Refrigerator

Abstract

To provide a refrigerator capable of keeping freshness of a stored object over a long period of time.SOLUTION: A refrigerator 10 includes a refrigerating chamber 12, a small storage chamber 20 partitioned inside the refrigerating chamber 12, and an air blowing passage 118 for blowing air cooled in a cooling chamber 115. The small storage chamber 20 has a storage part 21 in which an object to be stored is stored, and an air introduction part 22 which is formed above the storage part 21 and into which air is introduced from the air blowing passage 118. The lower surface of the air introduction part 22 is composed of a metal plate 23, and an air blowing port 24 for blowing air from the air introduction part 22 to the storage part 21 is formed on the lateral side of the metal plate 23.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly to a refrigerator having a small storage compartment inside a refrigerator compartment. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, refrigerators have been known in which a storage container is arranged inside a refrigerator compartment, as described in Patent Document 1. In this refrigerator, a chilled container is stored at the bottom of the refrigerator compartment. Air blown by a fan is supplied to the refrigerator compartment through an air passage formed at the rear side of the refrigerator compartment, while a portion of the air blown into the air passage is blown into the chilled container without passing through the refrigerator compartment, and chilled air is supplied directly to the contents, such as meat. In this way, the temperature inside the chilled container is lowered than the temperature inside the refrigerator compartment, for example, to about 0°C. Furthermore, food, such as meat, stored in the chilled container can be preserved. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-44687 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the refrigerator described in Patent Document 1 mentioned above has room for improvement in terms of maintaining the freshness of stored items such as meat for a long period of time.

[0005] Specifically, in the invention described in the aforementioned Patent Document 1, the stored items are cooled by blowing air directly into the inside of the chilled container from an air duct. Because the temperature of the stored items depends on the amount of air blown into them, the temperature of the stored items tends to fluctuate, resulting in a large temperature range inside the chilled container. When the temperature of the stored items rises, dripping occurs, and when the temperature drops, the dripping turns into frost, making it difficult to maintain the freshness of the stored items for a long period of time.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator capable of maintaining the freshness of stored items for a long period of time. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The refrigerator of the present invention comprises a refrigerator compartment, a chilled compartment partitioned inside the refrigerator compartment, and an air duct through which air cooled in the cooling compartment is blown, the chilled compartment having a box-shaped storage section in which stored items are stored and which is open at the top, and an air introduction section which is a cavity provided above the storage section to cover the opening and through which the air is introduced from the air duct, the bottom surface of the storage section is provided with ribs, the lower surface of the air introduction section is made of a metal plate, and the upper surface of the air introduction section is made of a heat insulating material, and the outside of the metal plate is An air outlet is formed on the side of the storage section through which the air is blown out, and the air blown from the air outlet is introduced into the space between the metal plate of the air inlet section and the insulating material, and then moves toward the air outlet, and the low-temperature air cooled by an evaporator indirectly cools the stored items from above via the metal plate, and flows downward along the inner surface of the lateral side of the storage section via the air outlet, and then flows inside the storage section along the ribs at the bottom surface of the storage section. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the refrigerator of the present invention, the freshness of stored items can be maintained for a long period of time. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (A) is a perspective view of an air passage member and a small storage compartment seen from the front, and (B) is a perspective view of the air passage member and a small storage compartment seen from the rear. [Figure 3] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing a small storage compartment of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (A) is a perspective view partially showing the box-shaped storage section, and (B) is a perspective view of the small storage compartment from the front bottom. [Figure 4] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (A) is a perspective view showing a box-shaped storage section, and (B) is a perspective view showing each side section. [Figure 5] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (A) is a perspective view of a small storage compartment seen from the front right side, and (B) is a perspective view of the small storage compartment seen from the front left side. [Figure 6] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (A) is an exploded perspective view showing a drawer container and a metal tray, and (B) is a perspective view showing the air flow inside the drawer container. [Figure 7] 1 is a diagram showing a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a perspective view of a box-shaped storage section and an air passage member as seen from below. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] A refrigerator 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the description of this embodiment, the same components will generally be designated by the same reference numerals, and repeated description will be omitted. In the following description, the top, bottom, front, back, left, and right directions will be used, but the left and right refer to the left and right when the refrigerator 10 is viewed from the front.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a refrigerator 10.

[0012] The insulated box body 11 that constitutes the main body of the refrigerator 10 is composed of an outer box 111 made of a steel plate bent into a predetermined shape, an inner box 112 made of a synthetic resin plate placed inside and spaced apart from the outer box 111, and an insulating material 113 filled between the outer box 111 and the inner box 112.

[0013] The storage compartment inside the insulated box 11 is divided from above into a refrigerator compartment 12 and a freezer compartment 13. The refrigerator compartment 12 and the freezer compartment 13 are divided by an insulating wall 17. The front opening of the refrigerator compartment 12 is closed by an insulating door 18, and the front opening of the freezer compartment 13 is closed by an insulating door 19.

[0014] A small storage compartment 20 is disposed below the interior of the refrigerator compartment 12. The small storage compartment 20 is a chilled compartment whose interior is cooled to a lower temperature than other areas of the refrigerator compartment 12, for example, to about -3°C.

[0015] The small storage compartment 20 is divided into multiple spaces, and from the top, they are divided into an air introduction section 22, a storage section 21, and a lower space section 25. As will be described later, air is blown into the air introduction section 22 directly from the air flow path 118 without passing through the refrigeration compartment 12. This arrangement makes it possible to maintain the freshness of the items 34 stored in the storage section 21 for a long period of time, and also prevents dripping. The configuration of the small storage compartment 20 will be described later with reference to Figure 3 and subsequent figures.

[0016] A cooling compartment 115 is formed at the rear of freezer compartment 13. An evaporator 116, which is a cooler, is disposed inside cooling compartment 115. A machine compartment 14 is defined at the rear of the lower end of refrigerator 10, and a compressor 15 is disposed in machine compartment 14. Evaporator 116 and compressor 15, together with a condenser and expansion means (not shown), form a vapor compression refrigeration cycle. By operating the vapor compression refrigeration cycle, the air inside cooling compartment 115 is cooled by evaporator 116, and this air is sent to each storage compartment, so that the temperature inside each storage compartment falls within a predetermined cooling temperature range.

[0017] Inside the cooling chamber 115, a blower 37 is arranged above the evaporator 116. The blower 37 is an axial flow blower or a centrifugal blower, and blows the air inside the evaporator 116 that has been cooled by the evaporator 116 toward the refrigerator chamber 12 and the freezer chamber 13.

[0018] A defrost heater 117 is disposed inside and below the evaporator 116. As the vapor compression refrigeration cycle operates, thick frost forms on the surface of the evaporator 116. When this occurs, a control means (not shown) stops the compressor 15, closes the cooling chamber 115, and energizes the defrost heater 117 to heat it, thereby performing a defrosting operation to melt and remove the frost. Although not shown here, a shielding device is disposed near the blower 37 to appropriately close the air path.

[0019] An air passage 118 is formed extending upward from the cooling compartment 115. An air outlet 16, which is an opening for blowing air into the refrigerator compartment 12, is formed in the upper part of the air passage 118. In addition, a portion of the air cooled by the evaporator 116 is also blown into the freezer compartment 13 and the air introduction part 22.

[0020] 2(A) is a perspective view of the air passage member 29 and the small storage chamber 20 as seen from the front, and FIG. 2(B) is a perspective view of the air passage member 29 and the small storage chamber 20 as seen from the rear.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 2(A), air passage member 29 is a member attached to the rear surface of refrigerating compartment 12, and has air passage 118 formed therein.

[0022] The small storage chamber 20 is disposed in front of the air passage member 29. The small storage chamber 20 has a box-shaped storage section 31 and a drawer container 30. The box-shaped storage section 31 is made of a synthetic resin plate and heat insulating material molded into a predetermined shape, and is a roughly rectangular parallelepiped member with an open front. The air introduction section 22 mentioned above is formed at the upper end of the box-shaped storage section 31. The drawer container 30 is a drawer-type storage container made of a synthetic resin plate, which is stored in the box-shaped storage section 31 in the closed state and is pulled out forward from the box-shaped storage section 31 in the open state. The storage section 21 and lower space 25 mentioned above are formed inside the drawer container 30.

[0023] 2(B), the front surface of air passage member 29 is partially protruded forward to form blow-out protrusion 32. Blowing out protrusion 32 communicates with air passage 118. Blowing out protrusion 32 is inserted into opening 33, which opens near the upper end of the rear surface of box-shaped storage section 31. Opening 33 communicates with air introduction section 22 described above. In this manner, air rising via air passage 118 can be directly blown into air introduction section 22 described above via blow-out protrusion 32 and opening 33.

[0024] Fig. 3(A) is a perspective view partially showing the box-shaped storage section 31 that constitutes the small storage chamber 20. Here, the cover member 39 that constitutes the upper surface of the box-shaped storage section 31 is shown as transparent. Fig. 3(B) is a perspective view of the small storage chamber 20 as seen from below the front side.

[0025] 3(A), a hollow air inlet section 22 is formed inside the top surface portion of the box-shaped storage section 31. An opening 33 through which cooled air is introduced is formed at the rear end of the air inlet section 22.

[0026] The air introduction section 22 is defined by the cover member 39, the upper end portion of the left side wall of the box-shaped storage section 31, a front cross bar portion connecting the upper end of the left side wall to the upper end of the right side wall at the front side of the box-shaped storage section 31, a rear cross bar portion connecting the upper end of the left side wall to the upper end of the right side wall at the rear side of the box-shaped storage section 31, and an underside formed across the front cross bar portion and the rear cross bar portion.

[0027] A metal plate 23 is disposed on the underside of air introduction section 22. The upper surface of metal plate 23 is exposed to air introduction section 22, and the lower surface of metal plate 23 is exposed to the storage section 21 described above. Air outlets 24 are formed on the underside of air introduction section 22, in the left and right side portions of metal plate 23. Air outlets 24 are slit-shaped openings in the front-to-rear direction on the underside of air introduction section 22, and connect air introduction section 22 and storage section 21, allowing air to be blown out from air introduction section 22 to storage section 21.

[0028] 3(B), two air outlets 24, specifically air outlet 241 and air outlet 242, are formed at the left end of box-shaped storage unit 31. Air outlet 241, which is located on the inner side in the left-right direction, is located further inward in the left-right direction than the upper end of side surface 38 of drawer container 30, and air blown out from air outlet 241 is introduced into drawer container 30 to cool the interior of drawer container 30.

[0029] Meanwhile, the air outlet 242, located on the outer side in the left-right direction, is located further outward in the left-right direction than the upper end of the side surface 38 of the drawer container 30, and the air blown out from the air outlet 242 is introduced along the outer surface of the drawer container 30, indirectly cooling the interior of the drawer container 30. When cooling the drawer container 30, air may be blown out only from the air outlet 241, only from the air outlet 242, or both from the air outlet 241 and the air outlet 242. This configuration is also the same at the right end of the box-shaped storage section 31.

[0030] FIG. 4(A) is a perspective view showing the box-shaped storage section 31, and FIG. 4(B) is a perspective view showing each side surface.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 4(A), substantially plate-shaped heat insulating materials, which will be described later, are arranged on the top side, left and right side and rear side of the box-shaped storage section 31.

[0032] 4(B), the box-shaped storage section 31 described above incorporates a left side wall 311, a right side wall 312, a top surface 313, and a rear surface 314 made of a heat insulating material such as foamed resin. The left side wall 311 is incorporated into the left side surface of the box-shaped storage section 31. The right side wall 312 is incorporated into the right side surface of the box-shaped storage section 31. The top surface 313 is incorporated into the upper side surface of the box-shaped storage section 31. The rear surface 314 is housed in the rear side surface of the box-shaped storage section 31. Specifically, when the box-shaped storage section 31 is injection molded, the left side wall 311, the right side wall 312, the top surface 313, and the rear surface 314 are insert molded. Furthermore, with reference to FIG. 3(A), the top surface 313 is disposed above the air introduction section 22.

[0033] In this way, by arranging the left side wall 311, the right side walls 312, 133 and the rear surface 314 inside the box-shaped storage section 31, the heat insulating effect of the storage section 21 described above can be improved.

[0034] Here, the right side wall 312 may be made of the same insulating material as that forming the insulating box 11. The rear surface 314 may be made of the same insulating material as that forming the air passage member 29.

[0035] Figure 5(A) is a perspective view of the small storage chamber 20 as seen from the front right, and Figure 5(B) is a perspective view of the small storage chamber 20 as seen from the front left. In Figures 5(A) and 5(B), the paths through which heat exchange takes place are indicated by hollow arrows, and the paths of air are indicated by dashed arrows.

[0036] As shown in Fig. 5(A), two air outlets 24 are formed on the left side of metal plate 23. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 5(B), two air outlets 24 are also formed on the right side of metal plate 23. By forming a plurality of air outlets 24 on the right and left sides of metal plate 23, it is possible to send a larger amount of air from air introduction section 22 to storage section 21.

[0037] 5(A) and 5(B), metal plate 23 faces storage section 21, allowing the air inside storage section 21 to be cooled via metal plate 23. The low-temperature air cooled by evaporator 116 described above is not blown onto items 34 stored in storage section 21. Items 34 are indirectly cooled via metal plate 23. Air outlets 24 are disposed at both ends of box-shaped storage section 31 in the left-right direction. Air blown into storage section 21 via air inlet 22 and air outlet 24 flows along the left-side and right-side inner surfaces of blowout protrusion 32. This prevents a large change in the temperature of items 34 inside storage section 21, thereby preventing deterioration of freshness and dripping.

[0038] FIG. 6(A) is an exploded perspective view showing the drawer container 30 and the metal tray 26, and FIG. 6(B) is a perspective view showing the air flow inside the drawer container 30. As shown in FIG.

[0039] 6(A), a metal tray 26 made of a metal plate such as a stainless steel plate is placed on the bottom surface of the drawer container 30. Here, the metal tray 26 is shown separated above the drawer container 30, but in reality, the metal tray 26 is placed on the bottom surface of the drawer container 30. In other words, the upper surface of the lower space 25 described above is formed by the metal tray 26.

[0040] The ribs 27 are wall-like protrusions on the bottom surface of the drawer container 30. The ribs 27 extend in a wall-like manner in the left-right direction. A plurality of ribs 27 are formed at approximately equal intervals in the front-rear direction. The metal tray 26 is placed on the upper ends of the ribs 27, which separates the bottom surface of the drawer container 30 and the metal tray 26, forming the aforementioned lower space 25 between them.

[0041] The ribs 27 may be formed continuously from the left end to the right end on the bottom surface of the drawer container 30, or may be formed so as to terminate in the center in the left-right direction. That is, the bottom surface of the drawer container 30 may be formed with a substantially flat area where the ribs 27 are not arranged. In this way, as will be described later, air flowing toward the center along the ribs 27 can be made to travel forward through the flat area and then released to the outside of the drawer container 30.

[0042] 6(B), the left side edge of metal tray 26 is spaced apart from the left side surface of drawer container 30, forming a gap 35 therebetween. Similarly, the right side edge of metal tray 26 is spaced apart from the right side surface of drawer container 30, forming a gap 35 therebetween.

[0043] As shown in Fig. 5(A), air blown out from air outlet 24 of box-shaped storage section 31 into storage section 21 flows downward along both left and right side surfaces of drawer container 30 shown in Fig. 6(B) and flows into lower space 25 through gap 35. The air flowing into lower space 25 also flows along ribs 27.

[0044] In this way, the metal tray 26 is cooled from below, and the stored items 34 placed on the top surface of the metal tray 26 can be indirectly and effectively cooled. Here too, air flows along both the left and right sides inside the drawer container 30, so the air is not blown directly onto the stored items 34. This allows the stored items 34 to be kept at a constant temperature at a low temperature. For example, the stored items 34 can be cooled to -3°C and kept at a constant temperature within a range of 2°C.

[0045] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the refrigerator 10, and is a perspective view of the box-shaped storage section 31 and the air passage member 29 as seen from below.

[0046] The small storage compartment 20 is supported from below by a support portion 36. A return port 28 is formed by opening the rear portion of the support portion 36. The air that has cooled the inside of the box-shaped storage compartment 31 is blown forward from the gap between the drawer container 30 and the box-shaped storage compartment 31 at the front of the small storage compartment 20. Then, this air, together with the air that has cooled other areas of the refrigerator compartment 12, returns to the cooling compartment 115 via the return port 28.

[0047] According to this embodiment, the following main effects can be achieved.

[0048] The freshness of the stored items 34 can be maintained for a long period of time. Specifically, referring to FIG. 3, an air inlet section 22 is formed above the storage section 21 in which the stored items 34, such as meat, are stored, and the underside of the air inlet section 22 is constructed from a metal plate 23, so that the stored items 34 stored in the storage section 21 can be indirectly cooled via the metal plate 23. This allows the opening formed in the storage section 21 to be made smaller, so that the cooling temperature of the stored items 34 inside the small storage chamber 20 can be lowered and a constant temperature can be maintained with a narrow temperature range. In this way, the freshness of the stored items 34 can be maintained and the occurrence of dripping can be suppressed.

[0049] Referring to Figure 6(B), by placing the stored item 34, such as meat, on the upper surface of the metal tray 26 that forms the upper surface of the lower space 25, the stored item 34 can be cooled through the metal tray 26, thereby cooling the stored item 34 more effectively.

[0050] Referring to FIG. 6(B), air flows along the ribs 27, so that the stored items 34 can be cooled more effectively through the metal trays 26.

[0051] Referring to FIG. 3, by introducing air directly from air passage 118 into air introduction section 22, storage section 21 can be cooled to a temperature lower than other parts of refrigerator compartment 12.

[0052] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the present invention. In addition, the above-described embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0053] Referring to Figures 5 and 6, by positioning some of the multiple air outlets 24 outside the drawer container 30 in the left-right direction, some of the air blown out from the air outlets 24 can flow between the box-shaped storage section 31 and the drawer container 30, making it possible to cool the drawer container 30 from the outside as well.

[0054] Furthermore, by positioning all of the air outlets 24 on the left and right outer side of the drawer container 30, all of the air blown from the air outlets 24 can flow between the box-shaped storage section 31 and the drawer container 30, thereby cooling the drawer container 30 from the outside.

[0055] The invention that can be understood from the above-described embodiment will be described below together with its effects.

[0056] The refrigerator of the present invention comprises a refrigeration compartment, a small storage compartment partitioned within the refrigeration compartment, and an air duct through which air cooled in the cooling compartment is blown. The small storage compartment includes a box-shaped storage section that stores stored items and is open at the top, and an air inlet section that covers the opening above the storage section and through which air is introduced from the air duct. The lower surface of the air inlet section is made of a metal plate, and an air outlet is formed on the side of the metal plate for blowing the air into the storage section. This allows the refrigerator of the present invention to maintain the freshness of the stored items for a long period of time. Specifically, by forming the air inlet section above the storage section where stored items such as meat are stored and constructing the lower surface of the air inlet section from a metal plate, the stored items stored in the storage section can be indirectly cooled via the metal plate. This allows the cooling temperature of the stored items to be lowered and even maintains a constant temperature. This maintains the freshness of the stored items and suppresses dripping.

[0057] In addition, the refrigerator of the present invention is characterized in that a lower space into which the air that has passed through the storage section is introduced is formed below the storage section, the upper surface of the lower space is made up of a metal tray, and the stored item is placed on the upper surface of the metal tray. Thus, according to the refrigerator of the present invention, by placing the stored item, such as meat, on the upper surface of the metal tray that forms the upper surface of the lower space, the stored item can be cooled via the metal tray, thereby more effectively and indirectly cooling the stored item.

[0058] In the refrigerator of the present invention, the lower space has ribs, and the air introduced from the storage section into the lower space flows along the ribs. As a result, according to the refrigerator of the present invention, the air flows along the ribs, and the stored items can be cooled more effectively through the metal tray.

[0059] In addition, in the refrigerator of the present invention, the air is introduced into the air introduction part directly from the air duct. Thus, according to the refrigerator of the present invention, by introducing air into the air introduction part directly from the air duct, the storage part of the small storage compartment can be cooled to a lower temperature than the other parts of the refrigerating compartment.

[0060] In the refrigerator of the present invention, the small storage compartment includes a box-shaped storage section and a drawer-type drawer container stored in the box-shaped storage section, the air inlet section is formed in the box-shaped storage section, and the storage section is formed in the drawer container. Thus, according to the refrigerator of the present invention, by forming the air inlet section in the box-shaped storage section, air can be effectively blown into the storage section formed in the drawer container. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 10. Refrigerator 11 Insulated box 111 outer box 112 Inner box 113 Insulation 115 Cooling room 116 Evaporator 117 Defrost heater 118 Air duct 12 Refrigerator 13 Freezer 14 Machine room 15 Compressor 16 Air outlet 17 Insulated walls 18 Insulated Door 19 Insulated Door 20 Small Storage Room 21 Storage 22 Air intake section 23 Metal plate 24 Ventilation outlet 241 Ventilation vent 242 Ventilation vent 25 Lower space 26 Metal Tray 27 Ribs 28 Return Exit 29 Air passage components 30 drawer container 31 Box-shaped storage section 311 Left wall 312 Right wall 313 Top part 314 Rear part 32 Blowout protrusion 33 Opening 34 Storage items 35 Gap 36 Support part 37 Blower 38 Side 39 Lid member

Claims

1. A refrigerator compartment and A chilled compartment partitioned inside the refrigerating compartment; an air passage through which the air cooled in the cooling chamber is blown, The chilled compartment is a box-shaped storage section in which the stored items are stored and which is open at the top; an air introduction section that is a cavity provided above the storage section to cover the opening and into which the air is introduced from the air flow path, The bottom surface of the storage section is provided with ribs, a lower surface of the air introduction section is made of a metal plate, and an upper surface of the air introduction section is made of a heat insulating material, An air outlet for blowing the air into the storage section is formed on a lateral side of the outer side of the metal plate, the air blown from the air passage is introduced into a space between the metal plate and the heat insulating material of the air introduction portion, and then moves toward the air outlet, A refrigerator characterized in that the low-temperature air cooled by the evaporator indirectly cools the stored items from above via the metal plate, flows downward along the inner lateral surface of the storage section via the air outlet, and then flows inside the storage section along the ribs at the bottom surface of the storage section.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the ribs are formed in a plurality along the front-rear direction.

3. 3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the ribs are formed along the left-right direction on the bottom surface of the storage section, and the air flows along the left-right direction of the ribs on the bottom surface.

4. 4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the air outlets for blowing the air into the storage section are formed on both lateral sides of the outer side of the metal plate.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the rib is configured to be discontinued midway in the left-right direction on the bottom surface of the storage section.

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