Refrigeration apparatus

Abstract

Disclosed in the present application is a refrigeration apparatus. In the refrigeration apparatus, a first spacer (4) is provided between a first compartment (1) and a second compartment (2), and a second spacer (5) is provided between the second compartment (2) and a third compartment (3), the first spacer (4) being configured to be capable of transferring cold from the first compartment (1) to the second compartment (2) and / or the second spacer (5) being configured to be capable of transferring cold from the third compartment (3) to the second compartment (2). Thus, cold is supplied to the second compartment (2) in a high-temperature zone by means of thermal radiation, such that there is no need to provide a separate air supply structure for the second compartment (2), thus realizing the arrangement of multiple temperature zones in the refrigeration apparatus, and also simplifying the internal structure and control logic of the refrigeration apparatus.

Description

Refrigeration equipment

[0001] This application is based on the Chinese patent application with application number 202410162429.4 and application date of February 5, 2024, and claims the priority of the Chinese patent application. The entire content of the above patent application is hereby introduced into this application as a reference. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to a refrigeration device. Background Art

[0003] As living standards improve, people have increasing demands for refrigerators. Consequently, refrigerators with multiple temperature zones have emerged. To ensure that different compartments correspond to different temperature zones, conventional refrigerators are typically multi-system refrigerators, with corresponding air supply structures configured for each temperature zone. This results in complex structures and control logic for existing multi-temperature zone refrigerators.

[0004] The reference to any prior art in the specification is not an acknowledgement or suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in any jurisdiction, or that it could reasonably be expected that the person skilled in the art would understand, consider relevant and / or combine with other prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this application is to provide a refrigeration device to solve the above problems.

[0006] To achieve one of the above-mentioned objects of the invention, the present application provides a refrigeration device, comprising a refrigeration compartment, a single refrigeration system providing cooling to the refrigeration compartment, and an air duct connecting the single refrigeration system and the refrigeration compartment, wherein the refrigeration compartment comprises a first compartment, a second compartment, and a third compartment sequentially arranged along a preset direction, wherein a preset temperature of the second compartment is higher than the preset temperatures of the first compartment and the third compartment; a first partition is provided between the first compartment and the second compartment, and a second partition is provided between the second compartment and the third compartment, wherein the first partition is configured to transfer cooling from the first compartment to the second compartment and / or the second partition is configured to transfer cooling from the third compartment to the second compartment.

[0007] As a further improvement to the embodiment of the present application, the preset temperature of the first chamber is higher than the preset temperature of the third chamber; and the first partition is provided with a first air inlet connecting the first chamber and the second chamber.

[0008] As a further improvement of the embodiment of the present application, the first chamber includes a first return air outlet, and the air duct includes a cooling air duct connecting the first return air outlet and the second chamber.

[0009] As a further improvement to the embodiment of the present application, the second chamber has a first air supply port connected to the air duct and a first damper for controlling the size of the first air supply port.

[0010] As a further improvement to the embodiment of the present application, the first chamber includes a third air supply outlet connected to the air duct, a first air return outlet, and a second damper for controlling the size of the third air supply outlet. A fourth chamber is further provided in the first chamber, and the temperature of the fourth chamber is lower than that of the first chamber. The fourth chamber has a second air supply outlet connected to the air duct and a third damper for controlling the size of the second air supply outlet. The fourth chamber and the first chamber share the first return air outlet.

[0011] As a further improvement of the embodiment of the present application, the fourth chamber includes a top wall and a drainage plate formed with the top wall to form a drainage air duct, the drainage air duct is connected to the second air supply port, and air outlets are provided on both sides of the width direction of the drainage plate, and the air outlets connect the drainage air duct and the fourth chamber.

[0012] As a further improvement of the implementation mode of the present application, the air outlet includes a main air outlet and an auxiliary air outlet arranged relatively to each other along the width direction of the refrigeration equipment, the auxiliary air outlet is located on the side close to the first return air outlet, and the number of air outlets of the main air outlet is greater than the number of air outlets of the auxiliary air outlet.

[0013] As a further improvement of the embodiment of the present application, the fourth chamber includes a storage box slidably connected to the first chamber, and the air outlet faces the inside of the storage box; a second air outlet is provided through the side wall of the storage box.

[0014] As a further improvement of the embodiment of the present application, along the height direction of the refrigeration equipment, there is a return air gap between the bottom wall of the storage box and the bottom wall of the first chamber, and the first return air port is arranged corresponding to the return air gap.

[0015] As a further improvement of the embodiment of the present application, the first chamber is a refrigeration chamber, the third chamber is a freezer chamber, and the fourth chamber is an ice chamber.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effect of the present application is that a high-temperature zone is set between two low-temperature zones, and cooling is supplied to the second chamber of the high-temperature zone by heat radiation through the first chamber and / or the third chamber of the low-temperature zone, thereby eliminating the need to set up a separate air supply structure for the second chamber. This not only realizes the multi-temperature zone setting of the refrigeration equipment, but also simplifies the internal structure and control logic of the refrigeration equipment.

[0017] As used herein, the term "comprise" and variations of the term, such as "comprises," "comprised," "comprising," "including," and "containing" do not exclude other features, components, elements, or steps unless the context clearly requires otherwise. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] FIG1 is a schematic structural diagram of a refrigeration device in a specific embodiment of the present application;

[0019] FIG2 is a schematic structural diagram of a refrigeration compartment in the refrigeration equipment in FIG1 ;

[0020] FIG3 is an exploded schematic diagram of the second and fourth chambers in FIG2 ;

[0021] FIG4 is a schematic structural diagram of the guide plate in FIG3 ;

[0022] FIG5 is a schematic structural diagram of the refrigeration compartment in FIG1 from another perspective;

[0023] FIG6 is an enlarged view of point A in FIG5 . DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The present application will be described in detail below with reference to the specific embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, these embodiments do not limit the present application, and any structural, methodological, or functional changes made by a person skilled in the art based on these embodiments are included within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0025] It should be understood that the terms used herein, such as "upper," "lower," "inner," and "front," etc., indicating spatial relative positions, are used for ease of explanation to describe the relationship of one component or feature relative to another component or feature as shown in the drawings. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation other than the orientation shown in the drawings.

[0026] 1 to 6 , the present application provides a refrigeration device, which includes a housing, a door body that is jointly arranged with the housing to form a refrigeration compartment, a single refrigeration system that provides cooling to the refrigeration compartment, and an air duct connecting the single refrigeration system and the refrigeration compartment.

[0027] Specifically, the air duct includes a supply duct that transports the cold air in the refrigeration compartment to the refrigeration compartment, and a return duct that returns the return air in the refrigeration compartment to the refrigeration system. Furthermore, a fan may be provided in the air duct to facilitate airflow between the refrigeration compartment and the air duct.

[0028] It is understood that the refrigeration equipment can be a refrigerator or a freezer. A single refrigeration system refers to a refrigeration system with only one evaporator, that is, only one evaporator provides cooling to the refrigeration compartment. It is understood that when the refrigeration compartment is multiple, the evaporator of the single refrigeration system can provide cooling to multiple compartments simultaneously.

[0029] Specifically, the refrigeration compartment includes a first compartment 1, a second compartment 2, and a third compartment 3 sequentially arranged along a preset direction. In a specific embodiment, the preset direction is the height direction of the refrigeration equipment, but of course, it is not limited thereto.

[0030] The preset temperature of the second chamber 2 is higher than the preset temperatures of the first chamber 1 and the third chamber 3. A first partition 4 is provided between the first chamber 1 and the second chamber 2, and a second partition 5 is provided between the second chamber 2 and the third chamber 3. The first partition 4 is configured to transfer cooling energy from the first chamber 1 to the second chamber 2 and / or the second partition 5 is configured to transfer cooling energy from the third chamber 3 to the second chamber 2. The refrigeration device of the present application provides a high-temperature zone between two low-temperature zones. Cooling energy is provided to the second chamber 2 in the high-temperature zone by thermal radiation from the first chamber 1 and / or the third chamber 3 in the low-temperature zone, eliminating the need for a separate air supply structure for the second chamber 2. This not only achieves multi-temperature zone configuration of the refrigeration device, but also simplifies the internal structure and control logic of the refrigeration device, while achieving energy conservation.

[0031] In one embodiment of the present application, the cooling capacity of the first chamber 1 can be transferred to the second chamber 2 only through the first partition 4, or the cooling capacity of the first chamber 1 can be transferred to the second chamber 2 only through the second partition 5, thereby achieving cooling of the second chamber 2. It is understood that the first chamber 1 and the third chamber 3 can be set to different temperatures. For example, the temperature of the third chamber 3 is lower than that of the first chamber 1. In this case, the cooling capacity of the third chamber 3 is transferred to the second chamber 2 through the second partition 5. Compared with the cooling capacity of the first chamber 1 being transferred to the second chamber 2 through the first partition 4, the third chamber 3 can provide more cooling capacity to the second chamber 2 per unit time than the first chamber 1, thereby accelerating the cooling speed of the second chamber 2, while the partition arrangement structure remains unchanged.

[0032] In another embodiment of the present application, the first partition 4 is configured to transfer the coldness of the first chamber 1 to the second chamber 2, and the second partition 5 is configured to transfer the coldness of the third chamber 3 to the second chamber 2. Through the first partition 4 and the second partition 5, the first chamber 1 and the third chamber 3 simultaneously transfer coldness to the second chamber 2, thereby achieving rapid cooling of the second chamber 2.

[0033] It is understood that the first partition 4 and the second partition 5 can be a partition or a foam layer. Referring to Figure 2, the following uses a foam layer as an example of the second partition 5 disposed between the second and third chambers 2 and 3 to specifically illustrate how to adjust the amount of cooling energy radiated from the third chamber 3 to the second chamber 2 by controlling the thickness of the foam layer. When the temperature difference between the second and third chambers 2 and 3 is small, or when the second chamber 2 requires rapid cooling, the foam layer between the second and third chambers 2 and 3 can be thinned to allow the third chamber 3 to transfer more cooling energy to the second chamber 2. Conversely, when the temperature difference between the second and third chambers 2 and 3 is large, a slightly thicker foam layer can be provided between the second and third chambers 2 and 3 to achieve a desired temperature range for the temperature within the second chamber 2.

[0034] Furthermore, the preset temperature of the first chamber 1 is higher than the preset temperature of the third chamber 3; the first partition 4 is provided with a first air inlet 41 connecting the first chamber 1 and the second chamber 2. Referring to Figures 5 and 6, part of the cold air from the first chamber 1 is directly introduced into the second chamber 2 through the first air inlet 41, thereby accelerating the cooling efficiency of the second chamber 2.

[0035] It is understood that the first chamber 1 is provided with a third air supply port and a first air return port 12 connected to the air duct, and a second damper for controlling the size of the third air supply port. The arrow in Figure 2 indicates the schematic air path of the first chamber 1. Preferably, the third air supply port can be located at the top of the first chamber 1 to diffuse the cooling air entering the first chamber 1 downward, ensuring uniform cooling of the first chamber 1. The first air inlet 41 is located near the first return air inlet 12, allowing some of the cold air on the return air path of the first chamber 1 to enter the second chamber 2 through the first air inlet 41, thereby accelerating the cooling speed of the second chamber 2 without affecting the cooling temperature of the first chamber 1.

[0036] In a specific embodiment of the present application, the air duct includes a cooling air duct 6 connecting the first return air port 12 and the second chamber 2. The return air from the first chamber 1 is introduced into the second chamber 2 through the cooling air duct 6. While ensuring the cooling temperature of the first chamber 1, the return air from the first chamber 1 and the thermal radiation cooling are used together to achieve rapid cooling of the second chamber 2.

[0037] In a specific embodiment of the present application, the second chamber 2 has a first air supply port 21 connected to the air duct and a first damper for controlling the size of the first air supply port 21. When the second chamber 2 needs to be adjusted to a lower temperature chamber, the first damper can be controlled to open to supply air to the first air supply port 21, so that the second chamber 2 obtains more cooling capacity, thereby realizing multi-temperature zone control of the refrigeration equipment.

[0038] In a specific embodiment of the present application, the first compartment 1 is provided with a third air supply port and a first air return port 12 connected to the air duct, and a second damper for controlling the size of the third air supply port. The first compartment 1 is also provided with a fourth compartment 8, the temperature of which is lower than that of the first compartment 1. The fourth compartment 8 has a second air supply port 81 connected to the air duct, and a third damper for controlling the size of the second air supply port. The second air supply port 81 provides independent cooling to the fourth compartment 8, thereby achieving rapid cooling of the fourth compartment 8. The fourth compartment 8 shares the first return port 12 with the first compartment 1, allowing the return air from the fourth compartment 8 to enter the second compartment 2 through the cooling air duct 6, fully utilizing the cooling capacity of the fourth compartment 8 to cool the second compartment 2.

[0039] For ease of understanding, the following example illustrates the first compartment 1 as a refrigerator, the second compartment 2 as a fruit and vegetable compartment, the third compartment 3 as a freezer, and the fourth compartment 8 as a chiller. Specifically, the refrigerator temperature is 4°C, the chiller temperature is -3°C, and the fruit and vegetable compartment is 8°C. The freezer compartment may also include multiple freezers with different temperature zones, such as a two-star freezer at -12°C and a four-star freezer at -18°C. It will be understood that the temperature settings for each of the above compartments are merely examples and are not limited to these specific settings. The temperature setting only needs to satisfy the following order: third compartment < fourth compartment < first compartment < second compartment.

[0040] The single refrigeration system includes a freezer evaporator that provides cooling for the refrigeration equipment. In one embodiment of the present application, the freezer evaporator provides cooling to the refrigerator compartment, freezer compartment, and chiller compartment. The opening and closing of a damper controls whether the freezer evaporator provides cooling to the refrigerator compartment or chiller compartment, and the degree of opening of the damper controls the amount of cooling provided by the cold air evaporator to each compartment. It is understood that when the freezer evaporator provides cooling to the refrigerator compartment or chiller compartment, it also provides cooling to the chiller compartment.

[0041] In the present application, the refrigeration equipment can be equipped with a refrigeration temperature sensor and an ice temperature sensor in the refrigeration room and the ice room respectively, and the status of the second damper and the third damper can be regulated by the data of the corresponding temperature sensors.

[0042] Furthermore, the fourth compartment 8 includes a top wall 80 and side walls. As shown in Figures 3 and 4 , a guide plate 9 is installed within the fourth compartment 8. The guide plate 9 and the top wall 80 enclose the guide duct, which is connected to the second air supply port 81. It is understood that a heat-insulating material 82, such as a foam board, may be provided on the side of the top wall 80 facing away from the guide plate 9 to prevent the cold air in the guide duct from transferring cold air to the first compartment 1. Air outlets 10 are provided on opposite sides of the guide plate 9 in the width direction, connecting the guide duct and the fourth compartment 8. This directs the cold air from the guide duct into the side walls of the fourth compartment 8, preventing the cold air from directly hitting the items in the fourth compartment 8 while ensuring that the food in the fourth compartment 8 receives sufficient cooling, thereby addressing the humidity issue of the items stored in the fourth compartment 8 and preventing dehydration and drying.

[0043] Preferably, the guide plate 9 is formed of a heat-conducting material, so that the cold air enters the guide air duct and flows toward the air outlet 10, while the cold air is evenly transferred to the fourth chamber 8 through the guide plate 9. Specifically, the guide plate 9 can be made of an aluminum plate, of course, the choice of the guide plate 9 is not limited to this.

[0044] In a specific embodiment of the present application, referring to Figures 3 and 4, the air outlet 10 includes a main air outlet 101 and an auxiliary air outlet 102 that are relatively arranged along the width direction of the refrigeration equipment. The auxiliary air outlet 102 is located on the side close to the first return air outlet 12, and the number of air outlets of the main air outlet 101 is greater than the number of air outlets of the auxiliary air outlet 102.

[0045] Specifically, the air outlet 10 includes multiple air outlets 10 spaced apart along the width direction of the refrigeration device or multiple groups of air outlets spaced apart along both the width direction and the depth direction of the refrigeration device, thereby accelerating the speed at which the cold air from the drainage duct enters the fourth chamber 8, thereby achieving rapid transmission of the cold air to the fourth chamber 8.

[0046] Furthermore, the fourth compartment 8 includes a storage box 14 slidably connected to the first compartment 1 , the air outlet 10 is disposed toward the interior of the storage box 14 , and a second air inlet 13 is provided through the sidewall of the storage box 14 . Return air from the storage box 14 flows through the second air inlet 13 and the first return air outlet 12 before entering the cooling air duct 6 , and then enters the second compartment 2 through the cooling air duct 6 , thereby fully utilizing the cooling capacity of the refrigeration equipment and achieving rapid cooling of the second compartment 2 without the need for a separate air supply structure for the second compartment 2 .

[0047] Specifically, the storage box 14 can be formed of a heat-conducting material, for example, the storage box 14 is made of an aluminum plate, so that the coldness in the fourth chamber 8 is more evenly transferred through the storage box 14. The second air inlet 13 can be provided on a side wall of the ice storage box 12 near the first return air outlet 12.

[0048] A return air gap is defined between the bottom wall of the storage box 14 and the bottom wall of the first chamber 1. The first return air port 12 is disposed correspondingly to the return air gap, so that the return air in the first chamber 1 flows into the first return air port 12 through the return air gap, and then the return air from the first chamber 1 is introduced into the second chamber 2 through the cooling air duct 6. While meeting the cooling temperature of the first chamber 1, the second chamber 2 is rapidly cooled by utilizing the combined effects of heat conduction from the return air of the first chamber 1 to the second chamber 2 and heat radiation from the first partition 4 and the second partition 5.

[0049] The refrigeration device of the present application is provided with a high-temperature zone between two low-temperature zones. The first chamber 1 and / or the third chamber 3 of the low-temperature zone provides cooling to the second chamber 2 of the high-temperature zone by means of heat radiation, thereby eliminating the need to provide a separate air supply structure for the second chamber 2. This not only realizes the multi-temperature zone setting of the refrigeration device, but also simplifies the internal structure and control logic of the refrigeration device.

[0050] It should be understood that although this specification is described in terms of implementation methods, not every implementation method contains only one independent technical solution. This narrative method of the specification is only for the sake of clarity. Those skilled in the art should regard the specification as a whole. The technical solutions in each implementation method can also be appropriately combined to form other implementation methods that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0051] The series of detailed descriptions listed above are only specific descriptions of feasible implementation methods of this application. They are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Any equivalent implementation methods or changes that do not deviate from the technical spirit of this application should be included in the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A refrigeration device comprising a refrigeration compartment, a single refrigeration system for providing cooling to the refrigeration compartment, and an air duct connecting the single refrigeration system and the refrigeration compartment, wherein the refrigeration compartment comprises a first compartment (1), a second compartment (2), and a third compartment (3) arranged in sequence along a preset direction, wherein a preset temperature of the second compartment (2) is higher than a preset temperature of the first compartment (1) and the third compartment (3); and characterized in that: A first partition (4) is provided between the first chamber (1) and the second chamber (2), and a second partition (5) is provided between the second chamber (2) and the third chamber (3). The first partition (4) is configured to transfer the cooling capacity of the first chamber (1) to the second chamber (2) and / or the second partition (5) is configured to transfer the cooling capacity of the third chamber (3) to the second chamber (2).

2. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that The preset temperature of the first chamber (1) is higher than the preset temperature of the third chamber (3); and the first partition (4) is provided with a first air inlet (41) connecting the first chamber (1) and the second chamber (2).

3. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that The first chamber (1) includes a first return air port (12), and the air duct includes a cooling air duct (6) connecting the first return air port (12) and the second chamber (2).

4. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that The second chamber (2) has a first air supply port (21) communicating with the air duct and a first damper for controlling the size of the first air supply port (21).

5. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that The first chamber (1) includes a third air supply port connected to the air duct, a first air return port (12), and a second air damper for controlling the size of the third air supply port. A fourth chamber (8) is also provided in the first chamber (1), and the temperature of the fourth chamber (8) is lower than that of the first chamber (1). The fourth chamber (8) has a second air supply port (81) connected to the air duct and a third air damper for controlling the size of the second air supply port (81). The fourth chamber (8) and the first chamber (1) share the first air return port (12).

6. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 5, characterized in that The fourth chamber (8) includes a top wall (80) and a guide plate (9) formed with the top wall (80) to form a guide air duct. The guide air duct is connected to the second air supply port (81). Air outlets (10) are provided on both sides of the guide plate (9) in the width direction. The air outlets (10) communicate with the guide air duct and the fourth chamber (8).

7. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 6, characterized in that The air outlet (10) comprises a main air outlet (10) and an auxiliary air outlet (10) which are arranged relatively to each other along the width direction of the refrigeration equipment, the auxiliary air outlet (10) being located on a side close to the first return air outlet (12), and the number of air outlets (10) of the main air outlet (10) is greater than the number of air outlets (10) of the auxiliary air outlet (10).

8. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 6, characterized in that The fourth chamber (8) includes a storage box (14) slidably connected to the first chamber (1), and the air outlet (10) faces the inside of the storage box (14); a second air inlet (13) is provided through the side wall of the storage box (14).

9. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 8, characterized in that Along the height direction of the refrigeration equipment, there is a return air gap between the bottom wall of the storage box (14) and the bottom wall of the first chamber (1), and the first return air port (12) is arranged corresponding to the return air gap.

10. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 5, characterized in that The first chamber (1) is a refrigeration chamber, the third chamber (3) is a freezing chamber, and the fourth chamber (8) is an ice chamber.

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