Evaporator assembly and refrigerator

Abstract

An evaporator assembly and a refrigerator, relating to the technical field of refrigeration appliances. The evaporator assembly (100) in embodiments of the present invention comprises a support (10), an evaporator (20), and a heating pipe (30). The evaporator (20) is mounted on the support (10). The heating pipe (30) is arranged on the support (10), and is used for heating and defrosting the evaporator (20). A heating core (310) of the heating pipe (30) is a resistor sheet for performing radiation heating on the evaporator (20).

Description

Evaporator assembly and refrigerator

[0001] Cross-references to related applications

[0002] This application is based on and claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202410488480.4, filed on April 22, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This invention belongs to the field of refrigeration appliance technology, specifically relating to an evaporator assembly and a refrigerator. Background Technology

[0004] When the evaporator in a refrigeration unit is working, its surface temperature is low, and free water molecules in the air will condense on the evaporator. Over time, a layer of frost will form, affecting the cooling effect. Defrosting must be performed every now and then.

[0005] To address these issues, some existing refrigeration systems use metal or quartz tubes to heat the evaporator for defrosting. However, due to safety standards, the heating tube temperature is limited. These heating tubes primarily heat the evaporator through convection, resulting in long defrosting times and low efficiency. Furthermore, the heat distribution from the heating tubes is not ideal, leading to unnecessary heat loss. For example, in refrigerators, besides radiating a significant amount of heat towards the evaporator, a large amount of heat is also dissipated towards the freezer compartment. During defrosting, the freezer compartment heats up, causing food to thaw slowly. This repeated freezing and thawing destroys the nutritional value of food; the longer the defrosting time, the greater the nutrient loss.

[0006] Therefore, there is room for improvement in the evaporator assembly of the refrigeration unit. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present invention aims to at least partially solve one of the technical problems in the related art.

[0008] Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide an evaporator assembly that can improve defrosting efficiency and improve heat distribution.

[0009] The second aspect of this invention is to provide a refrigerator.

[0010] An evaporator assembly according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a support, an evaporator, and a heating tube. The evaporator is mounted on the support; the heating tube is disposed on the support and is used to heat and defrost the evaporator, wherein the heating element of the heating tube is a resistance sheet to provide radiant heating to the evaporator.

[0011] According to embodiments of the present invention, the evaporator assembly uses a sheet-like heating core for the heating tube, allowing heat to radiate primarily along the vertical direction of its large surface area, resulting in strong directionality and more concentrated radiated heat. Because the resistive sheet material has directional heating properties, more heat is radiated towards the areas requiring heating, while less heat is radiated to areas not requiring heating. This reduces heat loss and prevents heat loss in unheated areas. Using a resistive sheet heating core allows more heat to be emitted in the form of radiation during heating. Electromagnetic wave radiation not only shortens the propagation path of heat transfer but also minimizes heat loss during propagation. Therefore, this heating structure of the present application is beneficial for improving defrosting efficiency, reducing heat loss, and minimizing heat loss in unheated areas.

[0012] A refrigerator according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a cabinet and an evaporator assembly as described in the above embodiments, the evaporator being used to cool the cooling chamber.

[0013] By installing an evaporator assembly, the nutrients in the food inside the refrigerator can be better preserved, thus improving the refrigerator's performance.

[0014] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an evaporator assembly according to some embodiments of this application;

[0016] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the thermal radiation of the heating core in some embodiments of this application;

[0017] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a heating core according to some embodiments of this application, and a partially enlarged schematic diagram therein;

[0018] Figure 4 is another structural schematic diagram of the heating core in some embodiments of this application;

[0019] Figure 5 is yet another structural schematic diagram of the heating core in some embodiments of this application;

[0020] Figure 6 is another structural schematic diagram of the heating core in some embodiments of this application;

[0021] Figure 7 is yet another structural schematic diagram of the heating core in some embodiments of this application;

[0022] Figure 8 is another structural schematic diagram of the heating core in some embodiments of this application;

[0023] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the connection terminals in some embodiments of this application;

[0024] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the heating tube structure of some embodiments of this application;

[0025] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the arrangement of the first heating tube and the second heating tube in some embodiments of this application;

[0026] Figure 12 is another schematic diagram showing the arrangement of the first heating tube and the second heating tube in some embodiments of this application;

[0027] Figure 13 is another schematic diagram showing the arrangement of the first heating tube and the second heating tube in some embodiments of this application.

[0028] Figure label:

[0029] Evaporator assembly 100, bracket 10, evaporator 20, evaporator tube 2, heating tube 30, first heating tube 31, second heating tube 32, heating core 310, heating zone 311, heating unit 311A, first section 311a, second section 311b, third section 311c, fourth section 311d, first heating sub-zone 3111, second heating sub-zone 3112, third heating sub-zone 3113, fourth heating sub-zone 3114, fifth heating sub-zone 3115, sixth heating sub-zone 3116, intermediate zone 312, connecting zone 313, lead wire 314, connecting terminal 315, tube head sealing component 316, transparent tube 320, fins 40, condensate tray 500, drain hole 501. Detailed Implementation

[0030] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0031] As described in the background section, some existing refrigerators primarily use metal heating elements and quartz heating elements for defrosting, positioned at the bottom of the evaporator near the condensate pan. Due to mandatory safety standards, to ensure the surface temperature of the heating elements does not exceed 350°C, the power of the metal and quartz heating elements is generally controlled at around 200W. This leads to the following problems:

[0032] First, the heating element itself has a high specific heat capacity. After being heated by electricity, the heating element itself needs to store some heat, making it difficult to quickly transfer the heat to the frost on the evaporator.

[0033] Secondly, the surface temperature of the heating tube is low, the radiation ratio is small, and heat exchange is mainly achieved through heat convection, resulting in low efficiency and slow heating speed.

[0034] Finally, during the heating process, the heating element typically distributes heat evenly along the entire tube in a 360-degree pattern, resulting in roughly similar heat distribution towards the evaporator and towards the freezing zone. However, excessive heat dissipation towards the freezing zone causes the temperature inside to become too high, leading to overheating of frozen food and even spoilage.

[0035] To address the aforementioned problems, an evaporator assembly 100 according to a first aspect embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1-13. The application scenarios of the evaporator assembly 100 are not limited here; for example, the evaporator assembly 100 can be used in a refrigerator, or it can also be used in other refrigeration equipment such as an air conditioner.

[0036] As shown in FIG1, the evaporator assembly 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a support 10, an evaporator 20, and a heating tube 30.

[0037] Evaporator 20 is mounted on bracket 10.

[0038] The heating element 30 is mounted on the bracket 10 and is used to heat and defrost the evaporator 20.

[0039] Unlike traditional heating methods, the heating element 30 has a heating core 310 made of resistance sheet to radiate heat to the evaporator 20.

[0040] As the name suggests, a resistive sheet refers to a sheet-like resistive material that generates heat when energized. The larger the surface area of ​​the resistive material, the more heat it radiates outwards. Therefore, the sheet-like resistive sheet exhibits directional heating properties, as shown in Figure 2, meaning that the resistive sheet generates more heat in the direction perpendicular to itself. Therefore, in this application, by setting the heating core 310 of the heating tube 30 as a resistive sheet, the heat distribution radiated by the heating tube 30 can be rationally configured as needed, directing more heat towards areas with high heat demand. For example, when the large surface of the resistive sheet faces the evaporator 20, the evaporator 20 can obtain more heat, thereby achieving a defrosting effect. As another example, actual testing revealed that ice easily forms on the evaporator 20 and the condensate pan below it, leading to poor drainage. In this case, the large surface of the resistive sheet can be positioned facing both the evaporator 20 and the condensate pan.

[0041] In this application, the use of a heating core 310 made of resistance sheet allows the heating tube 30 to transfer heat to the evaporator 20 more concentratedly and directly, reducing heat loss during the transfer process. Simultaneously, the radiant heating method avoids the limitations of traditional heating tubes 30 that rely on heat convection for heat exchange, improving heating speed and efficiency, thus achieving an increase in heating efficiency.

[0042] It's important to clarify that convective heat transfer in the evaporator assembly 100 typically involves the heating tube 30 transferring heat to the flowing air, which then heats the evaporator 20 as it flows towards it. This process is not only inefficient but also results in significant heat loss. In this application, by incorporating a heating core 310 made of resistance sheet, more of the heat from the heating core 310 can be radiated to the outside in the form of electromagnetic waves. This electromagnetic radiation shortens the propagation path of heat to the evaporator 30 and minimizes heat loss during propagation. Furthermore, the directional heating properties of the resistance sheet allow for the design of the heat radiation distribution ratio, further improving heating efficiency and reducing heat loss.

[0043] In addition, because the resistive sheet has directional heating properties, it radiates more heat to the areas that need to be heated, while radiating less heat to the areas that do not need to be heated. This reduces heat loss and prevents heat loss in the areas that do not need to be heated.

[0044] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the evaporator assembly 100 uses a thin film as the resistive sheet, that is, the resistive sheet is a film made of a thin film resistive material. Thin film resistive material refers to a film resistive material made by methods such as vacuum evaporation, DC or AC sputtering, chemical deposition, etc., including Ni-Co based, Ta based, Si based, cermet based resistive films, and resistive films such as Au-Cr and Ni-P.

[0045] Alternatively, the resistor sheet may also include a metal sheet, such as an iron sheet, copper sheet, chromium sheet, nickel sheet, tungsten sheet, etc.

[0046] Of course, the resistor sheet in this application can be any other resistor material known in the prior art, including carbon materials, ceramic materials, semiconductor materials, clay materials, etc.

[0047] When the resistor sheet is made of carbon, it can be graphite sheet, activated carbon sheet, bulk carbon sheet, etc. When the resistor sheet is made of ceramic material, it can achieve the high-temperature resistance and corrosion resistance of ceramic materials. When the resistor sheet is made of semiconductor material, it can include silicon wafer, germanium wafer, etc. When the resistor sheet is made of clay material, it can include carbon clay sheet, corona-electrode ceramic sheet, porcelain insulator corona-electrode clay sheet, etc.

[0048] In some specific embodiments, the resistive sheet is a graphite film. Here, the graphite film is a sheet-like structure with a certain thickness formed by laminating graphite films, and has characteristics such as high heating power and rapid temperature rise.

[0049] When the resistance sheet is made of graphite film, the heating tube 30 can also be called a graphite heating tube. In this case, the heating tube 30 has many advantages:

[0050] First, graphite film exhibits excellent high-temperature stability. This is due to the inherent high-temperature resistance of graphite itself; this material maintains stable physical and chemical properties under high-temperature environments and is not prone to oxidation, burn-through, or melting. Therefore, when graphite film is used as the heating core 310 of the heating tube 30, it can remain stable under high-temperature operation, ensuring the normal operation of the evaporator assembly 100.

[0051] Secondly, graphite film has a rapid temperature rise rate. Due to the low heat load and thermal inertia of graphite material, it can respond quickly and generate heat when current passes through it. This allows the heating element 30 to quickly reach the required operating temperature, thereby shortening defrosting time and improving defrosting efficiency.

[0052] Meanwhile, graphite film also possesses high thermal conductivity and heating uniformity. Due to its excellent thermal conductivity, graphite film can rapidly transfer heat to the surface of evaporator 20, achieving rapid and uniform heating. This helps reduce heat loss during the transfer process, improves defrosting efficiency, and avoids localized overheating or uneven temperature distribution on the surface of evaporator 20.

[0053] Furthermore, graphite film material possesses rapid cooling characteristics. When the heating element 30 stops working, due to the high thermal conductivity and rapid cooling properties of the graphite film material, most of the heat dissipates quickly, leaving only a small amount of heat stored in parts such as the glass. Therefore, the amount of heat dissipated further is not significant, which minimizes the temperature rise of the evaporator assembly 100. This characteristic is particularly important during refrigerator operation. The use of graphite film material in the heating element 30 effectively prevents a continuous rise in the internal temperature of the refrigerator, thus ensuring a stable internal temperature and good food preservation.

[0054] Through practical calculations, under the same conditions, the applicant team compared the application effects of two different materials of heating tube 30 in the defrosting process of a refrigerator.

[0055] In Experiment 1, using a traditional metal heating element, the defrosting heating time was as long as 24 minutes, with a temperature rise of 9.7°C during the heating period. Even after heating stopped, the temperature rise was still 7.1°C, resulting in a total maximum unloaded defrosting temperature rise of 16.8°C. This result means that defrosting requires a long waiting time and consumes a lot of energy, while the temperature fluctuations are large, which may affect the stability of the internal temperature of the refrigerator.

[0056] In Experiment 2, using the heating tube 30 of this application embodiment, the defrosting heating time was shortened to 11 minutes. At the same time, the temperature rise during the heating period was controlled at 5.2°C, and the temperature rise during the heating stop period was 3.5°C. The total maximum no-load defrosting temperature rise was only 8.7°C, which is nearly half that of the metal heating tube.

[0057] By improving the heating element 30, not only is the defrosting efficiency improved, but the energy consumption required for defrosting is also reduced. At the same time, the temperature fluctuation is smaller, which helps to maintain the temperature stability inside the refrigerator.

[0058] In some embodiments, the heating element 30 includes a sheet-like resistive sheet. Forming the resistive sheet into a sheet shape can avoid the problem of excessive total power due to low resistance, thereby avoiding excessive power density in the heating area 311 of the resistive sheet and improving the service life of the heating core 310.

[0059] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG3, the resistive sheet includes a heating region 311, which includes a plurality of heating units 311A ​​connected in series. The heating unit 311A ​​includes a first segment 311a, a second segment 311b, a third segment 311c, and a fourth segment 311d connected in sequence. Two adjacent heating units 311A ​​are connected through the first segment 311a and the fourth segment 311d. The second segment 311b and the fourth segment 311d extend along the length direction of the resistive sheet, and the first segment 311a and the third segment 311c extend along the width direction of the resistive sheet.

[0060] This arrangement allows the first segment 311a, the second segment 311b, the third segment 311c, and the fourth segment 311d to be connected sequentially to form an undulating structure. Since multiple heating units 311A ​​are connected in series, the first segment 311a and the fourth segment 311d of adjacent heating units 311A ​​are connected together, thus creating a continuous undulating structure for the heating area 311. It can be understood that "connected" here means combined; for example, the first segment 311a, the second segment 311b, the third segment 311c, and the fourth segment 311d can be integrally formed, and the multiple heating units 311A ​​also form an integrally formed structure.

[0061] Along the length of the resistor sheet, at least a portion of the resistor sheet forms a continuous undulating structure. Because the resistor sheet has sections extending in different directions along its length, the second and fourth sections extend in the same direction, and the first and third sections extend in the same direction, a large heating area can be achieved in the resistor sheet within a limited space and length, without reducing the resistance.

[0062] The second segment 311b and the fourth segment 311d extend substantially along the length of the resistor sheet, while the first segment 311a and the third segment 311c extend substantially perpendicular to the length. This arrangement facilitates the structural processing of the first segment 311a, the second segment 311b, the third segment 311c, and the fourth segment 311d in the heating unit 311A, making the overall structure more stable and maximizing the use of space.

[0063] As shown in Figures 3-9, in some embodiments of this application, the resistive sheet further includes a connection area 313. The connection area 313 is located at the end of the resistive sheet. The connection area 313 enables electrical connection between the heating core 310 and external components. For example, the connection area 313 provides a support point for fixing the lead 314. The lead 314 can be fixed on the connection area 313, and the other end of the lead 314 can be connected to another component (e.g., a connection terminal 315). By providing the connection area 313, it is convenient to energize the heating core 310.

[0064] In some embodiments, the resistive sheet mainly dissipates heat through the heating zone 311, which includes a plurality of heating units 311A. The total resistance of the heating zone 311 can be calculated by adding the resistances of the individual heating units 311A.

[0065] In some embodiments shown in Figure 4, the resistive sheet includes a plurality of consecutive heating regions 311, each of which includes a first heating sub-region 3111, a second heating sub-region 3112, and a third heating sub-region 3113. The first heating sub-region 3111 is located in the middle of the resistive sheet. There are two second heating sub-regions 3112, each located at one end of the first heating sub-region 3111. There are also two third heating sub-regions 3113, located at the end of the second heating sub-region 3112 furthest from the first heating sub-region 3111. The density of heating elements 311A ​​in the first heating sub-region 3111 is ρ1, the density of heating elements 311A ​​in the second heating sub-region 3112 is ρ2, and the density of heating elements 311A ​​in the third heating sub-region 3113 is ρ3, satisfying ρ3 < ρ1 < ρ2. This configuration places the first heating sub-region 3111 in the middle of the resistive sheet, with a moderate density ρ1 of its heating elements 311A. This means the heating effect in the middle region is stable and not too intense, thus avoiding overheating and ensuring uniform and effective heating without unnecessary energy waste. Secondly, the second heating sub-regions 3112 are located at both ends of the first heating sub-region 3111, with a density ρ2 of heating elements 311A ​​greater than ρ1 in the second heating sub-region 3112. This means the heating capacity of the second heating sub-region 3112 is enhanced compared to the first heating sub-region 3111, allowing it to provide stronger heating at both ends, thus reaching the defrosting temperature more quickly, shortening defrosting time, and improving defrosting efficiency. Finally, the third heating sub-region 3113 is located on the outermost side of the resistive sheet; a larger material volume per unit length results in higher heat generation. This achieves less heat generation in the middle and more heat generation at the edges, promoting a more balanced heat distribution.

[0066] In some embodiments shown in Figure 5, the resistive sheet includes two fourth heating sub-regions 3114 and a middle region 312. The middle region 312 is disposed between the two fourth heating sub-regions 3114, and its two ends are electrically connected to the two fourth heating sub-regions 3114 respectively. That is, the resistive sheet is designed in segments along its length, with the fourth heating sub-regions 311 designed according to the optimal length for heating, and the middle region 312 serving as a transition connection. The middle region 312 separates the two fourth heating sub-regions 311, preventing excessive heat concentration. Since the temperature near the center of the heating core 310 is higher when the heating core 310 radiates heat to the evaporator 20, the middle region 312 is designed to separate adjacent fourth heating sub-regions 311, making the heat radiated by the heating core 310 more uniform. Furthermore, the length of the middle region 312 can be adjusted according to different scenarios, allowing the interval between adjacent fourth heating sub-regions 311 to adapt to changes, thereby achieving dynamic distribution of heating load.

[0067] In some embodiments shown in Figure 6, the resistive sheet includes a second heating sub-region 3112 located in the middle and two third heating sub-regions 3113 respectively disposed at both ends of the second heating sub-region 3112. The length L2 of the second heating sub-region 3112 is greater than the length L3 of each third heating sub-region 3113. This arrangement can achieve the stability of heating in the middle position and the auxiliary effect of large heating at both ends.

[0068] In some embodiments shown in Figure 7, the resistive sheet includes multiple first heating sub-regions 3111, intermediate regions 312 alternately arranged between the first heating sub-regions 3111, and third heating sub-regions 3113 located at both ends of the resistive sheet. The intermediate regions 312 located in the middle of the resistive sheet gradually decrease in length from the intermediate regions 312 at the ends. This arrangement not only ensures continuous heat distribution in the first heating sub-regions 3111, but also effectively avoids excessive heat concentration through the intermediate regions 312. The length of the intermediate regions 312 gradually decreases from the middle of the resistive sheet to the intermediate regions 312 at the ends. Simultaneously, by gradually reducing the length of the intermediate regions 312, the heating effect from the middle to the ends can be gradually enhanced. The main function of the intermediate regions 312 is to isolate and disperse the heat generated by the first heating sub-regions 3111, preventing excessive heat concentration. The third heating sub-regions 3113 are located on the outermost side of the resistive sheet; the larger the material volume per unit length, the higher the heat generation. This results in less heat generation in the middle and more heat generation at the edges, allowing the evaporator assembly 100 to maintain its heating effect during the heating process.

[0069] In some embodiments shown in Figure 8, the resistive sheet includes a fifth heating sub-region 3115 located in the middle and two sixth heating sub-regions 3116 respectively disposed at both ends thereon. The width of the heating unit 311A ​​in the fifth heating sub-region 3115 is greater than the width of the heating unit 311A ​​in the sixth heating sub-region 3116. By adjusting the width of the heating unit 311A, the heating amount in the middle is increased, allowing the resistive sheet to form a temperature distribution with a larger heating amount in the middle and relatively smaller heating amounts at both ends during heating.

[0070] In short, the heating amount of the resistance sheet can be adjusted in various ways. For example, the heating amount can be adjusted by adjusting the density of the heating element 311A, adjusting the width of the heating element 311A, and setting an intermediate region 312 in the resistance sheet. Whether these adjustment methods are set individually or in combination, they can effectively optimize the layout of the heating amount of the resistance sheet. Therefore, these adjustment methods all fall within the protection scope of the technical solution of this application.

[0071] As shown in FIG10, the evaporator assembly 100 according to some embodiments of the present invention includes a heating tube 30 further comprising a transparent tube 320, wherein a resistive sheet is disposed within the transparent tube 320.

[0072] The transparent tube 320 is filled with inert gas. By incorporating the transparent tube 320, the resistor sheet is protected from impacts, reducing the likelihood of breakage. It also prevents surface oxidation of the resistor sheet at high temperatures.

[0073] In some optional embodiments, as shown in Figures 9-10, the transparent tube 320 can be a glass tube, the resistor sheet is inserted inside the transparent tube 320, and both ends of the resistor sheet are connected to the lead wire 314 respectively. Both ends of the outer tube are provided with connection terminals 315, the lead wire 314 is connected to the connection terminal 315, and the connection terminal 315 is suitable for connection with other power supply components.

[0074] In some optional embodiments, the interior of the transparent tube 320 is filled with an inert gas, such as helium (He), neon (Ne), argon (Ar), krypton (Kr), xenon (Xe), etc. Since the resistive sheet is in a state of high temperature and heat when energized, the inert gas can protect the resistive sheet and extend its service life.

[0075] In some embodiments shown in Figure 10, the heating tube 30 also includes a tube end sealing member 316 for sealing the end of the heating tube 30.

[0076] According to some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in FIG11, the evaporator 20 includes at least two evaporation tubes 2, each evaporation tube 2 extending along a first direction, and the at least two evaporation tubes 2 arranged along a second direction.

[0077] The evaporator tube 2 extends along the first direction, allowing it to fully expand and increase its contact area with the inside of the refrigerator, thereby improving the refrigerator's cooling efficiency.

[0078] At least two evaporator tubes 2 are arranged along the second direction. This arrangement creates a certain gap between the evaporator tubes 2, which is beneficial for air circulation and heat exchange. At the same time, by reasonably adjusting the spacing of the evaporator tubes 2 in the second direction, the overall performance of the evaporator 20 can be further optimized, enabling it to maintain a stable cooling effect under different operating environments.

[0079] In this configuration, at least two evaporator tubes 2 are independent of each other, or at least two evaporator tubes 2 are formed by bending a single tube, with the first direction intersecting the second direction. Therefore, this arrangement allows for a more rational layout of the evaporator tubes 2, improving the assembly efficiency between the evaporator tubes 2 and the support 10.

[0080] The resistive sheet extends along a first direction, as shown in Figure 12, with at least one of its largest surfaces facing the evaporator tube 2. By aligning the largest surface of the resistive sheet with the evaporator tube 2, heat can be directly and effectively transferred to the evaporator tube 2, thus improving defrosting efficiency.

[0081] In some embodiments, the heating tube 30 includes at least one of a first heating tube 31 and a second heating tube 32, with the first heating tube 31 located below all the evaporating tubes 2. This allows the first heating tube 31 to directly heat the evaporating tubes 2, and heat can be transferred to the evaporating tubes 2 quickly and evenly, thereby improving heat exchange efficiency.

[0082] The second heating tube 32 is arranged along the second direction between at least two evaporator tubes 2. In this way, the second heating tube 32 can directly heat the air between the evaporator tubes 2, accelerating the airflow and heat exchange rate. By rationally setting the number and position of the second heating tubes 32, the heating effect and cooling performance of the evaporator assembly 100 can be further optimized.

[0083] In some embodiments shown in Figure 13, the evaporator 20 includes at least two rows of evaporator tubes 2 arranged along a third direction, and the heating tube 30 includes a second heating tube 32 located between two adjacent rows. Placing the second heating tube 32 between adjacent rows of evaporator tubes 2 ensures that heat can be directly and evenly transferred to the evaporator tubes 2, improving heat exchange efficiency. This minimizes the heat conduction distance between the second heating tube 32 and the evaporator tubes 2, resulting in minimal heat loss and achieving highly efficient heating. Simultaneously, it reduces the temperature rise during defrosting, correspondingly shortening the defrosting time and reducing the energy consumption required for defrosting.

[0084] As shown in Figures 1, 11, and 13, the evaporator assembly 100 according to some embodiments of the present invention further includes fins 40 disposed on the evaporator 20, and the heating tube 30 further includes a first heating tube 31, which passes through the fins 40. Specifically, the fins 40 can increase the heat exchange area of ​​the evaporator 20, improve the cooling effect of the refrigerator, and shorten the cooling time. When the temperature on the evaporator 20 is too low, frost forms on the surface of the fins 40. At this time, the first heater heats the fins 40, and the heat generated by the first heater is transferred to the surface of the fins 40. The frost or snow on the fins 40 melts rapidly due to the heat, thereby achieving the defrosting effect of the evaporator 20 and enabling the evaporator 20 to operate normally.

[0085] A refrigerator according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a cabinet and an evaporator assembly 100, wherein the evaporator 20 is used to cool the cooling chamber.

[0086] By configuring the evaporator assembly 100 according to the first aspect embodiment of this application, the advantages of shorter defrosting time, reduced defrosting temperature rise, and reduced defrosting energy consumption are achieved, thereby improving the working efficiency of the evaporator assembly 100 and thus improving the performance of the refrigerator.

[0087] In some embodiments, a condensate tray 500 is also included, located below the evaporator 20. The condensate tray 500 effectively catches melted frost water, preventing it from dripping onto other parts of the refrigerator interior, thereby keeping the refrigerator interior clean and dry.

[0088] Optionally, the condensate pan 500 is provided with a drain hole 501 for draining the water collected in the condensate pan 500.

[0089] Hereinafter, with reference to Figures 1-3 and 9-13, an evaporator assembly 100 according to a specific embodiment of the present application will be described.

[0090] Referring to Figure 1, the evaporator assembly 100 includes: a support 10, an evaporator 20, a heating element 30, and fins 40.

[0091] The evaporator 20 and the heating element 30 are both mounted on the bracket 10.

[0092] The evaporator 20 includes a plurality of evaporation tubes 2. A portion of the evaporation tubes 2 extends along a first direction, another portion of the evaporation tubes 2 is arranged along a second direction, and another portion of the evaporation tubes 2 consists of two rows arranged along a third direction.

[0093] Referring to Figures 11-13, the heating tube 30 includes a first heating tube 31 and a second heating tube 32. The first heating tube 31 is located below all the evaporating tubes 2, and the second heating tube 32 is arranged between at least two evaporating tubes 2 along a second direction. At the same time, the second heating tube 32 is also located between two rows of evaporating tubes 2 arranged along a third direction.

[0094] The first heating tube 31 and the second heating tube 32 are disposed through the fins 40.

[0095] Referring to Figure 10, each heating tube 30 includes a heating core 310 and a transparent tube 320.

[0096] Referring to Figure 12, the heating core 310 is a resistance sheet that extends along a first direction, with at least one of its largest surfaces facing the corresponding evaporation tube 2.

[0097] Referring to Figure 3, the heating core 310 includes: two heating zones 311, a middle zone 312, a connecting zone 313, a lead wire 314, and a connecting terminal 315.

[0098] Referring to Figure 9, lead 314 is connected to connection terminal 315, which is adapted to be connected to other power supply components.

[0099] Referring to Figure 3, the intermediate area 312 is positioned between the two heating areas 311.

[0100] Each heating zone 311 includes multiple heating units 311A ​​connected in series.

[0101] Referring to Figure 3, the heating unit 311A ​​includes a first segment 311a, a second segment 311b, a third segment 311c, and a fourth segment 311d connected in sequence. Two adjacent heating units 311A ​​are connected through the first segment 311a and the fourth segment 311d. The second segment 311b and the fourth segment 311d extend along the length direction of the resistive sheet, and the first segment 311a and the third segment 311c extend along the width direction of the resistive sheet.

[0102] The connection area 313 is located at the end of the resistive sheet. The connection area 313 enables the heating core 310 to be energized.

[0103] The interior of the transparent tube 320 is filled with inert gas.

[0104] Other configurations of the evaporator assembly 100 according to embodiments of the present invention, such as refrigerators, are known to those skilled in the art and will not be described in detail here.

[0105] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0106] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0107] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0108] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0109] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0110] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An evaporator assembly, wherein, include: support; Evaporator, the evaporator being mounted on the bracket; A heating element is mounted on the support and is used to heat and defrost the evaporator. The heating element is a resistance sheet to radiate heat to the evaporator.

2. The evaporator assembly according to claim 1, wherein, The resistive sheet is a thin film.

3. The evaporator assembly according to claim 2, wherein, The resistive sheet is a graphite film.

4. The evaporator assembly according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, The resistive sheet includes a heating area, which includes multiple heating units connected in series. Each heating unit includes a first segment, a second segment, a third segment, and a fourth segment connected in sequence. Two adjacent heating units are connected through the first segment and the fourth segment. The second segment and the fourth segment extend along the length direction of the resistive sheet, and the first segment and the third segment extend along the width direction of the resistive sheet.

5. The evaporator assembly according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein, The heating element further includes a transparent tube, and the resistive sheet is disposed inside the transparent tube.

6. The evaporator assembly according to claim 5, wherein, The transparent tube is a glass tube, and the interior of the transparent tube is filled with an inert gas.

7. The evaporator assembly according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein, The evaporator includes at least two evaporation tubes, each of which extends along a first direction and the at least two evaporation tubes are arranged along a second direction; wherein, the at least two evaporation tubes are independent of each other, or the at least two evaporation tubes are formed by bending a single tube, and the first direction intersects the second direction; The resistive sheet extends along the first direction, and at least one of the largest surfaces of the resistive sheet faces the evaporation tube.

8. The evaporator assembly according to claim 7, wherein, The heating element includes at least one of a first heating element and a second heating element, wherein the first heating element is located below all the evaporating elements and the second heating element is arranged along the second direction between at least two of the evaporating elements.

9. The evaporator assembly of claim 8, wherein, The evaporator includes at least two rows of evaporation tubes arranged in a third direction, and the heating tubes include a second heating tube located between two adjacent rows.

10. The evaporator assembly according to any one of claims 1-9, wherein, It also includes fins disposed on the evaporator, and the heating tube further includes a first heating tube disposed through the fins.

11. A refrigerator, wherein, include: The enclosure, with the cooling chamber located inside, is a housing. ； The evaporator assembly according to any one of claims 1-10, wherein the evaporator is used to cool the cooling chamber.

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