Drawer-type refrigerator

Abstract

This allows cold air from the low-temperature part of the cooling plate to flow into the inside of the storage case. [Solution] A drawer-type refrigerator is configured to include a cooling plate 2 located on the back side inside the refrigerator, a heat transfer member 4 having a first joining surface 4a and a second joining surface 4b, to which the cooling surface 3a of the refrigerator's thermoelectric conversion element 3 and the first joining surface 4a are joined, and to which the cooling plate 2 and the second joining surface 4b are joined, and a storage case 5 that is supported by the drawer door 8 of the refrigerator and stored inside the refrigerator. Furthermore, in the drawer-type refrigerator, of the multiple side walls 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d of the storage case 5, the back wall 5d, which is the side wall on the back side inside the refrigerator, has one or more openings 6, the shape of the opening 6 is rectangular, and the bottom surface 5d is a flat plate that represents the bottom edge of the rectangle. BS The end of the cooling plate 2 side protrudes further toward the cooling plate 2 side than the opening 6, and the lower surface portion 5d BS The vertical position of the lower end 4b of the second joint surface 4b BS It is a position lower than the vertical position.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This disclosure relates to a drawer-type refrigerator. [Background technology]

[0002] Some refrigerators have drawer-type storage cases that are supported by the drawer door and stored inside the refrigerator. As an example of such a drawer-type refrigerator, Patent Document 1 discloses a drawer-type refrigerator comprising a cooling plate located on the rear side inside the refrigerator and a heat transfer member having a first joining surface and a second joining surface. The first joining surface is joined to the cooling surface of the thermoelectric conversion element of the refrigerator, and the second joining surface is joined to the cooling plate. In the drawer-type refrigerator disclosed in Patent Document 1, the vertical position of the upper end surface of the rear wall, which is one of the multiple side walls in the storage case and is the side wall on the rear side inside the refrigerator, is higher than the vertical position of the upper end of the second joining surface of the heat transfer member. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-133940 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0004] Of the cooling plate, the portion that is joined to the second joint surface of the heat transfer member (hereinafter referred to as the "low-temperature portion") has a lower temperature than the portion that is not joined to the second joint surface. In the drawer-type refrigerator disclosed in Patent Document 1, there was a problem in that the cold air from the low-temperature part of the cooling plate was blocked by the back wall of the storage case, making it difficult for the cold air from the low-temperature part of the cooling plate to flow into the inside of the storage case.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the problems described above, and an object of the present disclosure is to obtain a drawer-type refrigerator that allows cool air from a low-temperature portion of a cooling plate to flow into the interior of a storage case. Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] The drawer-type refrigerator according to the present disclosure includes: a cooling plate disposed on a back side inside the refrigerator; a heat transfer member having a first joining surface and a second joining surface, wherein the cooling surface of a thermoelectric conversion element of the refrigerator is joined to the first joining surface, and the cooling plate is joined to the second joining surface; and a storage case stored inside the refrigerator while being supported by a drawer door of the refrigerator. Furthermore, in the drawer-type refrigerator, among a plurality of side walls of the storage case, one or more openings are provided in a back wall that is a side wall on the back side inside the refrigerator, a hole shape of the opening is rectangular, an end portion on the cooling plate side of a lower surface portion that is a flat plate forming the lower side of the rectangle protrudes toward the cooling plate side beyond the opening, and a vertical position of the lower surface portion is lower than a vertical position of a lower end of the second joining surface. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, cool air from a low-temperature portion of the cooling plate can flow into the interior of the storage case. Brief Description of Drawings

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a housing 1 of the drawer-type refrigerator according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a storage case 5 stored in the housing 1 of the drawer-type refrigerator according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 1 when the storage case 5 is stored in the housing 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 1 when the storage case 5 is stored in the housing 1. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a detailed view of region D in FIG. 4. [Figure 7] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of EE. [Figure 8] Figure 7 is a detailed view of region F. [Figure 9] This is a perspective view showing the end portion 6a of the opening 6. [Figure 10] This is a perspective view showing a portion of Figure 9. [Figure 11] This is a detailed view of region G in Figure 10. [Figure 12] This is a perspective view showing the end portion 6a of the opening 6. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] To provide a more detailed explanation of this disclosure, the forms for implementing this disclosure will be described below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0010] Embodiment 1. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the housing 1 of a drawer-type refrigerator according to Embodiment 1. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a storage case 5 housed in the casing 1 of a drawer-type refrigerator according to Embodiment 1. Figures 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views of Figure 1, AA, when the storage case 5 is housed in the housing 1. However, Figure 3 shows the drawer door 8 that supports the storage case 5, while Figure 4 omits the notation for the drawer door 8.

[0011] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the CC shown in Figure 4. Figure 6 is a detailed view of region D in Figure 4. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of EE in Figure 5. Figure 8 is a detailed view of region F in Figure 7. Figure 9 is a perspective view showing the end portion 6a of the opening 6. Figure 10 is a perspective view showing a portion of Figure 9. Figure 11 is a detailed view of region G in Figure 10. Figure 12 is a perspective view showing the end portion 6a of the opening 6.

[0012] In Figures 1 to 12, the housing 1 is the housing of a refrigerator, and the housing 1 houses a cooling plate 2, a thermoelectric conversion element 3, a heat transfer member 4, and a storage case 5, etc. As shown in Figure 1, rails 9 are provided on the inner side of the housing 1 to enable the sliding of the drawer door 8. A frame component that slides along the rails 9 is attached to the side of the drawer door 8. The frame component of the drawer door 8 and the rails 9 together realize the sliding mechanism of the drawer door 8.

[0013] The cooling plate 2 is located on the rear side of the inside of the refrigerator. The inside of the refrigerator corresponds to the inside of the enclosure 1. The cooling plate 2 is bent into an L-shape, and as shown in Figure 3, the cooling plate 2 is also positioned on the upper side inside the housing 1.

[0014] The thermoelectric conversion element 3 can be realized, for example, by a Peltier element. As shown in Figure 6, the cooling surface 3a of the thermoelectric conversion element 3 is joined to the first joining surface 4a of the heat transfer member 4. When power is supplied, the thermoelectric conversion element 3 cools the heat transfer member 4 through the thermoelectric effect. The thermoelectric effect is a concept that includes the Peltier effect and the Seebeck effect.

[0015] The heat transfer component 4 is a heat absorption block made of a metal such as aluminum. The heat transfer member 4 has a first joining surface 4a and a second joining surface 4b. As shown in Figure 6, the first bonding surface 4a of the heat transfer member 4 is bonded to the cooling surface 3a of the thermoelectric conversion element 3. The second joining surface 4b of the heat transfer member 4 is joined to the cooling plate 2, as shown in Figure 6. Here, we show an example where the cooling plate 2 and the heat transfer member 4 are separate components. However, this is just one example, and the cooling plate 2 and the heat transfer member 4 may also be integrally formed.

[0016] As shown in Figure 3, the storage case 5 is housed inside the housing 1, supported by the drawer door 8. Among the plurality of side walls 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d of the storage case 5, one or more openings 6 are provided in the side wall 5d on the back side inside the housing 1 (hereinafter referred to as "back wall"), as shown in FIG. 2.

[0017] The hole shape of the opening 6 is rectangular. The lower side of the rectangle is the lower surface portion 5d which is a flat plate BS , and the upper side of the rectangle is the upper surface portion 5d which is a flat plate TS . The end portion of the lower surface portion 5d BS on the cooling plate 2 side protrudes toward the cooling plate 2 side beyond the opening 6, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 6. In the examples of FIG. 2 and FIG. 6, the lower surface portion 5d BS corresponds to the lower end surface of the back wall 5d of the storage case 5. The vertical position of the lower surface portion 5d BS is a position lower than the vertical position of the lower end 4b of the second joining surface 4b of the heat transfer member 4, as shown in FIG. 6 BS . The end portion of the upper surface portion 5d TS on the cooling plate 2 side protrudes toward the cooling plate 2 side beyond the opening 6, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 6. In the examples of FIG. 2 and FIG. 6, the upper surface portion 5d TS corresponds to the upper end surface of the back wall 5d of the storage case 5. The vertical position of the upper surface portion 5d TS is the same position as the vertical position of the lower end 4b of the second joining surface 4b of the heat transfer member 4, as shown in FIG. 6 BS . The vertical direction herein means a direction orthogonal to the floor surface on which the housing 1 is installed. However, the vertical direction herein is not limited to a direction strictly orthogonal to the floor surface, and is a concept including, for example, a direction of 85 to 95 degrees with respect to the floor surface.

[0018] In the example of FIG. 6, the vertical position of the upper surface portion 5d TS is the same as the vertical position of the lower end 4b of the second joining surface 4b BS . However, this is merely an example, and the upper surface portion 5d TSThe vertical position of the upper end of the second joint surface 4b should be lower than the vertical position of the upper end of the second joint surface 4b. BS It is not limited to the same position as the vertical position. Specifically, the upper surface 5d TS The vertical position of the second joint surface 4b can be any position within the vertical range of the second joint surface 4b. In the example in Figure 6, when the storage case 5 is stored inside the housing 1, the bottom portion 5d BS and upper surface portion 5d TS The design ensures that the distance between each tip and the cooling plate 2 is 3 mm. However, this is just one example, and the distance between each tip and the cooling plate 2 could be, for example, 1 mm, 2 mm, or 4 mm. Bottom part 5d BS and upper surface portion 5d TS Each of these may be integrally formed with the rear wall 5d, or it may be a separate member from the rear wall 5d. BS and upper surface portion 5d TS If each of these is a separate component from the back wall 5d, then the bottom surface 5d BS For example, as a horizontal rib, it is attached to the lower end of the rear wall 5d and the upper surface portion 5d TS For example, it is attached as a horizontal rib to the upper end of the rear wall 5d.

[0019] Of the multiple side walls 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d in the storage case 5, the side walls 5b and 5c on the inner side of the housing 1 (hereinafter referred to as "side walls") are provided with slits 7, as shown in Figure 2. The slits 7 on the side walls 5b and 5c are located closer to the front side wall (hereinafter referred to as the "front wall") 5a inside the enclosure 1 than to the rear wall 5d.

[0020] Each of the openings 6 has a rectangular shape. However, the opening shape is not limited to being strictly rectangular. One or more openings 6 are arranged horizontally, as shown in Figure 5. Each opening 6 is separated by a support column 5d' of the back wall 5d, as shown in Figure 2. As shown in Figure 2, the horizontal end 6a of the rear wall 5d protrudes toward the cooling plate 2 side beyond the opening 6.

[0021] Next, we will explain how a drawer-type refrigerator works. When power is supplied to the thermoelectric conversion element 3, it cools the heat transfer member 4 through the thermoelectric effect. When the heat transfer member 4 is cooled by the thermoelectric conversion element 3, it cools the cooling plate 2 by heat conduction.

[0022] Of the cooling plate 2, the portion that is joined to the second joining surface 4b of the heat transfer member 4 (hereinafter referred to as the "low-temperature portion") has a lower temperature than the portion that is not joined to the second joining surface 4b. In other words, within the cooling plate 2, the temperature is lowest in the coldest part, and the temperature increases as you move away from the coldest part. Therefore, the temperature of the cold air coming from the low-temperature area is lower than the temperature of the cold air coming from the other areas.

[0023] The position of the lower end of the cooling plate 2 in the low-temperature portion, i.e., the lower end 4b at the second joint surface 2b. BS The position is the upper surface 5d TS It is at a higher position. Therefore, some of the cold air released from the low-temperature portion of the cooling plate 2 flows into the storage case 5 through the upper opening of the storage case 5 by natural convection, as shown in Figure 3. Furthermore, some of the cold air released from the low-temperature portion of the cooling plate 2 descends vertically due to natural convection. Some of the cold air that descends vertically reaches the upper surface 5d TS In this regard, the upper surface portion 5d TS The cold air that hits the storage case flows into the storage case 5 through the top opening of the storage case 5. A portion of the cold air that descends vertically reaches the upper surface 5d TSThe cold air passes through the gap between the cooling plate 2 and then descends vertically. A portion of the descending cold air flows into the storage case 5 through the opening 6, as shown in Figure 3. Another portion of the descending cold air flows into the lower surface 5d BS In this regard, the lower surface portion 5d BS The cold air that hits the surface flows into the storage case 5 through the opening 6.

[0024] As shown in Figure 2, the horizontal end 6a of the rear wall 5d protrudes towards the cooling plate 2 side beyond the opening 6. Therefore, the upper surface portion 5d TS Even if the cold air that passes through the gap between the cooling plate 2 flows towards the end of the back wall 5d, it will hit the end 6a of the back wall 5d. The cold air that hits the end 6a of the back wall 5d flows into the storage case 5 through the opening 6. As a result, most of the cold air released from the low-temperature area flows into the storage case 5.

[0025] The cold air that flows into storage case 5 circulates within storage case 5 through natural convection. The cold air that flows into the storage case 5 is discharged to the outside of the storage case 5 through the slits 7 provided in the storage case 5. The presence of the slit 7 in the storage case 5 allows for greater natural convection than if the slit 7 were not present in the storage case 5, resulting in smoother circulation of cold air inside the storage case 5.

[0026] In the above embodiment 1, the drawer-type refrigerator is configured to include a cooling plate 2 located on the rear side inside the refrigerator, a heat transfer member 4 having a first joining surface 4a and a second joining surface 4b, to which the cooling surface 3a of the refrigerator's thermoelectric conversion element 3 and the first joining surface 4a are joined, and to which the cooling plate 2 and the second joining surface 4b are joined, and a storage case 5 that is supported by the drawer door 8 of the refrigerator and stored inside the refrigerator. Furthermore, in the drawer-type refrigerator, of the multiple side walls 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d of the storage case 5, the rear wall 5d, which is the side wall on the rear side inside the refrigerator, has one or more openings 6, the shape of the opening 6 is rectangular, and the bottom surface 5d is a flat plate that represents the bottom edge of the rectangle. BSThe end of the cooling plate 2 side protrudes further toward the cooling plate 2 side than the opening 6, and the lower surface portion 5d BS The vertical position of the lower end 4b of the second joint surface 4b BS This position is lower than the vertical position. Therefore, the drawer-type refrigerator can allow cold air from the low-temperature portion of the cooling plate 2 to flow into the interior of the storage case 5.

[0027] In Embodiment 1, the upper surface portion 5d is a flat plate representing the top edge of the rectangle. TS The end of the cooling plate 2 side protrudes further towards the cooling plate 2 side than the opening 6, and the upper surface portion 5d TS The drawer-type refrigerator was configured such that the vertical position of the second joint surface 4b is one of the positions within the vertical range of the second joint surface 4b. Therefore, the drawer-type refrigerator can allow most of the cold air released from the low-temperature portion of the cooling plate 2 to flow into the storage case 5 through the upper opening of the storage case 5 by natural convection.

[0028] In Embodiment 1, the upper surface portion 5d is a flat plate representing the top edge of the rectangle. TS The end of the cooling plate 2 side protrudes further towards the cooling plate 2 side than the opening 6, and the upper surface portion 5d TS The vertical position of the lower end 4b on the second joint surface 2b BS The drawer-type refrigerator was configured so that its position is the same as the vertical position of the cooling plate 2. Therefore, the drawer-type refrigerator can allow most of the cold air released from the low-temperature portion of the cooling plate 2 to flow into the storage case 5 through the upper opening of the storage case 5 by natural convection.

[0029] In Embodiment 1, the drawer-type refrigerator was configured such that the horizontal end 6a of the rear wall 5d protrudes toward the cooling plate 2 side beyond the opening 6. Therefore, the drawer-type refrigerator has an upper surface 5d TS Even if the cold air that has passed through the gap between the cooling plate 2 flows towards the end of the back wall 5d, it will still hit the end 6a of the back wall 5d. As a result, the cold air that has flowed towards the end of the back wall 5d can be allowed to flow into the storage case 5 through the opening 6.

[0030] In Embodiment 1, the drawer-type refrigerator was configured such that slits 7 were provided in the side walls 5b and 5c, which are the side walls on the interior side of the refrigerator, among the multiple side walls 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d of the storage case 5. Therefore, the drawer-type refrigerator can increase natural convection and increase the amount of cold air flowing into the storage case 5.

[0031] In Embodiment 1, the drawer-type refrigerator was configured such that the slits 7 in the side walls 5b and 5c are located closer to the front wall 5a, which is the front side wall inside the refrigerator, than to the rear wall 5d. Therefore, the drawer-type refrigerator can further enhance natural convection and increase the amount of cold air flowing into the storage case 5. This allows the contents of the storage case 5 to be cooled with less electricity. In other words, the energy-saving effect of the refrigerator can be enhanced.

[0032] It should be noted that this disclosure allows for modifications of any component of the embodiment, or the omission of any component of the embodiment. [Industrial applicability]

[0033] This disclosure is suitable for drawer-type refrigerators. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0034] 1 Housing, 2 Cooling plate, 3 Thermoelectric conversion element, 3a Cooling surface, 4 Heat transfer member, 4a First bonding surface, 4b Second bonding surface, 4b BS Bottom end, 5 Storage case, 5a Front wall, 5b, 5c Side walls, 5d Rear wall, 5d' Support column, 5d TS Top part, 5d BS Bottom section, 6 opening section, 6a end section, 7 slit, 8 drawer door, 9 rail.

Claims

1. The cooling plate located on the back side inside the refrigerator, A heat transfer member having a first joining surface and a second joining surface, wherein the cooling surface of the thermoelectric conversion element of the refrigerator is joined to the first joining surface, and the cooling plate is joined to the second joining surface, The refrigerator comprises a storage case that is supported by the drawer door of the refrigerator and stored inside the refrigerator, Of the multiple side walls in the storage case, the back wall, which is the side wall on the back side inside the refrigerator, has one or more openings. The opening is rectangular in shape, and the end of the lower surface portion, which is a flat plate representing the lower edge of the rectangle, on the cooling plate side protrudes further toward the cooling plate than the opening. A drawer-type refrigerator characterized in that the vertical position of the lower surface is lower than the vertical position of the lower end of the second joint surface.

2. The end of the upper surface portion, which is a flat plate representing the upper edge of the rectangle, on the cooling plate side, protrudes further toward the cooling plate side than the opening portion. The drawer-type refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that the vertical position of the upper surface portion is any position within the vertical range of the second joining surface.

3. The end of the upper surface portion, which is a flat plate representing the upper edge of the rectangle, on the cooling plate side, protrudes further toward the cooling plate side than the opening portion. The drawer-type refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that the vertical position of the upper surface is the same as the vertical position of the lower end of the second joint surface.

4. The drawer-type refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that the horizontal end of the rear wall protrudes further toward the cooling plate than the opening.

5. The drawer-type refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, among the multiple side walls of the storage case, a slit is provided in the side wall that is on the side side inside the refrigerator.

6. The position where the slit is provided in the aforementioned side wall is, The drawer-type refrigerator according to claim 5, characterized in that the position is closer to the front wall, which is the side wall on the front side of the interior of the refrigerator, than to the rear wall.

7. The cooling plate is The drawer-type refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that it is arranged on the rear side and the upper side of the interior of the refrigerator.

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