refrigerator

Abstract

To provide a refrigerator capable of shortening a defrosting time to suppress power consumption of a refrigerator.SOLUTION: A refrigerator has a shielding device 50 that is arranged in an opening part 31 of a cooling chamber 22 and closes the opening part 31 during defrosting operation. Also, a defrosting air passage 42 is formed to communicate an internal space of the shielding device 50 and the cooling chamber 22 during the defrosting operation. During the defrosting operation, warm air in the cooling chamber warmed by a defrosting device 26 circulates in the cooling chamber 22 via the defrosting air passage 42 by operating an air blower 27. With this structure, the temperature inside the cooling chamber 22 is quickly warmed, so that a defrosting time of the cooling chamber 22 is shortened to suppress power consumption of the refrigerator.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and particularly to a refrigerator that shortens defrosting time and realizes suppression of power consumption by operating a blower during defrosting operation and circulating warm air heated by a defrosting device into a cooling chamber.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a conventional refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a cooler and a defrosting heater in a cooling chamber. In a space portion that blows cold air cooled in the cooling chamber to each storage chamber, three air duct closers that can open and close a cold air duct to the refrigerator compartment, a cold air duct to the freezer compartment, and a return air duct from a vegetable compartment or the like are provided. When defrosting the cooling chamber, the three air duct closers are closed, thereby preventing warm air heated by the defrosting heater from flowing out to storage chambers such as an ice making chamber.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] As described above, in a conventional refrigerator, at the start of defrosting operation, the operation of a compressor and a blower is stopped, and after the three air duct closers are closed, power is supplied to the defrosting heater. By this defrosting operation, it is possible to prevent warm air in the cooling chamber from flowing into each storage chamber and the temperature of each storage chamber from rising.

[0005] However, stopping the fan during defrosting causes the warm air in the cooling chamber to flow out into the space connected to the fan through the opening. As a result, it takes longer for the temperature inside the cooling chamber to rise to the desired temperature, making it difficult to shorten the defrosting time. Furthermore, the longer power supply time to the defrost heater makes it difficult to reduce the refrigerator's power consumption.

[0006] Furthermore, in conventional refrigerator defrosting systems, the fan inside the cooling chamber is stopped during defrosting, so the defrost heater is positioned below the evaporator inside the cooling chamber. By efficiently transferring heat from the defrost heater to areas with a lot of frost, such as the evaporator, the defrosting time inside the cooling chamber is shortened.

[0007] In this structure, if the defrost heater is a glass tube heater, a heater cover is placed above the defrost heater. The heater cover prevents melted water from directly hitting the defrost heater during defrosting, and prevents clumps of frost from directly hitting the defrost heater. As a result, conventional defrosting devices have the challenge of needing to improve the efficiency of the defrost heater, and the challenge of making the heater cover an essential component, making it difficult to reduce manufacturing costs.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a refrigerator that shortens the defrosting time and reduces power consumption by operating a blower during defrosting operation and circulating the warm air heated by the defrosting device into the cooling chamber. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The refrigerator of the present invention includes a cooling chamber in which a cooler is provided to produce cold air supplied to the storage chamber, a defrosting device for defrosting the cooling chamber, a blower for blowing the cold air from the cooling chamber to the storage chamber, and the blower is provided , separating the cold air supply air passage through which the cold air flows from the cooling chamberThe cooling chamber is equipped with a shielding device that can open and close a first opening in the partition wall of the cooling chamber, a defrosting air passage that connects the internal space of the shielding device to the cooling chamber when the shielding device is closed, and an air passage switch disposed in the defrosting air passage that connects the internal space of the shielding device to the defrosting air passage, wherein the air passage switch opens and closes in conjunction with the movement of the blower cover of the shielding device, and when the defrosting device is in operation, the shielding device is in the closed state and the air passage switch is in the open state, and the warm air in the cooling chamber heated by the defrosting device circulates through the defrosting air passage when the blower is in operation.

[0010] Furthermore, in the refrigerator of the present invention, the first end of the defrosting air passage communicates with the internal space via the air passage switch, and the second end of the defrosting air passage is The defrosting air passage and the cooling chamber are separated. The device is characterized by being able to communicate with the cooling chamber through a second opening provided in the partition wall.

[0011] Furthermore, the refrigerator of the present invention is characterized in that the first end of the defrosting air passage communicates with the internal space via the air passage switch, and the second end of the defrosting air passage communicates with the cooling chamber via a second opening provided in the partition wall.

[0012] Furthermore, the refrigerator of the present invention is characterized in that the second opening is always open and is located in the area where the cooler is installed.

[0013] Furthermore, the refrigerator of the present invention further includes a return air passage for returning the cold air from the storage chamber to the cooling chamber, and the defrosting device is characterized in that the defrosting heater is disposed near the return opening provided in the partition wall without being covered above by a heater cover. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] In the refrigerator of the present invention, a defrosting air passage is formed between the storage compartment and the cooling compartment. When the shielding device is closed, the defrosting air passage connects the internal space of the shielding device with the cooling compartment. During the defrosting operation of the refrigerator, the warm air in the cooling compartment heated by the defrosting device is circulated through the defrosting air passage by the operation of the blower. This structure allows the temperature inside the cooling compartment to be heated quickly, shortening the defrosting time of the cooling compartment and reducing the power consumption of the refrigerator.

[0015] Furthermore, in the refrigerator of the present invention, the airflow switch installed in the defrosting airflow path opens and closes in conjunction with the movement of the blower cover of the shielding device. With this structure, the airflow switch opens and closes by a mechanical mechanism, eliminating the need for control elements such as sensors, and thus reducing manufacturing costs.

[0016] Furthermore, in the refrigerator of the present invention, the defrosting air passage communicates with the internal space of the shielding device through the opening and closing operation of the air passage switch. With this structure, during the defrosting operation of the refrigerator, the defrosting air passage circulates warm air heated in the cooling chamber, and during the cooling operation of the refrigerator, it prevents cold air from leaking out of the cooling chamber.

[0017] Furthermore, in the refrigerator of the present invention, the second opening provided in the defrosting air passage is always open and is formed in the partition wall in front of the area where the cooler is installed. This structure allows warm air from the cooling chamber to circulate to the upper space of the cooling chamber that is separated from the defrosting device, thereby warming the entire cooling chamber quickly.

[0018] Furthermore, in the refrigerator of the present invention, the defrosting device does not have a heater cover, and the defrosting heater is positioned near a return opening provided in the partition wall of the cooling chamber. With this structure, the heat from the defrosting heater is drawn into the cooling chamber by a blower, and the heater cover is not required, resulting in reduced manufacturing costs and improved defrosting efficiency. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0019] [Figure 1A] This is a front view illustrating a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 1B] A side cross-sectional view illustrating a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] A side cross-sectional view illustrating the flow of air during the cooling operation of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3A] A perspective view illustrating a shielding device of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3B] A cross-sectional view illustrating a shielding device of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4A] A perspective view illustrating a shielding device of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4B] A cross-sectional view illustrating a shielding device of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5A] A side cross-sectional view illustrating the flow of air during the defrosting operation of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5B] A side cross-sectional view illustrating the flow of air during the defrosting operation of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] Hereinafter, the refrigerator 10 of the present embodiment will be described in detail based on the drawings. In the following description, the vertical direction indicates the height direction of the refrigerator 10, the horizontal direction indicates the width direction when the refrigerator 10 is viewed from the front, and the front-rear direction indicates the depth direction of the refrigerator 10. Also, in the description of the present embodiment, the same reference numerals are generally used for the same members, and repeated descriptions are omitted.

[0021] Figure 1A is a front view of the refrigerator 10 of this embodiment. Figure 1B is a side cross-sectional view of the refrigerator 10 of this embodiment. Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating the airflow of the refrigerator 10 of this embodiment during cooling operation. Figure 3A is a perspective view illustrating the closed state of the shielding device 50 of the refrigerator 10 of this embodiment. Figure 3B is a cross-sectional view illustrating the closed state of the shielding device 50 of the refrigerator 10 of this embodiment. Figure 4A is a perspective view illustrating the open state of the shielding device 50 of the refrigerator 10 of this embodiment. Figure 4B is a cross-sectional view illustrating the open state of the shielding device 50 of the refrigerator 10 of this embodiment. Figures 5A and 5B are side cross-sectional views illustrating the airflow of the refrigerator 10 of this embodiment during defrosting operation.

[0022] As shown in Figure 1A, the interior of the insulated box 11 of the refrigerator 10 is used as a storage room, and the storage room is divided from top to bottom into a refrigerator compartment 12, freezer compartments 13, 14, 15 and a vegetable compartment 16 by insulated partition walls 36, 37 (see Figure 1B). The front opening of the refrigerator compartment 12 is closed with an insulated door 17 that can be opened and closed. The front openings of the freezer compartments 13, 14, and 15 are closed with insulated doors 18, 19, and 20, respectively, that can be opened and closed. The front opening of the vegetable compartment 16 is closed with an insulated door 21 that can be opened and closed. Note that in Figure 1A, the storage compartments are numbered for explanatory purposes.

[0023] As shown in Figure 1B, a cooling chamber 22 is partitioned behind the freezing chambers 13, 14, and 15, and a cooler 23 is installed in the cooling chamber 22. In addition, a machine room 24 is partitioned at the bottom rear of the insulated box body 11, and a compressor 25 and other equipment are installed in the machine room 24. The cooler 23 and compressor 25 are connected to an expansion means and a condenser (not shown) via refrigerant piping, forming a vapor compression refrigeration cycle.

[0024] Below the cooler 23, a defrosting device 26 is installed for defrosting the cooler 23 and other parts of the freezer compartment. The defrosting device 26 includes a defrosting heater 26A for melting frost accumulated on the cooler 23, and a heater cover 26B that covers the top of the defrosting heater 26A. The defrosting heater 26A is, for example, an electrically resistive heating type heater protected by a glass tube. The heater cover 26B prevents melted frost water from directly pouring onto the defrosting heater 26A during defrosting operation, and also prevents clumps of frost from directly hitting the defrosting heater 26A. Other types of defrosting heaters, such as sheathed heaters or hot gas defrosters, may also be used for the defrosting heater 26A.

[0025] A blower 27 is installed in the opening 31 of the partition wall 30 at the top of the cooling chamber 22, and the cold air inside the cooling chamber 22 cooled by the cooler 23 is blown through the blower 27 to the refrigerator chamber 12, freezer chambers 13, 14, 15 and the vegetable chamber 16. A damper 29 is interposed in the supply air passage 28 for the refrigerator chamber. Although not shown, the refrigerator chamber 12 and the vegetable chamber 16 are connected by a connecting air passage (not shown), and the cold air that has cooled the refrigerator chamber 12 is then blown to the vegetable chamber 16.

[0026] As will be explained in detail later using Figures 3A to 4B, a shielding device 50 with a blower 27 inside is installed at the opening 31 of the partition wall 30. The main role of the shielding device 50 is to block the opening 31 of the cooling chamber 22 during defrosting operation, thereby preventing the warm air heated by the defrost heater 26A in the cooling chamber 22 from leaking into the storage chambers such as the freezer chambers 13, 14, and 15, and to circulate the warm air inside the cooling chamber 22 using the defrosting air passage 42.

[0027] Here, the control unit (not shown) of the refrigerator 10 detects the internal temperature of the refrigerator compartment 12 using the internal temperature sensor 32 and controls the opening and closing of the damper 29. It then adjusts the flow rate of cold air into the refrigerator compartment 12, maintaining the internal temperature of the refrigerator compartment 12 within a constant refrigeration temperature range. In addition, the freezer compartments 13, 14, and 15 are temperature-controlled by the internal temperature sensor 33 of the freezer compartment 13, and the flow rate and temperature of cold air into the freezer compartments 13, 14, and 15 are adjusted to cool them within the freezing temperature range. The vegetable compartment 16 is connected to the refrigerator compartment 12 via a connecting air passage (not shown), thereby maintaining a constant refrigeration temperature range.

[0028] In Figure 1B, the arrows indicate the flow of cold air. The cold air that has cooled the refrigerator compartment 12, freezer compartments 13, 14, 15, and vegetable compartment 16 returns to the cooling chamber 22 via the return air passages 34 and 35.

[0029] As shown in the figure, the insulated box 11 mainly consists of an outer box 11A made of steel plates that form the outer shape of the refrigerator 10, an inner box 11B made of a box-shaped synthetic resin plate formed inside the outer box 11A, and an insulating material 11C disposed between the outer box 11A and the inner box 11B. For example, foamed urethane is used as the insulating material 11C.

[0030] As shown in Figure 2, the cooling chamber 22 is located inside the insulated box 11, behind the freezer compartments 13, 14, and 15. The cooling chamber 22 is a space partitioned from the inner box 11B of the insulated box 11 by a synthetic resin partition wall 30. An opening 31 is formed in the partition wall 30 above the cooling chamber 22, and a shielding device 50 is installed in the opening 31. On the other hand, a return opening 38 is formed below the cooling chamber 22 between the partition wall 30 and the inner box 11B of the insulated box 11. The cooling chamber 22 communicates with the return air passage 34 from the freezer compartment 15 and the return air passage 35 from the vegetable compartment 16 via the return opening 38.

[0031] As described above, a cooler 23 is installed inside the cooling chamber 22 to cool the air circulating in each storage chamber. Below the cooler 23, a defrosting device 26 is installed, which includes a defrosting heater 26A and a heater cover 26B that covers the top of the defrosting heater 26A.

[0032] Furthermore, a supply air passage 40 for the freezer compartments is formed behind and above the freezer compartments 13, 14, and 15, separated by a partition wall 39 made of synthetic resin. Multiple air outlets 41 are formed in the supply air passage 40 for the freezer compartments. A defrosting air passage 42 is formed between the supply air passage 40 for the freezer compartments and the cooling chamber 22. The defrosting air passage 42 is separated from the supply air passage 40 for the freezer compartments by a partition wall 43 made of synthetic resin.

[0033] As shown in the diagram, in the defrosting air passage 42, a flapper mechanism 44 is formed on the upper side of the partition wall 43 and inside the blower cover 51 of the shielding device 50. The flapper mechanism 44 is an air passage switch for the defrosting air passage 42 and opens and closes in conjunction with the movement of the blower cover 51. When the refrigerator 10 is in cooling operation, the shielding device 50 is in the open state, the tip of the blower cover 51 separates from the surface of the support base 53, and the flapper mechanism 44 is in the closed state.

[0034] Furthermore, an opening 45 is formed in the partition wall 30 inside the defrosting air passage 42, either in the center of the cooler 23 or above the center. The defrosting air passage 42 is always in communication with the cooling chamber 22 through the opening 45.

[0035] With this structure, when the refrigerator 10 shown in Figure 2 is in cooling operation, the shielding device 50 opens and the blower 27 operates, so that the cold air inside the cooling chamber 22 is blown to the refrigerator chamber 12, freezer chambers 13, 14, 15 and vegetable chamber 16 via the refrigerator chamber supply air passage 28 and the freezer chamber supply air passage 40. As described above, when the flapper mechanism 44 is in the closed state, the defrosting air passage 42 and the freezer chamber supply air passage 40 are not in communication. This prevents the cold air inside the cooling chamber 22 from flowing out into the freezer chamber supply air passage 40 via the defrosting air passage 42.

[0036] Here, the shielding device 50 and the flapper mechanism 44 will be explained using Figures 3A to 4B. Figures 3A and 3B show the case where the shielding device 50 is in the closed state and the flapper mechanism 44 is in the open state. On the other hand, Figures 4A and 4B show the case where the shielding device 50 is in the open state and the flapper mechanism 44 is in the closed state.

[0037] As shown in Figures 3A and 3B, the shielding device 50 mainly comprises a blower cover 51 having a lid shape, a drive shaft 52 for driving the blower cover 51, and a support base 53 that supports the blower cover 51, the drive shaft 52, and the guide pin 54.

[0038] The blower cover 51 is formed by injection molding a resin material into a roughly lid shape. When the shielding device 50 is closed, the tip of the blower cover 51 abuts against the surface of the support base 53 and the partition walls 30 and 43 surrounding the area where the flapper mechanism 44 is located. Due to this structure, when the shielding device 50 is closed, the opening 31 and the flapper mechanism 44 are located in the internal space 55 of the blower cover 51.

[0039] The drive shaft 52 is cylindrical with an open bottom, and its outer surface has a continuous spiral thread 52A protruding from it. The thread 52A of the drive shaft 52 engages with a spiral thread groove (not shown) provided in the screw hole 51A of the blower cover 51. A drive motor (not shown) is built into the drive shaft 52, and as the drive shaft 52 rotates while inserted into the support base 53, the blower cover 51 moves vertically relative to the drive shaft 52.

[0040] The drive shaft 52 is positioned approximately in the center of the blower cover 51, and the two guide pins 54 are positioned diagonally opposite each other with respect to the drive shaft 52. Guided by the drive shaft 52 and the guide pins 54, the blower cover 51 moves vertically relative to the drive shaft 52 while maintaining a nearly horizontal position with respect to the surface of the support base 53. As described above, the tip of the blower cover 51 can accurately contact the surface of the support base 53 and the partition walls 30 and 43 surrounding the area where the flapper mechanism 44 is installed.

[0041] This structure ensures that during defrosting operation of the refrigerator 10, the opening 31 where the blower 27 is located and the area where the flapper mechanism 44 is formed are covered by the blower cover 51. This prevents the warm air in the cooling chamber 22, heated by the defrost heater 26A, from leaking into the freezer compartments 13, 14, 15, and other storage compartments.

[0042] As described above, the flapper mechanism 44 is positioned relative to the partition wall 43 so as to close the opening 46 formed in the partition wall 43 of the defrosting air passage 42. The flapper mechanism 44 is an air passage switch and, for example, opens and closes relative to the opening 46 in conjunction with the movement of the blower cover 51, adjusting the open / closed state of one end of the defrosting air passage 42.

[0043] The flapper mechanism 44 includes, for example, a shielding plate 44A, a rotating shaft 44B that rotatably supports the shielding plate 44A, and a rotation control plate 44C that controls the rotational movement of the shielding plate 44A. In the flapper mechanism 44, the shielding plate 44A is biased by a spring (not shown) so that it is always in a state of closing the opening 46.

[0044] As described above, in the closed state of the shielding device 50 shown in Figures 3A and 3B, during the transition of the shielding device 50 from the open state to the closed state, the tip of the blower cover 51 comes into contact with the rotation control plate 44C, pushing the rotation control plate 44C toward the partition wall 43, thereby opening the shielding plate 44A to the opening 46.

[0045] In other words, during the defrosting operation of the refrigerator 10, the shielding device 50 is closed, which prevents the warm air in the cooling chamber 22 heated by the defrost heater 26A from leaking out to each storage compartment, and the flapper mechanism 44 is opened, which allows the warm air to circulate within the cooling chamber 22 via the defrosting air passage 42.

[0046] In the open state of the shielding device 50 shown in Figures 4A and 4B, as the shielding device 50 transitions from the closed state to the open state, the tip of the blower cover 51 gradually separates from the surface of the support base 53, and the rotation control plate 44C returns to its original position due to the biasing force of the spring, so that the shielding plate 44A is closed to the opening 46.

[0047] When the shielding device 50 is open, as indicated by the arrow 56, the cold air inside the cooling chamber 22 is blown through the gap between the blower cover 51 and the surface of the support base 53 to the supply air passage 28 for the refrigerator chamber and the supply air passage 40 for the freezer chamber.

[0048] As described above, during the cooling operation of the refrigerator 10 shown in Figure 2, the shielding device 50 opens and the blower 27 operates, so that the cold air inside the cooling chamber 22 is blown to the refrigerator compartment 12, the freezer compartments 13, 14, 15 and the vegetable compartment 16 via the refrigerator compartment supply air passage 28 and the freezer compartment supply air passage 40.

[0049] During the defrosting operation of the refrigerator 10 shown in Figure 5A, the shielding device 50 is closed, the opening 31 is blocked by the blower cover 51, and the defrost heater 26A is energized. The heat generated by the defrost heater 26A melts the frost that has accumulated on the cooler 23 and the cooling chamber 22. In addition, the heat generated by the defrost heater 26A warms the air inside the cooling chamber 22.

[0050] In this embodiment, during the defrosting operation of the refrigerator 10, the blower 27 is operated so that the warm air around the defrost heater 26A flows to the upper part of the cooling chamber 22 through the space in the cooling chamber 22 that is not blocked by frost. As described above, when the shielding device 50 is closed, the flapper mechanism 44 is opened so that the warm air blown to the outside of the cooling chamber 22 by the blower 27 is blown from the internal space 55 of the blower cover 51 to the defrosting air passage 42, as indicated by the arrow 47.

[0051] The warm air blown into the defrosting air passage 42 returns to the inside of the cooling chamber 22 through the opening 45. Then, as indicated by the arrow 47, the warm air inside the cooling chamber 22 is blown upwards by the blower 27. In other words, unlike conventional natural convection, the warm air inside the cooling chamber 22 is forcibly circulated through the blower 27, which warms the inside of the cooling chamber 22 more quickly, and also speeds up the melting time of frost attached to the cooler 23 and the cooling chamber 22.

[0052] In the defrosting operation of the refrigerator 10, the completion of the defrosting operation is determined when the temperature detected by a temperature sensor (not shown) attached to the top of the cooler 23 inside the cooling chamber 22 reaches the desired set temperature.

[0053] As described above, the warm air is forcibly circulated inside the cooling chamber 22 via the blower 27, causing the temperature in the area where the temperature sensor is located to rise quickly, thus shortening the defrosting operation time. As a result, the power consumption of the refrigerator 10 is reduced.

[0054] As shown in Figure 5B, the airflow switch installed in the opening 46 of the defrosting airflow passage 42 is not limited to a flapper mechanism 44; for example, a damper 48 may be installed in the opening 46. In a structure where a damper 48 is installed in the opening 46, the control unit (not shown) of the refrigerator 10 controls the opening and closing of the damper 48 in accordance with the closed or open state of the blower cover 51 of the shielding device 50. During defrosting operation of the refrigerator 10, for example, after the control unit detects that the tip of the blower cover 51 has come into contact with the surface of the support base 53, it controls the damper 48 to the open state. On the other hand, during cooling operation of the refrigerator 10, after the control unit detects that the damper 48 is closed, it moves the blower cover 51 via the drive shaft 52. With this structure, the same effect as the flapper mechanism 44 described above can be obtained even in a structure where a damper 48 is installed in the opening 46. Furthermore, when using a damper 48 as an airflow switch, the damper 48 may be controlled in conjunction with the movement of the blower cover 51, or it may be controlled independently of the movement of the blower cover 51.

[0055] In this embodiment, regarding the defrosting device 26, the case in which the heater cover 26B is positioned between the cooler 23 and the defrosting heater 26A inside the cooling chamber 22 has been described, but the invention is not limited to this case. For example, the defrosting device 26 may consist only of the defrosting heater 26A without the heater cover 26B. As described above, during the defrosting operation of the refrigerator 10, the blower 27 is operated so that the warm air heated by the defrosting heater 26A is drawn to the upper side of the cooling chamber 22. Therefore, even if the defrosting heater 26A is located near the return opening 38 of the cooling chamber 22 and not below the cooler 23, the warm air is drawn into the cooling chamber 22 and defrosting is performed inside the cooling chamber 22. As a result, even if the heater cover 26B is omitted, the defrosting heater 26A is not directly exposed to the melted frost water during the defrosting operation, nor are clumps of frost directly hitting the defrosting heater 26A. Furthermore, by omitting the heater cover 26B, the manufacturing cost of the refrigerator 10 can be reduced.

[0056] Furthermore, although the case in which the blower cover 51 of the shielding device 50 moves in a direction toward contact with the surface of the support base 53 via the drive shaft 52, or moves in a direction toward separation from the surface of the support base 53, the invention is not limited to this case. The shielding device 50 only needs to block the opening 31 during the defrosting operation of the refrigerator 10. For example, the blower cover 51 itself does not need to move, but during the cooling operation of the refrigerator 10, a part of the blower cover 51 should open and close to blow the cold air inside the cooling chamber 22 to each storage chamber. Various other modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0057] 10 Refrigerator 11 Insulated box 12 Refrigerator 13, 14, 15 Freezer 16. Vegetable compartment 22 Cooling room 23 Cooler 26 Defrost equipment 26A Defrost Heater 26B Heater Cover 27 Blower 29,48 Damper 30, 39, 43 Partition walls 31, 45, 46 Openings 38 Return opening 42 Defrosting air duct 44. Flapper mechanism 44A Shielding plate 44B Rotation axis 44C Rotation Control Plate 50 Shielding device 51 Blower cover 52 Drive shaft 53 Support base 54 Guide pins 55 Interior space

Claims

1. A cooling room is equipped with a cooler that generates the cold air supplied to the storage room, A defrosting device for removing frost from the aforementioned cooling chamber, A blower that blows the cold air from the cooling chamber to the storage chamber, The blower is installed, and a shielding device is provided that can open and close a first opening in the partition wall of the cooling chamber that separates the cooling air supply air passage through which the cooling air flows from the cooling chamber. When the shielding device is closed, a defrosting air passage is provided to connect the internal space of the shielding device with the cooling chamber, The system includes an airflow switch installed in the defrosting airflow path, which connects the internal space of the shielding device with the defrosting airflow path, The aforementioned airflow switch opens and closes in conjunction with the movement of the blower cover of the shielding device. When the defrosting device is in operation, the shielding device is in the closed state and the airflow switch is in the open state. A refrigerator characterized in that the warm air in the cooling chamber, heated by the defrosting device, is circulated within the cooling chamber via the defrosting air passage when the blower is in operation.

2. The first end of the defrosting air passage is in communication with the internal space via the air passage switch. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that the second end of the defrosting air passage communicates with the cooling chamber through a second opening provided in the partition wall separating the defrosting air passage from the cooling chamber.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, characterized in that the second opening is always in an open state and is provided in the area where the cooler is installed.

4. The system further includes a return air passage for returning the cold air from the storage chamber to the cooling chamber, The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the defrosting device is disposed near a return opening provided in the partition wall, without the defrosting heater being covered above by a heater cover.

Images