Refrigerator
The refrigerator design addresses noise propagation by bundling electric wires with a metal covering and separators, ensuring a gap with refrigerant pipes to minimize noise emission and maintain manufacturing stability.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2024123226
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-07-30
- Publication Date
- 2026-02-12
AI Technical Summary
As refrigerator insulating walls become thinner, electric wires are more likely to be arranged close to metal refrigerant pipes, leading to noise propagation from the electric wires to the outside of the refrigerator.
A refrigerator design that includes a bundling portion for electric wires, a metal covering portion, and a separator to prevent contact between the metal covering and refrigerant pipes, along with separation parts to minimize noise propagation.
Effectively suppresses electromagnetic noise from electric wires to the outside of the refrigerator by ensuring a sufficient gap between the wires and refrigerant pipes, maintaining manufacturing stability and reducing noise emission.
Smart Images

Figure 2026021947000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a refrigerator. [Background technology]
[0002] Refrigerators are equipped with electrical components that perform various functions, such as compressors, fans, and sensors. These electrical components are connected to and controlled by electrical wires connected to a control board provided in the refrigerator body. Some of these electrical wires are routed through an insulating space formed between the inner and outer boxes of the refrigerator body (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-261634 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0004] In recent years, as the insulating walls constituting the refrigerator body have become thinner, electric wires are likely to be arranged close to metal refrigerant pipes in the insulating space. As a result, noise generated from the electric wires may be more likely to propagate to the outside of the refrigerator via the metal members.
[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that can reduce the propagation of noise generated from electric wires to the outside. [Means for solving the problem]
[0006] A refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a refrigerator main body having a heat insulating material provided in an insulated space formed between an inner box and an outer box, a control board provided outside the refrigerator main body, electrical components provided inside or outside the refrigerator main body, a compressor provided outside the refrigerator main body, a cooler provided inside the refrigerator main body, an electrical connection portion provided in the insulated space that electrically connects the control board and the electrical components, and a refrigerant pipe provided in the insulated space that piping connects the compressor and the cooler, wherein the electrical connection portion includes a bundling portion that bundles together a plurality of electric wires, a metal covering portion made of metal that covers the outside of a portion of the bundling portion that is wired along the refrigerant pipe, and a separator that prevents contact between the metal covering portion and the refrigerant pipe. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0007] [Figure 1] Cross-sectional view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Cross-section of the refrigerator compartment with the insulated door removed [Figure 3] A diagram showing the cooling device of the refrigerator in Figure 1 [Figure 4] Block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the refrigerator in Figure 1 [Figure 5] Rear view of the inner box with electrical wiring and refrigerant pipes installed [Figure 6] An enlarged view of the main part of Figure 2 showing the corner between the left wall and the back wall. [Figure 7] Cross-sectional view of the second electrical connection portion [Figure 8] 10 is a cross-sectional view of a first electrical connection portion in a refrigerator according to a third modified example of the present invention. [Figure 9] 10 is a cross-sectional view of a first electrical connection portion in a refrigerator according to another example of Modification 3 of the present invention. [Figure 10] (a) is a perspective view of a laminate used in a refrigerator according to a fourth modified example of the present invention; (b) is a cross-sectional view of a first electrical connection portion in the refrigerator; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0008] 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 as set forth in the claims and their equivalents.
[0009] In the following description, the left-right direction, front-rear direction, and up-down direction refer to the directions when viewing the refrigerator from the front, and the left-right direction corresponds to the width direction of the refrigerator. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, the terms right, left, top, bottom, front, rear, back, spine, and near side refer to the position or side when viewing the refrigerator from the front, and for the refrigerator doors, refer to the position or side when viewing the refrigerator from the front with the doors closed.
[0010] (1) Configuration of Refrigerator 1 As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, refrigerator 1 according to this embodiment includes refrigerator body 2 that opens at the front. Refrigerator body 2 is configured with a heat insulating material in an insulated space 8 formed between an outer box 4 made of steel plate and an inner box 6 made of synthetic resin. Refrigerator body 2 has multiple storage compartments inside. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 1, from the top, refrigerator compartment 10 and vegetable compartment 12 are provided, and below these, ice making compartment 14 and a small freezer compartment (not shown) are provided side by side, with freezer compartment 16 below these. Ice making compartment 14 has an automatic ice maker 18.
[0011] The refrigerator compartment 10 and the vegetable compartment 12 are both storage compartments that are cooled to a refrigeration temperature range (for example, 1 to 4°C), and are separated into upper and lower compartments by a synthetic resin partition wall 20. A hinged heat-insulating door 10a is provided at the front opening of the refrigerator compartment 10.
[0012] Inside the refrigerator compartment 10, there are provided a refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 11 that detects the temperature inside the refrigerator compartment 10, a door sensor 21 that detects the opening and closing of the heat-insulating door 10a, and an interior light 29 that illuminates the inside of the refrigerator compartment 10.
[0013] A drawer-type heat-insulating door 12a is provided at the front opening of the vegetable compartment 12. Two upper and lower storage cases 22 that constitute a storage container are connected to the back of this heat-insulating door 12a.
[0014] Ice making compartment 14, small freezing compartment, and freezing compartment 16 are all storage compartments cooled to a freezing temperature range (for example, -10 to -20°C), and vegetable compartment 12, ice making compartment 14, and small freezing compartment are separated vertically by an insulated partition wall 28 with insulating material inside. A drawer-type insulated door 14a is provided at the front opening of ice making compartment 14, and ice storage container 30 is connected to the back part of this insulated door 14a. A drawer-type insulated door to which a storage container is connected (not shown) is also provided at the front opening of small freezing compartment. A drawer-type insulated door 16a to which two storage containers 32 (top and bottom) are connected is also provided at the front opening of freezing compartment 16.
[0015] Door sensors 23, 24, and 25 that detect the opening and closing of each of the insulated doors 12a, 14a, and 16a are provided on the front of the vegetable compartment 12, ice compartment 14, small freezer compartment, and freezer compartment 16. In addition, a freezer compartment temperature sensor 26 that detects the temperature inside the freezer compartment 16 is provided on the back of the freezer compartment 16.
[0016] A cooling device 50 (see FIG. 3) that cools each storage compartment is incorporated within the refrigerator body 2. Details will be described later, but the cooling device 50 is configured to include a refrigeration cooler 52 for cooling the refrigerator compartment 10 and vegetable compartment 12, which are storage compartments in the refrigeration temperature range, and a freezer cooler 54 for cooling the ice-making compartment 14, small freezer compartment, and freezer compartment 16, which are storage compartments in the freezer temperature range.
[0017] As shown in Fig. 1, a machine room 34 is provided outside the outer casing 4 of the refrigerator main body 2, in this example, at the lower end of the back surface of the refrigerator main body 2. Inside this machine room 34, compressor 56, condenser 58, three-way valve 70, and cooling fan 57 (see Figs. 3 and 4) for cooling these components that constitute cooling device 50 are arranged.
[0018] Refrigerator cooler compartment 36 and duct 38 are formed at the back of the storage compartments (refrigerator compartment 10 and vegetable compartment 12) in the refrigeration temperature range of refrigerator body 2. Refrigerator cooler compartment 36 is provided with refrigerator cooler 52, refrigerator fan 53, refrigerator cooler temperature sensor 61, and housing case 47. Refrigerator fan 53 supplies the air in refrigerator cooler compartment 36, which has been cooled by refrigerator cooler 52, to refrigerator compartment 10 and vegetable compartment 12 via duct 38, thereby cooling these storage compartments.
[0019] Freezer cooler chamber 40 and duct 44 are provided at the back of the storage chambers (ice-making chamber 14, small freezer chamber, and freezer chamber 16) in the freezing temperature range within refrigerator body 2. Freezer cooler 54, freezer fan 55, freezer cooler temperature sensor 62, and housing case 48 are provided inside freezer cooler chamber 40. Freezer fan 55 provided in freezer cooler chamber 40 supplies the air within freezer cooler chamber 40, which has been cooled by freezer cooler 54, to ice-making chamber 14, small freezer chamber, and freezer chamber 16 via duct 44, thereby cooling these storage chambers.
[0020] (2) Configuration of the refrigerator body 2 Next, a specific configuration of the refrigerator body 2 will be described mainly with reference to FIGS.
[0021] The refrigerator body 2 is provided with vacuum insulation materials 7 in insulation spaces 8 in the left wall 2a, right wall 2b, ceiling wall 2c, bottom wall 2d and back wall 2e.
[0022] In areas of the insulated space 8 where there is no vacuum insulation material 7, such as around the machine room 34, at the corners of the refrigerator main body 2, or inside the insulated partition wall 28, there are provided insulation materials (not shown) such as polystyrene foam or cardboard, metal refrigerant pipes such as the heat dissipation pipe 64, the dew prevention pipe 66, the refrigeration capillary tube 72, the refrigeration suction pipe 76, the freezing capillary tube 78, and the freezing suction pipe 82, and electrical connection parts 90, 120 that electrically connect electrical components provided inside or outside the refrigerator main body 2 to the control board 46, and the space is filled with foam insulation material 9.
[0023] The steel-plate outer box 4 that forms the outer shell of the refrigerator body 2 is box-shaped and has a left side panel 4a, a right side panel 4b, a top panel 4c, a bottom panel 4d, and a back panel 4e. The left side panel 4a, the right side panel 4b, and the top panel 4c are formed by bending a single long steel plate into a substantially U-shape. The bottom panel 4d and the back panel 4e are members that are provided separately from the left side panel 4a, the right side panel 4b, and the top panel 4c, and the bottom panel 4d is bent to form a step portion 4d-1 that forms the machine chamber 34.
[0024] 2, the front end of the left side plate 4a is formed with a flange 4a-1 that protrudes inward in the width direction, and the rear end of the left side plate 4a is formed with flanges 4a-2 and 4b-2 that face forward. The front end of the right side plate 4b is formed with a flange 4b-1 that protrudes inward in the width direction, and the rear end is formed with a flange 4b-2 that faces forward. Furthermore, the left end of the back plate 4e is formed with a flange 4e-1 that is inserted into and engaged with the flange 4a-2 of the left side plate 4a, and the right end of the back plate 4e is formed with a flange 4e-2 that is inserted into and engaged with the flange 4b-2 of the right side plate 4b.
[0025] The inner box 6 is a synthetic resin molded body integrally formed using a vacuum molding machine, and is box-shaped with an open front, having a left side plate 6a facing the left side plate 4a of the outer box 4, a right side plate 6b facing the right side plate 4b of the outer box 4, a top plate 6c facing the top plate 4c of the outer box 4, a bottom plate 6d facing the bottom plate 4d of the outer box 4, and a back plate 6e facing the back plate 4e of the outer box 4.
[0026] A flange portion 6a-1 is formed at the front end of the left side plate 6a of the inner box 6 to be inserted into and engaged with the flange portion 4a-1 of the left side plate 4a of the outer box 4, and a flange portion 6b-1 is formed at the front end of the right side plate 6b of the inner box 6 to be inserted into and engaged with the flange portion 4b-1 of the right side plate 4b of the outer box 4.
[0027] 1, 2, and 5, at the corner formed by the back plate 6e of the inner box 6 and another plate connected thereto, chamfered portions 6ae, 6be, and 6ce are formed so as to protrude inward of the inner box 6 beyond the corner. Specifically, at the corner formed by the left side plate 6a and the back plate 6e of the inner box 6, a chamfered portion 6ae connecting the left side plate 6a and the back plate 6e is provided along the vertical direction, at the corner formed by the left side plate 6a and the back plate 6e of the inner box 6, a chamfered portion 6be connecting the right side plate 6b and the back plate 6e is provided along the vertical direction, and at the corner formed by the top plate 6c and the back plate 6e of the inner box 6, a chamfered portion 6ce connecting the top plate 6c and the back plate 6e is provided along the width direction of the refrigerator.
[0028] (3) Configuration of the cooling device 50 Next, the configuration of the cooling device 50 will be described in detail. The cooling device 50 is composed of a refrigeration cycle as shown in Fig. 3. Specifically, the cooling device 50 is connected, in order from the discharge side of a compressor 56 that discharges high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant, to an evaporation pipe 60, a condenser 58, a heat radiation pipe 64, a dew prevention pipe 66, a dryer 68, and the inlet side of a three-way valve 70.
[0029] A refrigeration capillary tube 72 as a pressure reducing means, a refrigeration cooler 52, a refrigeration accumulator 74, and a refrigeration suction pipe 76 are connected in this order by piping to one outlet of the three-way valve 70. The refrigeration capillary tube 72 and the refrigeration suction pipe 76 are integrated by brazing or the like to be able to exchange heat with each other, thereby constituting a refrigeration pipe body 73.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 5 , the refrigeration pipe body 73 enters the insulated space 8 from the refrigeration cooler 52, which is provided inside the inner box 6 along the back panel 6e, through an inlet hole 6e-1 provided in the back panel 6e. After entering the insulated space 8 through the inlet hole 6e-1, the refrigeration pipe body 73 is pulled out to the outside (the insulated space 8 side) of one of the left and right chamfered portions—in this example, the chamfered portion 6be connecting the right side panel 6b and the back panel 6e of the inner box 6. After being pulled out to the outside of the chamfered portion 6be, the refrigeration pipe body 73 rises along the chamfered portion 6be and then extends along the chamfered portion 6ce toward the chamfered portion 6ae on the opposite side in the width direction. The refrigeration pipe body 73 then bends downward at the widthwise end of the chamfered portion 6ce, descends along the chamfered portion 6ae, and penetrates the stepped portion 4d-1 in the bottom panel 4d of the outer box 4 to enter the machine chamber 34.
[0031] The refrigeration pipe body 73 that has entered the machine room 34 has the refrigeration capillary tube 72 connected to one outlet of the three-way valve 70 and the refrigeration suction pipe 76 connected to the suction side of the compressor 56 .
[0032] A refrigeration capillary tube 78 as a pressure reducing means, a refrigeration cooler 54, a refrigeration accumulator 80, a refrigeration suction pipe 82, and a check valve 84 are connected in this order by piping to the other outlet of the three-way valve 70. The refrigeration capillary tube 78 and the refrigeration suction pipe 82 are integrated by brazing or the like to be able to exchange heat with each other, thereby constituting a refrigeration pipe body 79.
[0033] The freezing pipe body 79 enters the thermally insulated space 8 from the freezing cooler 54 provided along the back plate 6e inside the inner box 6 through an introduction hole 6e-2 provided in the back plate 6e. The freezing pipe body 79 that enters the thermally insulated space 8 from the introduction hole 6e-2 includes a drawn-out portion 79a extending from the introduction hole 6e-2 to one of the left and right chamfered portions, an upper extending portion 79b extending upward from the drawn-out portion 79a, a folded-back portion 79c provided at the upper end of the upper extending portion 79b, and a lower extending portion 79d extending downward from the folded-back portion 79c.
[0034] The drawer portion 79a is drawn out from the introduction hole 6e-2 to one of the left and right chamfered portions, in this example, to the outside (toward the insulating space 8) of the chamfered portion 6ae that connects the left side panel 6a and back panel 6e of the inner box 6, and is bent upward at the chamfered portion 6ae.
[0035] Upper extension portion 79b extending upward from drawer portion 79a is positioned closer to the outer side of chamfered portion 6ae in the refrigerator width direction (toward left side panel 6a). Folded portion 79c provided at the upper end of upper extension portion 79b is folded from the outer side toward the inside in the refrigerator width direction, and lower extension portion 79d is positioned closer to the inner side of upper extension portion 79b in the refrigerator width direction (toward back panel 6e).
[0036] The lower extension 79d extends downward from the folded portion 79c along the chamfered portion 6ae, penetrates the stepped portion 4d-1 of the bottom plate 4d of the outer box 4, and enters the machine compartment 34. In this example, the lower extension 79d is disposed in contact with or in close proximity to the refrigerated pipe body 73 provided along the chamfered portion 6ae.
[0037] The lower extension 79d that enters the machine room 34 has a refrigeration capillary tube 78 connected to the other outlet of the three-way valve 70, and a refrigeration suction pipe 82 connected to the suction side of the compressor 56 via a check valve 84.
[0038] In other words, in the cooling device 50, a refrigerating pipe body 73 and a freezing pipe body 79, which are refrigerant pipes, are provided at the corners of the insulating space 8 formed by the left and right side walls 2a, 2b and the back wall 2e of the refrigerator main body 2.
[0039] The three-way valve 70 is a switching valve that switches the flow path so that the refrigerant liquefied in the condenser 58 is alternately supplied to the refrigerating cooler 52 and the freezing cooler 54. The three-way valve 70 switches between a refrigerating cooling operation state in which low-temperature refrigerant supplied from the compressor 56 via the condenser 58 and the refrigerating capillary tube 72 is supplied to the refrigerating cooler 52, and a freezing cooling operation state in which the refrigerating cooler 54 is supplied without being supplied to the refrigerating cooler 52.
[0040] In the cooling device 50, the refrigerant is compressed by the compressor 56 to change into a high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant, and then becomes a liquid refrigerant while radiating heat in the condenser 58, heat radiation pipe 64, and dew prevention pipe 66. The liquid refrigerant is sent to the refrigeration capillary tube 72 or the freezing capillary tube 78 by the three-way valve 70, where it is decompressed to facilitate evaporation in each capillary tube 72, 78. It then vaporizes in the refrigeration cooler 52 or the freezing cooler 54, and generates cold air by absorbing heat from the surroundings. The refrigerant that has absorbed heat from the surroundings flows to each accumulator 74, 80, where the gas-liquid mixture refrigerant is separated into gaseous and liquid refrigerant, and only the gaseous refrigerant returns to the compressor 56 via each suction pipe 76, 82, where it is compressed again to become a high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant.
[0041] (4) Electrical configuration of refrigerator 1 Outside refrigerator body 2, for example, at the rear of the upper surface of ceiling wall 2c of refrigerator body 2, there is provided circuit board storage section 45 that recesses downward, and control circuit board 46 is provided inside this circuit board storage section 45. Control circuit board 46 has multiple components such as a microcomputer that controls refrigerator 1 and a memory that stores a control program, etc., and these components are mounted on a printed circuit board.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 4, electrical components provided inside or outside the refrigerator body 2, such as refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 11, door sensors 21, 23, 24, and 25, interior light 29, freezer compartment temperature sensor 26, refrigerator fan 53, freezer fan 55, compressor 56, cooling fan 57, refrigerator cooler temperature sensor 61, freezer cooler temperature sensor 62, and three-way valve 70, are electrically connected to this control board 46 by first electrical connection part 90 and second electrical connection part 120.
[0043] Control board 46 controls the overall operation of refrigerator 1 by controlling the operation of interior light 29, refrigeration fan 53, freezing fan 55, compressor 56, cooling fan 57, and three-way valve 70 based on signals input from various sensors and a control program pre-stored in memory.
[0044] (5) First Electrical Connection Portion 90 and Second Electrical Connection Portion 120 As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the first electrical connection part 90 includes a bundled wire part 92 that bundles together multiple electric wires 91, a metal coating part 93 that covers the outside of the bundled wire part 92, and separation parts 94, 95, and 96 that prevent the metal coating part 93 from contacting the pipe bodies 73 and 79, which are refrigerant pipes provided in the insulating space 8.
[0045] The plurality of electric wires 91 constituting the bundled wire portion 92 includes a conductive conductor 91a made of copper, a copper alloy, or the like, and an insulating material 91b that covers the conductor 91a. The plurality of electric wires 91 connect the control board 46 to electrical components other than the compressor 56, such as the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 11, the door sensors 21, 24, and 25, the interior light 29, the freezer compartment temperature sensor 26, the refrigerator fan 53, the freezer fan 55, the cooling fan 57, the refrigerator cooler temperature sensor 61, the freezer cooler temperature sensor 62, and the three-way valve 70.
[0046] The multiple electric wires 91 are bundled together in the board storage section 45 to form a bundled wire section 92, and pass through a first insertion hole 45a provided in the bottom surface portion of the board storage section 45 to enter the insulating space 8 of the refrigerator main body 2 from the board storage section 45.
[0047] 5, the bundled wire portion 92 that has entered the thermal insulation space 8 is arranged toward one of the left and right side walls (for example, the left side plate 6a) along the outer side (the thermal insulation space 8 side) of the chamfered portion 6ce that connects the top plate 6c and the back plate 6e of the inner box 6. The bundled wire portion 92 is bent downward at the left end of the chamfered portion 6ce and extends downward along the chamfered portion 6ae.
[0048] The bundled wire portion 92 is arranged along the chamfered portion 6ae, and some of the electric wires 91 branch off near the introduction hole 6ae-1 provided in the chamfered portion 6ae and are pulled out through the introduction hole 6ae-1 to the housing case 47 of the refrigeration cooler chamber 36, while the remaining electric wires 91 are bundled together as a single bundled wire portion 92 and extend downward below the introduction hole 6ae-1 along the chamfered portion 6ae.
[0049] The multiple electric wires 91 drawn out into the housing case 47 are connected via connectors to lead wires extending from the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 11, door sensors 21, 23, interior light 29, refrigerator fan 53, and refrigerator cooler temperature sensor 61 within the housing case 47.
[0050] The bundled wire portion 92 extending downward from the inlet hole 6ae-1 has some of the wires 91 further branched off near the inlet hole 6ae-2 provided in the chamfered portion 6ae and pulled out from the inlet hole 6ae-2 into the housing case 48 of the refrigeration cooler chamber 40, and the remaining wires 91 pass through the step portion 4d-1 of the outer box 4 and enter the machine chamber 34.
[0051] The electric wires 91 drawn out into the housing case 48 are connected via connectors to lead wires extending from the freezer compartment temperature sensor 26, the door sensors 24 and 25, the freezer fan 55, and the freezer cooler temperature sensor 62 within the housing case 48. The electric wires 91 entering the machine room 34 are connected via connectors to lead wires extending from the cooling fan 57 and the three-way valve 70 within the machine room 34.
[0052] 6, the metal covering portion 93 is made of a foil-like body or a cylindrical (tube-like) braided body made of a metal such as aluminum or copper, and covers the outside of the bundled wire portion 92 in which multiple electric wires 91 are bundled. In this embodiment, the metal covering portion 93 is provided so as to cover the portion of the bundled wire portion 92 that is disposed in the thermal insulation space 8.
[0053] The first wiring separation portion 94, the second wiring separation portion 95, and the piping separation portion 96 form a predetermined gap between the bundled wire portion 92 and the pipes 73, 79 provided in the thermal insulation space 8, and prevent the metal coating portion 93 from contacting the pipes 73, 79 provided in the thermal insulation space 8. The gap between the bundled wire portion 92 and the pipes 73, 79 is preferably 10 mm or more, and more preferably 20 mm or more.
[0054] The first wiring separation portion 94 is a cylindrical body made of a non-magnetic material having a hollow portion 94a that accommodates the bundled wire portion 92, and is provided with a slit 94b that extends in the axial direction. The first wiring separation portion 94 is provided outside the bundled wire portion 92 and along the length of the bundled wire portion 92 by inserting the bundled wire portion 92 into the hollow portion 94a through the slit 94b.
[0055] The first wiring separation portion 94 is preferably formed from a material, such as foamed polyethylene, that has a lower thermal conductivity than the insulating material 91b of the electric wires 91 that constitute the bundled wire portion 92. The thickness of the first wiring separation portion 94, that is, the distance between the inner peripheral surface of the hollow portion 94a of the first wiring separation portion 94 and the outer peripheral surface of the first wiring separation portion 94, is thicker than the insulating material 91b of the electric wires 91 that constitute the bundled wire portion 92, and is preferably 10 mm or more, and more preferably 20 mm or more.
[0056] The second wiring separation portion 95 is made of a molded body obtained by molding a non-magnetic material into a predetermined shape, and is preferably made of a heat-insulating molded body obtained by molding a heat-insulating material such as polystyrene foam into a predetermined shape. The second wiring separation portion 95 is fixed to the chamfered portion 6ae of the inner box 6 with an adhesive such as double-sided adhesive tape. The second wiring separation portion 95 has a groove shape extending in the vertical direction that can accommodate the wire bundle portion 92, and holds the wire bundle portion 92 over a predetermined region in the longitudinal direction so that the wire bundle portion 92 is positioned away from the chamfered portion 6ae.
[0057] A plurality of first wiring separation portions 94 and second wiring separation portions 95 are provided at intervals in the length direction (the vertical direction of the refrigerator) of bundled wire portion 92. In the present embodiment, first wiring separation portion 94 is provided in bundled wire portion 92 located above introduction hole 6ae-1. Second wiring separation portions 95 are provided below introduction hole 6ae-1 and above introduction hole 6ae-2.
[0058] The first wiring separation portion 94 does not have to be directly adhesively fixed to the chamfered portion 6ae of the inner box 6, but may be fixed to the chamfered portion 6ae by means of the foam insulation material 9. The first wiring separation portion 94 is preferably disposed closer to the control board 46 in the length direction of the bundled wire portion 92 than the second wiring separation portion 95. By disposing the second wiring separation portion 95 in this manner, the degree of freedom in wiring the bundled wire portion 92 is increased, and manufacturing workability can be improved.
[0059] The pipe separation portion 96 is made of a non-magnetic material molded into a predetermined shape, and is preferably made of a heat-insulating molded body made of a heat-insulating material such as polystyrene foam molded into a predetermined shape. The pipe separation portion 96 is fixed to the chamfered portion 6ae of the inner box 6 with an adhesive such as double-sided adhesive tape. The pipe separation portion 96 has a groove shape extending in the vertical direction that can accommodate the pipes 73, 79. The pipe separation portion 96 holds the pipes 73, 79 over a predetermined region in the longitudinal direction so that the pipes 73, 79 are positioned away from the bundled wire portion 92 and the chamfered portion 6ae.
[0060] The piping separation sections 96 are provided below the inlet hole 6ae-1, above the inlet hole 6ae-2, and below the inlet hole 6ae-2, and are provided at intervals in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction of the refrigerator) of the refrigeration pipe body 73 and the freezing pipe body 79.
[0061] In this embodiment, the piping separation section 96 is provided in an insulating molded body in which the second wiring separation section 95 is provided, but the piping separation section 96 may also be provided in an insulating molded body separate from the second wiring separation section 95.
[0062] As shown in Figures 5 and 7, the second electrical connection part 120 includes a bundled wire part 122 that bundles together multiple electric wires 121, a metal coating part 123 that covers the outside of the bundled wire part 122, and a separation part 124 that prevents the metal coating part 123 from contacting the refrigeration pipe body 73 provided in the insulation space 8.
[0063] The plurality of electric wires 121 constituting the bundled wire portion 122 includes a conductive conductor 121a made of copper or a copper alloy, and an insulating material 121b that covers the conductor 121a, and connects the compressor 56 and the control board 46 together.
[0064] The multiple electric wires 121 are bundled together in the board storage section 45 to form a bundled wire section 122, and pass through a second insertion hole 45b provided in the bottom portion of the board storage section 45 to enter the insulating space 8 of the refrigerator main body 2 from the board storage section 45.
[0065] 5, the bundled wire part 122 that has entered the thermal insulation space 8 is arranged toward the side plate (right side plate 6b) opposite to the bundled wire part 92, along the outer side (the side toward the thermal insulation space 8) of the chamfered portion 6ce that connects the top plate 6c and the back plate 6e of the inner box 6. The bundled wire part 122 then bends downward at the right end of the chamfered portion 6ce, extends downward along the chamfered portion 6be, penetrates the stepped portion 4d-1 of the outer box 4, and enters the machine chamber 34.
[0066] Like the metal covering portion 93 of the first electrical connection portion 90, the metal covering portion 123 is made of a foil-like body or a tubular braid made of a metal such as aluminum or copper, and covers the outside of the bundled wire portion 122 in which the multiple electric wires 121 are bundled. In this embodiment, the metal covering portion 93 is provided so as to cover the entire portion of the bundled wire portion 122 that is arranged in the thermally insulated space 8.
[0067] The third wiring separation portion 124 forms a predetermined gap between the bundled wire portion 122 and the refrigerated pipe body 73 provided in the insulated space 8, and prevents the metal coating portion 123 from contacting the refrigerated pipe body 73 provided in the insulated space 8.
[0068] Similar to the first wiring separation portion 94, the third wiring separation portion 124 is a cylindrical body made of a non-magnetic material having a hollow portion 124a into which the bundled wire portion 122 is inserted, and is provided with a slit 124b extending in the axial direction. The third wiring separation portion 124 is provided outside the bundled wire portion 122 and along the longitudinal direction of the bundled wire portion 122 by inserting the bundled wire portion 122 into the hollow portion 124a through the slit 124b.
[0069] Third wiring separation portion 124 is preferably formed from a material, such as foamed polyethylene, that has a lower thermal conductivity than insulating material 121b of electric wires 121 that constitutes bundled wire portion 122. The thickness of third wiring separation portion 124, that is, the distance between the inner circumferential surface of hollow portion 124a of third wiring separation portion 124 and the outer circumferential surface of third wiring separation portion 124, is thicker than insulating material 121b of electric wires 121 that constitutes bundled wire portion 122, and is preferably 10 mm or more, and more preferably 20 mm or more.
[0070] The metal coating portion 93 of the first electrical connection portion 90 and the metal coating portion 123 of the second electrical connection portion 120 may be connected to the earth wire of the refrigerator 1. By connecting the metal coating portions 93, 123 to the earth wire, noise generated in the electric wires 91, 121 can be released to the outside.
[0071] (6) Effects In this embodiment, the outside of the portion of the bundled wire portions 92, 122 where they are wired along the pipe bodies 73, 79 is covered with the metal covering portions 93, 123, and the metal covering portions 93, 123 and the pipe bodies 73, 79 are separated by the separating portions 94, 95, 96, 124 and are arranged in the insulated space 8, so that electromagnetic noise generated from the electric wires 91, 121 is less likely to propagate to the metal pipe bodies 73, 79, and therefore it is possible to suppress electromagnetic noise being emitted to the outside of the refrigerator 1.
[0072] In addition, at the corners between the left side wall 2a and the rear wall 2e and the corners between the right side wall 2b and the rear wall 2e, where the electric wires 91 and the pipe bodies 73, 79 are likely to be arranged in close proximity over a wide area, the electric wires 91, 121 are bundled together to form bundled wire sections 92, 122, and metal coating sections 93, 123 and separation sections 94, 95, 96, 124 are provided, thereby effectively suppressing the propagation of electromagnetic noise to the pipe bodies 73, 79.
[0073] When the distance between the bundled wire portions 92, 122 and the pipes 73, 79 is 10 mm or more, electromagnetic noise from the electric wires 91, 121 is less likely to propagate to the pipes 73, 79.
[0074] In the first electrical connection portion 90, multiple wiring separation portions 94, 95 that hold the bundled wire portion 92 are provided at intervals along the length of the bundled wire portion 92, so that even if foam insulation material is filled around the first electrical connection portion 90, the position of the bundled wire portion 92 is less likely to change, resulting in excellent manufacturing stability.
[0075] In the first electrical connection portion 90, multiple piping separation portions 96 that hold the pipe bodies 73, 79 are provided at intervals along the length of the pipe bodies 73, 79, so that even if foam insulation material is filled around the pipe bodies 73, 79, the position of the bundled wire portion 92 is less likely to change, resulting in excellent manufacturing stability.
[0076] (7) Example of change Modifications of the above embodiment will be described. Any one of the multiple modification examples described below may be applied to the above embodiment, or any two or more of the modification examples described below may be applied in combination. In addition to the following modification examples, various modifications are possible. In the drawings showing the modification examples, parts similar to the above embodiment are marked with the same symbol as the above embodiment. Symbols are attached.
[0077] (7-1) Change example 1 In the above-described embodiment, the metal coating portion 93 is provided on the entire bundled wire portion 92, but it is also possible to provide the metal coating portion 93 on at least a portion of the portion of the bundled wire portion 92 that is wired along the refrigerant pipe provided in the insulating space 8, and not to provide the metal coating portion 93 on other portions of the bundled wire portion 92.
[0078] For example, metal covering portion 93 may be provided on at least a portion of bundled wire portion 92, where the wire is routed along upper extending portion 79b or lower extending portion 79d of freezing pipe body 79, or where the wire is routed along refrigeration pipe body 73 provided at chamfered portion 6ce or chamfered portion 6ae. Also, metal covering portion 123 may be provided on at least a portion of bundled wire portion 122, where the wire is routed along refrigeration pipe body 73 provided at chamfered portion 6ce or chamfered portion 6be.
[0079] When the bundled wire portions 92, 122 can be spaced apart from the refrigerant pipes such as the refrigeration pipe body 73 and the freezing pipe body 79 by a certain length or more, the propagation of noise from the electric wires 91, 121 can be suppressed even if the metal coated portions 93, 123 are provided only in a portion of the bundled wire portions 92, 122 that are wired along the refrigerant pipes.
[0080] Furthermore, if a sufficient distance can be secured between the bundled wire portions 92, 122 and the refrigerant pipes (for example, if a distance of 30 mm or more can be secured), even in locations where the bundled wire portions 92, 122 are routed along the refrigerant pipes, it is not necessary to provide a metal coating on the outside of the bundled wire portions 92, 122. In this case, a spacer may be provided on the outside of the bundled wire portions 92, 122 to secure a distance between the bundled wire portions 92, 122 and the refrigerant pipes.
[0081] For example, the electrical connection section provided in the insulated space that electrically connects the control board and the electrical components may include a bundled wire section that bundles together multiple electric wires, and a spacer that is attached to the outside of at least one of the bundled wire section and the refrigerant pipe to ensure a gap between the bundled wire section and the refrigerant pipe.
[0082] Such a spacer may be, for example, a cylindrical body having a hollow portion and a slit extending in the axial direction that opens to the hollow portion and the outer circumferential surface. The spacer is attached so as to cover the outside of the bundled wires 92, 122 or the pipes (refrigerant pipes) 73, 79 by inserting the bundled wires 92, 122 or the pipes 73, 79 through the slit into the hollow portion. The spacer is preferably made of a material, such as foamed polyethylene, that has a lower thermal conductivity than the insulating materials 91b, 121b of the electric wires 91, 121 that make up the bundled wires 92, 122. The thickness of the spacer, i.e., the distance between the inner circumferential surface of the hollow portion of the spacer and the outer circumferential surface of the spacer, is thicker than the insulating materials 91b, 121b of the electric wires 91, 121 that make up the bundled wires 92, 122, and is preferably 20 mm or more, more preferably 30 mm or more.
[0083] (7-2) Change example 2 In the above-described embodiment, the piping separation section 96 is provided in an insulating molded body in which the second wiring separation section 95 is provided, but the piping separation section 96 may also be provided in an insulating molded body separate from the second wiring separation section 95.
[0084] When the piping separation portion 96 is provided in a different heat insulating molded body from the second wiring separation portion 95, the piping separation portion 96 and the second wiring separation portion 95 may be provided at different positions in the longitudinal direction of the refrigerant pipes 73, 79. This allows the piping separation portion 96 and the second wiring separation portion 95 to be arranged in the heat insulating space 8 in consideration of the arrangement of the components provided in the heat insulating space 8, thereby improving the degree of freedom in design.
[0085] (7-3) Change example 3 In the above embodiment, the metal covering portion 93 and the first wiring separation portion 94 in the first electrical connection portion 90 are configured as separate members, but in this modified example, the metal covering portion is provided in the first wiring separation portion.
[0086] 8, the first wiring separation portion 104 is a cylindrical body made of a non-magnetic material having a hollow portion 104a into which the bundled wire portion 92 is inserted, and is provided with a slit 104b extending in the axial direction and a metal covering portion 103 provided on the inner surface of the hollow portion 104a. The metal covering portion 103 is made of a metal layer such as aluminum or copper, and covers the outside of the bundled wire portion 92 inserted into the hollow portion 104a.
[0087] In such a first wiring separation portion 104, the metal covering portion 103 and the wiring separation portion 104 can be provided outside the bundled wire portion 92 by inserting the bundled wire portion 92 into the hollow portion 104a through the slit 104b.
[0088] As shown in FIG. 9, in this modification, metal coating portion 103 may be provided on slit 104b as well as on the inner surface of hollow portion 104a, so that opposing metal layers may come into contact with each other on the inner surface of slit 104b.
[0089] (7-4) Change example 4 As shown in Figure 10(a), in this modified example, a laminate 205 is prepared in advance by laminating a metal layer 203 and an insulating layer 204, and the laminate 205 is then wrapped around the outside of the bundled wire section 92 so that the metal layer 203 faces inward (towards the bundled wire section 92), thereby forming a metal coating layer on the outside of the bundled wire section 92 and forming a wiring isolation section on the outside of the metal coating layer, as shown in Figure 10(b).
[0090] When the laminate 205 is wound around the bundled wire portion 92 to form a metal coating layer and a wiring separation portion on the outside of the bundled wire portion 92 as in this modified example, it is preferable to wrap the laminate 205 around the outside of the bundled wire portion 92 so that the metal layer 203 overlaps and continuously covers the circumferential periphery of the bundled wire portion 92.
[0091] For example, as shown in FIG. 10( a), the laminate 205 is fabricated so that the metal layer 203 extends from one side 204 a of the rectangular insulating layer 204, and the side 204 a is aligned with the longitudinal direction of the bundled wire portion 92. The laminate 205 is then wound around the bundled wire portion 92 from the extending portion 203 a of the metal layer 203 extending from the insulating layer 204, whereby the extending portion 203 a of the metal layer 203 at the winding start position and the metal layer 203 near the winding end position overlap, and the periphery of the bundled wire portion 92 can be continuously covered with the metal layer 203 in the circumferential direction.
[0092] In this modification, the metal coating layer and the wiring separation portion can be formed by winding the laminate 205 around the bundled wire portion 92, thereby improving productivity.
[0093] 10(a) , the laminate 205 wound around the wire bundling portion 92 is not limited to the laminate 205 in which the metal layer 203 extends from one side 204a of the insulating layer 204, but may be a laminate in which the entire peripheries of the insulating layer and the metal layer overlap, wound around the wire bundling portion 92, with a metal coating layer and a wiring separation portion provided on the outside of the wire bundling portion 92. Even with a laminate having such a configuration, a metal coating layer and a wiring separation portion can be formed on the outside of the wire bundling portion 92, and the effects of the present invention can be obtained. [Explanation of symbols]
[0094] 1...refrigerator, 2...refrigerator body, 4...outer box, 6...inner box, 8...insulation space, 9...insulation material, 10...refrigerator compartment, 11...refrigerator compartment temperature sensor, 12...vegetable compartment, 14...ice maker compartment, 16...freezer compartment, 21...door sensor, 23...door sensor, 24...door sensor, 25...door sensor, 26...freezer compartment temperature sensor, 29...interior light, 34...machine compartment, 45...circuit board storage section, 46...control board, 50...cooling device, 52...refrigerator cooler, 53...refrigerator fan, 54...freezer cooler, 55...freezer fan, 56...compressor, 57...cooling fan, 61...refrigerator cooler temperature sensor, 62...freezer cooler temperature sensor, 70...three-way valve, 70a...printed circuit board, 72...refrigerator capillary tube, 73...refrigerator pipe body, 76...refrigerator suction pipe, 78...freezer capillary tube, 79...refrigerator Freezing pipe body, 79a...drawing portion, 79b...upper extension portion, 79c...folded portion, 79d...lower extension portion, 82...freezing suction pipe, 90...first electrical connection portion, 91...electric wire, 91a...conductor, 91b...insulating material, 92...wire bundle portion, 93...metal coated portion, 94...first wiring separation portion, 94a...hollow portion, 94b...slit, 95...second wiring separation portion, 96...piping separation portion, 103...metal coated portion Covering portion, 104...first wiring separation portion, 104a...hollow portion, 104b...slit, 120...second electrical connection portion, 121...electric wire, 121a...conductor, 121b...insulating material, 122...wire bundle portion, 123...metal covering portion, 124...third wiring separation portion, 124a...hollow portion, 124b...slit, 203...metal layer, 203a...extension portion, 204...insulating layer, 204a...one side portion, 205c...laminated body
Claims
1. a refrigerator body in which a heat insulating material is provided in an insulating space formed between an inner box and an outer box; a control board provided on the outside of the refrigerator body; an electrical component provided inside or outside the refrigerator body; a compressor provided outside the refrigerator body; a cooler provided inside the refrigerator body; an electrical connection portion provided in the heat insulating space for electrically connecting the control board and the electrical component; a refrigerant pipe provided in the heat-insulating space for piping connection between the compressor and the cooler, the electrical connection portion includes a bundling portion that bundles together a plurality of electric wires, a metal covering portion that covers the outside of the portion of the bundling portion that is wired along the refrigerant pipe, and a separating portion that prevents contact between the metal covering portion and the refrigerant pipe.
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the bundling portion is provided along the refrigerant pipes at at least one of corners of the heat-insulating space formed by the left and right side walls and the back wall of the refrigerator body.
3. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the distance between the refrigerant pipe and the bundled wire portion is 10 mm or more.
4. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical connection portion includes a plurality of the separating portions that hold the refrigerant pipe over a predetermined region in the length direction and are spaced apart in the length direction of the refrigerant pipe.
5. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical connection portion includes a plurality of the separating portions that hold the bundled wire portion over a predetermined region in the length direction and are spaced apart in the length direction of the bundled wire portion.
6. the separating section includes a piping separating section that holds the refrigerant pipe and a wiring separating section that is provided on the bundled wire section, The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the piping separation portion and the wiring separation portion are provided at different positions in a length direction of the refrigerant pipe.
7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the metal covering layer and the separating portion are formed by wrapping a laminate formed by laminating a metal layer made of a metal material and an insulating layer made of an insulating material around the outside of the bundled wire portion.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Refrigerator
JP1996261634A