Refrigerator interior light and refrigerator

Abstract

To provide a refrigerator interior light with high brightness and low heat emission to the surroundings, and a refrigerator with high brightness inside and where the area around the interior light does not easily become excessively hot. [Solution] The refrigerator interior light comprises an LED light-emitting device, a transparent cover that covers at least a part of the LED light-emitting device, and a light-transmitting heat-insulating material disposed between the LED light-emitting device and the transparent cover.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an in-refrigerator lamp and a refrigerator.

Background Art

[0002] As a light source of an in-refrigerator lamp for illuminating the inside of a refrigerator, an LED light-emitting device is widely used (for example, see Patent Document 1). Further, as a light source of the in-refrigerator lamp, a functional LED light-emitting device that emits light of a specific wavelength is also used to maintain the freshness of food in the refrigerator (for example, see Patent Document 2).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In refrigerators, higher capacity is being pursued. Along with the higher capacity of the refrigerator, in order to brighten the entire inside of the refrigerator, higher brightness of the in-refrigerator lamp is required. However, according to the study by the present inventor, when increasing the brightness of the in-refrigerator lamp using an LED light-emitting device, there is a problem that the amount of heat generated by the LED light-emitting device increases and the temperature around the in-refrigerator lamp becomes excessively high. Further, the in-refrigerator lamp using a functional LED light-emitting device is lit even when the door is closed in order to maintain the freshness of food in the refrigerator, so the temperature around the in-refrigerator lamp tends to become excessively high. When the temperature around the in-refrigerator lamp becomes excessively high, there is a risk that the temperature of the food placed around the in-refrigerator lamp rises and various bacteria proliferate.

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a refrigerator interior light with high brightness and low heat emission to the surroundings, and a refrigerator with high brightness inside the refrigerator and where the area around the interior light does not easily become excessively hot. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To solve the above problems, the inventors of the present invention have found that it is effective to place a light-transmitting insulating layer containing aerogel between the transparent cover of the refrigerator interior light and the LED light-emitting device, and have completed the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention provides the following.

[0007] (1) A refrigerator interior light comprising an LED light-emitting device, a transparent cover covering at least a portion of the LED light-emitting device, and a light-transmitting heat-insulating material disposed between the LED light-emitting device and the transparent cover, wherein the light-transmitting heat-insulating material includes aerogel.

[0008] In the refrigerator interior light described in (1), a translucent insulating material containing aerogel is placed between the LED light-emitting device and the transparent cover. Therefore, even if the brightness of the LED light-emitting device is increased and the amount of heat generated by the LED light-emitting device increases, the amount of heat released to the surroundings is reduced.

[0009] (2) The light-transmitting insulating material is an aerogel sheet, as described in (1), for the interior light of a refrigerator.

[0010] According to the refrigerator interior light of (2), since the light-transmitting insulation material is an aerogel sheet, it is easy to place the light-transmitting insulation material between the LED light-emitting device and the transparent cover.

[0011] (3) The refrigerator interior light according to (2), wherein the aerogel sheet is an aerogel-impregnated porous sheet obtained by impregnating aerogel particles into a porous sheet, or an aerogel-containing resin sheet obtained by dispersing aerogel particles in a resin.

[0012] According to the refrigerator interior light in (3), the aerogel particles are stably held in the aerogel sheet, so the amount of heat released to the surroundings can be reduced over a long period of time.

[0013] (4) A refrigerator in which one of the refrigerator interior lights described in (1) to (3) is installed in the inner box or door.

[0014] According to the refrigerator in (4), the above-mentioned refrigerator interior light is located in the inner box or door, so even if the brightness inside the refrigerator is increased, the area around the interior light is less likely to become excessively bright.

[0015] (5) The refrigerator according to (4), wherein the surface temperature of the transparent cover of the refrigerator interior light is 15°C or less.

[0016] According to the refrigerator in (5), the surface temperature of the transparent cover of the refrigerator interior light is 15°C or lower, so food placed around the refrigerator interior light can be stored stably without the temperature rising. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a refrigerator interior light with high brightness and low heat emission to the surroundings, and a refrigerator with high brightness inside the interior and where the area around the interior light does not easily become excessively hot. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0018] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention, seen from a diagonal angle below. [Figure 2] This is a cross-sectional view of a refrigerator interior light according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0019] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention as seen from diagonally below. In FIG. 1, the refrigerator 1 is shown with the door removed. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an in-refrigerator light for a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] The refrigerator 1 includes an inner box 2 and an in-refrigerator light 3 for the refrigerator disposed inside the upper corner of the inner box 2.

[0022] The inner box 2 is a container for storing food, beverages, etc. As the material of the inner box 2, for example, ABS resin or polypropylene can be used.

[0023] The in-refrigerator light 3 for the refrigerator includes an LED light-emitting device 31, a transparent cover 32, a light-transmissive heat insulating material 33, and an in-refrigerator light case 34. The in-refrigerator light case 34 is fixed to the inner box 2. The transparent cover 32 is supported by the in-refrigerator light case 34. The transparent cover 32 has an LED light-emitting device support portion 32a. The LED light-emitting device 31 is supported by the LED light-emitting device support portion 32a. The LED light-emitting device 31 may be a visible light-emitting device or a functional LED light-emitting device that emits light of a specific wavelength. The light-transmissive heat insulating material 33 is disposed between the LED light-emitting device 31 and the transparent cover 32.

[0024] The LED light-emitting device 31 has an LED element 311, a connector 312, and a support substrate 313. The connector 312 is connected to a power cable (not shown). The support substrate 313 supports the LED element 311 and the connector 312.

[0025] The transparent cover 32 is made of a transparent resin. As the transparent resin, transparent ABS resin, polycarbonate, acrylic polymer, polyethylene terephthalate, or vinyl chloride can be used. The transparent cover 32 may have irregularities for scattering light so that the light of the LED light-emitting device 31 diffuses uniformly inside the refrigerator.

[0026] The translucent insulating material 33 only needs to transmit visible light and may be transparent or semi-transparent. The translucent insulating material 33 may also be milky white. The translucent insulating material 33 contains aerogel. Silica aerogel can be used as the aerogel. Because the translucent insulating material 33 contains aerogel, it exhibits high thermal insulation properties. The translucent insulating material 33 may be bonded to the transparent cover 32 with an adhesive.

[0027] As the light-transmitting insulating material 33, for example, an aerogel sheet can be used. Examples of aerogel sheets include an aerogel-impregnated porous sheet, which is made by impregnating a porous sheet with aerogel particles, or an aerogel-containing resin sheet, which is made by dispersing aerogel particles in a resin. The aerogel content of the aerogel-impregnated porous sheet and the aerogel-containing resin sheet is, for example, in the range of 10% by mass or more and 50% by mass or less.

[0028] Paper and nonwoven fabric sheets can be used as the base material for the aerogel-impregnated sheet. Examples of paper include synthetic paper, Western-style paper, and Japanese paper. There are no particular restrictions on the material of the nonwoven fabric sheet; for example, natural fibers, synthetic fibers, and recycled fibers can be used. Examples of natural fibers include cotton, bamboo, and hemp. Examples of synthetic fibers include polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, polyamide, polyimide, and polyurethane. Examples of recycled fibers include rayon and recycled polyester. The aerogel-impregnated sheet can be manufactured, for example, by applying a dispersion of aerogel to a nonwoven fabric sheet or paper and drying it. The light-transmitting heat-insulating material 33 may also be an aerogel-impregnated paper sheet in which aerogel particles are impregnated into paper. The aerogel-impregnated paper sheet has an uneven surface and the light from the LED light-emitting device 31 is easily scattered by the base material. For this reason, the refrigerator interior light 3 using the aerogel-impregnated paper sheet functions as a white light, making the inside of the refrigerator brighter and more uniform.

[0029] In aerogel-containing resin sheets, polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene can be used as the resin. Aerogel-containing resin sheets can be manufactured, for example, by kneading a resin and aerogel and then pressing the resulting mixture into a sheet.

[0030] The interior light case 34 is not particularly limited in shape, as long as it can be fixed to the inner box 2 and can support the transparent cover 32. ABS resin, polypropylene, and polystyrene can be used as materials for the interior light case 34.

[0031] When the refrigerator interior light 3 is lit, the temperature inside the interior light case 34 rises due to the heat generated by the LED light-emitting device 31. Since the refrigerator interior light 3 has a translucent insulating material 33 placed between the LED light-emitting device 31 and the transparent cover 32, heat from inside the interior light case 34 is not easily transferred to the transparent cover 32. For this reason, in the refrigerator 1, the surface temperature of the transparent cover 32 of the refrigerator interior light 3 is lower than the temperature inside the interior light case 34. The surface temperature of the transparent cover 32 may be, for example, 15°C or less, or 10°C or less. Also, the surface temperature of the transparent cover 32 may be, for example, +3°C or less, or +2°C or less, relative to the average temperature inside the refrigerator 1.

[0032] With the refrigerator interior light 3 of this embodiment configured as described above, a light-transmitting heat insulating material 33 is placed between the LED light-emitting device 31 and the transparent cover 32. Therefore, even if the brightness of the LED light-emitting device 31 is increased and the amount of heat generated by the LED light-emitting device 31 increases, the amount of heat released to the surroundings is reduced. Because the distance between the LED light-emitting device 31 and the transparent cover 32 can be narrowed, the size of the refrigerator interior light 3 can be made smaller, and the refrigerator can be made to have a higher capacity.

[0033] In the refrigerator interior light 3 of this embodiment, by using an aerogel sheet for the translucent heat insulating material 33, it becomes easier to place the translucent heat insulating material 33 between the LED light-emitting device 31 and the transparent cover 32. In particular, if the aerogel sheet is an aerogel-impregnated sheet or an aerogel-containing resin sheet, the aerogel particles are stably held in the aerogel sheet, so the amount of heat released to the surroundings can be reduced over a long period of time.

[0034] According to the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment, since the above-mentioned refrigerator interior light 3 is arranged in the inner box 2, even if the brightness inside the refrigerator is increased, the area around the refrigerator interior light 3 is less likely to become excessively bright. For this reason, according to the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment, the refrigerator interior light 3 can be placed in a location close to the food, and the constraints on the installation location of the refrigerator interior light 3 are relaxed.

[0035] In the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment, when the surface temperature of the transparent cover 32 of the refrigerator interior light 3 is 15°C or lower, food placed around the refrigerator interior light 3 can be stored more stably without raising its temperature.

[0036] 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 the refrigerator interior light 3 of this embodiment, an aerogel sheet is used as the light-transmitting heat insulating material 33, but the light-transmitting heat insulating material 33 is not limited to this. An aerogel layer may be formed by applying aerogel to the surface of the transparent cover 32. In this case, it is preferable to form the aerogel layer on the surface of the transparent cover 32 that is on the side of the LED light-emitting device 31.

[0037] In the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment, the refrigerator interior light 3 is located inside the upper corner of the inner box 2, but the location of the refrigerator interior light 3 is not limited to this. The refrigerator interior light 3 may be located on the door of the refrigerator, or on the inside side or back of the inner box 2. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0038] 1. Refrigerator 2 Inner box 3. Interior light for refrigerator 31 LED light-emitting devices 311 LED elements 312 connector 313 Support substrate 32 Transparent Cover 32a LED light-emitting device support part 33 Light-transmitting insulation material 34 Interior light case

Claims

1. The device comprises an LED light-emitting device, a transparent cover that covers at least a portion of the LED light-emitting device, and a light-transmitting heat-insulating material disposed between the LED light-emitting device and the transparent cover. The aforementioned light-transmitting insulating material contains aerogel, and is used as an interior light for a refrigerator.

2. The interior light for a refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the light-transmitting insulating material is an aerogel sheet.

3. The refrigerator interior light according to claim 2, wherein the aerogel sheet is an aerogel-impregnated porous sheet obtained by impregnating a porous sheet with aerogel particles, or an aerogel-containing resin sheet obtained by dispersing aerogel particles in a resin.

4. A refrigerator having an interior light for a refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3 installed in the inner box or door.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the surface temperature of the transparent cover of the refrigerator interior light is 15°C or less.

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