refrigerator

Abstract

To provide a refrigerator capable of saving electric power by enhancing heat radiation efficiency of a condenser arranged in a machine chamber.SOLUTION: A refrigerator comprises: a refrigeration body 12; a refrigeration cycle 84 which has a compressor 36, a condenser 58 which receives a refrigerant discharged from the compressor 36, a switch valve 94 installed at an outlet side of the condenser 58, a first chiller 26 installed at one of the outlet sides of the switch valve 94, and a second chiller 30 installed at the other of the outlet sides of the switch valve 94 and juxtaposed with the first chiller 26; a machine chamber 22 which is arranged behind the refrigeration body 12 and stores the compressor 36, the condenser 58 and the switch valve 94; an air inlet 46 which is arranged on a side face of the machine chamber 22 and takes external air into the machine chamber 22; and a heat radiation fan 56 which sends the air taken through the air inlet 46 to the compressor 36. In the refrigerator, the switch valve 94 is arranged outside a peripheral edge of the air inlet 46.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] A refrigerator is provided with a compressor and a condenser that form part of a refrigeration cycle, and a heat radiation fan for cooling these in a machine room formed on the back surface of the refrigerator body. In such a refrigerator, by rotating the heat radiation fan in response to the drive of the compressor, the heat radiation efficiency inside the machine room is increased to achieve power saving of the refrigerator (for example, Patent Document 1 below).

[0003] However, due to the increasing environmental awareness in recent years, there is a strong demand for power saving, and further improvement in the heat radiation efficiency inside the machine room is desired.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a refrigerator capable of improving the heat radiation efficiency of a condenser disposed in a machine room and achieving power saving.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A refrigerator according to one embodiment includes a refrigerator body having a storage compartment inside; a refrigeration cycle having a compressor, a condenser that receives refrigerant discharged from the compressor, a switching valve provided on the outlet side of the condenser, a first cooler provided on one outlet side of the switching valve, and a second cooler provided on the other outlet side of the switching valve and provided in parallel with the first cooler; a machine room provided at the rear of the refrigerator body that houses the compressor, the condenser, and the switching valve; and a supply valve provided on the side of the machine room that takes in outside air into the machine room. A refrigerator comprising an air vent, a heat dissipation fan that blows air taken in from the air intake vent to the compressor, a reinforcing angle provided on the rear side of the machine room, and a mounting bracket for fixing the switching valve to the reinforcing angle, wherein the switching valve is positioned on the outer peripheral edge of the air intake vent, and the mounting bracket comprises a fixing part fixed to the reinforcing angle, a holding part having a facing surface facing the side of the machine room where the air intake vent is provided, and a connecting part connecting the fixing part and the holding part, and the switching valve is fixed to the facing surface of the holding part, The upper end of the holding portion is located below the upper end of the fixing portion. It is. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] A longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the schematic configuration of a refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] A schematic diagram showing the refrigeration cycle device in a refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] A view of the machine room from the rear, with the rear grille removed. [Figure 4] Cross-sectional view AA in Figure 1 [Figure 5] Perspective view of the mounting bracket [Figure 6] Enlarged view of the main part in Figure 4 [Figure 7] Side view of the machine room [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] A refrigerator 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0009] (1) Configuration of refrigerator 10 The refrigerator body 12 of the refrigerator 10 is composed of an outer box 12a, an inner box 12b, and an insulated space 12c formed between them where insulation material is provided. The refrigerator body 12 has a refrigerator compartment 14, a vegetable compartment 16, a first freezer compartment 18, and a second freezer compartment 20 arranged from top to bottom, and an ice maker compartment (not shown) is located next to the first freezer compartment 18. An insulated partition wall 24 is provided horizontally between the refrigerator space, which consists of the refrigerator compartment 14 and the vegetable compartment 16, and the freezer space, which consists of the ice maker compartment, the first freezer compartment 18, and the second freezer compartment 20.

[0010] A refrigerator cooler 26 is provided behind the refrigerator compartment 14 and the vegetable compartment 16 to cool the refrigerated space, which consists of a refrigerator compartment 14 and a vegetable compartment 16. Above the refrigerator cooler 26 is a refrigerator fan 28 that blows the cold air generated by the refrigerator cooler 26 into the refrigerated space.

[0011] A refrigeration cooler 30 for cooling the freezing space, which consists of an ice-making room, a first freezing room 18, and a second freezing room 20, is provided on the upper rear of the second freezing room 20, and a refrigeration fan 32 is provided above the refrigeration cooler 30 for blowing the cold air generated by the refrigeration cooler 30 into the freezing space.

[0012] A machine room 22 is located at the rear of the bottom of the refrigerator body 12, that is, behind the freezer compartment 20. The machine room 22 houses the compressor 36, condenser 58, and heat dissipation fan 56, which form part of the refrigeration cycle 84, as well as an evaporation tray 60 that receives defrost water generated from the refrigeration cooler 30 via pipes 34. This machine room 22 will be described in more detail later.

[0013] (2) Configuration of the refrigeration cycle 84 Next, the configuration of the refrigeration cycle 84 of the refrigerator 10 in this embodiment will be described based on Figure 2.

[0014] The refrigeration cycle 84 is connected in order from the refrigerant outlet 36b of the compressor 36, which discharges a high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant, to the inlet side of the evaporation pipe 70, condenser 58, heat dissipation pipe 88, condensation prevention pipe 90, dryer 92, and switching valve 94.

[0015] One outlet of the switching valve 94 is connected in sequence by piping to a refrigeration capillary tube 96 as a decompression means, a refrigeration cooler 26, and a refrigeration suction pipe 72. The other outlet of the switching valve 94 is connected in sequence by piping to a freezing capillary tube 98 as a decompression means, a freezing cooler 30, a freezing suction pipe 74, and a check valve 75. The outlet side of the check valve 75 and the outlet side of the refrigeration suction pipe 80 are connected to a single connecting pipe 78 via a joint 76, and the outlet side of the connecting pipe 78 is connected to the refrigerant inlet 36a of the compressor 36.

[0016] In such a refrigeration cycle 84, the refrigerant enclosed in the cycle is compressed by the compressor 36 and changed into a high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant, and then dissipates heat while flowing through the evaporation pipe 70, the condenser 58, the heat radiation pipe 88, and the anti-condensation pipe 90. The refrigerant flowing through the anti-condensation pipe 90 is guided to the switching valve 94 after passing through a dryer 92 provided in the machine room 22, and is switched by the switching valve 94 to one of the refrigeration capillary tube 96 and the freezing capillary tube 98 based on a command from a control device (not shown) of the refrigerator, and is decompressed so as to be easily vaporized.

[0017] The refrigerant decompressed and liquefied by passing through the refrigeration capillary tube 96 and the freezing capillary tube 98 vaporizes in the refrigeration cooler 26 and the freezing cooler 30, and cools the refrigeration cooler 26 and the freezing cooler 30 to a low temperature by taking heat from the surroundings, generating cold air to cool the refrigeration space and the storage space. The gaseous refrigerant that has passed through the refrigeration cooler 26 is sucked into the compressor 36 again through the refrigeration suction pipe 72, the joint 76, and the connecting pipe 78. The gaseous refrigerant that has passed through the freezing cooler 30 passes through the freezing suction pipe 74 and the check valve 75, joins the refrigerant that has passed through the refrigeration cooler 26 at the joint 76, and then is sucked into the compressor 36 again through the connecting pipe 78, repeating a series of cycles.

[0018] (3) Structure of the machine room 22 As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the machine room 22 is a space formed below the stepped portion 13 of the refrigerator body 12, and the lower surface, left and right side surfaces, and the rear surface of this space are closed by the bottom plate 44, the left and right lower rear portions 12aL and 12aR of the outer box 12a, and the rear grill 52. The bottom plate 44, the lower end portion of the outer box 12a, and the rear grill 52 are respectively connected to L-shaped reinforcing angles 42 fixed to the lower portions on both left and right sides of the refrigerator body 12.

[0019] Inside the machine room 22, a heat radiation fan 56 is provided closer to one side in the width direction (for example, the right side when viewed from the rear). The heat radiation fan 56 is arranged so as to divide the machine room 22 into left and right parts. A condenser 58, a dryer 92, and a switching valve 94 are provided in the first space S1 facing the suction port 56a of the heat radiation fan 56, and a compressor 36 is provided in the second space S2 facing the blowout port 56b of the heat radiation fan 56.

[0020] The first space S1 forms a flow path (duct) through which the outside air taken in from the air supply port 46 provided in the lower rear portion 12aR of the outer box 12a and the air supply port 47 provided in the rear grill 52 flows toward the suction port 56a of the heat radiation fan 56 as shown by the arrow in FIG. 4. The air supply port 46 provided in the outer box 12a is provided at a position facing the condenser 58 and facing the rotation axis of the heat radiation fan 56.

[0021] The condenser 58 provided in the first space S1 is provided closer to the suction port 56a of the heat radiation fan 56 than the center in the width direction of the first space S1. The condenser 58 is a finned tube in which a plurality of plate-like heat radiation fins are attached to a plurality of bent aluminum refrigerant tubes in parallel with each other, and the overall shape is a rectangular parallelepiped. The condenser 58 is arranged such that the heat radiation fins constituting it are parallel to the normal direction of the air supply port 46 provided in the outer box 12a. In other words, the condenser 58 is arranged such that the arrangement direction of the heat radiation fins is parallel to the air supply port 46.

[0022] The dryer 92 and the switching valve 94 are fixed to the reinforcing angle 42 via the mounting bracket 100, positioned on the outer periphery of the air intake ports 46 and 47 so as to face the air intake ports 46 and 47, and are provided closer to the outer casing 12a side of the first space S1.

[0023] Specifically, the mounting bracket 100 is made by bending a metal piece of a predetermined shape, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, and comprises a holding portion 102, a fixing portion 104, and a connecting portion 106.

[0024] The holding portion 102 has an opposing surface 102a that is substantially parallel to the lower rear portion 12aR of the outer casing 12a, where the air intake port 46 is provided. The switching valve 94 is fixed to the opposing surface 102a with a sheet-like elastic body 110, such as a rubber sheet, sandwiched in between. The holding portion 102 has a rectangular shape that is longer in the front-to-back direction than in the vertical direction, corresponding to the side shape of the switching valve 94, and holds the switching valve 94 below the rotation axis of the air intake port 46 and the heat dissipation fan 56 provided in the lower rear portion 12aR of the outer casing 12a. As a result, in a side view of the refrigerator body 12 as shown in Figure 7, the switching valve 94 is positioned on the outer periphery of the air intake port 46 so as to face the air intake port 46.

[0025] The fixing portion 104 is provided along the back of the L-shaped reinforcing angle 42 and is fixed together with the rear grille 52 by fastening means 53 such as screws, thereby fastening the reinforcing angle 42 together.

[0026] The connecting portion 106 has a planar shape that is bent into an L shape, connecting the fixing portion 104 and the holding portion 102. It comprises a dryer holding portion 106b extending forward from the inner end in the width direction of the fixing portion 104, and a guide portion 106a that bends inward in the width direction from the front end of the dryer holding portion 106b, that is, away from the lower rear portion 12aR of the outer casing 12a that constitutes the side surface of the machine room 22. The tip of the guide portion 106a (inner end in the width direction) bends further forward to form a holding portion 102.

[0027] The guide section 106a has a lead wire 120 running along its surface facing the switching valve 94 (i.e., the front surface of the guide section 106a), which supplies the drive power and control signals for the switching valve 94 from the control device. The lead wire 120 running along the guide section 106a has a connector (not shown) at its tip that is connected to the connection portion 94d of the switching valve 94, which is facing the guide section 106a (see Figure 6).

[0028] The dryer holder 106b holds the dryer 92, which is provided along a surface facing inward in the width direction, between the clips 108. The dryer 92 held by the dryer holder 106b is located to the side (outward in the width direction) of the air intake 47 provided in the inclined portion of the rear grille 52. As a result, the dryer 92 is positioned on the outer periphery of the air intake 47 so as to face the air intake 47.

[0029] In this embodiment, the vertical length of the switching valve 94 is shorter than the vertical length of the fixed portion 104 and the connecting portion 106, and the switching valve 94 is located below the vertical center of the fixed portion 104 and the connecting portion 106.

[0030] Furthermore, in the first space S1, a refrigeration suction pipe 72 connected to the outlet side of the refrigeration cooler 26 and a refrigeration suction pipe 74 connected to the outlet side of the freezer cooler 30 protrude from the stepped portion 13 of the refrigerator body 12. The refrigeration suction pipe 72 is connected to a joint 76 and, via a check valve 75, is connected to the joint 76 and merges with the refrigeration suction pipe 74. The outlet of the joint 76 is connected to a connecting pipe 78 and is connected to the refrigerant inlet 36a of the compressor 36.

[0031] An evaporation tray 60 is provided on the bottom plate 44 of the machine room 22 so as to span the first space S1 and the second space S2. The lower opening of the pipe 34 is provided above the evaporation tray 60, and the evaporation tray 60 receives the defrost water from the refrigeration cooler 30 that flows out of the pipe 34.

[0032] The refrigerant outlet 36b of the compressor 36 located in the second space S2 is connected to an evaporation pipe 70 located on the side of the heat dissipation fan 56. The evaporation pipe 70 is bent multiple times into a flat shape that follows the bottom surface of the evaporation tray 60, and this flat portion is located inside the evaporation tray 60. By immersing itself in the defrost water accumulated in the evaporation tray 60 and exchanging heat with it, the evaporation pipe 70 cools the refrigerant flowing through it and also heats the defrost water accumulated in the evaporation tray 60 to promote evaporation. The outlet side of the evaporation pipe 70 is connected to the refrigerant inlet 58a of the condenser 58 located above the evaporation tray 60. The refrigerant pipe connected to the refrigerant outlet 58b of the condenser 58 enters the insulated space 12c between the outer casing 12a and inner casing 12b of the refrigerator body 12 from the stepped section 13 of the refrigerator body 12, and is connected to the heat dissipation pipe 88 and the condensation prevention pipe 90 located inside the insulated space 12c.

[0033] The outlet end of the condensation-preventing pipe 90 protrudes from the stepped section 13 of the refrigerator body 12 into the first space S1 of the machine room 22 and is connected to the refrigerant inlet 92a of the dryer 92, which is fixed to the reinforcing angle 42 via a mounting bracket 100. The refrigerant inlet 94a of the switching valve 94 is connected to the refrigerant outlet 92b of the dryer 92. A refrigerated capillary tube 96 is connected to one of the refrigerant outlets 94b of the switching valve 94 and to the other refrigerant outlet 94c, and a refrigerated capillary tube 98 is connected to the other of the switching valve 94.

[0034] The compressor 36 located in the second space S2 has a roughly elliptical shape in plan and is fixed to the bottom plate 44 of the machine room 22 via a rubber cushion (not shown). The second space S2 forms a flow path through which air from the first space S1, blown out from the outlet 56b of the cooling fan 56, flows towards the exhaust port 48 located at the lower rear part 12aL of the outer casing 12a and the exhaust port 49 located at the rear grille 52, while cooling the compressor 36 as shown by the arrows in Figure 4.

[0035] (4) Effects In the refrigerator 10 of this embodiment, when the compressor 36 located in the machine room 22 is started and the cooling operation of the refrigerated space and freezer space begins, high-temperature refrigerant flows through the evaporator pipe 70, condenser 58, heat dissipation pipe 88, and condensation prevention pipe 90. As a result, the temperature inside the machine room 22 rises due to the heat generated by the operation of the compressor 36 and the heat dissipated by the evaporator pipe 70 and condenser 58 located in the machine room 22. However, when the compressor 36 is started, the heat dissipation fan 56 is also started, and the inside of the machine room 22 is cooled.

[0036] In other words, the cooling fan 56 draws outside air into the first space S1 through the air intake ports 46 and 47 to cool the condenser 58, and then draws it into the intake port 56a of the cooling fan 56, and discharges it into the second space S2 through the outlet port 56b. The air discharged into the second space S2 flows through the second space S2 while cooling the compressor 36, and is exhausted to the outside through the exhaust port 48 provided on the outer casing 12a and the exhaust port 49 provided on the rear grille 52.

[0037] In this embodiment, the switching valve 94 is positioned on the outer edge of the air intake port 46 provided on the side of the machine room 22. Therefore, the switching valve 94 does not obstruct the air introduced from the air intake port 46, making it easier for outside air to be drawn into the first space S1, and improving the cooling efficiency inside the machine room 22.

[0038] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the switching valve 94 is positioned on the outer periphery of the air intake port 46, and the outside air introduced from the air intake port 46 passes near the switching valve 94, so that the air around the switching valve 94 does not stagnate or remain stagnant. As a result, the refrigerant flowing through the switching valve 94 can be cooled, and further energy savings for the refrigerator can be achieved.

[0039] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the switching valve 94 is located within the first space S1 which constitutes a flow path connecting the intake port 56a of the heat dissipation fan 56 and the air supply port 46 provided in the outer casing 12a. This allows for efficient cooling of the refrigerant flowing through the switching valve 94, thereby reducing the power consumption of the refrigerator.

[0040] In this embodiment, since the switching valve 94 is fixed to the reinforcing angle 42 via the mounting bracket 100, the refrigerant piping connected to the switching valve 94 is not unexpectedly damaged.

[0041] Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the switching valve 94 is fixed to the opposing surface 102a facing the outer casing 12a that constitutes the side of the machine room 22, it becomes less susceptible to the effects of heat released from the condenser 58 and evaporation pipe 70, which are housed together in the first space S1 along with the switching valve 94.

[0042] In particular, by providing a sheet-like elastic body 110 between the holding portion 102 of the mounting bracket 100 and the switching valve 94, as in this embodiment, it is possible to suppress vibrations of the switching valve 94 while also suppressing the thermal influence from the condenser 58 and the evaporation pipe 70.

[0043] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a guide portion 106a is provided on the connecting portion 106 that connects the fixing portion 104 fixed to the reinforcing angle 42 and the holding portion 102 to which the switching valve 94 is attached, allowing the lead wire 120 connected to the switching valve 94 to be guided along it. This improves the ease of wiring the lead wire 120, and eliminates the risk of the lead wire 120 being placed in an unintended position, obstructing the air intake port 46, or causing abnormal noise by colliding with other components when vibration occurs.

[0044] (Example of change) In the embodiment described above, the upper part of the switching valve 94 may be fixed to the retaining part 102 of the mounting bracket 100 such that the upper part of the switching valve 94 protrudes above the retaining part 102 of the mounting bracket 100.

[0045] Furthermore, although the above-described embodiment described a case where the machine room 22 is located at the lower rear of the refrigerator body 12, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, it may be provided at the upper rear of the refrigerator body 12.

[0046] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These 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. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0047] 10...Refrigerator, 12...Refrigerator body, 12a...Outer box, 13...Shelf section, 14...Refrigerator compartment, 16...Vegetable compartment, 22...Machine room, 26...Refrigerator cooler, 28...Refrigerator fan, 30...Freezer cooler, 32...Freezer fan, 36...Compressor, 42...Reinforcement angle, 44...Bottom plate, 46...Air intake, 47...Air intake, 48...Exhaust port, 49...Exhaust port, 52...Rear grill, 56...Cooling fan 56a...Intake port of cooling fan, 56b...Outlet port of cooling fan, 58...Condenser, 84...Refrigeration cycle, 94...Switching valve, 100...Mounting bracket, 102...Holding part, 104...Fixing part, 106...Connecting part, 106a...Guide part, 106b...Dryer holding part, 108...Clip, 110...Sheet-like elastic body, 120...Lead wire, S1...First space, S2...Second space

Claims

1. A refrigerator unit having a storage compartment inside, A refrigeration cycle comprising a compressor, a condenser for receiving refrigerant discharged from the compressor, a switching valve provided on the outlet side of the condenser, a first cooler provided on one outlet side of the switching valve, and a second cooler provided on the other outlet side of the switching valve and in parallel with the first cooler, A machine room is provided at the rear of the refrigerator body, and houses the compressor, the condenser, and the switching valve. An air intake port is provided on the side of the machine room to draw outside air into the machine room, A cooling fan that blows the air taken in from the aforementioned air intake to the compressor, A reinforcing angle is provided on the rear side of the aforementioned machine room, A mounting bracket for fixing the aforementioned switching valve to the reinforcing angle, Equipped with, The refrigerator is configured such that the switching valve is located on the outer periphery of the air intake port. The mounting bracket comprises a fixing portion fixed to the reinforcing angle, a holding portion having a facing surface that faces the side surface of the machine room where the air intake is provided, and a connecting portion that connects the fixing portion and the holding portion. The switching valve is fixed to the opposing surface of the holding portion, A refrigerator in which the upper end of the holding part is located below the upper end of the fixing part.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the switching valve is located in a flow path connecting the intake port of the heat dissipation fan and the air intake port.

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