refrigerator

Abstract

To provide a refrigerator that can reduce the propagation of noise generated from power lines. [Solution] The refrigerator of this embodiment comprises a refrigerator body 2 having an inner box 6, an outer box 4, and a foamed insulating material provided in an insulating space 8 formed between the inner box 6 and the outer box 4, with a cooler chamber 36 formed inside the inner box 6 and a machine chamber 34 formed outside the outer box 4; a cooler 52 provided in the cooler chamber 36, a compressor 56 provided in the machine chamber 34, and a low-temperature side refrigerant pipe 76 that enters the machine chamber 34 from the cooler chamber 36 through the rear end peripheral edge of the insulating space 8 and returns the refrigerant that has flowed out from the cooler 52 to the compressor 56; a fixing member 100 that brings the low-temperature side refrigerant pipe 76 close to the inner box 6 and fixes it; and a buffer member 102 that separates the low-temperature side refrigerant pipe 76 from the inner box 6, wherein the buffer member 102 is provided upstream of the fixing member 100 in the direction of refrigerant flow in the low-temperature side refrigerant pipe 76.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a refrigerator.

Background Art

[0002] In a refrigerator, a cooling device is incorporated into the refrigerator body, which is configured such that a refrigerant compressed by a compressor sequentially flows through a condenser, a decompression device, a cooler, and a low-temperature side refrigerant pipe called a suction pipe, and returns to the compressor again.

[0003] In such a cooling device, when a phenomenon called liquid back occurs, in which the low-temperature liquid refrigerant that has not completely evaporated in the cooler flows through the low-temperature side refrigerant pipe and is sucked into the compressor, the compression efficiency of the compressor may deteriorate or the compressor may be damaged. Therefore, in the cooling device, the low-temperature side refrigerant pipe connecting the cooler and the compressor is routed by being folded back or the like in the heat insulation space formed between the inner box and the outer box of the refrigerator body to secure the length required for the temperature rise of the refrigerant (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below).

[0004] By the way, in a refrigerator, since there is also a high demand for increasing the internal volume with respect to the installation area, the thickness of the heat insulation space of the refrigerator body has been reduced. At that time, in order to sufficiently ensure the heat insulation performance even when the thickness of the heat insulation space is reduced, a vacuum heat insulation material having better heat insulation performance than a foamed heat insulation material such as urethane is provided in a wide range of the heat insulation space.

[0005] However, in such a configuration, since the thickness of the heat insulation space becomes thin or the area for disposing the foamed heat insulation material in the heat insulation space decreases, it has become difficult to arrange the low-temperature side refrigerant pipe in the heat insulation space.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0007] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that is easy to manufacture and in which the low-temperature side refrigerant pipe can be easily arranged in the insulated space of the refrigerator body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a refrigerator body having an inner box, an outer box, and an insulating material provided in an insulating space formed between the inner box and the outer box, with a cooling chamber formed inside the inner box and a machine chamber formed outside the outer box; a cooling device incorporated into the refrigerator body having a cooling unit provided in the cooling unit, a compressor provided in the machine chamber, and a low-temperature side refrigerant pipe that enters the machine chamber from the cooling unit through the rear end peripheral edge of the insulating space and returns the refrigerant that has flowed out from the cooling unit to the compressor; a fixing member that brings the low-temperature side refrigerant pipe close to the inner box and fixes it; and a buffer member that separates the low-temperature side refrigerant pipe from the inner box, wherein the buffer member is provided upstream of the fixing member in the direction of refrigerant flow in the low-temperature side refrigerant pipe. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] Cross-sectional view of a refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention [Figure 2] Cross-section of the refrigerator compartment with the insulated door removed. [Figure 3] Figure 1 shows the cooling system of a refrigerator. [Figure 4] Block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the refrigerator in Figure 1. [Figure 5] Rear view of the refrigerator in Figure 1 [Figure 6] Rear view of the inner box with refrigerant pipes installed. [Figure 7] Right side view of the inner box with refrigerant pipes installed. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are illustrative and the scope of the invention is not limited thereto. The following embodiments can be carried out 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 variations are included in the scope of the invention as described in the claims and its equivalents.

[0011] In the following explanation, left-right, front-back, and up-down directions refer to the directions when viewing the refrigerator from the front, with the left-right direction corresponding to the width of the refrigerator. Also, unless otherwise specified, right, left, up, down, front, back, far, back, and front refer to the position or side of the refrigerator when viewed from the front, and for the refrigerator door, it refers to the position or side when the door is closed and viewed from the front.

[0012] (1) Configuration of Refrigerator 1 As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the refrigerator 1 according to this embodiment includes a refrigerator body 2 that opens to the front. The refrigerator body 2 is constructed with an insulating material in an insulating space 8 formed between an outer box 4 made of steel plate and an inner box 6 made of synthetic resin. Multiple storage compartments are provided inside the refrigerator body 2. Specifically, as shown in Figure 1, from the top down, there is a refrigerator compartment 10 and a vegetable compartment 12, below which there is an ice-making compartment 14 and a small freezer compartment (not shown) arranged side by side, and below these is a freezer compartment 16. An automatic ice-making device 18 is provided inside the ice-making compartment 14.

[0013] The refrigerator compartment 10 and the vegetable compartment 12 are both storage compartments cooled to a refrigerated temperature range (for example, 1-4°C), and they are separated vertically by a partition wall 20 made of synthetic resin. The front opening of the refrigerator compartment 10 is provided with a hinged, insulated door 10a.

[0014] The refrigerator compartment 10 is equipped with a refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 11 for detecting the internal temperature of the refrigerator compartment 10, a door sensor 21 for detecting the opening and closing of the insulated door 10a, and an interior light 29 for illuminating the inside of the refrigerator compartment 10.

[0015] A drawer-type heat-insulating door 12a is provided at the front opening of the vegetable compartment 12. At the back of this heat-insulating door 12a, upper and lower two-stage storage cases 22 that constitute a storage container are connected.

[0016] The ice-making compartment 14, the small freezer compartment, and the freezer compartment 16 are all storage compartments cooled to the freezing temperature range (for example, -10 to -20 °C). Between the vegetable compartment 12 and the ice-making compartment 14 and the small freezer compartment, they are vertically partitioned by a heat-insulating partition wall 28 provided with a heat-insulating material inside. At the front opening of the ice-making compartment 14, a drawer-type heat-insulating door 14a is provided, and an ice storage container 30 is connected to the back of the heat-insulating door 14a. At the front opening of the small freezer compartment, although not shown in the figure, a drawer-type heat-insulating door to which a storage container is connected is provided. At the front opening of the freezer compartment 16, a drawer-type heat-insulating door 16a to which upper and lower two-stage storage containers 32 are connected is provided.

[0017] At the front of the vegetable compartment 12, the ice-making compartment 14, the small freezer compartment, and the freezer compartment 16, door sensors 23, 24, 25 for detecting the opening and closing of the heat-insulating doors 12a, 14a, 16a are provided. Also, at the back of the freezer compartment 16, a freezer compartment temperature sensor 26 for detecting the temperature inside the freezer compartment 16 is provided.

[0018]

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, outside the outer box 4 of the refrigerator body 2, in this example, a machine room 34 is provided at the lower end of the back of the refrigerator body 2. Inside this machine room 34, a compressor 56, a condenser 58, a three-way valve 70, and a cooling fan 57 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) for cooling these are arranged. [[ID=]]

[0020] ​In the depths of the storage compartments (refrigerator compartment 10 and vegetable compartment 12) within the refrigeration temperature range of the refrigerator main body 2, a refrigeration cooler chamber 36 and a duct 38 are formed. In the refrigeration cooler chamber 36, a refrigeration cooler 52 and a refrigeration fan 53 are provided. The refrigeration fan 53 cools these storage compartments by supplying the air within the refrigeration cooler chamber 36 cooled by the refrigeration cooler 52 to the refrigerator compartment 10 and the vegetable compartment 12 via the duct 38.

[0021] Inside the refrigerator main body 2, at the depths of the storage compartments (ice making compartment 14, small freezer compartment, freezer compartment 16) within the freezing temperature range, a freezing cooler chamber 40 and a duct 44 are provided. Inside the freezing cooler chamber 40, a freezing cooler 54 and a freezing fan 55 are provided. The freezing fan 55 provided in the freezing cooler chamber 40 cools these storage compartments by supplying the air within the freezing cooler chamber 40 cooled by the freezing cooler 54 to the ice making compartment 14, the small freezer compartment, and the freezer compartment 16 via the duct 44.

[0022] Outside the refrigerator main body 2, for example, at the rear upper surface of the ceiling wall 2c of the refrigerator main body 2, a control board 46 on which a microcomputer for controlling the refrigerator 1 and the like are mounted is provided. As shown in FIG. 4, on this control board 46, electrical components provided inside or outside the refrigerator main body 2, such as a refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 11, door sensors 21, 23, 24, 25, an in - cabinet light 29, a freezer compartment temperature sensor 26, a refrigeration fan 53, a freezing fan 55, a compressor 56, a cooling fan 57, and a three - way valve 70, are electrically connected by electrical connection wires 90. The control board 46 controls the operations of the operation panel 13, the in - cabinet light 29, the refrigeration fan 53, the freezing fan 55, the compressor 56, the cooling fan 57, and the three - way valve 70 based on signals input from various sensors and switches and a control program stored in a memory in advance, thereby controlling the overall operation of the refrigerator 1.

[0023] (2) Structure of the refrigerator main body 2 Next, the specific structure of the refrigerator main body 2 will be described while referring to the drawings.

[0024] The outer casing 4 made of steel plate, which constitutes the outer enclosure of the refrigerator body 2, is box-shaped with an opening at the front 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 roughly U-shape. The bottom panel 4d and the back panel 4e are components provided separately from the left side panel 4a, the right side panel 4b, and the top panel 4c, and a stepped portion 4d-1 for forming the machine room 34 is bent and formed on the bottom panel 4d.

[0025] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2, a flange portion 4a-1 projecting inward in the width direction is formed at the front end of the left plate 4a, and a flange portion 4a-2 facing forward is formed at the rear end of the left plate 4a. A flange portion 4b-1 projecting inward in the width direction is formed at the front end of the right plate 4b, and a flange portion 4b-2 facing forward is formed at the rear end.

[0026] Furthermore, a flange portion 4e-1 is formed at the left end of the back plate 4e, which is inserted and engaged with the flange portion 4a-2 of the left side plate 4a, and a flange portion 4e-2 is formed at the right end of the back plate 4e, which is inserted and engaged with the flange portion 4b-2 of the right side plate 4b.

[0027] As shown in Figure 5, injection holes 15 are provided at the upper and lower ends of both the left and right sides of the back plate 4e for injecting the foamed foam material into the insulation space 8.

[0028] The inner box 6 is, for example, a synthetic resin molded body integrally formed by a vacuum forming machine. As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 7, the inner box 6 is box-shaped with an opening at the front, having a left side panel 6a, a right side panel 6b, a top panel 6c, a bottom panel 6d, and a back panel 6e. The left side panel 6a faces the left side panel 4a of the outer box 4 and together with the left side panel 4a forms the left side wall 2a of the refrigerator body 2. The right side panel 6b faces the right side panel 4b of the outer box 4 and together with the right side panel 4b forms the right side wall 2b of the refrigerator body 2. The top panel 6c faces the top panel 4c of the outer box 4 and together with the top panel 4c forms the ceiling wall 2c of the refrigerator body 2. The bottom panel 6d faces the bottom panel 4d of the outer box 4 and together with the bottom panel 4d forms the bottom wall 2d of the refrigerator body 2. The back panel 6e faces the back panel 4e of the outer box 4, and together with the back panel 4e, forms the back wall 2e of the refrigerator body 2.

[0029] A flange portion 6a-1 is formed at the front end of the left side plate 6a of the inner box 6, which is inserted and engaged with the flange portion 4a-1 of the left side plate 4a of the outer box 4. A flange portion 6b-1 is formed at the front end of the right side plate 6b of the inner box 6, which is inserted and engaged with the flange portion 4b-1 of the right side plate 4b of the outer box 4.

[0030] As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 6, chamfered portions 6ae, 6be, and 6ce are formed at the corners between the back panel 6e of the inner box 6 and other panels connected thereto, protruding inward from the corners. Specifically, at the corner between the left panel 6a and the back panel 6e of the inner box 6, a chamfered portion 6ae is provided along the vertical direction, connecting the left panel 6a and the back panel 6e. At the corner between the right panel 6b and the back panel 6e of the inner box 6, a chamfered portion 6be is provided along the vertical direction, connecting the right panel 6b and the back panel 6e. At the corner between the top panel 6c and the back panel 6e of the inner box 6, a chamfered portion 6ce is provided along the width direction of the refrigerator, connecting the top panel 6c and the back panel 6e.

[0031] The thermal insulation space 8 formed between the outer box 4 and the inner box 6 comprises a left-side space provided in the left-side wall 2a, a right-side space provided in the right-side wall 2b, an upper space provided in the ceiling wall 2c, a lower space provided in the bottom wall 2d, and a rear-side space 8e provided in the back wall 2e.

[0032] The left and right spaces are connected to the upper space at their upper ends and to the lower space at their lower ends. The periphery of the rear space is connected to the left space, right space, upper space, and lower space, and forms part of the rear periphery 8e1 of the thermal insulation space 8. The rear periphery 8e1 of the thermal insulation space 8 can be the part of the rear space 8e of the thermal insulation space 8 that is connected to the left space, right space, and upper space, or the space behind the chamfered portions 6ae, 6be, and 6ce of the inner box 6.

[0033] Vacuum insulation material 7 is provided in the left space, right space, upper space, lower space, and rear space 8e of the insulated space 8. As shown in Figure 5, the vacuum insulation material 7e provided in the rear space 8e has a roughly hexagonal shape with the corners of a rectangle cut off at an angle.

[0034] Specifically, the upper left and right sides of the vacuum insulation material 7e are provided with upward sloping sections 7e1 that slope inward in the width direction as they extend upward. The lower left and right sides of the vacuum insulation material 7e are provided with downward sloping sections 7e2 that slope inward in the width direction as they extend downward. When viewing the refrigerator 1 from the rear, the injection hole 15 is provided further outward in the width direction than the upward sloping sections 7e1 and the downward sloping sections 7e2.

[0035] There are areas where vacuum insulation material 7 is not present, such as the rear edge 8e1 of the insulated space 8, the corners of the refrigerator body 2 including the upper and lower edges, and the insulated partition wall 28.

[0036] In the insulated space 8, where vacuum insulation material 7 is not present, molded insulation material (not shown) such as polystyrene foam or cardboard, which has been pre-formed into a predetermined shape, and metal refrigerant pipes such as heat dissipation pipes 64, condensation prevention pipes 66, refrigeration capillary tubes 72, refrigeration suction pipes 76, freezing capillary tubes 78 and freezing suction pipes 82 are provided, along with electrical connection wires 90 that electrically connect electrical components located inside or outside the refrigerator body 2 to the control board 46. At least a portion of the longitudinal direction of the electrical connection wires 90 is covered by a separation member 92 formed in a cylindrical shape from foamed insulation material such as foamed polyethylene. Then, in the insulated space 8, foamed insulation material such as foamed urethane is filled into the areas where vacuum insulation material 7, molded insulation material, refrigerant pipes, electrical connection wires 90 and separation member 92 are not present.

[0037] (3) Configuration of the cooling device 50 Next, the configuration of the cooling device 50 will be described in detail. The cooling device 50 consists of a refrigeration cycle as illustrated in Figure 3. Specifically, the cooling device 50 is connected in order from the discharge side of the compressor 56, which discharges a high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant, to the inlet side of the three-way valve 70: the evaporation pipe 60, the condenser 58, the heat dissipation pipe 64, the condensation prevention pipe 66, the dryer 68, and the three-way valve 70.

[0038] One outlet of the three-way valve 70 is sequentially connected by piping to a refrigerated capillary tube 72, a refrigerated cooler 52, a refrigerated accumulator 74, and a refrigerated suction pipe 76, which serve as a pressure reducing means. The refrigerated suction pipe 76, which is the first low-temperature side refrigerant pipe, is integrated with the refrigerated capillary tube 72, which is the first high-temperature side refrigerant pipe, by brazing or other means to enable heat exchange between them.

[0039] The other outlet of the three-way valve 70 is sequentially connected by piping to a refrigerated capillary tube 78, a refrigerated cooler 54, a refrigerated accumulator 80, a refrigerated suction pipe 82, and a check valve 84, which serve as a pressure reducing means. The refrigerated capillary tube 78 and the refrigerated suction pipe 82 are integrated together by brazing or the like to enable heat exchange with each other.

[0040] 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 operation state in which the low-temperature refrigerant supplied from the compressor 56 through the condenser 58 and the refrigerating capillary tube 72 is supplied to the refrigerating cooler 52, and a freezing operation state in which the refrigerant is supplied to the freezing cooler 54 without being supplied to the refrigerating cooler 52.

[0041] In the cooling device 50, the refrigerant is compressed in the compressor 56 and transformed into a high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant. It then becomes a liquid refrigerant while releasing heat through the condenser 58, heat dissipation pipe 64, and condensation prevention pipe 66. The liquid refrigerant is sent by the three-way valve 70 to the refrigerated capillary tube 72 or the refrigerated capillary tube 78, where it is depressurized to facilitate vaporization. After vaporization in the refrigerated cooler 52 or the refrigerated cooler 54, it absorbs heat from the surroundings, generating cold air. The refrigerant that has absorbed heat from the surroundings flows to the accumulators 74 and 80, respectively. In the accumulators 74 and 80, the gas-liquid mixture of refrigerant is separated into gaseous and liquid refrigerant, respectively. Only the gaseous refrigerant returns to the compressor 56 via the suction pipes 76 and 82, where it is compressed again to become a high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant.

[0042] In other words, the evaporation pipe 60, condenser 58, heat dissipation pipe 64, condensation prevention pipe 66, and refrigeration capillary tube 72, which are installed from the discharge side of the compressor 56 to the refrigerator 52, constitute a part of the high-temperature side refrigerant pipe through which high-temperature liquid refrigerant flows. In addition, the refrigeration suction pipe 76, which is installed from the refrigerator 52 to the suction side of the compressor 56, constitutes a part of the first low-temperature side refrigerant pipe through which refrigerant that has vaporized and cooled in the refrigerator 52 flows. The refrigeration suction pipe 82, which is installed from the refrigeration condenser 54 to the suction side of the compressor 56, constitutes a part of the second low-temperature side refrigerant pipe through which refrigerant that has vaporized and cooled in the refrigeration condenser 54 flows.

[0043] (4) Arrangement of the refrigeration suction pipe 76 As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the refrigerated suction pipe 76 enters the rear space of the insulated space 8 from the refrigerated cooler 52, which is installed along the back plate 6e inside the inner box 6, through the inlet 6e1 provided in the back plate 6e.

[0044] The entry point 6e1 opens into a recess 6e2 that protrudes forward and is provided in the back plate 6e. The refrigerated suction pipe 76, which enters the rear space of the insulated space 8 from the entry point 6e1, is drawn out through the recess 6e2 to one of the left or right side edges of the rear space of the insulated space 8. The rear side of the recess 6e2 is covered with vacuum insulation material 7e. As a result, the entry point 6e1 and the rear of the refrigerated suction pipe 76 provided in the recess 6e2 are covered with vacuum insulation material 7e.

[0045] The refrigerated suction pipe 76 enters the machine room 34 by passing through the periphery of the rear space of the insulated space 8 and is connected to the suction side of the compressor 56.

[0046] Specifically, the refrigerated suction pipe 76 that enters the rear space of the insulated space 8 from the inlet 6e1 comprises, in order from the upstream side to the downstream side in the refrigerant flow direction of the refrigerated suction pipe 76, an outlet portion 76a, a first side portion 76b, an upper side portion 76c, and a second side portion 76d.

[0047] The drawer portion 76a is the portion of the refrigeration suction pipe 76 that extends from the entrance 6e1 to one of the left or right chamfered portions. In this embodiment, the drawer portion 76a extends to the outside (towards the heat insulating space 8) of the chamfered portion 6be that connects the right side plate 6b and the back plate 6e of the inner box 6, but it may also be provided to extend to the outside of the opposite chamfered portion 6ae.

[0048] The first side portion 76b bends upward from the tip of the pull-out portion 76a and extends upward along the chamfered portion 6be. The first side portion 76b includes an inclined portion 76b1 that extends in a direction that inclins inward in the width direction as it goes upward, and an upper end portion 76b2 that extends upward from the inclined portion 76b1. The inclination angle of the upper end portion 76b2 in the direction of extension is smaller with respect to the vertical direction than that of the inclined portion 76b1.

[0049] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 7, the first side portion 76b is provided with a front inclined portion 76b4 and an upper and lower extension portion 76b3 below the inner inclined portion 76b1. The front inclined portion 76b4 is provided at the lower end of the first side portion 76b. The upper and lower extension portion 76b3 is provided above the front inclined portion 76b4. In other words, the first side portion 76b is provided with the front inclined portion 76b4, the upper and lower extension portion 76b3, the inner inclined portion 76b1, and the upper end portion 76b2 in order from the upstream side to the downstream side in the refrigerant flow direction of the refrigerant suction pipe 76.

[0050] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the upper end portion 76b2 of the first side portion 76b is located inward in the width direction of the refrigerator compared to the front inclined portion 76b4 and the vertical extension portion 76b3 provided below the inclined portion 76b1. When viewing the refrigerator 1 from the rear, the upper end portion 76b2 is located inward in the width direction of the refrigerator 1 than the injection hole 15 provided in the back plate 4e (see Figure 5).

[0051] The extension direction of the front inclined portion 76b4 is inclined forward as it extends upward. The upper and lower extensions 76b3 are located above the front inclined portion 76b4, extend upward, and are connected to the lower end of the inner inclined portion 76b1. The extension direction of the upper and lower extensions 76b3 has a smaller angle of inclination in the vertical direction than that of the front inclined portion 76b4.

[0052] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the upper portion 76c bends inward in the width direction from the upper end of the first side portion 76b and extends along the chamfered portion 6ce toward the chamfered portion 6ae on the opposite side (right side) in the width direction.

[0053] The second side portion 76d bends downward from the end opposite the widthwise side portion 76c, extends downward 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 room 34.

[0054] The second side portion 76d includes an inclined portion 76d1 that extends in a direction that slopes inward in the width direction as it goes upward, an upper end portion 76b2 that extends upward from the inclined portion 76d1, and an upper and lower extension portion 76d3 that extends downward from the inclined portion 76d1. The inclination angle with respect to the vertical direction is smaller in the extension direction of the upper end portion 76b2 and the upper and lower extension portion than that of the inclined portion 76b1.

[0055] The upper end portion 76d2 of the second side portion 76d is located inward in the width direction of the refrigerator compared to the upper and lower extension portion 76d3 provided below the inner inclined portion 76d1. When viewing the refrigerator 1 from the rear, the upper end portion 76d2 is located inward in the width direction of the refrigerator 1 than the injection hole 15 provided in the back plate 4e (see Figure 5).

[0056] The refrigerated suction pipe 76 is provided with a fixing member 100 and a buffer member 102. The refrigerated suction pipe 76 is positioned in a predetermined location within the insulated space 8 by the fixing member 100 and the buffer member 102.

[0057] (5) Arrangement of the refrigeration suction pipe 82 As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the refrigeration suction pipe 82 enters the rear space of the insulated space 8 from the refrigeration cooler 54, which is installed along the back plate 6e inside the inner box 6, through the inlet 6e3 provided in the back plate 6e.

[0058] The refrigeration suction pipe 82, which enters the rear space of the insulated space 8 from the inlet 6e3, includes an extension portion 82a extending from the inlet 6e3 to one of the left or right chamfered portions, a first extension portion 82b extending upward from the extension portion 82a, a folded portion 82c provided at the upper end of the first extension portion 82b, and a second extension portion 82d extending downward from the folded portion 82c.

[0059] The pull-out section 82a is pulled out through a forward-projecting recess 6e4 provided in the back plate 6e to the outside (insulation space 8 side) of one of the chamfered sections 6ae on the left or right side where the second side portion 76d of the refrigeration suction pipe 76 is provided, and is bent upward at the chamfered section 6ae. The rear side of the recess 6e4 is covered with vacuum insulation material 7e. As a result, the entry port 6e3 provided in the recess 6e4 and the rear of the pull-out section 82a of the refrigeration suction pipe 82 are covered with vacuum insulation material 7e.

[0060] The first extension portion 82b, which extends upward from the drawer portion 82a, is positioned closer to the outer side (left side panel 6a side) in the refrigerator width direction of the chamfered portion 6ae. The folded portion 82c provided between the first extension portion 82b and the second extension portion 82d is bent inward from the outer side in the refrigerator width direction, and the second extension portion 82d is positioned further inward (back panel 6e side) in the refrigerator width direction than the first extension portion 82b.

[0061] As shown in Figure 5, when viewing the refrigerator 1 from the rear, the upper end of the folded portion 82c of the freezer suction pipe 82 is located below the injection hole 15 provided in the back panel 4e of the outer box 4. In other words, the injection hole 15 is located above the folded portion 82c of the freezer suction pipe 82.

[0062] The second extension 82d extends downward from the folded portion 82c 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 room 34. In this example, the second extension 82d is positioned in contact with or close to the second side portion 76d of the refrigeration suction pipe 76, which is provided along the chamfered portion 6ae. A marker 104 is provided on the second extension 82d of the refrigeration suction pipe 82.

[0063] The second extension 82d is held together with the second side portion 76d of the refrigeration suction pipe 76 by a holder 95 fixed to the chamfered portion 6ae of the inner box 6.

[0064] The holder 95 is made of an insulating molded body formed from an insulating material such as expanded polystyrene into a predetermined shape, and is fixed to a predetermined position on the chamfered portion 6ae of the inner box 6 by an adhesive such as double-sided adhesive tape. The holder 95 is provided with a first groove 95a, a second groove 95b, and a third groove 95c that extend in the vertical direction. The first groove 95a accommodates a separating member 92 that covers the electrical connection wire 90. The second groove 95b accommodates the first extension portion 82b of the refrigeration suction pipe 82. The third groove 95c accommodates the second side portion 76d of the refrigeration suction pipe 76 and the second extension portion 82d of the refrigeration suction pipe 82 (see Figure 2).

[0065] The second extension 82d, which enters the machine room 34, has a refrigerated capillary tube 78 connected to the other outlet of the three-way valve 70, and a refrigerated suction pipe 82 connected to the suction side of the compressor 56 via a check valve 84.

[0066] (6) Fixing member 100 and cushioning member 102 The upper portion 76c of the refrigerated suction pipe 76 is provided with a fixing member 100 that brings the upper portion 76c close to the chamfered portion 6ce of the inner box 6 and secures it. The fixing member 100 is, for example, adhesive tape, and secures the upper portion 76c of the refrigerated suction pipe 76 in contact with the chamfered portion 6ce and the back plate 6e of the inner box 6.

[0067] The fixing member 100 can be used to fix the refrigerated suction pipe 76 to the inner box 6 such that the distance from the refrigerated suction pipe 76 to the inner box 6 is within a predetermined length. Furthermore, the fixing member 100 is not limited to the adhesive tape described above. For example, the refrigerated suction pipe 76 may be fixed to the inner box 6 by fixing a holder that holds the circumferential surface of the refrigerated suction pipe 76 with claws to the inner box 6.

[0068] A buffer member 102 is provided on the first side portion 76b of the refrigerated suction pipe 76 to separate the refrigerated suction pipe 76 from the inner box 6. The buffer member 102 is provided so as to cover a portion of the longitudinal direction of the first side portion 76b of the refrigerated suction pipe 76, and separates the refrigerated suction pipe 76 from the inner box 6 and the outer box 4 so that the first side portion 76b does not come into direct contact with the back plate 4e of the inner box 6 or the outer box 4. For example, the buffer member 102 isolates the first side portion 76b of the refrigerated suction pipe 76 from the inner box 6 so that the distance from the location where the buffer member 102 is provided on the refrigerated suction pipe 76 to the inner box 6 is greater than the distance from the location where the fixing member 100 of the refrigerated suction pipe 76 is provided on the refrigerated suction pipe 76 to the inner box 6.

[0069] The buffer member 102 is preferably provided so as to cover the entire circumference of the refrigerated suction pipe 76, but it may also be provided on a part of the circumferential direction of the refrigerated suction pipe 76. The buffer member 102 can be provided at any position on the refrigerated suction pipe 76 as long as it is upstream in the refrigerant flow direction of the refrigerated suction pipe 76 from the position where the fixing member 100 is provided.

[0070] The cushioning member 102 is preferably provided so as to cover the upper and lower extension portion 76b3 of the first side portion 76b, and is preferably provided on the side of the inclined portion 76b1 of the upper and lower extension portion 76b3 (i.e., above the center in the extension direction of the upper and lower extension portion 76b3).

[0071] The buffer member 102 is preferably made of a material with lower thermal conductivity and higher heat insulation properties than the metal constituting the refrigeration suction pipe 76. Furthermore, the buffer member 102 is preferably made of a material that is elastically deformable. For example, the buffer member 102 is made of a foamed insulating material such as foamed polyethylene.

[0072] In this embodiment, the fixing member 100 is provided on the upper part 76c of the refrigerated suction pipe 76. However, the fixing member 100 can be provided at any position on the refrigerated suction pipe 76, such as the upper end 76b2 of the first side part 76b or the upper end 76d2 of the second side part 76d, as long as it is downstream in the direction of refrigerant flow from the position where the buffer member 102 is provided.

[0073] (7) Landmark 104 When the refrigeration suction pipe 82 is installed in the inner box 6 such that at least a portion of the mark 104 provided on the second extension portion 82d of the refrigeration suction pipe 82 overlaps horizontally with a predetermined position on the inner box, the upper end of the folded portion 82c is located below the injection hole 15 provided on the back plate 4e of the outer box 4.

[0074] For example, the marker 104 consists of a colored tape wrapped around the second extension 82d. By routing the refrigeration suction pipe 82 outside the chamfered portion 6ae of the inner box 6 so that the lower end of the marker 104 coincides with the lower end of the holder 95 fixed to the chamfered portion 6ae of the inner box 6, the refrigeration suction pipe 82 is positioned in a predetermined location, and the upper end of the folded portion 82c is positioned below the injection hole 15.

[0075] (8) Effects In this embodiment, a buffer member 102 is provided on the upstream side in the refrigerant flow direction of the refrigerant suction pipe 76, which is located at the rear end peripheral edge 8e1 of the insulated space 8. As a result, even if the volume of the insulated space 8 of the refrigerator body 2 decreases, the portion of the refrigerant suction pipe 76 through which the refrigerant that has just flowed out of the refrigerant cooler 52 flows does not come into direct contact with the inner box 6, thereby suppressing the occurrence of condensation inside the refrigerator.

[0076] In this embodiment, since a fixing member 100 is provided on the downstream side of the refrigerant flow direction of the refrigerant suction pipe 76, it becomes easier to secure space for arranging members other than the refrigerant suction pipe 76, such as electrical connection wires 90, in the rear end peripheral portion 8e1 of the heat insulating space 8.

[0077] Furthermore, the fixing member 100 is located downstream of the buffer member 102 in the refrigerant flow direction of the refrigerant suction pipe 76, and is positioned in a location in the refrigerant suction pipe 76 where the temperature is higher than that of the buffer member 102 and the temperature difference with the internal temperature of the refrigerator is relatively small. Therefore, even if the fixing member 100 brings the refrigerant suction pipe 76 closer to the inner box 6 or into contact with the inner box 6, condensation is less likely to occur inside the refrigerator.

[0078] In this embodiment, when the buffer member 102 is provided so as to cover the entire circumference of the refrigeration suction pipe 76, the refrigeration suction pipe 76 does not come into direct contact with either the left or right side panel or the back panel 4e of the outer box 4, thus suppressing the occurrence of condensation on the outside of the refrigerator body 2.

[0079] In this embodiment, if the cushioning member 102 is provided to be elastically deformable, the fixing member 100 fixes the refrigerated suction pipe 76 close to the inner box 6, thereby absorbing deformation that occurs in the refrigerated suction pipe 76 with the cushioning member 102. This prevents the refrigerated suction pipe 76 from being unintentionally deformed or from coming into contact with the inner box 6 at unintended locations.

[0080] In this embodiment, if the first side portion 76b is provided with an inclined portion 76b1 that extends in a direction that slopes inward in the width direction as it goes upward, and an upper end portion 76b2 that extends upward from the inclined portion 76b1, or if the second side portion 76d is provided with an inclined portion 76d1 that extends in a direction that slopes inward in the width direction as it goes upward, and an upper end portion 76b2 that extends upward from the inclined portion 76d1, then the upper end portion 76b2 of the first side portion 76b or the upper end portion 76d2 of the second side portion 76d can be positioned inward in the width direction of the refrigerator 1 from the injection hole 15 provided in the back plate 4e when the refrigerator 1 is viewed from the back.

[0081] As a result, the refrigeration suction pipe 76 is not positioned in front of the injection hole 15, so the foam concentrate is filled into the upper left and right ends of the insulated space 8 in the initial stage of foam filling, making it easier to fill the desired position of the foam insulation material in the insulated space 8.

[0082] In this embodiment, by providing the refrigerated suction pipe 76 with a forward-sloping portion 76b4 that slopes forward as it goes upward, it becomes easier to secure the distance between the back plate 4e of the outer box 4 and the refrigerated suction pipe 76, thereby suppressing the occurrence of condensation on the back plate 4e.

[0083] In this embodiment, since the second extension portion 82d of the refrigeration suction pipe 82 is provided with the mark 104 described above, the refrigeration suction pipe 82 can be positioned in a predetermined location in the heat-insulating space 8 such that the upper end of the folded portion 82c is located below the injection hole 15.

[0084] (9) Example of changes In the above embodiment, a refrigerator was described in which a storage compartment for refrigeration and a storage compartment for freezing are cooled by separate coolers 52 and 54, respectively. However, the present invention may also be applied to a refrigerator in which a single cooler cools both the storage compartment for refrigeration and the storage compartment for freezing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0085] 1...Refrigerator, 2...Refrigerator body, 4...Outer box, 4a...Left panel, 4b...Right panel, 4c...Top panel, 4d...Bottom panel, 4e...Back panel, 6...Inner box, 6a...Left panel, 6ae...Beveled edge, 6b...Right panel, 6be...Beveled edge, 6c...Top panel, 6ce...Beveled edge, 6d...Bottom panel, 6e...Back panel, 6e1...Entrance, 6e2...Recess, 6e3...Entrance, 7...Vacuum insulation material, 8...Insulated space, 10...Refrigerator compartment, 12...Vegetable compartment, 16...Freezer compartment, 34...Machine room, 36...Refrigerator cooler compartment, 40...Freezer cooler compartment, 46...Control board, 50...Cooling device, 52...Refrigerator cooler, 54...Refrigeration cooler, 56...Compressor, 76...Refrigeration suction pipe, 76a...Outlet section, 76b...First side section, 76b1...Inner inclined section, 76b2...Upper end section, 76b3...Upper and lower extension section, 76b4...Front inclined section, 76c...Upper side section, 76d...Second side section, 76d1...Inner inclined section, 76d2...Upper end section, 76d3...Upper and lower extension section, 82...Refrigeration suction pipe, 82a...Outlet section, 82b...First extension section, 82c...Folded section, 82d...Second extension section, 90...Electrical connection wire, 92...Separation member, 100...Fixing member, 102...Cushioning member, 104...Marker

Claims

1. A refrigerator body comprising an inner box, an outer box, and a foamed insulating material provided in an insulating space formed between the inner box and the outer box, wherein a cooling chamber is formed inside the inner box and a machine chamber is formed outside the outer box, A cooling device incorporated into the refrigerator body, comprising: a cooler provided in the cooler chamber; a compressor provided in the machine chamber; and a low-temperature side refrigerant pipe that enters the machine chamber from the cooler chamber through the rear end peripheral edge of the insulated space and returns the refrigerant flowing out of the cooler to the compressor; The system includes a fixing member that brings the low-temperature side refrigerant pipe close to the inner box and secures it, and a buffer member that separates the low-temperature side refrigerant pipe from the inner box, A refrigerator in which the buffer member is provided upstream of the fixing member in the refrigerant flow direction in the low-temperature refrigerant pipe.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the fixing member fixes the low-temperature side refrigerant pipe to the inner box by bringing it into contact with it.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the cushioning member is provided to be elastically deformable.

4. The low-temperature side refrigerant pipe comprises a pair of left and right side portions provided on both the left and right sides of the rear end peripheral edge of the insulating space, and an upper side portion provided above the rear end peripheral edge of the insulating space. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the pair of left and right side portions each have an inclined portion that slopes inward in the width direction as it goes upward, and an extended portion that extends upward from the inclined portion, and the upper end of the extended portion is connected to the upper side portion.

5. The low-temperature side refrigerant pipe comprises a first side portion provided on one side of the rear end peripheral edge of the insulating space, an upper side portion provided on the upper side of the rear end peripheral edge of the insulating space, and a second side portion provided on the other side of the rear end peripheral edge of the insulating space, and is provided in the order of the first side portion, the upper side portion, and the second side portion in the direction of refrigerant flow. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the first side portion is provided with a forward-sloping portion that slopes forward as it goes upward.

6. The inner box is provided with an inlet on the back of the inner box through which the low-temperature side refrigerant pipe enters the insulated space from the cooler chamber. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the rear side of the entrance is covered with a vacuum insulation material.

7. The aforementioned cooler chamber comprises a first cooler chamber and a second cooler chamber. The cooler comprises a first cooler provided in the first cooler chamber and a second cooler provided in the second cooler chamber. The low-temperature side refrigerant pipe is a first low-temperature side refrigerant pipe that enters the machine room from the first cooler chamber through the rear end peripheral portion of the insulated space and returns the refrigerant that has flowed out of the first cooler to the compressor, The system includes a second low-temperature refrigerant pipe that enters the machine room after being folded up or down at one side of the rear edge of the insulating space from the second cooler chamber and returning the refrigerant that has flowed out of the first cooler to the compressor, The first low-temperature side refrigerant pipe is provided with the fixing member and the buffer member. The outer box is provided with an injection hole on its back for injecting the foaming liquid of the foamed insulation material into the insulation space. The second low-temperature refrigerant pipe comprises a first extension portion extending vertically, a second extension portion located downstream of the first extension portion in the refrigerant flow direction and extending vertically, a folded portion provided between the first extension portion and the second extension portion and folded back vertically, and a mark provided on the second extension portion. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the mark is provided on the second extension such that when at least a portion of it in the vertical direction overlaps horizontally with a predetermined position on the inner box, the folded portion is located below the injection hole.

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