refrigerator

Abstract

To provide a refrigerator that is less prone to condensation around circuit boards located inside the control device. [Solution] A refrigerator comprising an inner box, an outer box, and a control device, wherein the control device has a circuit board, a board case for supporting the circuit board, and a case lid member for covering the board case, and the board case contains a resin material in which aerogel is dispersed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator.

Background Art

[0002] A refrigerator generally includes an inner box, an outer box, a heat insulating material disposed between the inner box and the outer box, and a control device for controlling the temperature inside the refrigerator (Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a refrigerator, in order to increase the internal volume while maintaining the external size, the wall thickness is being reduced. To reduce the wall thickness of the refrigerator, it is necessary to thin the heat insulating material between the inner box and the outer box. On the other hand, the control device of the refrigerator tends to become larger with the inverterization and multifunctionalization of the motor. With the increase in the size of the control device, the cases where the control device is arranged on the top surface or the back surface of the refrigerator are increasing. However, according to the study by the present inventors, it has been found that when the control device is arranged on the top surface or the back surface of the refrigerator, condensation may occur inside the control device. When condensation occurs inside the control device, there is a possibility of problems such as the condensation touching the terminal part of the circuit board and short-circuiting the circuit.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator in which condensation is unlikely to occur around the circuit board disposed inside the control device.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] According to the inventors' investigation, it was found that the occurrence of condensation inside the control device was due to a large temperature difference at the interface between the part of the control device that is in contact with the refrigerator and the part that is in contact with the outside air, caused by the thinning of the insulation material. To solve the above problem, it was found that supporting the circuit board with a substrate case containing a resin material in which aerogel is dispersed is effective, and the present invention was completed. Accordingly, the present invention provides the following.

[0007] (1) A refrigerator comprising an inner box, an outer box, and a control device, wherein the control device comprises a circuit board, a board case for supporting the circuit board, and a case lid member for covering the board case, and the board case comprises a resin material in which aerogel is dispersed.

[0008] According to the refrigerator in (1), the circuit board is supported by a substrate case containing a resin material in which aerogel is dispersed, so that the temperature inside the refrigerator does not easily transfer to the area around the circuit board. As a result, the temperature difference between the circuit board and the outside air is less likely to occur, and condensation is less likely to occur.

[0009] (2) The control device is located on the top surface of the outer casing, and is the refrigerator as described in (1).

[0010] According to the refrigerator in (2), the control device can be installed without expanding the width or depth of the refrigerator.

[0011] (3) The refrigerator according to (2), wherein the top surface of the outer box has a control device placement hole cut out in a shape capable of housing the control device, and the control device is placed in the control device placement hole.

[0012] According to the refrigerator in (3), the increase in the height of the refrigerator due to the control device can be reduced.

[0013] (4) The refrigerator according to (3), wherein an insulating material is placed between the top surface of the inner box and the circuit board case of the control device.

[0014] According to refrigerator (4), the temperature inside the refrigerator is less likely to transfer to the area around the circuit board. As a result, the temperature difference between the circuit board and the outside air is less likely to occur, and condensation is less likely to occur. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a refrigerator that is less prone to condensation around the circuit board located inside the control device. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0016] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention, seen from diagonally above. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part of the top surface of the refrigerator shown. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0017] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0018] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention, seen from diagonally above. Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part of the top surface of the refrigerator shown in Figure 1. In Figures 1 and 2, the refrigerator 1 is shown with the door removed.

[0019] Refrigerator 1 comprises an inner box 2, an outer box 3, and a control device 4. The control device 4 is located on the top surface of the outer box 3. Insulation material 5a is placed between the inner box 2 and the outer box 3, and insulation material 5b is placed between the inner box 2 and the control device 4. A power cord 6 is connected to the control device 4.

[0020] The inner box 2 is a container for holding food, beverages, etc. For the material of the inner box 2, for example, ABS resin or polypropylene can be used.

[0021] The top surface of the outer box 3 has a control device placement hole 31 that is cut out in a shape capable of accommodating the control device 4. As the material of the outer box 3, metals such as iron and stainless steel can be used.

[0022] The control device 4 has a circuit board 41, a board case 42, and a case lid member 43. The circuit board 41 is equipped with circuits for controlling the internal temperature of the refrigerator 1 and the functions of the refrigerator 1 on the board.

[0023] The board case 42 is a case that supports the circuit board 41. The board case 42 has a flange portion 42a. The flange portion 42a of the board case 42 is larger than the control device placement hole 31, protrudes from the control device placement hole 31, and is fixed to the outer box 3 by screws 33. The board case 42 contains an aerogel-containing resin material in which aerogel is dispersed in resin. The board case 42 may be formed only from the aerogel-containing resin material. Since the aerogel-containing resin material contains aerogel, it exhibits high heat insulation properties. As the resin of the aerogel-containing resin material, for example, polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene can be used. As the aerogel, silica aerogel can be used. The aerogel content of the aerogel-containing resin material is, for example, within the range of 1 mass% or more and 30 mass% or less. The board case 42 can be manufactured, for example, by kneading resin and aerogel and pressing the obtained kneaded product into the shape of the board.

[0024] The case lid member 43 is a member that covers the board case 42. The case lid member 43 has a flange portion 43a. The flange portion 43a of the case lid member 43 is fixed to the outer box 3 by screws 33 together with the flange portion 42a of the board case 42. As the material of the case lid member 43, metals such as iron and stainless steel can be used.

[0025] The heat insulating material 5a is a member that insulates the inner box 2 and the outer box 3. The heat insulating material 5b is a member that insulates the inner box 2 and the control device 4. As the heat insulating materials 5a and 5b, for example, foamed urethane and vacuum heat insulating materials can be used.

[0026] In this embodiment of the refrigerator 1 configured as described above, the circuit board 41 is supported by a substrate case 42 containing a resin material in which aerogel is dispersed. Therefore, the temperature inside the refrigerator 1 is less likely to transfer to the area around the circuit board 41. As a result, a temperature difference with the outside air is less likely to occur around the circuit board 41, and condensation is less likely to occur.

[0027] In the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment, the control device 4 is located on the top surface of the outer casing 3, so the control device 4 can be placed without expanding the width or depth of the refrigerator 1. Furthermore, the top surface of the outer casing 3 has a control device placement hole 31, and the control device 4 is placed in the control device placement hole 31, so the increase in the height of the refrigerator 1 due to the control device 4 can be kept to a minimum. In addition, since the insulating material 5b is placed between the top surface of the inner casing 2 and the circuit board case 42 of the control device 4, the temperature inside the refrigerator 1 is less likely to be transmitted to the area around the circuit board 41. As a result, the temperature difference between the circuit board 41 and the outside air is less likely to occur, and condensation is less likely to occur. In the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment, because the circuit board case 42 has high thermal insulation properties, even if the thermal conductivity of the insulating material 5b becomes uneven due to the formation of voids in the insulating material 5b, the temperature difference between the circuit board 41 and the outside air is less likely to occur, and condensation is less likely to occur.

[0028] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, in this embodiment, the control device 4 is located on the top surface of the outer casing 3, but the location of the control device 4 is not limited to this. For example, the control device 4 may be located on the back surface of the outer casing 3. In this case, it is preferable to position the control device 4 so that the circuit board case 42 faces the refrigerator 1. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0029] 1. Refrigerator 2 Inner box 3. Outer box 31 Control device placement hole 33 Bis 4. Control device 41 Circuit board 42 PCB case 42a Flange section 43 Case lid component 43a Flange section 5a, 5b Insulation 6 Power cord

Claims

1. It comprises an inner box, an outer box, and a control device. The control device comprises a circuit board, a board case that supports the circuit board, and a case cover member that covers the board case. The aforementioned substrate case is a refrigerator containing a resin material in which aerogel is dispersed.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the control device is located on the top surface of the outer casing.

3. The top surface of the outer box has a control device placement hole cut out in a shape that can accommodate the control device, The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the control device is positioned in the control device placement hole.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein an insulating material is placed between the top surface of the inner box and the circuit board case of the control device.

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