Refrigerator

Abstract

To provide a small-sized fan type refrigerator that can efficiently melt frost and ice formed on a refrigerant pipe and an accumulator with a pipe heater.SOLUTION: A refrigerator includes: an evaporator; a refrigerant pipe; an accumulator connected to the evaporator through the refrigerant pipe and disposed on a lateral side of the evaporator; and a pipe heater. The refrigerant pipe has a portion that is located lower than a position connected to the evaporator. The pipe heater includes an extension part installed so as to extend along the refrigerant pipe in the portion that is located lower than the connected position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to refrigerators. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there have been known techniques for defrosting an evaporator in a refrigerator. For example, in a refrigerator disclosed in Patent Document 1 (JP 2013-36714 A), an evaporator is disposed in a cooler chamber provided in the back wall of the refrigerator body, and a pipe heater for defrosting is attached to the evaporator. In addition, an accumulator (pressure storage device) connected to the outlet side of a refrigerant pipe is disposed at the rear left side of the evaporator. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-36714 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] A small fan-type refrigerator is equipped with, for example, a fin-type evaporator and a compact aluminum pipe-type defrost heater (pipe heater). In a small refrigerator, the fin-type evaporator and the accumulator are often placed close to each other because there is little spatial freedom. The accumulator separates the gas into gas (refrigerant) and liquid (refrigerating machine oil containing dissolved refrigerant) in order to reduce the liquid component in the gas returning from the evaporator outlet to the compressor. to A certain size is required to separate gas and liquid, and there is a limit to how small it can be made. For this reason, the shape of the refrigerant pipe connecting the evaporator and accumulator is limited depending on the arrangement of the evaporator and accumulator. Furthermore, for example, to prevent backflow of refrigerant, the refrigerant pipe upstream (below) of the accumulator may have a trap section that bends downward. This trap section is prone to accumulating refrigerant oil dissolved in refrigerant (when the compressor is off) and has a large heat capacity. Therefore, frost and ice easily form on the lower part of the accumulator near the trap section, making it difficult to melt the frost and ice with a compact pipe heater that emits little heat. Furthermore, when the evaporator and accumulator are arranged close to each other, frost and ice on the lower part of the accumulator and the evaporator may combine, making them even more difficult to melt. As such, there is a high possibility that large amounts of frost or ice will form on the refrigerant pipes upstream (below) of the accumulator, and it is difficult to melt the frost or ice that has already formed. As a result, the frost or ice may continue to grow.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a small fan-type refrigerator that can efficiently melt frost and ice that has accumulated on refrigerant pipes and accumulators using a pipe heater. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A refrigerator according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: an evaporator; A refrigerant pipe; an accumulator connected to the evaporator by the refrigerant pipe and disposed to the side of the evaporator; A pipe heater is provided. The refrigerant pipe has a portion that is below the connection point with the evaporator. The pipe heater has an extension portion that extends along the refrigerant pipe at a portion below the connection position. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a small fan-type refrigerator that can efficiently melt frost and ice that has accumulated on refrigerant pipes and accumulators using a pipe heater. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the refrigerator according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a refrigerator (without a door) according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a front view of the refrigerator (without door) of the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the refrigerator taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a part (evaporator, etc.) of the refrigerator according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of a part (evaporator, etc.) of the refrigerator according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a front view of a part (evaporator, etc.) of the refrigerator according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] 8 is a cross-sectional view of a part (evaporator, etc.) of the refrigerator taken along plane VIII-VIII in FIG. 7. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a drip tray of the refrigerator according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, each embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings, in which the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0010] <Cooler> In this disclosure, the term "cooling cabinet" generally refers to a cabinet that has an internal space (storage compartment) that is kept at a temperature lower than the outside air temperature and can lower the temperature of stored items. The cooling cabinet may be, for example, a refrigerator or a freezer. The cooling cabinet may have only one storage compartment, or may have multiple storage compartments. When the cooling cabinet has multiple storage compartments, the multiple storage compartments may include at least two of a refrigerator compartment, a freezer compartment, a vegetable compartment, a chilled compartment, a partial compartment, etc.

[0011] First, the overall configuration of a refrigerator (refrigerator 1) according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0012] In this specification, the surface on which the door is provided is referred to as the front or front face of the refrigerator 1. Then, based on the front face, the other faces of the refrigerator 1 are referred to as the back face, top face, bottom face, and side face, in accordance with the normal layout of the refrigerator 1. The orientation of each component that constitutes the refrigerator 1 may also be expressed based on the layout of the refrigerator 1.

[0013] The structural frame of the refrigerator 1 is mainly composed of an insulating box body 10. This insulating box body 10 forms a storage compartment (refrigerating compartment 11) which is a storage space of the refrigerator 1.

[0014] A machine room 12 is formed behind the refrigerator compartment 11. A refrigeration cycle device, a fan, a control unit, etc. are arranged in the machine room 12. The refrigeration cycle device is composed of a compressor 7, a condenser (not shown), a capillary tube (not shown) that serves as an expander, an evaporator 2, etc., which are connected via a refrigerant pipe through which a refrigerant flows. In the drawing, the evaporator 2 is arranged above the compressor 7.

[0015] 5 to 7, an accumulator 3 connected to a refrigerant pipe 4 of the evaporator 2 is disposed to the side (either the left or right side; in this embodiment, to the right side of the evaporator 2) of the evaporator 2. The accumulator 3 is a gas-liquid separator that utilizes gravity, so it is desirable to mount it vertically. In this embodiment, since there is little space in the vertical direction, the evaporator 2 and the accumulator 3 are arranged close to each other on the left and right sides in this manner.

[0016] The high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant compressed by compressor 7 is cooled to a medium-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant by passing through various locations, such as the ceiling and sides of the exterior of insulated box 10. The refrigerant passes through a capillary tube (not shown) and then flows into refrigerant pipe 4, where it becomes low-temperature and low-pressure. As the low-temperature refrigerant flows through refrigerant pipe 4, it can cool the air flowing through refrigerant pipe 4 and around fins, which will be described later, to below temperatures. The gas-liquid mixture refrigerant that has passed through refrigerant pipe 4 is stored in accumulator 3, and then the gasified refrigerant and a small amount of liquid components (liquid refrigerant and refrigerating machine oil) flow back into compressor 7.

[0017] 5 and 6, the evaporator 2 is mainly composed of refrigerant pipes 4 through which a refrigerant flows, fins 21, and left and right end plates 22L, 22R. The refrigerant pipes 4 are arranged so that they move back and forth in the left and right direction, proceeding from top to bottom, turning back at the bottom end, and then proceeding from bottom to top. To ensure efficient heat exchange between the refrigerant and air, multiple fins 21 are attached to the refrigerant pipes 4. The refrigerant pipes 4 are supported by left and right end plates 22R, 22L.

[0018] Here, the temperature of the refrigerant pipes 4 of the evaporator 2 through which low-temperature refrigerant flows is very low (for example, below minus 20°C), so frost may form on the refrigerant pipes 4, fins 21, end plates 22R, 22L, accumulator 3, etc., and the frost may grow into large pieces of ice. For this reason, the evaporator 2 is provided with a pipe heater 5 for defrosting.

[0019] (Pipe heater) The pipe heater 5 is configured, for example, by housing a heater wire, which is a heating wire covered with an insulating coating, in a metal pipe (for example, an aluminum pipe).

[0020] 5 and 6, the pipe heater 5 is arranged so that it moves back and forth in the left and right direction, proceeding from top to bottom, turning back at the bottom end, and proceeding from bottom to top. This allows frost and ice on the refrigerant pipes 4, fins 21, end plates 22R and 22L, accumulator 3, etc. to melt throughout the evaporator 2.

[0021] The pipe heater 5 has an extension portion 51 that extends along the portion of the refrigerant pipe 4 that is below the connection position with the evaporator 2 . In this embodiment, the pipe heater 5 has an extension portion 51 that extends along the trap portion 41 of the refrigerant pipe 4 on the upstream side of the accumulator 3. The phrase "extended along the refrigerant pipe" means that at least a part of the refrigerant pipe 4 is arranged in parallel with the extension portion 51 in a plan view seen from the front side, for example.

[0022] This extension portion 51 makes it easier for heat from the pipe heater 5 (extension portion 51) to be transferred to portions of the refrigerant pipe 4 that are below the connection point with the evaporator 2, such as the trap portion 41, thereby reducing the possibility of large frost or ice forming around the trap portion 41 and making it easier to melt frost or ice that has already formed. The trap section 41 of the refrigerant pipe 4 upstream of the accumulator 3 (the refrigerant pipe 4 connecting the most downstream part of the evaporator 2 and the accumulator 3) is a bent portion of the refrigerant pipe 4 that protrudes downward. This trap section 41 is a portion where refrigerating machine oil containing dissolved refrigerant is likely to accumulate, has a large heat capacity, and is particularly difficult to heat with a heater. For this reason, there is a high possibility that large frost or ice will form in the trap section 41. Furthermore, if large frost or ice forms above the bent portion of the trap section 41 and a frost or ice bridge is formed, it will be difficult to melt. The accumulator 3 is generally cylindrical, leaving a gap between it and its surroundings. This means that larger frost particles tend to accumulate there than those that accumulate between the narrow spaces between the fins 21. Small pieces and chunks of frost and ice that melt and fall during defrosting tend to accumulate on the drip tray 6, which will be described later. For this reason, defrosting the trap section 41 in particular is important, including melting the ice that has accumulated on the drip tray 6.

[0023] As shown in Figures 5 to 7, when the accumulator 3 is disposed to the side of the evaporator 2 and the height of the lower end of the accumulator 3 is approximately the same as or lower than the refrigerant pipe 4 at the most downstream part of the evaporator 2, the refrigerant pipe connecting the downstream end of the evaporator and the lower part of the accumulator needs to have a trap section that is bent so as to protrude downwards due to its structure.

[0024] A hood liner (inner box) having a heat insulating layer may be located close to the rear side of the trap section 41 in order to seal off the space where frost may form on the rear side. In this case, since frost is relatively unlikely to form on the rear side of the trap section 41, it is preferable that the pipe heater 5 be extended along the trap section 41 at least on the front side of the trap section 41. In addition, the pipe heater 5 does not have to be trap-shaped (a shape that follows the trap section 41), and for example, the extension section 51 of the pipe heater 5 may be provided along a point where the refrigerant pipe 4 is at a height below the downstream end of the evaporator 2.

[0025] Furthermore, the pipe heater 5 preferably has a proximity portion 52, which is a portion located below the downstream end of the evaporator 2 (a portion including the fins 21a and the like immediately adjacent to the trap portion 41) of the evaporator 2 and is closer to the evaporator 2 (its downstream end) than other portions, among the portions disposed below the evaporator 2 (between the evaporator 2 and the drip tray 6 described below). The proximity portion 52 can also be said to be a portion bent so as to be closer to the evaporator 2. Typically, the downstream end of the evaporator 2 corresponds to the return port for cold air, and is therefore prone to frost and ice. In addition, the nearby trap section 41 is prone to accumulating refrigerating machine oil containing dissolved refrigerant, has a large heat capacity, and is particularly difficult to heat with a heater, so the temperature of the nearby section 52 is also difficult to increase. There is a possibility that defrosting (heating by the heater) will end before the frost and ice at the downstream end of the evaporator is completely melted because defrosting of other sections is completed first and the surrounding air temperature rises. In contrast, if the pipe heater 5 has the above-mentioned adjacent portion 52, the heat of the pipe heater 5 (at its adjacent portion 52) is more easily transferred to the downstream end of the evaporator, reducing the possibility of large frost or ice forming around the downstream end of the evaporator and making it easier to melt ice that has already formed.

[0026] In this embodiment, the pipe heater 5 is disposed so as to be in contact with the end plates 22L, 22R and the fins 21. This prevents the heat from the pipe heater 5 from being transferred to the end plates 22L, 22R and the fins 21, thereby preventing the frost adhering to the fins 21 from melting and the formation of large pieces of ice. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. Even if the pipe heater 5 is not in contact with the end plates 22L, 22R or the fins 21, as long as it is close to the end plates 22L, 22R or the fins 21, the heat of the pipe heater 5 will be transferred to the end plates 22L, 22R or the fins 21 by coming into contact with the pipe heater 5 through frost or ice adhering to the surfaces of the end plates 22L, 22R or the fins 21.

[0027] (drip tray) 5 to 8, the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment may further include a drip tray 6 (water receiving tray) disposed below the evaporator 2. The drip tray 6 has a drain hole 61. The drip tray 6 arranged below the evaporator 2 melts frost and ice on the evaporator 2, refrigerant pipes 4, and accumulator 3, and the falling water and ice chips are collected in the discharge hole 61 and discharged (to the evaporation tray 8, etc.).

[0028] It is preferable that the drip tray 6 has a protruding portion 62 below the extension portion 51 of the pipe heater 5, which extends further forward than the other portions. Because the accumulator 3 is roughly cylindrical, it has a gap between it and its surroundings. Therefore, larger frost particles tend to accumulate than those that accumulate between the narrow fins 21. Small pieces and chunks of frost and ice that melt and fall during defrosting tend to accumulate on the drip tray 6 directly below. To ensure that this frost and ice melts, it is desirable to make the portion of the drip tray 6 directly below the accumulator 3 shallow and to position the extension 51 of the pipe heater 5 close to the drip tray 6. At this time, the melting ice that has accumulated in the drip tray 6 temporarily blocks the drip tray, preventing the melted water from flowing down to the drain hole 61 and forming a puddle. Below the extension 51 of the pipe heater 5, the drip tray 6 has a protrusion 62 that extends further forward than the extension 51, so that a detour can be formed around the area directly below the extension 51 to divert fallen ice.In addition, the area for receiving melted water and ice pieces is increased, preventing the melted water from overflowing from the drip tray 6 and allowing it to be more reliably collected and discharged into the discharge hole 61.

[0029] Furthermore, the surface of the drip tray 6 preferably has an inclined surface 63 (see FIG. 9) that slopes downward in the front-rear direction from the protruding portion 62 toward the bottom of the accumulator 3. This inclined surface 63 ensures that water melted around the extension portion 51 of the pipe heater 5 is collected toward the extension portion 51, making it easier to receive the heat of the pipe heater 5. The heater directly heats the puddle caused by the dam formed by the melting ice described above, melting the dam and allowing the melted water to be collected and discharged more reliably into the discharge hole 61.

[0030] In the drip tray 6, the discharge hole 61 for discharging water and ice chips is preferably located at a position other than below the accumulator 3. It is more preferable that the discharge hole 61 is located as far away as possible from below the accumulator 3 and the trap section 41. The discharge hole 61 is located at the deepest part of the drip tray 6. The accumulator 3 is roughly cylindrical, leaving a gap between it and its surroundings. This makes it easy for large pieces of frost to form. Ice pieces (including large ice blocks) that melt and fall from the accumulator 3 may accumulate on the drip tray 6. In this case, if the discharge hole 61 is located below the accumulator 3, there is a risk that the discharge hole 61 will become clogged with ice pieces. On the other hand, when the discharge hole 61 is arranged at a position other than below the accumulator 3, ice pieces that melt from the accumulator 3 etc. do not fall directly onto the discharge hole 61, so that the discharge hole 61 can be prevented from being blocked by ice pieces.

[0031] A sheet heater (aluminum foil heater) may be provided on the back surface of drip tray 6. In this case, the sheet heater can efficiently melt ice pieces that have fallen onto drip tray 6. Furthermore, if the lower portion of trap portion 41 of drip tray 6 is extended forward as described above, the area of ​​the portion that receives falling ice pieces becomes larger, allowing the ice pieces to melt more efficiently.

[0032] [summary] A refrigerator according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: an evaporator; A refrigerant pipe; an accumulator connected to the evaporator by the refrigerant pipe and disposed to the side of the evaporator; A pipe heater is provided. The refrigerant pipe has a portion that is below a connection point with the evaporator. The pipe heater has an extension portion that extends along the refrigerant pipe at a portion below the connection position.

[0033] The portion of the refrigerant pipe below the connection position may be provided between the evaporator and the upstream side of the accumulator, and may include a trap portion bent so as to protrude downward below the connection position with the evaporator.

[0034] The refrigerator may further include a drip tray arranged below the evaporator, and the drip tray may have a protrusion below the extension portion of the pipe heater that extends further forward than other portions.

[0035] The surface of the drip tray may have an inclined surface that slopes downward in the front-to-rear direction from the protruding portion toward the bottom of the accumulator.

[0036] The drip tray may have a drain hole, the drain hole being located at a position other than below the accumulator.

[0037] The pipe heater may have a proximity portion that is located below the evaporator and is adjacent to the evaporator below a downstream end of the evaporator.

[0038] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present disclosure is defined by the claims, not by the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims. Furthermore, configurations obtained by combining the configurations of different embodiments described in this specification are also included in the scope of the present disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1: Refrigerator (cooler) 10: Insulated box 11: Refrigerator (storage room) 12: Machine room 2: Evaporator 21, 21a: Fin 22L, 22R: End plate 3: Accumulator 4: Refrigerant pipe 41: Trap section 5: Pipe heater 51: Alongside area 52: Proximal area 6: Drip tray 61: Discharge hole 62:Protrusion 63: Inclined surface 7: Compressor 8: Evaporation tray

Claims

1. an evaporator; A refrigerant pipe; an accumulator connected to the evaporator by the refrigerant pipe and disposed to the side of the evaporator; a pipe heater; the refrigerant pipe has a portion that is below a connection position with the evaporator, The pipe heater has an extension portion that extends along the refrigerant pipe at a portion below the connection position.

2. 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the portion of the refrigerant pipe below the connection position is provided between the evaporator and the upstream side of the accumulator, and includes a trap portion bent so as to protrude downward below the connection position with the evaporator.

3. Further comprising a drip tray disposed below the evaporator; 3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the drip tray has a protruding portion below the extension of the pipe heater, the protruding portion extending forward further than other portions of the drip tray.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 3 , wherein the surface of the drip tray has an inclined surface that slopes downward in the front-to-rear direction from the protrusion toward the bottom of the accumulator.

5. 4. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the drip tray has a drain hole, the drain hole being located at a position other than below the accumulator.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the pipe heater has a portion disposed below the evaporator, the portion being adjacent to the evaporator below a downstream end of the evaporator.

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