the freezing temperature range, for example, at -20 to -18°C. The inside of first freezer compartment 26 is maintained within the freezing temperature range, for example, at -18 to -16°C.

[0028] The front opening of first freezer compartment 26 is opened and closed by a drawer-type first freezer compartment door 27. A drawer-type storage container is attached to the interior surface of first freezer compartment door 27. Furthermore, the front opening of second freezer compartment 28 is opened and closed by a drawer-type second freezer compartment door 29. A drawer-type storage container is fixed to the interior surface of second freezer compartment door 29. Furthermore, the front opening of the ice-making compartment is opened and closed by a drawer-type ice-making compartment door (not shown).

[0029] The second cooler chamber 44 formed behind the partition member 52 contains a fin-tube type second cooler 42 for cooling the air in the second cooler chamber 44 and a second fan 43 for blowing the cold air cooled by the second cooler 42 into the freezing space. When the second cooler 42 cools the air flowing in the second cooler chamber 44, the second fan 43 supplies the air in the second cooler chamber 44 cooled by the second cooler 42 to the freezing storage space through a cold air flow path 45. The air supplied to the freezing storage space flows through the freezing storage space while being cooled, and then returns to the second cooler chamber 44 through a return flow path 46 from an intake port formed at the lower back surface of the freezing storage space, and is cooled again by the second cooler 42.

[0030] A machine room 10 is provided at the lower rear of the refrigerator body 2. A compressor 11, a condenser (not shown), etc. are housed in the machine room 10. The compressor 11, the condenser, the first cooler 40, the second cooler 42, etc. configure a well-known refrigeration cycle device. The refrigerant compressed by the compressor 11 flows alternately through the first cooler 40 and the second cooler 42, and when the refrigerant flows, cold air is generated in each cooler.

[0031] A control board 12 that controls the refrigerator 1 is provided at the rear end of the upper wall of the refrigerator body 2. The control board 12 includes a control unit made of a microcomputer and a readable / writable storage unit such as a flash memory, and is connected to various devices such as various sensors and the lighting device 9, the compressor 11, the first fan 41, the second fan 43, and the sterilization device 100. The control unit provided on the control board 12 controls the overall operation of the refrigerator 1, such as the rotation speeds of the first fan 41 and the second fan 43, the operating frequency of the compressor 11, the lighting of the lighting device 9, and the operation of the sterilization device 100, based on detection signals from the various sensors.

[0032] (2) Rear member 60 2 and 3, the back member 60 includes a rear wall panel 61 made of a plate-like body that divides the rear surface of the refrigerator compartment 20, and a flow path forming member 62 attached to the back surface of the rear wall panel 61. The flow path forming member 62 is made of a heat insulating molded body that is narrower than the rear wall panel 61 and is made of a heat insulating material such as foamed heat insulating material and has a horizontal cross section that opens rearward in a substantially U-shape, and is provided in a position that is not visible to the user when the user opens the refrigerator compartment door 21 and looks toward the storage compartment.

[0033] The rear end surface of the flow path forming member 62 abuts against the rear surface of the inner box 4 via a sealing member 63 such as a soft tape. By abutting against the rear surface of the inner box 4 via the sealing member 63, the flow path forming member 62 forms a second supply flow path 32 between itself and the rear surface of the inner box 4.

[0034] A connection port 64 connected to the first cooling chamber 30 is provided below the second supply flow passage 32. A plurality of air outlets 35 are provided at the front of the second supply flow passage 32 at intervals in the vertical direction, penetrating the front and rear wall panels 61 of the flow passage forming member 62 and connecting the second supply flow passage with the refrigerator chamber 20.

[0035] In such a back surface member 60 , a catalyst layer 65 (described later) is formed on the second supply flow path 32 side of the flow path forming member 62 , and the catalyst layer 65 decomposes and removes bacteria and the like contained in the air flowing through the second supply flow path 32 .

[0036] In addition, since the flow path forming member 62 has a rough surface on which the catalyst layer 65 is formed, the degree of adhesion of the catalyst layer 65 is increased. The rough surface here means that the surface is rougher than a normal flat surface formed by molding a plastic resin such as polypropylene (PP) without any intention of increasing the surface roughness. Specifically, since the adhesion of the catalyst layer 65 can be improved by providing appropriate irregularities on the surface of the flow path forming member 62, it is preferable to mold EPS (bead method polystyrene foam) into a predetermined shape to form the flow path forming member 62.

[0037] (3) Storage container 70 As shown in FIG. 1, the storage container 70 provided within the vegetable chamber 22 has a two-tiered structure consisting of a lower container 71 that is provided across almost the entire width of the vegetable chamber 22, and an upper container 80 that is provided above the lower container 71.

[0038] The lower container 71 is a box-shaped container with a bottom surrounded by a front wall, a rear wall, and left and right side walls, and stored items are put in and taken out from an upper opening that opens upward. The lower container 71 is held by a pair of left and right support frames fixed to the back side of the vegetable compartment door 23, and is configured to be pulled out to the outside when the vegetable compartment door 23 is opened.

[0039] The lower container 71 is provided with a front-rear partition 72 that protrudes upward from the inner bottom surface. This front-rear partition 72 is provided so as to connect the inner surfaces of the left and right side walls of the lower container 71. A lower front container 73 is formed in front of the front-rear partition 72, and a lower rear container 74 is formed in the rear side.

[0040] The front side of the upper opening 74a of the lower rear container 74 is covered by the upper container 80 when the vegetable compartment door 23 is closed (when the storage container 70 is stored in the vegetable compartment 22) as shown in Fig. 1. The rear side of the upper opening 74a of the lower rear container 74 is covered by a moisture permeable member 76 held by a holder 77 as shown in Fig. 4.

[0041] The moisture-permeable member 76 is a moisture-permeable waterproof sheet formed by overlapping and bonding a fiber layer 76a, such as a polyester long-fiber nonwoven fabric, and a polyethylene porous film 76b, and a catalyst layer 78, which will be described later, is formed on the fiber layer 76a side (the surface of the fiber layer 76a).

[0042] This moisture permeable member 76 has a plurality of holes, each having a diameter of, for example, 0.5 μm to 3 μm, and allows water vapor particles of, for example, 0.0004 μm or less to pass through, but does not allow water molecules larger than 0.5 μm to 3 μm to pass through. Therefore, the moisture permeable member 76 has stable waterproofing, moisture permeability, resistance to wind (cold air) passage, and the ability to decompose and remove bacteria contained in the air.

[0043] 4, holder 77 includes body portion 77a and lid portion 77b, and lid portion 77b is detachably fitted into body portion 77a to integrate lid portion 77b and body portion 77a. Body portion 77a has a plurality of ventilation holes 77a1, and lid portion 77b has a plurality of ventilation holes 77b1. For example, hole 77a1 provided in body portion 77a has a shape that is longer in the refrigerator width direction than in the front-rear direction, and hole 77b1 provided in lid portion 77b has a shape that is longer in the direction perpendicular to hole 70a1 (a shape that is longer in the front-rear direction than in the refrigerator width direction).

[0044] The moisture permeable member 76 is provided between the main body 77a and the lid 77b so as to divide the internal space of the holder 77 into upper and lower parts. The holder 77 with the moisture permeable member 76 provided therein is attached to the rear side of the upper opening 74a of the lower rear container 74 with the fiber layer 76a facing the inside of the lower container 71, and the moisture permeable member 76 closes the upper opening 74a of the lower rear container 74, restricting the direct entry of air (wind) flowing outside the lower rear container 74. In addition, the moisture permeable member 76 decomposes and removes harmful substances such as bacteria, odor components, and ethylene gas contained in the air in the lower container 71 by using the catalyst layer 78 provided on the surface of the fiber layer 76a facing the inside of the lower container 71.

[0045] (4) Sterilization device 100 As shown in Fig. 1, the sterilization apparatus 100 is provided downstream of the first cooler 40 in the first cooling chamber 30 in the air flow direction, and sterilizes the air to be supplied to the refrigerated space. As shown in Fig. 5, the sterilization apparatus 100 includes a frame 101, a pair of light emitting devices 102 arranged on the upper and lower parts of the frame 101, and two filters 103 arranged between the pair of light emitting devices 102. The filter 103 is made of a porous body, and a catalyst layer 104, which will be described later, is formed on its surface.

[0046] A plurality of through holes 105 are formed in the pair of upper and lower light emitting devices 102, penetrating in the thickness direction, and the cool air flowing through the first cooling chamber 30 passes through the through holes 105 provided in the light emitting devices 102. A plurality of light sources 106 are provided facing downward on the lower surface of the upper light emitting device 102, and a plurality of light sources 106 are also provided facing upward on the upper surface of the lower light emitting device 102. Each of these light sources 106 emits light that excites the catalyst constituting the catalyst layer 104 formed on the surface of the filter 103, and is composed of, for example, an LED (light emitting diode). Such a pair of light emitting devices 102 is arranged above and below the filter 53 on which the catalyst layer 104 is formed, with a gap between them, with the surface on which the light sources 106 are provided facing the filter 103.

[0047] The sterilization device 100 decomposes and removes bacteria and the like contained in the air flowing through the first cooling chamber 30 by turning on the light source 106 provided in the light emitting device 102 to activate the catalyst layer 104 provided on the surface of the filter 103. This makes it possible to supply sterilized air from the first cooling chamber 30 to the refrigerator chamber 20, the chilled chamber, and the vegetable chamber 22.

[0048] (5) Catalyst layer 13, 65, 78, 104 The catalyst layers 13, 65, 78, and 104 are each made of a catalyst formed on the surface of an internal part provided inside the inner box 4.

[0049] Specifically, catalyst layer 13 is a coating made of catalyst formed by applying a mixed liquid, which is a mixture of fine powder of catalyst and a volatile liquid containing alcohol such as propanol or water, to the underside of the shelf of mounting shelf 8 and drying the liquid. Catalyst layer 13 is provided on the underside of the shelf made of a glass plate, in a position where it is irradiated with light from lighting device 9.

[0050] The catalyst layer 65 is a coating made of a catalyst formed by applying a mixed liquid similar to that of the catalyst layer 13 to the surface of the flow path forming member 62 on the second supply flow path 32 side and drying the liquid. The catalyst layer 65 is provided on the back surface side of the flow path forming member 62, and is provided at a position where the light from the lighting device 9 is blocked by the rear wall plate 61 and the flow path forming member 62. It is preferable that the thickness of the catalyst layer 65 at the peripheral portion 35a of the air outlet 35 is thicker than other portions.

[0051] The catalyst layer 78 is a coating made of a catalyst formed by applying a mixed liquid similar to that of the catalyst layer 13 to the surface of the fiber layer 76a side of the moisture-permeable member 76 and drying the liquid. The catalyst layer 78 is provided in the vegetable compartment 22 at a position where the light from the lighting device 9 is blocked.

[0052] The catalyst layer 104 is a coating made of a catalyst formed by applying a mixed liquid similar to that of the catalyst layer 13 to the surface of the filter 103 of the sterilization apparatus 100 and drying the liquid. The catalyst layer 104 is provided on the back side of the flow path assembly 51 so as to be irradiated with light from the light emitting device 102, and is provided at a position where light from a light source other than the lighting device 9 is irradiated.

[0053] In this specification, the position where the light of the lighting device 9 is blocked means that another component or the like is present between the lighting device 9 and the catalyst layer so that the light irradiated from the lighting device 9 does not reach directly, and does not mean excluding the light reflected by the components or stored goods in the refrigerator reaching the target position. In addition, the position where the light of the lighting device 9 is irradiated or the position where the light of a light source other than the lighting device 9 is irradiated means a position where the light irradiated from the lighting device 9 or a light source other than the lighting device 9 reaches directly without being reflected, and includes a position where the light transmitted through a light-transmitting component reaches.

[0054] The catalysts constituting the catalyst layers 13, 65, 78, 104 are composed of a first catalyst fine powder that exhibits catalytic action to decompose harmful substances in the air, such as bacteria, odorous components, and ethylene gas, when irradiated with light, and a second catalyst fine powder that exhibits catalytic action to decompose harmful substances without being irradiated with light.

[0055] The first catalyst is composed of a fine powder of a metal oxide such as titanium dioxide, titanium oxide, zinc oxide, iron oxide, copper oxide, silver oxide, tungsten oxide, zirconium oxide, bismuth oxide, indium oxide, germanium oxide, nickel oxide, cobalt oxide, chromium oxide, manganese oxide, vanadium oxide, niobium oxide, antimony oxide, or strontium oxide.

[0056] The second catalyst is made of, for example, a metal such as platinum, gold, silver, copper, iron, cobalt, nickel, chromium, or zinc, or a fine powder of a phosphoric acid catalyst.

[0057] (6) Manufacturing method of refrigerator 1 Next, a method for manufacturing the above-mentioned refrigerator 1 will be described.

[0058] First, the front end of the inner box 4 is engaged with the front end of the outer box 3, and the bottom and back surface of the outer box 3 are engaged with the left and right side surfaces and top surface of the outer box 3, thereby closing the insulated space of the refrigerator body 2 except for an injection hole (not shown) for the foam insulation material. Before closing the insulated space, a plate-shaped insulation material, a refrigerant pipe through which a refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle device flows, and lead wires that electrically connect electrical components provided inside or outside the refrigerator body 2 to the control board 12 are arranged as necessary.

[0059] Next, the concentrate of the foam insulation material is injected into the insulation space through the injection hole, filling the insulation space with the foam insulation material, thereby obtaining the refrigerator body 2.

[0060] Next, for the interior parts such as the placement shelf 8, the flow path forming member 62, the moisture permeable member 76, and the filter 103 of the sterilization device 100, a mixture of a fine catalyst powder and a volatile liquid is applied to the surfaces of the interior parts 8, 62, 76, and 103 before they are attached to the inside of the inner box 4. Thereafter, the liquid in the mixture is dried to form catalyst layers 13, 65, 78, and 104 on the surfaces of the interior parts 8, 62, 76, and 103.

[0061] The mixed liquid can be applied to the surfaces of the interior parts 8, 62, 76, 103 by any method, such as spraying the mixed liquid onto the surfaces of the interior parts 8, 62, 76, 103 or applying the mixed liquid with a brush, or by immersing the interior parts 8, 62, 76, 103 in the mixed liquid.

[0062] When the mixed liquid is sprayed onto the surfaces of the interior parts, such as the mounting shelf 8, the flow path forming member 62, the moisture permeable member 76, and the filter 103 of the sterilization device 100, the mixed liquid can be uniformly applied in the form of droplets, and the catalyst powder can be uniformly applied to the surfaces of the interior parts.

[0063] When providing the mixed liquid to an interior part in which the catalyst layer 13 is arranged in a position visible to the user, such as when providing the catalyst layer 13 on the mounting shelf 8, it is preferable to provide the mixed liquid on the surface of the interior part by spraying, and it is more preferable to provide the mixed liquid on the surface of the interior part using an airbrush that sprays the mixed liquid in a mist form using air compressed by an electric motor or the like. By providing the mixed liquid on the surface of the interior part by spraying, it is possible to suppress unevenness in the amount of catalyst attached and not impair aesthetic sense, and by spraying the mixed liquid using an airbrush, it is possible to make the mixed liquid even finer and suppress unevenness in the amount of catalyst attached.

[0064] Furthermore, when the internal parts 8, 62, 76, 103 are immersed in the mixed liquid and the mixed liquid is applied to their surfaces, a thick catalyst layer 13 can be formed on the surfaces of the internal parts 8, 62, 76, 103 in a short time compared to applying the mixed liquid by spraying, and a high catalytic action can be obtained.

[0065] Then, inside the inner box 4 of the refrigerator body 2 filled with the foam insulation material, interior parts such as the coolers 40, 42, fans 41, 43, the sterilization device 100, partition members 50, 52, the lighting device 9, the mounting shelf 8, and the storage container 70 are attached. That is, the mounting shelf 8, the flow path forming member 62, the moisture permeable member 76, and the filter 103 of the sterilization device 100 are attached inside the inner box 4 of the refrigerator body 2 after catalyst layers 13, 65, 78, and 104 have been formed on their surfaces in advance. Also, by attaching the compressor 11, the condenser, the control board 12, and the doors 21, 23, 27, and 29 to the outside of the outer box 3, the refrigerator 1 as shown in FIG. 1 is obtained.

[0066] (6) Effects In the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment as described above, the catalyst layers 13, 65, 78, 104 made of a catalyst that decomposes harmful substances are formed on the surfaces of the internal parts 8, 62, 76, 103 provided inside the inner box 4. Therefore, most of the catalyst provided in the internal parts is exposed on the surfaces of the internal parts and comes into contact with the air inside the refrigerator, and even with a small amount of catalyst, the harmful substances contained in the air inside the refrigerator can be efficiently decomposed.

[0067] In this embodiment, by reusing interior components provided inside the inner box 4 for other purposes as components for providing the catalyst layers 13, 65, 78, 104, it is possible to obtain the effects of sterilization and the like by the catalyst without providing new components inside the refrigerator.

[0068] In particular, by providing a catalyst layer on the interior components that form the flow paths through which the cold air circulating between the storage chamber and the cooler chamber flows, such as the flow path side surface of the flow path forming member 62 that forms the flow paths 31, 32 that supply cold air to the refrigerator chamber 20, or the flow path side surface of the member that forms the flow paths 33, 34 that return cold air from the refrigerator chamber 20 and the vegetable chamber 22 to the first cooler chamber 30, the entire air circulating inside the chamber is more likely to come into contact with the catalyst layer, and the catalytic action is more likely to be exerted. Note that, as the flow paths through which the cold air flows, in addition to the above-mentioned flow paths 32, 32, 33, 34, the flow paths through which the cold air flows include the flow paths formed between the container provided in the chilled chamber and the partition wall 7, and the flow paths formed between the left and right side walls of the vegetable chamber 22 and the storage container 70, and by providing a catalyst layer on any flow path through which the cold air circulating inside the chamber flows, the catalytic action is more likely to be exerted. Furthermore, by forming the catalyst layer 65 on the flow path forming member 62 that is not visible to the user when the user opens the refrigerator compartment door 21 and looks toward the storage compartment, the impact on aesthetic appearance can be suppressed even if there is unevenness, such as the amount of mixed liquid adhered varying slightly depending on the location.

[0069] The catalyst layers 13, 65, 78, 104 can be formed on the surfaces of the interior parts 8, 62, 76, 103 by applying a mixed liquid of a fine catalyst powder and a volatile liquid to the surface of the interior part and drying the liquid, so that catalyst layers can be easily applied to the surfaces of various interior parts.

[0070] In this embodiment, the catalyst constituting the catalyst layers 13, 65, 78, 104 is composed of a fine powder of a first catalyst that exhibits catalytic activity when irradiated with light, and a fine powder of a second catalyst that exhibits catalytic activity without being irradiated with light. Therefore, it is not necessary to change the mixed liquid used to form the catalyst layers 13, 65, 78, 104 between an internal part provided in a position irradiated with light from the lighting device 9, such as the mounting shelf 8, an internal part provided in a position where the light from the lighting device 9 is blocked, such as the flow path forming member 62 and the moisture permeable member 76, and an internal part provided in a position irradiated with light from a light source other than the lighting device 9, such as the filter 103, and there is no risk of providing an undesired catalyst layer on an internal part during manufacture of the refrigerator.

[0071] As in this embodiment, a catalyst layer is provided on the fiber layer 76a of the moisture permeable member 76 made of nonwoven fabric, or on the surface of the filter 103 of the sterilization apparatus 100 made of a porous material, so that a large amount of catalyst can be supported.

[0072] By forming the catalyst layer 65 on the second supply flow path 32 side of the flow path forming member 62 as in this embodiment, harmful substances contained in the air circulating in the refrigerated space can be efficiently decomposed, and the effect of the catalyst layer 65 can be maintained for a long period of time without the user having to touch the catalyst layer 65. In particular, when the thickness of the catalyst layer 65 at the edge of the air outlet 35 is thicker than the catalyst layer 65 formed in other parts of the flow path forming member 62, harmful substances in the air circulating in the refrigerated space can easily come into contact with the catalyst, and the harmful substances can be decomposed more efficiently.

[0073] By forming the catalyst layer 13 on the underside of the shelf plate of the mounting shelf 8 as in this embodiment, the catalyst layer can be disposed near the stored items, and harmful substances can be decomposed before they diffuse. In addition, because the catalyst layer 13 is formed on the underside of the mounting shelf 8, the catalyst layer 13 is difficult for users to touch, and the effect of the catalyst layer 13 can be maintained for a long period of time. Moreover, the catalyst layer 13 can be formed on the mounting shelf 8 even if the shelf plate of the mounting shelf 8 is made of a glass plate.

[0074] In addition, as in this embodiment, by forming catalyst layers 13, 65, 78, 104 on the surfaces of the interior parts 8, 62, 76, 103 and then attaching them to the inside of the inner box 4 of the refrigerator body 2, a catalyst layer is not formed on another interior part adjacent to the interior part on which the catalyst layers 13, 65, 78, 104 are formed, and the catalyst layer can be formed only on the desired interior part. Moreover, before the process of attaching the interior parts 8, 62, 76, 10 to the refrigerator body 2, the catalyst layers 13, 65, 78, 104 are formed on the surfaces of the interior parts 8, 62, 76, 103. This eliminates the need for a drying process of the mixed liquid that forms the catalyst layer in the process of attaching the interior parts 8, 62, 76, 103, significantly shortening the manufacturing time and suppressing an increase in manufacturing costs due to the formation of the catalyst layer.

[0075] (7) Example of changes Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, this embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims.

[0076] In the above-described embodiment, the catalyst layers 13, 65, 78, and 104 are provided on the surfaces of the mounting shelf 8, the flow path forming member 62, the moisture permeable member 76, and the filter 103 of the sterilization apparatus 100. However, the catalyst layers may be formed by spraying a mixture of a catalyst and a volatile liquid onto the surfaces of various interior parts.

[0077] For example, a catalyst layer may be provided on the refrigeration compartment 20 side of the back member 60 (the front surface of the rear wall panel 61). By providing a catalyst layer on the front surface of the rear wall panel 61, the catalyst layer can be formed over a wide area of ​​the refrigeration compartment 20, and a high decomposition effect on harmful substances can be obtained. When providing a catalyst layer on the front surface of the rear wall panel 61, it is preferable that the thickness of the catalyst layer at the peripheral portion 35a of the air outlet 35 is thicker than that of the catalyst layer in other parts of the rear wall panel 61. By making the catalyst layer thicker at the peripheral portion 35a of the air outlet 35, harmful substances in the air circulating in the refrigeration space can come into contact with the catalyst more easily, and harmful substances can be decomposed efficiently.

[0078] Also, a catalyst layer may be provided on the surface of the first fan 41 or the second fan 43, or on the surface of the fins of the first cooler 40 or the second cooler 42. In such a case, a catalyst layer can be provided in the cold air flow path, which can efficiently decompose harmful substances contained in the air circulating in the refrigerated space, and the effect of the catalyst layer can be maintained for a long period of time without the user having to touch the catalyst layer.

[0079] Furthermore, when a mist generating device is provided in a refrigerated space, the device includes a water storage section for storing water and a water supply core whose lower end is immersed in the water stored in the water storage section, and the water supply core applies voltage or vibration to the water drawn up from the water storage section to emit mist-like water droplets, a catalyst layer may be formed by spraying a mixture of a catalyst and a volatile liquid onto the surface of the water supply core. By providing a catalyst layer on the surface of the water supply core of the mist generating device, the generation of bacteria and the like can be suppressed in the water supply core which contains a lot of water.

[0080] In the above embodiment, a moisture permeable member 76 having a catalyst layer 78 formed thereon is provided on the lower container 71 held by a support frame fixed to the back side of the vegetable compartment door 23. However, the moisture permeable member 76 having a catalyst layer formed thereon may also be provided on a storage container that is removably placed on the mounting shelf 8 of the refrigerator compartment 20 or on the upper container 80 of the storage container 70.

[0081] Furthermore, because harmful substances such as bacteria, odorous components, and ethylene gas contained in the air are more likely to occur in a refrigerated space at a refrigerated temperature range than in a freezer space at a freezing temperature range, it is preferable to provide a catalyst layer on the surface of the interior parts provided in the refrigerated space, but a catalyst layer may also be provided on the surface of the interior parts provided in the freezer space.

[0082] In the above embodiment, the catalyst layer 65 is provided on the second supply flow path 32 side of the flow path forming member 62, but in addition to the second supply flow path 32 side, a catalyst layer may also be provided on the opposite side of the second supply flow path 32 (i.e., the front side of the flow path forming member 62 facing the rear wall plate 61). The front side of the flow path forming member 62 is provided with the rear wall plate 61 and is not a place through which cold air flows, so that the attachment of the catalyst is more likely to be maintained for a long period of time than the catalyst layer provided on the second supply flow path 32 side. The front side of the flow path forming member 62 is not a place through which cold air flows frequently, but there may be a small gap between the rear wall plate 61 and the flow path forming member 62, and by providing a catalyst layer on the front side of the flow path forming member 62, bacteria and harmful substances in the air present in this gap can be decomposed and removed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0083] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1...refrigerator, 2...refrigerator body, 3...outer box, 4...inner box, 8...mounting shelf, 9...lighting device, 13...catalyst layer, 20...refrigerating compartment, 22...vegetable compartment, 30...first cooling compartment, 31...first supply flow path, 32...second supply flow path, 33...first return flow path, 34...second return flow path, 35...air outlet, 40...first cooling device, 41...first fan, 42...second cooling device, 43...second fan, 50...partition member, 51...flow path assembly, 52...partition member, 60...back member, 61 ...rear wall plate, 62...flow path forming member, 63...sealing member, 64...connection port, 65...catalyst layer, 70...storage container, 71...lower container, 72...front and rear partition, 73...lower front container, 74...lower rear container, 76...moisture permeable member, 76a...fiber layer, 76b...porous film, 77...holding device, 78...catalyst layer, 80...storage container, 100...sterilization device, 101...frame, 102...light emitting device, 103...filter, 104...catalyst layer, 105...through hole, 106...light source

Claims

1. A refrigerator body having a heat insulating material provided between an inner box and an outer box; An interior part provided inside the inner box; a mixed liquid obtained by mixing a catalyst and a volatile liquid on a surface of the interior part, and a catalyst layer made of the catalyst formed on the surface of the interior part by drying the liquid.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the interior part on which the catalyst layer is formed is provided inside the inner box after the catalyst layer is formed.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the catalyst layer includes a first catalyst that exhibits catalytic activity when irradiated with light, and a second catalyst that exhibits catalytic activity without being irradiated with light.

4. A lighting device for emitting light is provided, The interior parts include a first interior part provided at a position where light from the lighting device is irradiated, and a second interior part provided at a position where light from the lighting device is blocked, The refrigerator according to claim 3 , wherein the catalyst layer is formed on a surface of the first interior part and the second interior part.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , further comprising: a storage container provided inside the inner box; and a moisture-permeable member provided in the storage container, the catalyst layer being formed on a surface of the moisture-permeable member.

6. A partition member is provided to partition the inside of the inner box into a storage chamber and a cold air flow path, The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the catalyst layer is formed on the storage compartment side of the partition member.

7. the partition member includes an air outlet that connects the cold air flow path and the storage chamber and through which air in the cold air flow path is blown out into the storage chamber, The refrigerator according to claim 6 , wherein a thickness of the catalyst layer at an edge of the air outlet is greater than a thickness of other portions of the partition member.

8. A partition member is provided to partition the inside of the inner box into a storage chamber and a cold air flow path, The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the catalyst layer is formed on the cool air flow path side of the partition member.

9. the partition member includes an air outlet that connects the cold air flow path and the storage chamber and through which air in the cold air flow path is blown out into the storage chamber, The refrigerator according to claim 8 , wherein a thickness of the catalyst layer at an edge portion of the air outlet is greater than a thickness of other portions of the partition member.

10. A partition member that divides the inside of the inner box into a storage chamber and a cold air flow path, and a placement shelf that divides the storage chamber into upper and lower sections, The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the catalyst layer is formed on a lower surface of the mounting shelf.

11. A fan is provided to circulate air inside the inner box, The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the catalyst layer is formed on a surface of the fan.

12. The present invention provides a storage device that includes a storage compartment and a cold air flow path, and a porous body provided in the cold air flow path. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the catalyst layer is formed on a surface of the porous body.

13. A mist generating device is provided inside the inner box to emit mist-like water droplets, 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the mist generating device comprises a water storage section for storing water, and a water supply wick immersed in the water in the water storage section, and the catalyst layer is formed on a surface of the water supply wick.

14. A method for manufacturing a refrigerator including a refrigerator body having an insulating material provided between an inner box and an outer box, an internal component provided inside the inner box, and a catalyst layer formed on a surface of the internal component, comprising: a mixed liquid obtained by mixing the catalyst and a volatile liquid is applied to a surface of the internal part, and the liquid is dried to form the catalyst layer on the surface of the internal part, and then the internal part is disposed inside the inner box.

Images