Cooler and tray unit

Abstract

To provide a cooler capable of performing cooling at a high cooling speed.SOLUTION: A cooler comprises a cooling device body having a cooling chamber, a tray arranged within the cooling chamber and having a bottom surface with a through hole formed therein, and a metal plate 112 arranged on the bottom surface of the tray. The bottom surface of the tray has a bottom body with the through hole formed therein, and a protrusion part that protrudes from the bottom body toward the metal plate.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a cooling device and a tray unit.

Background Art

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a refrigerator including a tray.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] There is a desire to increase the cooling rate of an object to be cooled arranged in a tray.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The cooling device according to the present disclosure includes a cooling device main body having a cooling chamber, a tray arranged in the cooling chamber and having a bottom surface formed with through holes, and a metal plate arranged on the bottom surface of the tray. The bottom surface of the tray has a bottom surface main body formed with through holes and a protruding portion protruding from the bottom surface main body toward the metal plate side.

[0006] The tray unit according to the present disclosure is arranged in the cooling chamber of the cooling device. The tray unit includes a tray arranged in the cooling chamber and having a bottom surface formed with through holes, and a metal plate arranged on the bottom surface of the tray. The bottom surface of the tray has a bottom surface main body formed with through holes and a protruding portion protruding from the bottom surface main body toward the metal plate side.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a cooling device capable of cooling at a high cooling rate can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, each embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. [Embodiment 1]

[0010] First, the overall configuration of the cooling device 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 and the like. In the present disclosure, the cooling device 1 is a general term for a device that cools an object such as food. The cooling device 1 includes, for example, a refrigerator having only a freezer compartment, and a refrigerator having a freezer compartment and further having a refrigerator compartment or the like. The freezer compartment is a general term for a compartment that cools the indoor temperature to 0°C or lower. The freezer compartment is preferably a compartment to which cold air at a temperature of -18°C or lower is supplied. In this embodiment, an example in which the cooling device 1 has a refrigerator compartment in addition to the freezer compartment will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the cooling device 1 may be a refrigerator having only a freezer compartment.

[0011] (Outline of the cooling device 1) In the following description, the direction corresponding to the horizontal direction in FIG. 1 is defined as the width direction of the refrigerator. The direction corresponding to the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1 is defined as the depth direction of the refrigerator. The direction corresponding to the vertical direction in FIG. 1 may be defined as the height direction of the refrigerator. In the height direction, the lower side of the paper surface of FIG. 1 may be referred to as "downward", and the upper side of the paper surface may be referred to as "upward". In the depth direction, the back side of the paper surface of FIG. 1 may be referred to as the "rear side" or the "back side", and the front side of the paper surface may be referred to as the "front side".

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the cooling device 1 includes a housing 5. The housing 5 has heat insulation properties. Inside the housing 5, a first refrigerating chamber 50, a second refrigerating chamber 40, a first freezing chamber 10, a second freezing chamber 20, and a third freezing chamber 30 are formed. The first freezing chamber 10 corresponds to an example of a "cooling chamber". The first refrigerating chamber 50, the second refrigerating chamber 40, the first freezing chamber 10, the second freezing chamber 20, and the third freezing chamber 30 are each isolated from each other by the housing 5.

[0013] The first refrigerating chamber 50 and the second refrigerating chamber 40 are each a space for refrigerating foodstuffs and the like. Note that "refrigerating" means cooling to a temperature lower than room temperature in a temperature range higher than 0°C. At least one of the first refrigerating chamber 50 and the second refrigerating chamber 40 may be a so-called vegetable chamber suitable for storing vegetables.

[0014] The first freezing chamber 10, the second freezing chamber 20, and the third freezing chamber 30 are each a space for freezing foodstuffs. In the present embodiment, the first freezing chamber 10 arranged at the lowermost side has the largest capacity. The second freezing chamber 20 and the third freezing chamber 30 arranged above the first freezing chamber 10 each have a smaller capacity than the first freezing chamber 10. At least one of the second freezing chamber 20 and the third freezing chamber 30 may be an ice-making chamber. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the third freezing chamber 30 is an ice-making chamber, and the second freezing chamber 20 and the first freezing chamber 10 are spaces for freezing and storing foodstuffs and the like.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 2, a cooler 2 is disposed inside the housing 5. The cooler 2 generates cold air. The cold air generated by the cooler 2 is supplied to each of the chambers 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, whereby the interiors of the chambers 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 are cooled.

[0016] The cooler 2 is not particularly limited as long as it can supply cold air. For example, it can be configured by a refrigeration cycle including a compressor, a condenser, an expander, an evaporator, and a refrigerant flowing through them via a refrigerant pipe through which the refrigerant circulates. The cooler 2 may further be provided with a fan for sending the cold air generated by the cooler 2, a defrost heater for melting the frost adhering to the evaporator, and a damper for opening and closing the cold air passage 25.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 3, the housing 5 is provided with a cold air passage 25 as an air guiding passage for guiding the cold air from the cooler 2. The cold air passage 25 is provided on the back side of the freezing chambers 10, 20, 30. Further, the housing 5 is formed with a first air outlet 23a, a second air outlet 23b, and a third air outlet 24 that open into the cooling chamber. The first air outlet 23a corresponds to an example of the "air outlet". The first air outlet 23a, the second air outlet 23b, and the third air outlet 24 are each connected to the cold air passage 25. The cold air from the cooler 2 is supplied to each of the first air outlet 23a, the second air outlet 23b, and the third air outlet 24 via the cold air passage 25.

[0018] The first air outlet 23a and the second air outlet 23b are each located on the back side of the first freezing chamber 10. The first air outlet 23a and the second air outlet 23b each open into the first freezing chamber 10. The first air outlet 23a and the second air outlet 23b each blow out the cold air supplied from the cooler 2 via the cold air passage 25 toward the first freezing chamber 10. The second air outlet 23b is provided at a position higher than the first air outlet 23a.

[0019] The third air outlet 24 is located on the back side of the second freezing chamber 20 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The third air outlet 24 opens into the second freezing chamber 20. The third air outlet 24 blows out the cold air supplied from the cooler 2 via the cold air passage 25 toward the second freezing chamber 20. Therefore, the cold air from the cooler 2 is supplied to the first air outlet 23a, the second air outlet 23b, and the third air outlet 24 via the common cold air passage 25.

[0020] The third air outlet 24 has a smaller opening area than the first air outlet 23a. The opening area of the third air outlet 24 is preferably 30% or more and 90% or less, more preferably 40% or more and 80% or less, of the opening area of the first air outlet 23a.

[0021] Generally, the flow rate of the cold air blown out from the air outlet depends on the opening area of the air outlet. Therefore, in the cooling device 1 where the opening area of the first air outlet 23a is larger than that of the third air outlet 24, the flow rate of the cold air blown out from the first air outlet 23a to the first freezer compartment 10 is larger than the flow rate of the cold air blown out from the third air outlet 24 to the third freezer compartment 30.

[0022] Similarly, the second air outlet 23b is also smaller than the first air outlet 23a. The opening area of the second air outlet 23b is preferably 30% or more and 90% or less, more preferably 40% or more and 80% or less, of the opening area of the first air outlet 23a. The flow rate of the cold air blown out from the first air outlet 23a to the first freezer compartment 10 is larger than the flow rate of the cold air blown out from the second air outlet 23b to the third freezer compartment 30.

[0023] When the damper is in the open state, the cold air passage 25 is opened. Therefore, when the damper is in the open state, the air blown by the fan is supplied to each cooling compartment, specifically, the first freezer compartment 10, the second freezer compartment 20, the third freezer compartment 30, the first refrigerator compartment 50, and the second refrigerator compartment 40 via the cold air passage 25. On the other hand, when the damper is in the closed state, the cold air passage 25 is closed. Therefore, when the damper is in the closed state, the cold air passage 25 is in a non-open state and cold air is not substantially supplied to each cooling compartment.

[0024] (The first freezer compartment 10) As shown in FIG. 2, the opening of the first freezer compartment 10 is opened and closed by a door 11 located on the front side of the first freezer compartment 10. The door 11 is displaceable in the depth direction with respect to the first freezer compartment 10. When the door 11 is displaced forward from the state where it closes the opening of the first freezer compartment 10, the opening of the first freezer compartment 10 becomes open.

[0025] Specifically, a pair of left and right guides 114 are attached to the door 11. The door 11 is displaced in the depth direction by being guided in the depth direction by guide rails (not shown) provided on the housing 5 side for the guides 114.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a cooling container 102 is arranged in the first freezer compartment 10. The cooling container 102 is arranged on the guide 114, and when the door 11 is pulled out forward, the cooling container 102 is also displaced and pulled out forward together with the guide 114.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 2, in addition to the cooling container 102, a cooling container 103 is arranged in the first freezer compartment 10. The cooling container 103 is arranged above the cooling container 102. The cooling container 103 has a height dimension smaller than that of the cooling container 102. The cooling container 103 is guided in the front-rear direction by guides formed in the housing 5 and can be pulled out. The cooling container 103 is provided independently of the door 11 and the guide 114. Therefore, even when the door 11 is pulled out, the cooling container 103 can remain in the first freezer compartment 10.

[0028] The cooling container 103 is a container that opens upward. The cooling container 103 is provided below the second air outlet 23b shown in FIG. 3 and the first air outlet 23a is positioned below the opening of the cooling container 103. For this reason, cold air is mainly supplied to the cooling container 103 from the second air outlet 23b.

[0029] The cooling container 102 is disposed below the cooling container 103. The cooling container 102 is a container that opens upward. The cooling container 102 is disposed below the first air outlet 23a. At least a part of the first air outlet 23a, preferably substantially the whole, is disposed below the lower surface of the cooling container 103 and above the opening of the cooling container 102. For this reason, cold air mainly flows into the cooling container 102 from the first air outlet 23a. Thus, among the second freezer compartment 20, the cooling container 102, and the cooling container 103, cold air from the first air outlet 23a with the largest opening area flows into the cooling container 103. Therefore, the flow rate of cold air to the cooling container 103 becomes the largest.

[0030] The cooling container 102 has a bottom surface 102a shown in FIG. 2 and side walls 102b, 102c, a front wall 102d, and a rear wall 102e shown in FIG. 3. In a state where the cooling container 102 is accommodated in the first freezer compartment 10, the bottom surface 102a faces the bottom surface of the first freezer compartment 10 in the height direction. The side wall 102b extends upward from one end of the bottom surface 102a in the width direction, and the side wall 102c extends upward from the other end of the bottom surface 102a in the width direction. The side wall 102b and the side wall 102c face each other in the width direction. The front wall 102d extends upward from the front end of the bottom surface 102a. The front wall 102d connects the front side edges of the side wall 102b and the side wall 102c. The rear wall 102e extends upward from the rear end of the bottom surface 102a. The rear wall 102e connects the rear side edges of the side wall 102b and the side wall 102c. The rear wall 102e and the front wall 102d face each other in the depth direction. The opening of the cooling container 102 is formed by the rear wall 102e, the front wall 102d, the side wall 102b, and the side wall 102c.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 3, the opening of the first air outlet 23a is located on the front side of the rear wall 102e. For this reason, cold air from the first air outlet 23a is not substantially directly blown against the rear wall 102e. Cold air from the first air outlet 23a is mainly blown out toward the front wall 102d side.

[0032] (Tray 101) FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of the first freezer compartment 10 of the cooling device 1. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the cooling container 102 and the tray 101. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the tray 101 viewed obliquely from below.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a tray 101 is provided in the first freezer compartment 10. The tray 101 is displaceable in the width direction within the first freezer compartment 10. Specifically, the tray 101 is accommodated in a cooling container 102 provided in the first freezer compartment 10. Thus, the front wall 102d is located on the front side of the tray 101, and the rear wall 102e is located on the rear side of the tray 101. The length of the tray 101 in the depth direction is substantially equal to the inner dimension along the depth direction of the cooling container 102. The tray 101 is displaceable in the width direction within the cooling container 102 with the front end portion of the tray 101 supported by the front wall 102d of the cooling container 102 and the rear end portion supported by the rear wall 102e of the cooling container 102. As shown in FIG. 3, the tray 101 can be positioned in front of the first air outlet 23a.

[0034] The tray 101 includes a tray body 111, a metal plate 112, and a lid 113. The tray body 111 has a space that opens upward. The metal plate 112 is formed in a rectangle in plan view and is placed on the bottom of the tray body 111. The lid 113 covers at least a part of the opening 111H of the tray body 111.

[0035] As mainly shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the tray body 111 includes a bottom surface 101a, a pair of side walls 101b, 101c, a front wall 101d, and a rear wall 101e. The bottom surface 101a faces the bottom surface 102a in the height direction. Foodstuffs are placed on the bottom surface 101a.

[0036] The first side wall 101b extends upward from one end of the bottom surface 101a in the width direction. The second side wall 101c extends upward from the other end of the bottom surface 101a in the width direction. The first side wall 101b and the second side wall 101c face each other in the width direction. The front wall 101d extends upward from the front end of the bottom surface 101a. The rear wall 101e is located closer to the first air outlet 23a side than the front wall 101d. The rear wall 101e extends upward from the rear end of the bottom surface 101a. The opening 111H of the tray 101 is formed by the rear wall 101e, the front wall 101d, the first side wall 101b, and the second side wall 101c.

[0037] In particular, in the present embodiment, a plurality of through holes 101X, 101X... are formed in the bottom surface 101a. The through holes 101X, 101X... are formed long in the front-rear direction. As a result, the cold air in the first freezer compartment 10 flows through the through holes 101X, 101X... to the bottom surface of the metal plate 112. Then, through the metal plate 112, the cold air in the first freezer compartment 10 is easily transmitted to the object to be cooled stored in the tray 101.

[0038] Also, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, one or a plurality of ribs 101Y that rise upward are formed on the upper surface of the bottom surface 101a of the tray body 111. As a result, a gap is generated between the bottom surface 101a and the metal plate 112. As a result, the cold air in the first freezer compartment 10 easily flows into the lower surface of the metal plate 112 through the through holes 101X, 101X.... In the present embodiment, an air outlet 151 through which cold air from a cooling chamber or an evaporator flows out is formed rearward and upward of the tray body 111. The air outlet 151 is realized by the above-described first air outlet 23a, second air outlet 23b, third air outlet 24, and the like.

[0039] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the length of the metal plate 112 in the front-rear direction is formed to be shorter than the length of the inside of the tray body 111 in the front-rear direction. As a result, the cold air flowing into the lower surface of the metal plate 112 can easily flow out from the gap between the metal plate 112 and the tray body 111.

[0040] More specifically, it is preferable that a gap of about 1 cm to 2 cm is formed between the front edge of the metal plate 112 and the front wall 101d of the tray body 111. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, it is preferable to configure such that the front edge of the metal plate 112 does not contact the front wall 101d of the tray body 111 by forming a protrusion 111X extending rearward from the front wall 101d of the tray body 111. More specifically, it is preferable that a protrusion 111X of about several centimeters is formed extending rearward from the left part of the front wall 101d of the tray body 111, and a protrusion 111X of about several centimeters is formed extending rearward from the right part of the front wall 101d of the tray body 111.

[0041] As a result, while allowing the cold air in the first freezer compartment 10 to crawl on the bottom surface of the metal plate 112, it can smoothly escape upward from the metal plate 112 through the above-described gap. As a result, heat can be efficiently transferred to the metal plate 112, and the cold air flowing through the first freezer compartment 10 can be easily transmitted to the object to be cooled stored in the tray 101. [Second Embodiment]

[0042] In the above-described implementation, the protrusion 111X was formed extending rearward from the front wall 101d of the tray body 111. However, in order to provide a gap in front of the metal plate 112, a protrusion may be provided forward from the metal plate 112 side.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 9, it is preferable that a protrusion 112X of about several centimeters is formed extending forward from the left part of the front edge 112F of the metal plate 112, and a protrusion 112X of about several centimeters is formed extending forward from the right part of the front edge 112F of the metal plate 112.

[0044] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 10, recesses 111Y, 111Y into which projections 112X, 112X fit may be formed in the right and left portions of the front wall 101d of the tray body 111. [Third Embodiment]

[0045] In accordance with the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, it is preferable to shift the left - right positions of the through - holes 101X, 101X ··· and the projections 111X, 111X, 112X, 112X of the tray body 111. That is, it is preferable to offset the positions of the projections 111X, 111X, 112X, 112X either to the left or right from the location where the through - holes 101X, 101X ··· are extended forward. Thereby, the degree to which the cold air flowing out from the through - holes 101X, 101X ··· into the tray body 111 hits the projections 111X, 111X, 112X, 112X is reduced, and it can be more smoothly discharged toward the upper part of the tray body 111. [Fourth Embodiment]

[0046] In accordance with the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, it is preferable that ribs 111Z, 111Z ··· be formed downward at the rear ends of the through - holes 101X, 101X ··· of the tray body 111. Thereby, the cold air flowing below the tray body 111 is made to more easily flow into the tray body 111 through the through - holes 101X, 101X ··· by the ribs 111Z, 111Z ···.

[0047] In addition, as shown in FIG. 13, it is preferable that at least one of the above ribs 101Y, 101Y ··· be formed directly above the ribs 111Z, 111Z ···. Thereby, the cold air flowing below the tray body 111 can more smoothly come into contact with the bottom surface of the metal plate 112. [Fifth Embodiment]

[0048] In accordance with the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, it is preferable that an air outlet 151 through which cold air from a cooling chamber or an evaporator flows out is formed in the upper rear of the tray body 111, and a suction port 152 through which the cold air returns to the cooling chamber or the evaporator is formed in the lower rear of the tray body 111. As a result, the cold air discharged from the air outlet 151 flows into the tray body 111, flows forward on the upper surface of the metal plate 112, and flows out from the tray body 111 upward and forward. Thereafter, the cold air goes around the front wall 101d of the tray body 111, flows rearward below the tray body 111, and flows into the tray body 111 again through the through holes 101X, 101X ···. Thereafter, the cold air flows forward along the lower surface of the metal plate 112, flows out through the gap between the tray body 111 and the metal plate 112, and flows out from the tray body 111 upward and forward. That is, the object to be cooled in the tray body 111 can be efficiently cooled using the cold air from the air outlet 151. [Sixth Embodiment]

[0049] Further, as shown in FIG. 15, the shape of the through holes 101X, 101X ··· formed in the tray body 111 may be formed such that the left-right width increases as it goes forward. That is, the left-right width of the portion far from the cold air outlet 151 may be configured to increase. As a result, the inflow of cold air into the tray body 111 in the portion far from the air outlet 151 can be increased, and the cold air can be smoothly sent upward and forward. [Seventh Embodiment]

[0050] Also, regarding the bottom surface 101a of the tray body 111, the ratio occupied by the through holes may be large. For example, as shown in FIG. 16, the bottom surface 101a of the tray body 111 may be entirely open, and support members 101Z, 101Z ··· may be formed in a lattice shape. Then, as shown in FIG. 17, the metal plate 112 may be placed and supported on the support members 101Z, 101Z ···. [Eighth Embodiment]

[0051] Also, regarding the ribs 101Y, 101Y... formed on the bottom surface 101a of the tray body 111, there are no particular limitations, and they may be formed so as to cover the periphery of the through holes 101X, 101X... as shown in FIG. 18. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 19, ribs 101Y, 101Y... may be formed on the four sides around the tray body 111 so as to support the four sides around the metal plate 112. Alternatively, ribs protruding inward in the horizontal direction may be provided from the front wall 101d, the first side wall 101b, the second side wall 101c, and the rear wall 101e of the tray body 111, and the periphery of the metal plate 112 may be supported by the ribs.

[0052] The embodiments disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present disclosure is shown by the claims rather than the above description, and it is intended that all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are included. Also, the configurations obtained by combining the configurations of different embodiments described in this specification with each other are also included in the scope of the present disclosure.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0053] 1: Cooling device 10: Freezer compartment 101: Tray 101X: Through hole 101Y: Rib 101Z: Support member 101a: Bottom surface 101f: Side wall 102: Cooling container 102a: Bottom surface 102e: Rear wall 111: Tray body 111H: Opening 111X: Protrusion 111Y: Recess 111Z: Rib 112: Metal plate 112X: Protrusion 151: Outlet 152: Inlet

Claims

1. A cooling device main body having a cooling chamber, a tray disposed in the cooling chamber and having a bottom wall formed with a through hole, a metal plate disposed on the bottom wall of the tray, comprising: The bottom wall of the tray has a bottom wall body formed with the through hole, and a protruding portion protruding from the bottom wall body toward the metal plate side, A cooling device.

2. The tray further has a side wall portion connected to one end portion in one direction of the bottom wall, The cooling device according to claim 1, wherein the metal plate and the tray are configured such that an opening connected to a gap between the metal plate and the bottom wall of the tray is formed between the metal plate and the side wall portion.

3. The cooling device according to claim 2, wherein the metal plate and the tray are provided such that the opening is formed by abutting against the side wall portion at a part of a portion of the metal plate facing the side wall portion.

4. A recess recessed on a side opposite to the metal plate is formed in the side wall portion of the tray, The cooling device according to claim 3, wherein the metal plate has a convex portion having a portion located in the recess when the metal plate is installed on the tray.

5. The through hole has a shape that is long in the one direction, The cooling device according to claim 2, wherein a contact portion between the bottom wall of the tray and the metal plate is provided at a position that does not overlap with the through hole and a place where the through hole is extended in the one direction in a plan view.

6. The tray further has another side wall portion connected to the other end portion in the one direction of the bottom wall, The cooling device according to claim 2, wherein the metal plate and the tray are configured such that an opening connected to a gap between the metal plate and the bottom wall of the tray is formed between the metal plate and the other side wall portion.

7. The cooling device according to claim 2, wherein the through hole has an elongated shape along the one direction.

8. The cooling device main body has a rear wall located at the rear side of the cooling chamber, The rear wall has a cold air supply path through which cold air is supplied, is connected to the cold air supply path and has a cold air outlet located above the tray in the cooling chamber, has a cold air return port located below the tray in the cooling chamber, is connected to the cold air return port and has a cold air return path through which cold air in the cooling chamber returns via the cold air return port, The cooling device according to claim 1, having

9. The cooling device according to claim 1, wherein a rib directed downward is formed at the rear end of the through hole on the bottom surface of the tray.

10. A tray unit arranged in the cooling chamber of the cooling device, a tray arranged in the cooling chamber and having a bottom wall formed with a through hole, and a metal plate arranged on the bottom wall of the tray, comprising: The bottom wall of the tray has a bottom wall body formed with the through hole, and a protruding portion protruding from the bottom wall body toward the metal plate side, and is a tray unit.

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