storage
The storage facility's drain pan and pipe system, attached without welding, addresses manufacturing inefficiencies and freezing issues, enhancing cost-effectiveness and durability.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2024-03-05
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-17
Smart Images

Figure 0007891695000001 
Figure 0007891695000002 
Figure 0007891695000003
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a storage cabinet.
Background Art
[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a cooling storage cabinet that simplifies the assembly operation of a heat transfer plate and a cover. In this cooling storage cabinet, defrost water from the cooler flows down on the air duct and is drained from a drain passage provided at a lower position of the air duct. A metal heat transfer plate provided with a heater is laid on the air duct, and a metal cover covering the drain passage extends on the heat transfer plate. A wall portion rises along the lower edge of the heat transfer plate, and a drain port is opened at a position corresponding to the drain passage of the air duct in the wall portion. The cover is shaped to fit into the upper surface opening of the drain passage, and at the base end of the cover, a mounting plate that overlaps the side edge portion of the drain port in the wall portion is formed, and the mounting plate is fixed with rivets.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] The present disclosure provides a storage cabinet capable of reducing the cost of providing a structure for draining drain water.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0005] The present disclosure includes a drain pan for receiving drain water and a drain pipe through which the drain water stored in the drain pan flows. The drain pipe has a bottom on which the drain water flows on the upper surface, A pair of side portions that rise from the bottom and form the left and right sides, the said Side partA storage container comprising a plate-shaped extension portion extending from the end of a drain pan, wherein the extension portion is inserted through a through hole provided in the drain pan and bent inside the drain pan to be attached to the drain pan. [Effects of the Invention]
[0006] According to this disclosure, the cost of providing a structure for draining condensate water can be reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0007] [Figure 1] Perspective view of the storage facility according to this embodiment [Figure 2] Longitudinal section in Plane II, Figure 1 [Figure 3] A magnified view of the upper part of Figure 2, showing a vertical cross-section of the storage facility. [Figure 4] Perspective view of the refrigeration unit from the rear. [Figure 5] Perspective view of the drain pan and cover member [Figure 6] Disassembled perspective view of the drain pipe unit [Figure 7] Rear view of the drain pan and cover member [Figure 8] Enlarged view of the area shown in VIII of Figure 3. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0008] (Knowledge and other information that formed the basis of this disclosure) At the time the inventors conceived of this disclosure, there was a technology for providing a storage facility equipped with a refrigeration system that included a drain pan for storing drain water generated as a result of the operation of the refrigeration system, and a drain pipe attached to the drain pan that functions as a drainage channel for draining the drain water. In such storage facilities, there was a technology to suppress the freezing of drain water in the drain pipe by forming the drain pan and drain pipe from metal materials and installing a heating element in the drain pipe. In some such storage facilities, the drain pipe and drain pan are connected by welding.
[0009] However, the inventors discovered a problem in welding the drain pipe and the drain pan: depending on the skill level of the worker and the properties of the materials, there is a risk of increased manufacturing costs, such as increased man-hours. To solve this problem, they arrived at the subject matter of this disclosure. Therefore, this disclosure provides a storage facility that can reduce the cost of installing a structure for draining condensate water.
[0010] The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, unnecessary details may be omitted. For example, detailed explanations of already well-known matters or redundant explanations of substantially identical configurations may be omitted. This is to avoid the following explanation becoming unnecessarily verbose and to facilitate understanding for those skilled in the art. The attached drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand this disclosure and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.
[0011] (Embodiment 1) Embodiment 1 will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 8. In this embodiment, the side of the storage unit 1 with the opening 2B is defined as the front, and the direction in which this front faces is defined as the front. In each figure, the symbol FR indicates the front of the storage unit 1 in its installed state, the symbol UP indicates the top of the storage unit 1, and the symbol LH indicates the left side of the storage unit 1. In the installed state of the storage unit 1, the vertical direction coincides with the vertical direction, and the front-to-back and left-to-right directions coincide with the horizontal direction. In the following description, each direction is a direction along the direction of these storage rooms 1.
[0012] [1-1. Structure] [1-1-1. Storage Room Configuration] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the storage room 1 according to this embodiment. Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the storage room 1 cut along plane II in Figure 1. Plane II is a plane that is perpendicular to the left-right direction of the storage room 1 and passes through approximately the center of the storage room 1 in the left-right direction. As shown in Fig. 1, the storage cabinet 1 is a vertical refrigerator. The storage cabinet 1 includes a storage cabinet main body 2 and a plurality of heat-insulating doors 4. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the storage cabinet main body 2 includes an outer box 5 that opens to the front, an inner box 7 that is housed inside the outer box 5 and opens to the front, and a heat insulating material 3 provided in the space between the outer box 5 and the inner box 7.
[0013] The storage cabinet main body 2 is a box body having a heat insulating wall formed by filling the space surrounded by the outer box 5 and the inner box 7 with the heat insulating material 3. In this embodiment, both the outer box 5 and the inner box 7 are integrally formed of a metal such as a stainless steel plate. As the heat insulating material 3, expanded styrene, rigid urethane foam, or the like is used.
[0014] A storage chamber 2A is provided inside the storage cabinet main body 2, and an opening 2B having a rectangular shape in a front view is provided on the front surface. Hereinafter, the front surface where the opening 2B is provided is referred to as an opening surface. [[ID=I2]]An opening edge portion 2C that surrounds the opening 2B over the entire circumference is provided on the opening surface of the storage cabinet main body 2. The opening edge portion 2C has a flat surface located substantially on the same plane as the opening surface of the storage cabinet main body 2. A partition body 2D that partitions the opening area 2B is provided in the storage cabinet main body 2. The partition body 2D is a beam-shaped member extending in the left-right direction. The partition body 2D is formed in a box shape made of metal and is formed by filling the inside with the heat insulating material 3. Each of both ends of the partition body 2D is connected to an intermediate portion in the up-down direction of each of the opening edge portions 2C located in the left-right direction.
[0015] Note that the outer box 5 and the inner box 7 may be formed not only of a metal but also of a hard resin such as an ABS resin. Further, the outer box 5 and the inner box 7 may be formed by combining a metal and a hard resin. For example, the storage cabinet main body 2 may be formed by combining a heat insulating wall formed by filling a box-shaped housing made of a plate-like member such as a steel plate with the heat insulating material 3 inside the housing.
[0016] The multiple insulated doors 4 are rectangular door members that can be opened and closed to close the opening 2B of the storage unit body 2. In this embodiment, the storage unit 1 is provided with two sets of insulated doors 4 arranged vertically, with each set consisting of a pair of doors arranged horizontally. Each set of insulated doors 4 is positioned with a partition 2D in between, with one set above the partition 2D and the other below the partition 2D.
[0017] These insulated doors 4 are arranged with one side adjacent to the other. Hinges 11 are provided on the upper surface 4D and lower surface 4E of each insulated door 4, located on the other side 4G of each insulated door 4. Each of the pair of insulated doors 4 can be opened and closed in the left-right direction of the storage room 1 by these hinges 11. In other words, the pair of insulated doors 4 are so-called double doors. In this embodiment, the pair of insulated doors 4 are so-called double doors, formed symmetrically from left to right. However, the pair of insulated doors 4 do not have to be formed symmetrically from left to right, as long as they are double doors. Each front surface 4C of the insulated door 4 is provided with a handle 18 positioned close to the adjacent side in the left-right direction.
[0018] A refrigeration unit 6 is installed at the top of the storage unit body 2. The refrigeration unit 6 is a unit that constitutes the refrigeration cycle. The refrigeration unit 6 includes a compressor 30, a condenser 32, a condenser blower 34, a capillary tube 36, an electrical box 38, and an evaporator 40 (Figure 2). In the storage unit 1, the storage chamber 2A is cooled by the operation of these components. The capillary tube 26 may be replaced with other throttling mechanisms such as throttle valves.
[0019] Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of the upper part of storage room 1 in Figure 2. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the refrigeration unit 6 is installed in the upper part of the storage compartment 1, so as to enter the interior of the storage chamber 2A from the top surface of the storage compartment 1. The storage unit body 2 includes an outer box top panel 20 that forms part of the top surface of the outer box 5. The outer box top panel 20 is a plate-shaped member that closes the top opening 21 provided on the top surface of the outer box 5. A compressor 30, a condenser 32, a condenser blower 34, a capillary tube 36, and an electrical box 38 are mounted on the upper surface of the outer box top panel 20.
[0020] The lower surface of the outer box top panel 20 is covered by the inner box top panel 42. The inner box top panel 42 is a plate-shaped member that forms part of the top surface of the inner box 7 by closing the top opening 41 provided for inspection of the inner box 7. A mounting plate 44 is positioned between the outer box top panel 20 and the inner box top panel 42. The mounting plate 44 is a plate-shaped member with a predetermined rigidity. An insulating material 3 is filled between the outer box top panel 20 and the inner box top panel 42. The inner box top panel 42 is surrounded on each side by a frame 22. The frame 22 is a frame-shaped member that covers the gap between the outer box top panel 20 and the inner box top panel 42. The frame 22 may be made of the same material as the insulation material 3.
[0021] The evaporator 40 is fixed to the mounting plate 44. The evaporator 40 is a heat exchanger in the refrigeration unit 6 where the circulating refrigerant evaporates. The evaporator 40 is supported by a plurality of fixing members 46. The fixing members 46 are attached to the inner box top plate 42 and the mounting plate 44 by fastening members that penetrate the inner box top plate 42. The evaporator 40 is installed in contact with the lower surface of the inner box top plate 42. As a result, the evaporator 40 is positioned inside the storage chamber 2A.
[0022] A defrost heater 48 is attached to the lower end of the evaporator 40 to defrost the evaporator 40 by heating it. The defrost heater 48 is supported together with the evaporator 40 by a fixing member 46.
[0023] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the refrigeration unit 6 from the rear. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the evaporator 40 is covered from below by a drain pan 50. The drain pan 50 is a plate-shaped member that stores condensation water from the evaporator 40 and ice chunks from defrosting.
[0024] The drain pan 50 is entirely made of stainless steel. In this embodiment, austenitic stainless steel is used for the drain pan 50. For example, SUS304, SUS301, SUS303, SUS316, etc. may be used for the drain pan 50. This makes it possible to improve the corrosion resistance of the drain pan 50.
[0025] The drain pan 50 is provided with a storage surface 52 that is rectangular in shape when viewed from above, and upright portions 54 that rise from each side of the storage surface 52. The storage surface 52 has an inclined surface formed over almost its entire surface, which slopes toward approximately the center of the edge located at the rear end of the storage surface 52. As shown in Figure 3, ventilation holes 55, which are through-holes that penetrate the plate thickness direction of the storage surface 52, are provided in the storage surface 52 near the edge located at the front end. Multiple screw holes are provided around the ventilation holes 55.
[0026] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the drain pan 50 and cover member 60 from the front. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the upright portion 54 that rises from the edge located at the rear end of the storage surface portion 52 is provided with a notch 51 formed by cutting out from the upper end toward the storage surface portion 52, approximately in the center in the longitudinal direction. The inclined surface of the storage surface portion 52 is inclined toward this notch 51. As shown in Figure 5, the upright portion 54 that rises from the edge located at the rear end of the storage surface portion 52 is provided with slit-shaped insertion holes 53, which are through holes that penetrate in the front-to-back direction, on both sides of the notch portion 51 in the longitudinal direction.
[0027] A drain pipe unit 80 is provided at a position corresponding to the notch 51. The drain pipe unit 80 is a component that discharges water flowing into the drain pan 50 and toward the notch 51 to the outside of the drain pan 50. The drain pipe unit 80 is formed in the shape of a pipe with a predetermined length and extends from the rear end of the drain pan 50 toward the rear surface of the storage container 1.
[0028] A heating element 58 is provided on the underside of the drain pan 50 to heat the drain pan 50. As described above, the drain pan 50 is made of stainless steel, which is a metal material. Therefore, the drain pan 50 conducts heat from the heating element 58 more efficiently and is less likely to deform due to the heat from the heating element 58.
[0029] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the drain pan 50 is covered from below by a cover member 60. The cover member 60 is a plate-shaped member having a covering surface portion 62 that is rectangular in plan view, and upright portions 64 that rise from each side of the covering surface portion 62. The cover member 60 is made of, for example, a resin material. As shown in Figure 3, ventilation holes 65, which are through-holes that penetrate the thickness direction of the covering surface 62, are provided in the covering surface 62 near the edge located at the front end. The ventilation holes 65 are provided in a position that overlaps with the ventilation holes 55 in a plan view. Multiple screw holes, which are through-holes, are provided around the ventilation holes 65.
[0030] The cover member 60 is attached to the frame 22 such that the upright portions 64 located at the front and on the left and right sides each abut against the frame 22. As a result, the storage container 1 forms a heat exchange chamber S in which the evaporator 40 is placed, surrounded by the inner box top plate 42, the frame 22, the drain pan 50, and the cover member 60.
[0031] The rear-facing upright portion 64 stands at a lower height than the other upright portions 64. Therefore, as shown in Figure 4, when the cover member 60 is attached to the frame 22, the rear-facing upright portion 64 is positioned at a distance from the frame 22. As a result, the refrigeration unit 6 is provided with a communication opening 67, which is an opening surrounded by the left and right side upright sections 64, the rear upright section 64, and the frame 22. In the storage compartment 1, the storage chamber 2A and the heat exchange chamber S are connected via the communication opening 67.
[0032] A mounting portion 66 is provided at the rear end of the cover member 60. The mounting portion 66 has a planar shape that extends from each of its left and right ends toward the rear surface of the storage compartment 1 beyond the rear end of the drain pan 50, and has a screw hole at its tip.
[0033] As shown in Figure 3, the mounting portion 66 is attached to the rear-side insulating wall 8 that surrounds the storage chamber 2A from the rear. The rear-side insulating wall 8 is formed by the rear surface of the outer box 5, the rear surface of the inner box 7, and the insulating material 3 located between them. The mounting portion 66 is fixed to the rear-side insulating wall 8 by fastening members such as screws, while in surface contact with the rear surface of the inner box 7. As a result, as shown in Figure 3, the storage chamber 2A is provided with an air outlet 69 surrounded by the rear insulating wall 8, each of the mounting parts 66, and the upright part 64 located at the rear.
[0034] The air cooled by the evaporator 40 is sent to the storage room 2A through the communication opening 67 and the outlet 69. Cooled by the air blown out from the outlet 69, the storage room 2A functions as a freezer or refrigerator.
[0035] As shown in Figure 3, a blower 70 is attached to the drain pan 50. In this embodiment, the blower 70 is an axial flow fan. The blower 70 is positioned so that its axial direction is perpendicular to the ventilation hole 55, and is attached to the upper surface of the drain pan 50 so as to cover the ventilation hole 55 from above. In this way, the blower 70 is positioned in the heat exchange chamber S. The blower 70, positioned in this manner, is exposed to the storage chamber 2A through the ventilation holes 55 and 65. When the blower 70 is rotated, it draws air from the storage chamber 2A into the heat exchange chamber S through the ventilation holes 55 and 65, and sends the air that has exchanged heat with the evaporator 40 back to the storage chamber 2A. The blower 70 is connected to the electrical box 38 via signal lines and power supply lines.
[0036] A fan guard 72 is attached to the cover member 60 so as to cover the ventilation holes 55 from the bottom side, i.e., from the storage chamber 2A side. In a plan view, the central part of the fan guard 72 is provided with a mesh shape that allows air to pass through.
[0037] As shown in Figure 3, the rear insulating wall 8 is provided with a drainage hole 8A, which is a through-hole that connects the outside of the outer box 5 to the storage room 2A. The drain hole 8A is formed to slope downwards as it moves from the storage chamber 2A towards the outside of the outer casing 5. A tubular drain socket 8B is inserted through the drain hole 8A. One end of the drain socket 8B extends into the interior of the storage chamber 2A, while the other end extends to the exterior of the outer casing 5 and is then bent downwards to form the shape. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a rear panel 9 is provided on the rear surface of the storage unit body 2, covering the entire rear surface of the outer box 5. The rear panel 9 is positioned spaced apart from the rear surface of the outer box 5, and the other end of the drain socket 8B is positioned in the space 9A located between the rear surface of the outer box 5 and the rear panel 9.
[0038] Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the drain pipe unit 80. As shown in Figure 6, the drain pipe unit 80 includes a drain pipe 88. The drain pipe 88 includes a lower member 82. The lower member 82 has a predetermined length and its cross-sectional shape in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is a U-shaped groove that protrudes downward. In other words, the lower member 82 is a trough-shaped member that includes a lower surface portion 81 that forms the bottom surface and a pair of side portions 83 that form the left and right sides, with the top, front and rear surfaces open. In this embodiment, the lower member 82 is formed by bending a sheet metal made of stainless steel.
[0039] The lower portion 81 is a flat plate whose longitudinal direction extends along the front-to-back direction of the storage compartment 1. The pair of side portions 83 are plate-like portions that rise from a pair of sides located perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bottom portion 81. Each of the side portions 83 is provided with a projection 85 that protrudes outward in the left-right direction. An extension piece 87 is provided at one end of the lower portion 81, which is continuous with the lower portion 81 and extends further back than the side portion 83. The lower portion 81 corresponds to the "bottom" in this disclosure.
[0040] The lower member 82 is provided with an insertion piece 84 at one end in the longitudinal direction. The insertion piece 84 is a plate-like portion extending from each of the pair of side portions 83. The insertion piece 84 extends at an obtuse angle that protrudes upward with respect to the direction in which the longitudinal direction of the lower surface portion 81 extends. The insert piece 84 corresponds to the "extended portion" in this disclosure.
[0041] The drain pipe unit 80 includes an upper member 90 that covers the lower member 82 from above. The upper member 90 has approximately the same length as the lower member 82 and is a member whose cross-sectional shape in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is a U-shaped groove that protrudes upward. The upper member 90 includes an upper surface portion 91 that forms the top surface and a pair of side portions 93 that form the left and right sides, and its bottom, front and rear surfaces are open. In this embodiment, the upper member 90 is formed by bending a sheet metal made of stainless steel. The upper member 90 corresponds to the "covering portion" in this disclosure.
[0042] The lower portion 81 is a flat plate whose longitudinal direction extends along the front-to-back direction of the storage compartment 1. The pair of side portions 83 are plate-like portions that rise from a pair of sides located perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bottom portion 81. Each of the side portions 83 is provided with an engagement hole 95, which is a through hole that penetrates in the thickness direction of the plate. The upper member 90 is attached to the lower member 82 by each of the protrusions 85 of the lower member 82 engaging with each of the engagement holes 95. This forms a cylindrical drain pipe 88.
[0043] Furthermore, the drain pipe 88 may be formed without the engagement hole 95. That is, even if the storage unit 1 has a structure in which the upper member 90 does not have an engagement hole 95 and the lower member 82 has a projection 85, the upper member 90 can still be attached and fixed to the lower member 82. In this case, the cylindrical drain pipe 88 can be formed more easily.
[0044] Both the lower member 82 and the upper member 90 are made of stainless steel. Therefore, the drain pipe 88 can have improved corrosion resistance without requiring any corrosion-resistant or corrosion-preventive treatment of the material.
[0045] The drain pipe unit 80 is equipped with a heating element 92. The heating element 92 is a heating element that heats the upper member 90 and the lower member 82 by generating heat. The heating element 92 is formed, for example, by an electric heating wire. Alternatively, for example, the heating element 92 may be a refrigerant pipe through which a refrigerant at a predetermined temperature or higher flows. In this embodiment, the heating element 92 is attached to the upper surface 91 and the side surface 93 of the upper member 90, respectively, while attached to the adhesive tape 94. The defrost heater 48 and the heating heaters 58 and 92 are all connected to the electrical box 38 via power supply lines.
[0046] The heating element 92 is entirely covered by an insulating material 96. The insulating material 96 is a plate-shaped or fibrous member that covers the entire top surface 91 and the side surfaces 93 together with the heating element 92. The insulating material 96 is omitted at least in the approximately central part in the left-right direction of the bottom surface 81 (Figure 7). Various insulating materials such as glass wool or urethane foam may be used for the insulating material 96.
[0047] As shown in Figure 5, the drain pipe unit 80 is installed by inserting each of the insertion pieces 84 through each of the insertion holes 53 and then bending them toward the opposite side of the notch 51. In this case, the extension piece 87 is located below the storage surface 52. This allows the drain pipe unit 80 to be attached to the drain pan 50 in a simpler way, without the need for welding or other such work. As a result, the storage facility 1 can have a drainage structure for drain water with a simpler structure and manufacturing method.
[0048] In this embodiment, the drain pan 50, the upper member 90, and the lower member 82 are all made of stainless steel, but the embodiment is not limited to this, and at least one of them may be made of a resin material. In the storage unit 1, even if at least one of the drain pan 50, the upper member 90, and the lower member 82 is made of a resin material other than stainless steel, the drain pipe unit 80 can be attached to the drain pan 50 with the structure described above. Furthermore, it is desirable that the resin material used for the drain pipe 88 be a material that is resistant to deformation by the heat from the heating element 58.
[0049] The drain pipe unit 80 attached to the drain pan 50 extends from the rear end of the drain pan 50 toward the rear of the storage compartment 1, and is installed at an angle so as it moves toward the rear of the storage compartment 1. Furthermore, the drain pipe unit 80 attached to the drain pan 50 is positioned to overlap with the outlet 69 in a plan view.
[0050] As described above, the air that has undergone heat exchange in the evaporator 40 is blown out as cold air from the outlet 69. Therefore, the drain pipe unit 80 located at the outlet 69 is exposed to this cold air. In this embodiment, since the drain pipe unit 80 is provided with an insulating material 96, the insulating material 96 suppresses the cooling of the drain water flowing through the drain pipe unit 80.
[0051] Furthermore, since the drain water in the drain pipe unit 80 is heated by the heating heater 92, the cold air blown out from the outlet 69 and the cold air inside the storage chamber 2A prevent the drain water flowing through the drain pipe unit 80 from freezing. In addition, since the heating element 92 is covered by the insulating material 96, heating of the storage room 2A by the heating element 92 is suppressed in the storage facility 1. As described above, the drain pipe 88 is made of stainless steel and therefore has corrosion resistance. In addition, the drain pipe 88 conducts heat from the heating element 58 more efficiently and is less likely to deform due to the heat from the heating element 58.
[0052] As shown in Figure 4, the cover member 60 is provided with a pipe cover portion 68. The pipe cover portion 68 is located at the rear end of the cover member 60, approximately in the center in the left-right direction. The pipe cover portion 68 extends from the rear end of the cover member 60 toward the rear of the storage unit 1 and is a trough-shaped portion with a U-shaped groove that protrudes downward in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The upper surface of the pipe cover portion 68 is continuous with the upper surface of the covering surface portion 62. The pipe cover portion 68 extends from the rear end of the cover member 60 toward the rear of the storage compartment 1 at approximately the same angle as the drain pipe unit 80 attached to the drain pan 50, and is provided at an angle that slopes downward as it moves toward the rear of the storage compartment 1.
[0053] Figure 7 is a rear view of the drain pan 50 and the cover member 60. As shown in Figure 7, the pipe cover portion 68 covers the drain pipe unit 80 from below. Specifically, the pipe cover portion 68 covers the entire bottom surface and the left and right sides of the drain pipe unit 80. As a result, in storage unit 1, even if drain water flows out from, for example, the connection point between the drain pan 50 and the drain pipe unit 80, the pipe cover section 68 can receive the drain water. Therefore, storage unit 1 can prevent drain water from flowing out into storage room 2A, etc.
[0054] As described above, the insulation material 96 is omitted at least in the approximate center of the lower surface portion 81 in the left-right direction. Therefore, a gap C is provided between the lower surface of the drain pipe unit 80 and the upper surface of the pipe cover portion 68. As a result, even if drain water flows out of the storage unit 1 from the connection point with the drain pipe unit 80, the drain water can flow through the gap C. As described above, the insulation material 96 covers the entire heating element 92. Therefore, the heating element 92 is shielded by the insulation material 96 from the drain water flowing through the pipe cover portion 68, and the adhesion of the drain water is suppressed.
[0055] [1-2. Operation] The operation of storage facility 1, configured as described above, will be explained below. Figure 8 is an enlarged view of the area shown in VIII of Figure 3. As shown in Figure 6, the pipe cover portion 68 and the drain pipe unit 80 are inserted into the drain socket 8B at least on the rear side of the storage chamber 1. As a result, the drain water flowing into the drain pan 50 is discharged to the outside of the storage chamber 2A via the drain pipe unit 80 and the drain socket 8B. Furthermore, in storage unit 1, even if drain water flows out of the pipe unit, the pipe cover section 68 and the drain socket 8B can receive the drain water and discharge it to the outside of storage room 2A.
[0056] [1-3. Effects, etc.] As described above, in this embodiment, the storage unit 1 includes a drain pan 50 for receiving drain water and a drain pipe unit 80 through which the drain water stored in the drain pan 50 flows. The drain pipe unit 80 includes a lower member 82 on which drain water flows over its upper surface and a plate-shaped insertion piece 84 extending from the end of the drain pipe unit 80. The insertion piece 84 is inserted through an insertion hole 53 provided in the drain pan 50 and bent inside the drain pan 50 to be attached to the drain pan 50.
[0057] As a result, in storage 1, the drain pipe unit 80 can be attached to the drain pan 50 without using welding or fixing members such as rivets. Therefore, in storage 1, a structure for draining drain water can be formed with a simpler process.
[0058] As in this embodiment, the storage unit 1 is equipped with a cover member 60 that covers the drain pan 50, and the cover member 60 may be provided with a pipe cover portion 68 that covers the connection point between the drain pan 50 and the drain pipe unit 80 from below. As a result, in storage unit 1, even if drain water flows out from, for example, the connection point between the drain pan 50 and the drain pipe unit 80, the pipe cover section 68 can receive the drain water. Therefore, storage unit 1 can prevent drain water from flowing out into storage room 2A, etc.
[0059] As in this embodiment, the drain pipe unit 80 is formed in a tubular shape by connecting an upper member 90 and a lower member 82, and a heating heater 92 for heating the drain pipe unit 80 may be attached to the upper member 90. As a result, the drain water in the drain pipe unit 80 is heated by the heating heater 92, and therefore, the cold air blown out from the outlet 69 and the cold air inside the storage chamber 2A prevents the drain water flowing through the drain pipe unit 80 from freezing.
[0060] As in this embodiment, the drain pipe unit 80 is provided with an insulating material 96 that covers the heating element 92, and the lower surface of the drain pipe unit 80 may not be covered by the insulating material 96. As a result, a gap C is provided between the lower surface of the drain pipe unit 80 and the upper surface of the pipe cover portion 68. This allows drain water to flow through the gap C even if it leaks out of the storage unit 1 from the connection point with the drain pipe unit 80.
[0061] As in this embodiment, the drain pipe 88 may be made of stainless steel. This makes it possible to improve the corrosion resistance of the drain pipe 88.
[0062] (Other embodiments) As described above, Embodiment 1 has been explained as an example of the technology disclosed in this application. However, the technology in this disclosure is not limited to this and can be applied to embodiments that have been modified, replaced, added, or omitted. Furthermore, it is possible to create new embodiments by combining the components described in Embodiments 1 and 2 above.
[0063] For example, in the storage unit 1, when attaching the drain pipe unit 80 to the drain pan 50, it may be fixed by means of rivets. In this case, the upright portion 54 of the drain pan 50 and the insertion piece 84 of the drain pipe unit 80 are each provided with a rivet hole, which is a through hole. In the storage unit 1, each of the insertion pieces 84 is inserted through each of the insertion holes 53, bent to the opposite side of the notch 51, and with the rivet holes of the upright portion 54 and the rivet holes of the insertion pieces 84 aligned, rivets are inserted through each of the rivet holes. In this way, the drain pipe unit 80 may be fixed to the drain pan 50 in the storage unit 1.
[0064] For example, in the storage unit 1, when attaching the drain pipe unit 80 to the drain pan 50, it may be fixed using a method other than rivets. In this case, the insertion piece 84 is bent outward in the left-right direction and abuts against the upright parts 54 located on the left and right of the notch 51 from the rear. After this, with the rivet holes of the upright parts 54 and the rivet holes of the insertion piece 84 aligned, rivets are passed through each rivet hole. In this way, the drain pipe unit 80 may be fixed to the drain pan 50 in the storage unit 1.
[0065] As described above, by using rivets, the drain pipe unit 80 can be attached to the drain pan 50 in a simpler way without requiring skilled work such as welding. Therefore, the storage facility 1 can have a drainage structure for drain water with a simpler structure and manufacturing method.
[0066] Since the embodiments described above are for illustrative purposes only, various modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, etc., can be made within the claims or their equivalents.
[0067] (Note) Based on the above description of embodiments, the following technologies are disclosed.
[0068] (Technical 1) A storage unit comprising a drain pan for receiving drain water and a drain pipe through which the drain water stored in the drain pan flows, wherein the drain pipe comprises a bottom portion on which drain water flows to the top surface and a plate-shaped extension portion extending from the end of the drain pipe, the extension portion being inserted through a through hole provided in the drain pan and bent inside the drain pan to be attached to the drain pan. This allows the drain pipe to be attached to the drain pan in the storage facility without the need for welding or fastening components such as rivets. Therefore, a structure for draining drain water can be created in the storage facility using a simpler process.
[0069] (Technical 2) The storage facility according to Technical 1, further comprising a cover member that covers the drain pan, wherein the cover member is provided with a pipe cover portion that covers the connection point between the drain pan and the drain pipe from below. As a result, even if drain water leaks from the connection point between the drain pan and the drain pipe unit in the storage facility, the pipe cover can receive the drain water. Therefore, the storage facility can prevent drain water from leaking into the storage room or other areas.
[0070] (Technical 3) The storage facility according to Technical 1 or Technical 2, wherein the drain pipe is formed in a tubular shape by connecting the bottom portion and a covering portion that covers the bottom portion from above, and a heating element for heating the drain pipe is attached to the covering portion. As a result, the drain water in the drain pipe is heated by the heating element, which prevents the drain water flowing through the drain pipe from freezing due to the cold air.
[0071] (Technical 4) The storage facility according to Technical 3, wherein the drain pipe is provided with an insulating material to cover the heat-generating element, and the lower surface of the drain pipe is not covered by the insulating material. This creates a gap between the bottom surface of the drain pipe and the top surface of the pipe cover. As a result, even if drain water leaks out from the connection point with the drain pipe in the storage facility, the drain water can flow through the gap.
[0072] (Technical 5) The storage container according to any one of Technical 1 to Technical 4, wherein the drain pipe is made of stainless steel. This makes it possible to improve the corrosion resistance of drain pipes. [Industrial applicability]
[0073] This disclosure is applicable to storage facilities equipped with refrigeration equipment. Specifically, this disclosure is applicable to commercial refrigerators and the like in which the storage chamber is cooled to a freezing temperature range. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0074] 1 Storage 2. Storage Unit 2A Storage Room 2B opening 2C Opening edge 2D partition 3. Insulation 4. Insulated door 4C Front 4D top view 4E Bottom side 4G side 5. Outer box 6. Refrigeration Unit 7 Inner box 8. Rear side insulation wall 8A Drain hole 8B Drain Socket 9 Rear plate 9A Space 11 Hinge 18 handle 20 Outer box top plate 21 Top opening 22 Frame 26 Capillary tubes 30 Compressors 32 Condenser 34. Blower for condenser 36 Capillary tubes 38 Electrical box 40 Evaporator 41 Top opening 42 Inner box top plate 44 Mounting plate 46 Fixing member 48 Defrost heater 50 Drain pan 51 Notch 52 Storage surface section 53 Insertion hole 54 Standing part 55 Ventilation hole 58 Heating heater 60 Cover component 62 Covered surface part 64 Standing part 65 Ventilation hole 66 Mounting part 67 Communication opening 68 Pipe cover section 69 air outlet 70 Blower 72 Fan Guard 80 Drain Pipe Unit 81 Bottom part (bottom part) 82 Lower member 83 Side part 84 Insertion piece (extension part) 85 Protrusion 87 Extension piece 88 Drain pipe 90 Upper component (covering part) 91 Top part 92 Heating element (heating component) 93 Side part 94 Adhesive Tape 95 Engagement holes 96 Insulation C Gap S heat exchange room
Claims
1. A drain pan to receive drain water, A drain pipe through which the drain water stored in the drain pan flows, Equipped with, The aforementioned drain pipe is The bottom part where drain water flows to the top, A pair of side portions that rise from the bottom and form the left and right sides, A plate-shaped extension extending from the end of the aforementioned side portion, Equipped with, The extended portion is inserted through a through hole provided in the drain pan and bent inside the drain pan, thereby attaching it to the drain pan. Storage room.
2. The drain pan is provided with a cover member, The cover member is provided with a pipe cover portion that covers the connection point between the drain pan and the drain pipe from below. The storage facility according to claim 1.
3. The aforementioned drain pipe is The bottom and, A covering portion that covers the bottom portion from above, They are connected to form a tubular shape, A heating element for warming the drain pipe is attached to the covering portion. A storage facility according to claim 1 or claim 2.
4. The drain pipe is provided with an insulating material that covers the heating element. The lower surface of the drain pipe is not covered by the insulation material. The storage facility according to claim 3.
5. The drain pipe is made of stainless steel. A storage facility according to claim 1 or claim 2.