Structure and refrigerator

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a structure and a refrigerator with which it is possible to use a structure as a duct without separately using a duct or a heat-insulating material in the structure, and to reduce manufacturing cost.　A structure according to the present disclosure comprises a plurality of column members, and a plurality of plate members attached to the column members. The column members are configured from an outer column member, an inner column member disposed inside the outer column member so as to have a prescribed gap with respect to the inner surface of the outer column member, and an end surface member that closes the end surfaces of the outer column member and the inner column member. The inner side of the inner column member is used as a duct.

Description

Structures and refrigerators

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a structure and a refrigerator.

[0002] Patent document 1 discloses a refrigerator that includes an insulated box body in which a freezer compartment with an opening is formed, and a refrigeration cycle that cools the air blown into the freezer compartment, and the insulation material includes a side vacuum insulation material and a foam insulation material, and further, the side vacuum insulation material is arranged between a connecting pipe that is continuous with the frame pipe and the inner box, thereby insulating the freezer compartment formed inside the inner box from the connecting pipe.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-106213

[0004] The present disclosure provides a structure and a refrigerator that can utilize the structure as a duct without using a separate duct or insulating material in the structure, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

[0005] The structure of the present disclosure comprises a plurality of column members and a plurality of plate members attached to the column members, and the column members are composed of an outer column member, an inner column member arranged inside the outer column member with a predetermined gap from the inner surface of the outer column member, and an end face member that closes the end faces of the outer column member and the inner column member, and the inside of the inner column member is used as a duct.

[0006] The refrigerator according to the present disclosure has a refrigerator body formed using the structure according to claim 1 or 2, the refrigerator body including a cooled compartment, and the pillar members of the structure being ducts for delivering cooled air to the cooled compartment. This specification includes the entire contents of Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-007227, filed on January 22, 2024.

[0007] The structure of the present disclosure can be used as a duct without using a separate duct in the structure, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.The refrigerator of the present disclosure can send cooled air to the cooled compartment through the pillar members during operation of the refrigerator.As a result, since a separate duct is not used in the refrigerator, manufacturing costs can be reduced and large internal spaces can be secured for the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a structure in embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a pillar member in embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the pillar member in embodiment 1. FIG. 4 is a front view of a refrigerator in embodiment 2. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a refrigerator in embodiment 2 with the door omitted. FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the refrigerator in embodiment 2. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the refrigerator in embodiment 2.

[0009] (Knowledge, etc. that formed the basis of the present disclosure) At the time the inventors arrived at the idea of ​​the present disclosure, a typical structure was composed of a plurality of pillar members and plate members attached to these pillar members. In such structures, the pillar members were formed solid or hollow to achieve a balance between rigidity and light weight. On the other hand, when applied to a refrigerator as a structure, it was necessary to place a thermal insulator between an insulated box body in which a cooling chamber cooled to a predetermined temperature was formed and an inner box placed inside the insulated box, and also to place a thermal insulator in refrigerant piping, ducts for circulating cooling air, and the like.

[0010] This necessitates the use of heat insulating materials, which increases manufacturing costs. The inventors discovered another problem: a separate duct must be provided to circulate the cooling air. The present disclosure has been conceived to address this problem. The present disclosure provides a structure and a refrigerator that can utilize the structure as a duct without using a separate duct or heat insulating material in the structure, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, more detailed description than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed description of already well-known matters or redundant description of substantially the same configuration may be omitted. Note that the accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

[0012] (Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, embodiment 1 will be described with reference to the drawings. [1-1. Configuration of structure] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a structure according to embodiment 1. As shown in FIG. 1, structure 10 includes a plurality of pillar members 11 that form the framework of structure 10, and a plurality of plate members 12 attached to these pillar members 11. Four pillar members 11 are provided extending vertically in FIG. 1, and four pillar members 11 are provided on each of the top and bottom sides that connect the top and bottom ends of the vertical pillar members 11. This forms a frame body made up of pillar members 11. Plate members 12 are attached to the pillar members 11, respectively, so as to close the spaces between the pillar members 11. These pillar members 11 and plate members 12 form structure 10 that maintains rigidity.

[0013] This structure 10 is the most basic structure 10, and is designed for each product to which it is applied while balancing rigidity and light weight. That is, the shape of the pillar members 11 is not limited to a straight line, but may be bent or arc-shaped. The number of pillar members 11 is also set appropriately depending on the product to which it is applied.

[0014] Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the pillar member 11 in embodiment 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the pillar member 11 in embodiment 1. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the pillar member 11 is composed of an outer pillar member 20 and an inner pillar member 21 that is placed inside the outer pillar member 20 with a predetermined gap between it and the inner surface of the outer pillar member 20. The inside of the inner pillar member 21 is hollow. The end faces of the outer pillar member 20 and the inner pillar member 21 are closed by end face members 22. In this embodiment, the space between the outer pillar member 20 and the inner pillar member 21 is a vacuum.

[0015] [1-2. Operation] Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. The structure 10 of the first embodiment is formed into various shapes depending on the product to which it is applied. The column members 11 are used as ducts for sending fluids such as air to various parts of the product depending on the product to which it is applied. This allows the column members 11 of the structure 10 to be used as ducts without using a separate duct in the product, eliminating the need to provide a separate duct in the product.

[0016] Furthermore, by creating a vacuum in the space between the outer column member 20 and the inner column member 21, heat transfer between the outside of the outer column member 20 and the inside of the inner column member 21 can be suppressed. Therefore, when a fluid with a different temperature than that outside the outer column member 20 is flowed through the space inside the inner column member 21, a sufficient thermal insulation effect can be obtained using only the column member 11 without providing any insulating material in the column member 11. [1-3. Effects, etc.] As described above, the structure 10 of Embodiment 1 includes multiple column members 11 and multiple plate members 12 attached to the column members 11. The column member 11 is composed of the outer column member 20, the inner column member 21 arranged inside the outer column member 20 with a predetermined gap from the inner surface of the outer column member 20, and the end surface member 22 closing the end surfaces of the outer column member 20 and the inner column member 21, and the inside of the inner column member 21 is used as a duct. This allows the structure 10 to be used as a duct without requiring a separate duct in the structure 10, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

[0017] Furthermore, in the structure 10 of embodiment 1, the space between the outer column member 20 and the inner column member 21 is evacuated. By evacuating the space between the outer column member 20 and the inner column member 21, heat transfer between the outside of the outer column member 20 and the inside of the inner column member 21 can be suppressed. Therefore, a sufficient heat insulating effect can be obtained with the column member 11 alone, without providing a heat insulating material in the column member 11.

[0018] (Embodiment 2) Next, embodiment 2 of the present disclosure will be described. Embodiment 2 is an embodiment of a refrigerator to which structure 10 of embodiment 1 is applied. [2-1. Configuration of Refrigerator] Fig. 4 is a front view of a refrigerator in embodiment 2. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the refrigerator in embodiment 2 with the door omitted. Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the refrigerator in embodiment 2. Fig. 7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the refrigerator in embodiment 2.

[0019] As shown in Figures 4 to 7, refrigerator 30 includes a box-shaped refrigerator body 31 that is open at the front. Refrigerator body 31 includes supply airflow duct 32 as a pillar member that is arranged on the front side of refrigerator body 31. In this embodiment, supply airflow duct 32 is formed to have a substantially rectangular cross section that is long in the front-to-rear direction. Also, return airflow duct 33 is provided as a pillar member that is arranged on the rear side of refrigerator body 31. In this embodiment, return airflow duct 33 is formed to have a pentagonal cross section with a slope on the refrigerator compartment side.

[0020] Side panels 34 serving as plate members covering both side surfaces of refrigerator body 31 are provided between supply air passage duct 32 and return air passage duct 33 of refrigerator body 31. Back panel 35 serving as plate member 12 covering the back surface of refrigerator body 31 is provided between two return air passage ducts 33 of refrigerator body 31. Supply air passage duct 32, return air passage duct 33, side panels 34, and back panel 35 form the structural body of refrigerator 30.

[0021] A refrigerating compartment 40 is provided at the top of the inside of the refrigerator body 31. A plurality of shelves 41 are provided in the refrigerating compartment 40, and a partial compartment 42 is provided at the bottom inside the refrigerating compartment 40. The refrigerating compartment 40 is a room for storing food in a refrigerator, and is cooled to a low temperature that does not freeze, specifically, typically set to 1 to 5°C. The partial compartment 42 provided within the refrigerating compartment 40 is cooled to a temperature that is lower than the refrigerating compartment 40, at around -3°C.

[0022] Inside the refrigerator body 2, a vegetable compartment 46 is provided below the refrigerator compartment 40. The vegetable compartment 46 is set to a temperature equal to or slightly higher than that of the refrigerator compartment 40, specifically, set to a temperature between 2 and 7°C. This vegetable compartment 46 becomes highly humid due to moisture emitted from stored foods such as vegetables, and condensation can occur if it becomes too cold locally. Therefore, by setting the temperature relatively high, the amount of cooling is reduced, preventing condensation from occurring due to localized excessive cooling.

[0023] A freezer compartment 43 is provided at the bottom inside the refrigerator body 31. The freezer compartment 43 is a room set to a freezing temperature range, and specifically, is normally set to and cooled at a temperature of −22 to −18°C, but to improve the frozen storage state, it is set to and cooled at a lower temperature such as −30°C or −25°C.

[0024] A double-door refrigerator compartment door 44 is provided on the front side of the refrigerator compartment 40 so as to be able to be opened and closed freely. A drawer-type freezer compartment door 45 is provided on the front side of the freezer compartment 43.

[0025] As shown in Fig. 6 , a lower portion of refrigerator body 31 is defined as machine room 50. Inside machine room 50, a partition plate 51 is provided to separate machine room 50 into upper and lower portions. A compressor 52 and a condenser 53 are housed below partition plate 51. A cooler 54 and a cooling fan 55 are housed above partition plate 51. Compressor 52, condenser 53, and cooler 54 are connected by refrigerant piping (not shown) to form a refrigeration cycle circuit.

[0026] An air outlet (not shown) is formed at the lower end of the supply air duct 32, communicating with the upper portion of the partition plate 51 of the machine compartment 50. As shown in FIG. 5 , air outlets 36 are formed in the supply air duct 32 at positions corresponding to the freezer compartment 43, the vegetable compartment 46, and the refrigerator compartment 40. In this embodiment, a plurality of air outlets 36 for the refrigerator compartment 40 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction. This allows the refrigerator compartment 40 to be uniformly cooled by blowing cooled air from the plurality of air outlets 36. The supply air duct 32 may be provided with a damper or the like for selectively directing the cooled air flowing through the supply air duct 32 to the freezer compartment 43, the vegetable compartment 46, or the refrigerator compartment 40.

[0027] A return port (not shown) that communicates with the upper part of partition plate 51 is formed at the lower end portion of return air passage duct 33. Air inlets are formed in return air passage duct 33 at positions corresponding to freezer compartment 43, vegetable compartment 46, and refrigerator compartment 40. In this embodiment, a plurality of air inlets for refrigerator compartment 40 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction.

[0028] [2-2. Operation] Next, the operation of refrigerator 30 in embodiment 1 will be described. In this embodiment, when refrigerator 30 is operating, compressor 52 provided in refrigerator 30 is driven to circulate refrigerant through condenser 53 and cooler 54 in that order, thereby cooling the refrigerant through heat exchange with air flowing through the space above partition plate 51. The cooled air is sent into supply air duct 32 from the air outlet of supply air duct 32. The air sent to supply air duct 32 is blown into the refrigerator from air outlet 36 of freezer compartment 43, vegetable compartment 46, or refrigerator compartment 40, respectively. These operations cool freezer compartment 43, vegetable compartment 46, or refrigerator compartment 40.

[0029] The air that has cooled the freezer compartment 43, vegetable compartment 46, or refrigerator compartment 40 is drawn into the return air duct 33 through the intake port and returned to the space above the partition plate 51 through the return port. In this manner, in this embodiment, the pillar members that make up the structure are used as the supply air duct 32 and the return air duct 33. This eliminates the need to provide a separate duct for circulating air in the refrigerator 30. Therefore, by omitting the duct, it is possible to ensure a larger internal space for the refrigerator compartment 40 and the freezer compartment 43.

[0030] In addition, since the space between the outer column member 20 and the inner column member 21 is evacuated, it is possible to suppress heat transfer between the outside of the outer column member 20 and the inside of the inner column member 21. Therefore, a sufficient heat insulation effect can be obtained without providing separate heat insulation materials in the supply air passage duct 32 and the return air passage duct 33.

[0031] [1-3. Effects, etc.] As described above, the refrigerator 30 of this embodiment has a refrigerator body 31 formed using a structure including multiple pillar members and multiple plate members 12 attached to the pillar members. The refrigerator body 31 includes a cooled compartment, and the pillar members of the structure are ducts that send cooled air to the cooled compartment. As a result, when the refrigerator 30 is operating, cooled air can be sent to the cooled compartment via the pillar members. Therefore, since no separate ducts are used in the refrigerator 30, manufacturing costs can be reduced and large internal spaces can be ensured for the refrigerator compartment 40 and the freezer compartment 43. Furthermore, because the space between the outer pillar member 20 and the inner pillar member 21 is a vacuum, sufficient insulation can be achieved without using insulating material in the supply airflow duct 32 and the return airflow duct 33.

[0032] Furthermore, in refrigerator 30 of the present embodiment, pillar members are arranged to extend in the vertical direction at four corners of refrigerator body 31. This allows cooled air to be sent in the vertical direction of refrigerator body 31 via the pillar members. Therefore, cooled air can be sent without using a separate duct or heat insulating material, which reduces manufacturing costs and allows for larger internal spaces to be secured for refrigerator compartment 40 and freezer compartment 43.

[0033] Furthermore, in refrigerator 30 of this embodiment, machine room 50 is disposed below refrigerator body 31, and at least one of the pillar members is supply airflow duct 32 that sends cooled air from cooler 54 housed in machine room 50 to the cooled compartment, and at least another of the pillar members is return airflow duct 33 that returns cooled air from the cooled compartment to machine room 50. This allows cooled air to circulate in the vertical direction of refrigerator body 31 via supply airflow duct 32 and return airflow duct 33. Therefore, cooled air can be sent without using additional ducts and thermal insulation, which reduces manufacturing costs and enables larger internal spaces to be secured for refrigerator compartment 40 and freezer compartment 43.

[0034] (Other Embodiments) Note that the first embodiment has been described as an example of the technology disclosed in the present application. However, the technology in the present disclosure is not limited to this, and can also be applied to embodiments in which modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, etc. are made.

[0035] (Additional Notes) The above description of the embodiments discloses the following techniques.

[0036] (Technology 1) A structure comprising a plurality of pillar members and a plurality of plate members attached to the pillar members, the pillar members being composed of an outer pillar member, an inner pillar member arranged inside the outer pillar member with a predetermined gap from the inner surface of the outer pillar member, and an end face member closing the end faces of the outer pillar member and the inner pillar member, the inside of the inner pillar member being used as a duct. With this configuration, the structure can be used as a duct without using a separate duct in the structure, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

[0037] (Technology 2) The structure according to Technology 1, wherein the space between the outer column member and the inner column member is a vacuum. With this configuration, by evacuating the space between the outer column member and the inner column member, heat transfer between the outside of the outer column member and the inside of the inner column member can be suppressed. Therefore, a sufficient heat insulating effect can be obtained using only the column members without providing a heat insulating material in the column members.

[0038] (Technology 3) A refrigerator body is constructed using the structure described in Technology 1 or Technology 2, the refrigerator body includes a cooled compartment, and the pillar members of the structure are ducts that send cooled air to the cooled compartment. With this configuration, cooled air can be sent to the cooled compartment via the pillar members when the refrigerator is operating. Therefore, since no separate ducts are required in the refrigerator, manufacturing costs can be reduced and large internal spaces can be secured for the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment. Furthermore, since the space between the outer pillar member and the inner pillar member is a vacuum, sufficient insulation can be achieved without using insulation material in the supply air duct and the return air duct.

[0039] (Technology 4) The refrigerator according to Technology 3, wherein the pillar members are arranged at four corners of the refrigerator body so as to extend in the vertical direction. With this configuration, cooled air can be sent in the vertical direction of the refrigerator body via the pillar members. Therefore, cooled air can be sent without using a separate duct or heat insulating material, which reduces manufacturing costs and enables the interior space of the refrigerator compartment and freezer compartment to be large.

[0040] (Technology 5) The refrigerator according to Technology 3, wherein a machine compartment is disposed below the refrigerator body, at least one of the pillar members is a supply air duct that sends cooled air from a cooling compartment housed in the machine compartment to the cooled compartment, and at least another of the pillar members is a return air duct that returns cooled air from the cooled compartment to the machine compartment. With this configuration, cooled air can be circulated in the vertical direction of the refrigerator body via the supply air duct and the return air duct. Therefore, cooled air can be sent without using additional ducts or thermal insulation, reducing manufacturing costs and ensuring large internal spaces for the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment.

[0041] As described above, the present disclosure can be suitably used as a structure that can use the structure itself as a duct without using a separate duct. Also, the present disclosure can be suitably used as a refrigerator that can cool a refrigerator compartment and the like without using a separate duct or insulating material, and can also provide thermal insulation for pillar members.

[0042] REFRIGERATOR LIST 10 Structural body 11 Pillar member 12 Plate member 20 Outer pillar member 21 Inner pillar member 22 End surface member 30 Refrigerator 31 Refrigerator body 32 Supply air duct 33 Return air duct 34 Side panel 35 Back panel 36 Air outlet 40 Refrigerator compartment 41 Shelf 42 Partial compartment 43 Freezer compartment 44 Refrigerator compartment door 45 Freezer compartment door 46 Vegetable compartment 50 Machine compartment 51 Partition panel 52 Compressor 53 Condenser 54 Cooler 55 Cooling fan

Claims

1. A structure comprising a plurality of column members and a plurality of plate members attached to the column members, wherein the column members are composed of an outer column member, an inner column member disposed inside the outer column member with a predetermined gap from the inner surface of the outer column member, and an end face member that closes the end faces of the outer column member and the inner column member, and the inside of the inner column member is used as a duct.

2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the space between the outer column member and the inner column member is evacuated.

3. A refrigerator configured by using the structure according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the refrigerator body includes a cooled chamber, and the column member of the structure is a duct that sends cooling air to the cooled chamber.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the column members are arranged to extend vertically at the four corners of the refrigerator body.

5. A machine room is arranged below the refrigerator body, at least one of the column members is a supply air duct that sends cooling air from the cooling in the machine room to the cooled chamber, and at least one of the other column members is a return air duct that returns the cooling air from the cooled chamber to the machine room. The refrigerator according to claim 3.

Images