Horizontal refrigerator

Abstract

A horizontal refrigerator, comprising: a refrigerator body (200), an air duct module (100), an evaporator (320), and a refrigeration member (330). The refrigerator body (200) has an accommodating cavity (211) for accommodating frozen items. The air duct module (100) and the evaporator (320) are both mounted in the accommodating cavity (211). The refrigeration member (330) is wound around the side wall of the accommodating cavity (211).

Description

A type of horizontal freezer

[0001] Cross-references to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 202411043170.8, filed on July 30, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This disclosure pertains to the field of refrigeration equipment technology, and particularly relates to a horizontal freezer. Background Technology

[0004] A freezer is a specialized storage tool used to store various items that require freezing. It keeps food or other items frozen and comes in both household and commercial types. The refrigeration system of a freezer consists of a compressor, condenser, capillary tube, evaporator, and other components. Through the continuous circulation of refrigerant, heat inside the freezer is carried outside, achieving the purpose of cooling.

[0005] To reduce condensation inside freezers, air cooling can be used. A fan circulates cool air, ensuring that food and beverages maintain a roughly uniform temperature throughout the freezer. However, in related technologies, air cooling systems in freezer duct modules are prone to causing significant temperature differences inside the freezer, resulting in poor cooling performance.

[0006] Summary of the Invention

[0007] This disclosure provides a horizontal freezer designed to at least partially solve the technical problem of poor refrigeration performance.

[0008] This disclosure provides a horizontal freezer, comprising: a cabinet having a receiving cavity for accommodating frozen items; an air duct module and an evaporator, both installed within the receiving cavity; and a refrigeration component surrounding the outer wall of the receiving cavity. Attached Figure Description

[0009] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are some embodiments of this disclosure. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0010] Figure 1 shows a first-view structural schematic diagram of a horizontal freezer according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0011] Figure 2 shows a structural schematic diagram of a horizontal freezer according to some embodiments of the present disclosure from a second perspective.

[0012] Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a horizontal freezer according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0013] Figure 4 shows a schematic diagram of a partial structure of a horizontal freezer according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0014] Figure 5 shows a first-view structural schematic diagram of the electrical cavity of a horizontal freezer according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0015] Figure 6 shows a second-view structural schematic diagram of the electrical cavity of a horizontal freezer according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0016] Figure 7 shows a first-view structural schematic diagram of an air duct module according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0017] Figure 8 shows a structural schematic diagram of a duct module from a second perspective according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0018] Figure 9 shows a magnified view of point D in Figure 8.

[0019] Figure 10 shows a magnified view of point C in Figure 7.

[0020] Figure 11 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a portion of a horizontal freezer according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0021] Figure 12 shows an exploded view of a duct module according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0022] Figure 13 shows a first-view structural schematic diagram of the rear shell and air guide of an air duct module according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0023] Figure 14 shows a second-view structural schematic diagram of the rear shell and air guide of an air duct module according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0024] Figure 15 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of an air duct module according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0025] Figure 16 shows an exploded view of a duct module from a first perspective according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0026] Figure 17 shows an exploded view of a duct module according to some embodiments of the present disclosure from a second perspective.

[0027] Figure 18 shows a magnified view of point F in Figure 16.

[0028] Figure 19 shows a magnified view of point G in Figure 17.

[0029] Figure 20 shows a structural diagram of the front shell of an air duct module according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0030] Figure 21 shows a magnified view of a portion of point A in Figure 3.

[0031] Figure 22 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a horizontal freezer according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0032] Figure 23 shows a magnified view of a portion of H in Figure 22.

[0033] Figure 24 shows a magnified view of a portion of point J in Figure 3.

[0034] Figure label:

[0035] 10. Horizontal freezer; 100. Air duct module; 112. First air outlet; 112a. Air outlet grille; 112b. Mesh; 112c. First left air outlet; 112d. First right air outlet; 113. Second air outlet; 113c. Second left air outlet; 113d. Second right air outlet; 114. Return air inlet; 114a. First side; 114b. Second side; 115. Air inlet;

[0036] 120. Shell; 121. Front shell; 121a. First shell section; 121b. Second shell section; 121c. Third shell section; 123. Rear shell; 124. Mounting cavity; 125. Fixing cavity; 126a. First surface; 126b. Second surface; 126. Insulation layer; 127. Sealing layer; 128. Mounting groove; 129a. Fixing hole; 129b. Snap-fit ​​hole; 129c. Second positioning part;

[0037] 130. Drainage component; 150. Fixing component; 160. Cover plate; 162. Snap-fit ​​part; 162a. Connecting section; 162b. Snap-fit ​​section; 170. Connecting component;

[0038] 140. Flow guide; 142. First flow guide section; 142a. First upper flow guide section; 142b. First lower flow guide section; 142c. First connection point; 145. Second flow guide section; 145a. Second upper flow guide section; 145b. Second lower flow guide section; 145c. Second connection point; 146. Third flow guide section;

[0039] 200. Cabinet body; 211. Receiving cavity; 213. Bottom surface; 214. Stepped surface; 215. Electrical cavity; 216. Water collection trough; 220. Main body; 221. Inner liner; 223. Outer shell; 230. Door; 240. Reinforcing part; 250. First positioning part;

[0040] 310. Compressor; 320. Evaporator; 330. Refrigeration component; 340. Condenser; 350. Electrical control; 361. Mounting component; 362. Water collection box; 363. Connecting water pipe; 364. Positioning post; 370. Foam layer; X, width direction; Y, thickness direction; Z, height direction. Detailed Implementation

[0041] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this disclosure, and not all of them. Based on the embodiments of this disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

[0042] It should be noted that all directional indications in this embodiment are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of the components in a specific posture. If the specific posture changes, the directional indications will also change accordingly.

[0043] In this disclosure, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "connection," "fixed," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "fixed" can mean a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; it can mean a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can mean a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can mean the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise expressly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this disclosure according to the specific circumstances.

[0044] Furthermore, the use of terms such as "first" and "second" in this disclosure is for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. Additionally, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but only on the basis of being achievable by those skilled in the art. If the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this disclosure.

[0045] A freezer is a specialized storage tool used to store various items that require freezing. It keeps food or other items frozen and comes in both household and commercial versions. The freezer's refrigeration system consists of a compressor, condenser, capillary tube, evaporator, and other components. Through the continuous circulation of refrigerant, heat is carried out from inside the freezer to the outside, achieving the purpose of cooling.

[0046] To reduce condensation inside the freezer, air cooling can be used. A fan circulates cold air, ensuring that food and beverages maintain a roughly uniform temperature throughout the freezer. However, in related technologies, air cooling in the freezer's air duct module can easily lead to large temperature differences inside the freezer, resulting in poor cooling performance. The horizontal freezer provided in this disclosure embodiment maximizes the circulation of cold air to different areas of the freezer, thereby improving freezing efficiency.

[0047] The technical solutions of this disclosure are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0048] Please refer to Figures 1 and 2. A horizontal freezer 10 is provided according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The horizontal freezer 10 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure can maximize the circulation of cold air to cover different areas of the horizontal freezer 10, thereby improving the freezing effect.

[0049] Referring to Figure 3, in some embodiments, the horizontal freezer 10 includes: a cabinet 200, an air duct module 100, an evaporator 320, and a refrigeration component 330. The cabinet 200 has a receiving cavity 211 for accommodating frozen items. The air duct module 100 and the evaporator 320 are both installed in the receiving cavity 211. The refrigeration component 330 is arranged around the outer wall of the receiving cavity 211.

[0050] The horizontal freezer 10 is mainly used for refrigerating items. The cabinet 200 is the basic component of the entire horizontal freezer 10. It can provide an installation base for structures such as the air duct module 100, compressor 310, evaporator 320, and condenser 340, and can also protect the aforementioned electronic components.

[0051] In some embodiments, the cabinet 200 includes a main body 220 and a door 230 connected to the main body 220. The door 230 covers the opening of the main body 220. A receiving cavity 211 is disposed within the main body 220. Items to be refrigerated are disposed within the receiving cavity 211. Cold air blown out by the air duct module 100 freezes the items. The main body 220 includes an inner liner 221 and an outer shell 223. The space between the inner liner 221 and the outer shell 223 is filled with a foam layer 370. An electrical cavity 215 for accommodating a compressor 310 is located between the inner liner 221 and the outer shell 223. An electrical control 350 is also disposed within the electrical cavity 215.

[0052] The main body 220 is roughly a cuboid. For ease of description, the height direction Z, width direction X, and thickness direction Y are defined. In the operating state of the horizontal freezer 10, the vertical direction is the height direction Z, and the projection of the main body 220 in the vertical direction is a rectangle. The direction of the longer side is the width direction X, and the direction of the shorter side is the thickness direction Y.

[0053] Since the thickness of the air duct module 100 is relatively small compared to its width, and the width of the air duct module 100 is basically equal to the thickness of the cabinet 200, the air duct module 100 can be installed on one side of the cabinet 200 in the width direction X, so that the air blown out from the air duct module 100 can cover the side formed by the thickness direction Y and the width direction X as much as possible, thereby enabling the air blown out from the air duct module 100 to cover the entire interior of the cabinet 200, and improving the uniformity of cold air distribution as much as possible.

[0054] For ease of description, six directions are defined: up, down, left, right, front, and back. In the height direction Z, the direction closer to the opening is up, and the direction farther from the opening is down. In the width direction X, the two directions are left and right. The installation position of the air duct module 100 is right, and the opposite side is left. In the thickness direction Y, the connection point between the door 230 and the main body 220 is back, and the opposite side is front.

[0055] Since the air-cooled module is located on the right side of the housing 211, the condenser 340 can be arranged around the front, back and left sides of the cabinet 200, thereby increasing the heat dissipation area of ​​the condenser 340 and accelerating heat dissipation.

[0056] The cooling element 330, which is positioned around the outer wall of the receiving cavity 211, means that it is located between the inner liner 221 and the outer shell 223. Specifically, it is positioned within the foam layer 370 and surrounded by the inner liner 221. This provides cooling to the items in the receiving cavity 211, freezing them, and is achieved through liquid cooling. The air duct module 100 and the evaporator 320 work together to blow cold air into the receiving cavity 211, achieving cooling through airflow. This combination of airflow and liquid cooling minimizes condensation within the receiving cavity 211 while improving the cooling effect.

[0057] In some embodiments, the receiving cavity 211 has a bottom surface 213 and a stepped surface 214 above the bottom surface 213. The air duct module 100 is mounted on the stepped surface 214, and the cooling element 330 is at least disposed between the bottom surface 213 and the stepped surface 214.

[0058] When users place items into the receiving cavity 211, they usually start piling them up from the bottom, meaning the bottom of the receiving cavity 211 is the easiest place to fill up with items. If the air duct module 100 is placed directly at the bottom of the receiving cavity 211, the items can easily block the air vents of the air duct module 100, preventing the air in the receiving cavity 211 from returning, which can easily cause the air in the receiving cavity 211 to not circulate, resulting in insufficient cooling capacity in the receiving cavity 211 and affecting the cooling effect.

[0059] In this embodiment, the air duct module 100 is disposed on the stepped surface 214, indicating that the air outlet of the air duct module 100 is at least located above the stepped surface 214. The height of the stepped surface 214 is higher than the bottom surface 213 of the receiving cavity 211, so that there is a certain height between them, and the air outlet of the air duct module 100 is at a certain height from the bottom surface 213. During the process of stacking items, the air outlet with a certain height is less likely to be blocked, thereby allowing the gas in the receiving cavity 211 to circulate and improving the cooling effect of the entire horizontal freezer 10.

[0060] The refrigeration component 330 is wound around the inner liner 221, and at least around the area between the stepped surface 214 and the bottom surface 213. Since the air duct module 100 is located on the stepped surface 214, there may be a situation where cold air cannot be blown into the area between the stepped surface 214 and the bottom surface 213. By setting the refrigeration component 330 in the area between the stepped surface 214 and the bottom surface 213, this area can be cooled by the refrigeration component 330, thereby ensuring the cooling effect of the entire horizontal freezer 10.

[0061] The phrase "the cooling component 330 is at least wrapped around the area between the step surface 214 and the bottom surface 213" means that the cooling component 330 can be wrapped only between the step surface 214 and the bottom surface 213, or it can be wrapped around both the step surface 214 and the bottom surface 213 and positioned above the step surface 214.

[0062] In some embodiments, the refrigeration component 330 may be a refrigeration coil or a surface-mount evaporator. The evaporator 320 may be a finned evaporator or a surface-mount evaporator. Referring to Figures 3 and 4, in some embodiments, the cabinet 200 further includes an electrical cavity 215 for accommodating the compressor 310, with a stepped surface 214 located above the electrical cavity 215.

[0063] Since the overall appearance of the cabinet 200 is roughly cuboid, the electrical cavity 215 between the inner liner 221 and the outer shell 223 makes the inner liner 221 not a regular cuboid, thus forming a stepped surface 214 above the electrical cavity 215. By placing the return air vent 114 on this stepped surface 214, the existing structure of the horizontal freezer 10 can be utilized, eliminating the need to separately construct a stepped surface 214 higher than the bottom surface 213 within the housing cavity 211. This not only improves the problem of air vent blockage in the air duct module 100 but also reduces the number of components in the horizontal freezer 10 and reduces the volume occupied by the housing cavity 211.

[0064] Referring to Figure 5, in some embodiments, the horizontal freezer 10 also includes an electrical control 350. The electrical control 350 is installed in the electrical cavity 215. A mounting piece 361 is provided inside the cabinet body 200. The electrical control 350 is engaged with the mounting piece 361.

[0065] Mounting component 361 can be pre-embedded in foam layer 370, so that when assembling electrical control component 350, electrical control component 350 can be directly snapped into mounting component 361, and then the electrical control component 350 can be locked by screws, thus facilitating the assembly of the entire electrical control component 350.

[0066] Please refer to Figure 6. In some embodiments, the stepped surface 214 is provided with a water collection tank 216. The horizontal freezer 10 also includes a water collection box 362 and a connecting water pipe 363. The water collection tank 216 is connected to the water collection box 362 through the connecting water pipe 363.

[0067] The water collection tank 216 can be set as a V-shaped groove, and the connecting water pipe 363 can be set at the lowest point of the water collection tank 216, so that all the condensate in the water collection tank 216 can enter the water collection box 362 through the connecting water pipe 363.

[0068] In some embodiments, the horizontal freezer 10 further includes a positioning post 364, which is connected to the connecting water pipe 363 and abuts against the lower part of the water collection tank 216.

[0069] In some embodiments, the water collection box 362 can be disposed within the electrical cavity 215. A portion of the connecting water pipe 363 of the water collection box 362 is disposed within the foam layer 370, a portion within the receiving cavity 211, and a portion within the electrical cavity 215. The positioning post 364 on the connecting water pipe 363 facilitates the assembly of the inner liner 221. During assembly, if the water collection tank 216 contacts the positioning post 364, it indicates that the inner liner 221 has been properly assembled in the height direction Z, facilitating the assembly of the entire cabinet 200.

[0070] In some embodiments, the refrigeration unit 330 is connected in series or in parallel with the evaporator 320. Parallel connection means that the compressor 310, condenser 340, and refrigeration unit 330 form one refrigeration circuit, and the compressor 310, condenser 340, and evaporator 320 form another refrigeration circuit. Series connection means that the compressor 310, condenser 340, evaporator 320, and refrigeration unit 330 form the same refrigeration circuit.

[0071] Please refer to Figures 7 and 8. In some embodiments, the air duct module 100 includes a housing 120 and a drain member 130. The housing 120 has a receiving cavity 211, and the drain member 130 is disposed in the receiving cavity 211.

[0072] The housing 120 is the main body 220 of the entire air duct module 100, serving as its basic component and providing an installation base for other structures within the air duct module 100. Structures such as the air intake component 130 can be installed on the housing 120, allowing the air duct module 100 to form a unified whole, facilitating its installation and transportation. Simultaneously, the housing 120 also protects the air intake component 130 and other structures, reducing damage from external structures.

[0073] The airflow guide 130 is mainly used for airflow disturbance, so that the air can circulate in the refrigeration equipment. That is, the air in the refrigeration equipment can continuously flow to the evaporator 320, and after being cooled by the evaporator 320, it is blown back to the frozen items.

[0074] In some embodiments, the flow guide 130 may be a fan. The flow guide 130 may be a centrifugal fan, an axial fan, or a cross-flow fan.

[0075] The arc-shaped air outlet area of ​​the first air outlet 112 refers to the arc-shaped air outlet area in the height direction Z of the horizontal freezer 10. The arc-shaped air outlet area in the height direction Z allows the cold air blown out from the first air outlet 112 to have multiple different directions in the height direction Z. This allows the cold air blown out from the first air outlet 112 to blow to different heights inside the horizontal freezer 10, so that the cold air can flow in different heights of the horizontal freezer 10 and cover different areas of the horizontal freezer 10 as much as possible, thereby improving the freezing effect.

[0076] In some embodiments, since the air duct module 100 is applied to the horizontal freezer 10, the air outlet area of ​​the first air outlet 112 is arc-shaped in the height direction Z of the horizontal freezer 10, that is, the air outlet area of ​​the first air outlet 112 is arc-shaped in the vertical plane.

[0077] In some embodiments, the air outlet area of ​​the first air outlet 112 is arc-shaped. This can be because the shape of the first air outlet 112 is arc-shaped, or because a sweeping component is provided at the first air outlet 112, and the sweeping component forms an arc-shaped air outlet area by sweeping air.

[0078] In some embodiments, the air duct module 100 is installed on one side of the horizontal freezer 10 in the width direction X. When the air duct module 100 is installed inside the horizontal freezer 10, the first air outlet 112 is located above the return air outlet 114. The air outlet area of ​​the first air outlet 112 is arc-shaped, so that the cold air blown out from the first air outlet 112 has an upward flow tendency. After being guided by the door 230 of the horizontal door 230, the upward cold air can flow to the other side of the receiving cavity 211 in the width direction X, so that the side of the receiving cavity 211 away from the air duct module 100 can be blown by cold air, thereby maximizing the uniformity of cold air in the receiving cavity 211 and thus maximizing the cooling effect.

[0079] Since the air outlet 112 has an arc-shaped air outlet direction, it has an upward air outlet direction as well as a leftward air outlet direction. That is, the first air outlet 112 also has a roughly horizontal air outlet direction, which allows the cold air blown out by the first air outlet 112 to be blown directly to the area around the air duct module 100. This allows the first air outlet 112 to emit air at different levels and freeze items in different locations.

[0080] The first air outlet 112 is located above the second air outlet 113. The second air outlet 113 is located above the return air outlet 114.

[0081] In some embodiments, the first air outlet 112, the second air outlet 113, and the return air outlet 114 are arranged sequentially from high to low. The first air outlet 112 is close to the top of the receiving cavity 211, the return air outlet 114 is close to the bottom of the receiving cavity 211, and the second air outlet 113 is generally located in the middle region of the receiving cavity 211, so that the cold air can form multiple different circulation zones and improve the cooling effect.

[0082] Users typically stack items from bottom to top. Therefore, the lower items tend to have more items and require more cooling. By placing a second air outlet 113 between the first air outlet 112 and the return air outlet 114, cool air can be directed from the center of the cabinet 200, quickly reaching the bottom area of ​​the receiving cavity 211. The coordination of the first and second air outlets 112 and 113 ensures more even distribution of cool air within the receiving cavity 211, resulting in better cooling performance.

[0083] The air duct module 100 is located on one side of the receiving cavity 211 in the width direction X, and the first air outlet 112 is approximately located at the top of the receiving cavity 211, while the second air outlet 113 is approximately located in the middle of the receiving cavity 211. Since it is unlikely that items will be placed on the top of the receiving cavity 211, the cold air blown from the first air outlet 112 can be directed as far as possible towards the other side of the receiving cavity 211 in the width direction X, so that areas farther away from the air duct module 100 can be reached by the cold air. The second air outlet 113 is approximately located in the middle of the receiving cavity 211, so that the cold air blown from the second air outlet 113 can be directly directed towards items near the air duct module 100, thereby ensuring that as many items in the receiving cavity 211 as possible are exposed to the cold air, thus improving the overall cooling effect of the horizontal freezer 10.

[0084] In other words, in this embodiment, the first air outlet 112 is located above the second air outlet 113, and the air outlet area of ​​the first air outlet is arc-shaped, so that the cold air blown out from the air duct module 100 can be blown to different heights within the receiving cavity 211, so that items in different areas can be directly blown by the cold air as much as possible, thereby improving the freezing effect.

[0085] Please refer to Figures 9 and 10. In some embodiments, the first air outlet 112 is at least partially arc-shaped. The first air outlet 112 is located at the top of the housing 120. The fact that the first air outlet 112 is at least partially arc-shaped can mean that the entire first air outlet 112 is arc-shaped, or that part of the first air outlet 112 is arc-shaped and the other part is straight. The specific shape is not limited.

[0086] The first air outlet 112 is located at the top of the housing 120 and is arc-shaped. The arc-shaped first air outlet 112 has multiple different air outlet directions. Since the first air outlet 112 is located at the top of the housing 120, the cold air blown out by the first air outlet 112 can blow upward and to the left. The upward cold air can flow to the left side of the cabinet 200 after being guided by the door 230. The cold air to the left can blow directly to the area near the air duct module 100, thereby allowing the cold air to circulate as much as possible inside the entire cabinet 200 and improving the cooling effect.

[0087] In some embodiments, the curvature of the first air outlet 112 is 80 degrees to 100 degrees. The curvature of the first air outlet 112 refers to the curvature in the vertical plane. Specifically, the curvature of the first air outlet 112 can be 80 degrees, 82 degrees, 85 degrees, 90 degrees, 95 degrees, etc.

[0088] The first air outlet 112 has an arc of 80 degrees to 100 degrees, so that the first air outlet 112 can cover the top and left side of the air duct module 100 as much as possible. This allows the first air outlet 112 to have a vertical upward air outlet direction at the top of the housing 120, a horizontal upward and leftward air outlet direction on the side of the housing 120, and multiple inclined upward and leftward air outlet directions from vertical upward to horizontal leftward. This allows the cold air to flow to different areas within the cabinet 200, enabling the cold air to circulate within the cabinet 200 and improving the cooling effect.

[0089] In some embodiments, the housing 120 has a first surface 126a and a second surface 126b that are arranged at an angle to each other. A first air outlet 112 is located on the first surface 126a and the second surface 126b, respectively.

[0090] In some embodiments, a first surface 126a is located on the top of the housing 120, a second surface 126b is located on the side of the housing 120, and a first air outlet 112 extends from the first surface 126a to the second surface 126b, such that a portion of the first air outlet 112 is located on the top of the housing 120 and a portion is located on the side of the housing 120, with the intermediate transition area connected by an arc-shaped transition, thereby making the entire first air outlet 112 arc-shaped.

[0091] In some embodiments, there are multiple first air outlets 112. The multiple first air outlets 112 are located at the same height of the air duct module 100, and all of the multiple first air outlets 112 are arc-shaped. That is, the cross-section of the multiple first air outlets 112 in the vertical plane is arc-shaped. The curvature of the multiple first air outlets 112 can be the same or different, and can be set according to the actual situation.

[0092] Multiple first air outlets 112 are arranged sequentially at intervals in the thickness direction Y, so that the first air outlets 112 are arranged as evenly as possible in the thickness direction Y of the cabinet 200. This allows the air blown out from the multiple first air outlets 112 to cover the plane formed by the width direction X and the thickness direction Y as much as possible, thereby increasing the coverage area of ​​the cold air and improving the cooling effect.

[0093] In some embodiments, the second air outlet 113 is located on the second surface 126b. This allows the first air outlet 112 and the second air outlet 113 to be located on the same side of the housing, and allows the first air outlet 112 and the second air outlet 113 to discharge air along the width direction X of the cabinet 200. This allows the cold air to flow as far as possible along the width direction X of the cabinet 200, reaching further areas and ensuring that items in different areas are exposed to the cold air. This minimizes uneven temperature distribution inside the cabinet 200 and improves the cooling effect.

[0094] In some embodiments, the first air outlet 112 is provided with an air outlet grille 112a. Since the first air outlet 112 is arc-shaped and has an upward-facing portion, in order to ensure the amount of cold air from the first air outlet 112, the opening area of ​​the first air outlet 112 is not set to be particularly small. Furthermore, since the first air outlet 112 is located at the top of the cabinet 200, during the process of users taking or placing items, some small items may easily enter the housing 120 through the first air outlet 112. Providing an air outlet grille 112a on the first air outlet 112 can reduce the opening area of ​​a single hole in the first air outlet 112, thereby reducing the risk of small items entering the housing 120 through the first air outlet 112.

[0095] In some embodiments, the air outlet grille 112a is injection molded to the housing 120. The air outlet grille 112a can be directly integrally molded with the housing 120 by injection molding, so that the air outlet grille 112a and the housing 120 form a whole. This can reduce the risk of the air outlet grille 112a falling off the housing 120, reduce the risk of the air outlet grille 112a falling into the housing 120, reduce the failure rate of the air duct module 100, and improve the service life of the air duct module 100.

[0096] In some embodiments, the air outlet grille 112a has a plurality of mesh openings 112b, which are spaced apart, and the maximum width of each mesh opening 112b is less than or equal to 1.5 mm.

[0097] In some embodiments, the width of the mesh 112b can be the distance between any two points on the mesh 112b, with the maximum width being the distance between the two points furthest apart in the mesh 112b. Since the length of a rice grain is approximately 1.5 mm, the maximum width of the mesh 112b is less than or equal to 1.5 mm, thereby minimizing the possibility of rice grains or items of similar size entering the housing 120, reducing the failure rate of the air duct module 100, and increasing the service life of the air duct module 100.

[0098] In some embodiments, the air outlet grille 112a is provided at least in the upper region of the first air outlet 112.

[0099] The upper region of the first air outlet 112 refers to the region where the air outlet direction has an upward component. That is, the air outlet direction in this region can be vertically upward, obliquely upward, or partially vertically upward and partially obliquely upward. The upper region of the first air outlet 112 is set towards the door 230. When the door 230 is opened, impurities are most likely to enter the housing 120 through this upper region. Setting an air outlet grille 112a in the upper region can minimize the risk of impurities entering the housing 120.

[0100] The air outlet grille 112a may be provided at least in the upper region of the first air outlet 112, or it may be provided only in the upper region of the first air outlet 112, or it may be provided in the upper region of the first air outlet 112, or it may be provided in other regions of the first air outlet 112 other than the upper region.

[0101] In some embodiments, the housing 120 includes a front housing 121 and a rear housing 123. The front housing 121 includes a first housing segment 121a, a second housing segment 121b, and a third housing segment 121c. The second housing segment 121b connects the first housing segment 121a and the third housing segment 121c respectively. The rear housing 123 is connected to the first housing segment 121a to form a mounting cavity 124. The second housing segment 121b and the third housing segment 121c are used to form a fixing cavity 125 for mounting the evaporator 320 with the cabinet 200. A first air outlet 112 is disposed in the first housing segment 121a, and a return air outlet 114 is disposed in the third housing segment 121c.

[0102] Please refer to Figures 8 and 11. The housing 120 includes a front housing 121 and a rear housing 123, which are connected. The front housing 121 further includes a first housing segment 121a, a second housing segment 121b, and a third housing segment 121c. The first housing segment 121a is located above the second housing segment 121b. The second housing segment 121b is located above the third housing segment 121c. The first housing segment 121a and the rear housing 123 form a mounting cavity 124 for accommodating the air intake component 130. An air inlet 115 is provided on the rear housing 123. An air return outlet 114 is provided on the third housing segment 121c and communicates with the fixing cavity 125.

[0103] In some embodiments, when the air in the receiving cavity 211 enters the fixed cavity 125 through the return air inlet 114, it flows towards the air inlet 115 under the action of the guide member 130. This allows the air entering the fixed cavity 125 to be cooled by the evaporator 320 and then flow towards the mounting cavity 124, before being blown into the receiving cavity 211 through the first air outlet 112. In other words, the evaporator 320 is located between the return air inlet 114 and the air inlet 115, and cools the air during the air circulation process, ensuring that the air blown out of the first air outlet 112 is always cold air, thus improving the freezing effect.

[0104] It should be noted that the evaporator 320 is fixed within the fixed cavity 125 formed by the second shell section 121b, the third shell section 121c, and the cabinet 200, which facilitates the assembly of the air duct module 100 and the evaporator 320. During assembly, the air duct module 100 is first assembled into a whole, the evaporator 320 is assembled in the designated position of the receiving cavity 211, and then the entire air duct module 100 is assembled into the receiving cavity 211, so that the second shell section 121b and the third shell section 121c cover the evaporator 320, forming a closed fixed cavity 125 with the main body 220. This allows the air in the receiving cavity 211 to enter the fixed cavity 125 through the return air port 114, be cooled by the evaporator 320, and then flow to the first air outlet 112.

[0105] In some embodiments, the third shell section 121c protrudes from the second shell section 121b, and the return air vent 114 is disposed at the end of the third shell section 121c away from the second shell section 121b.

[0106] The third shell section 121c protruding from the second shell section 121b means that the third shell section 120 protrudes from the second shell section 121b in the width direction X. That is, in the width direction X, the third shell section 121c is located to the left of the second shell section 121b, and the third shell section 121c is closer to the central area of ​​the receiving cavity 211. The return air vent 114 is located at the end of the third shell section 121c away from the second shell section 121b, and the first air outlet 112 is located on the first shell section 121a. It can be considered that in the width direction X, of the return air vent 114 and the first air outlet 112, the return air vent 114 is closer to the central area of ​​the receiving cavity 211, so that the gas in the receiving cavity 211 can more easily enter the fixed cavity 125 through the return air vent 114, so that the gas can stay and grow in the fixed cavity 125, thereby increasing the heat exchange time with the evaporator 320, improving the cooling effect of the air, and thus improving the freezing effect.

[0107] Referring to Figure 12, in some embodiments, the air duct module 100 further includes a guide 140 disposed in the mounting cavity 124, which can distribute airflow to the first air outlet 112 and the second air outlet 113.

[0108] In some embodiments, the front shell 121 and the rear shell 123 are relative to the cabinet 200 of the refrigeration equipment. Among the front shell 121 and the rear shell 123, the rear shell 123 is located closer to the cabinet 200, that is, the rear shell 123 is located behind the front shell 121. The front shell 121 and the rear shell 123 are connected to form a mounting cavity 124.

[0109] An air inlet 115 is located on the rear shell 123, and a first air outlet 112 and a second air outlet 113 are located on the front shell 121. After being cooled by the evaporator 320, the air is guided by the air guide 130 and blown into the cabinet 200 of the refrigeration equipment from the first air outlet 112 and the second air outlet 113. The air blown out from the first air outlet 112 and the second air outlet 113 is cold air.

[0110] Since refrigeration equipment generally has a certain height, in order to ensure that the cold air can be blown to different heights within the cabinet 200 as much as possible, the first air outlet 112 and the second air outlet 113 can be set at different heights. That is, the first air outlet 112 can be set above the second air outlet 113, or the second air outlet 113 can be set above the first air outlet 112.

[0111] That is, the first air outlet 112 and the second air outlet 113 are located at different positions on the housing 120, and the position of the guide member 130 is determined after it is installed in the mounting cavity 124. Due to factors such as the direction of the guide member 130, the rotational speed of the guide member 130, the position between the first air outlet 112 and the guide member 130, and the position between the second air outlet 113 and the guide member 130, the air volume of the first air outlet 112 and the second air outlet 113 is unstable.

[0112] A guide 140 is provided inside the mounting cavity 124. The guide 140 can guide the cold air entering the mounting cavity 124 to the first air outlet 112 and the second air outlet 113 respectively. The air volume in the mounting cavity 124 can be distributed by the guide 140, so that the air volume of the cold air flowing to the first air outlet 112 and the second air outlet 113 can be roughly stable, thereby making the air volume blown to the refrigeration equipment roughly stable, thus ensuring the cooling capacity at different heights in the refrigeration equipment and improving the refrigeration effect of the refrigeration equipment.

[0113] In some embodiments, since users typically place frozen items at the bottom first, there will be a larger accumulation of frozen items at the bottom. Therefore, the cooling demand at the bottom is greater, and the airflow guide 140 can direct more cooling energy to the bottom of the refrigeration equipment. In addition, since the cabinet 200 of the refrigeration equipment is roughly rectangular (long and narrow), and the air duct module 100 is installed on one side wall of the cabinet 200, the opposite side wall is furthest from the air duct module 100. This results in less cooling energy being absorbed by frozen items near the opposite side wall. It can also increase the size of the air outlet at the top, allowing cold air to flow to a farther location, thereby freezing frozen items farther from the air duct module 100.

[0114] In some embodiments, the air guide 140 is mounted on the rear housing 123 and sealed to the front housing 121. Since the airflow direction is from the air inlet 115 to the first air outlet 112 and the second outlet, the air guide 140 can be mounted on the rear housing 123 and sealed to the front housing 121, so that the rear housing 123, the front housing 121 and the air guide 140 can form an airflow channel to guide the cold air to the first air outlet 112 and the second air outlet 113 respectively.

[0115] In some embodiments, the flow guide 140 is integrally formed with the rear shell 123, which can reduce the processing cost of the flow guide 140 and the rear shell 123, reduce the sealing process between the rear shell 123 and the flow guide 140, and reduce the manufacturing cost.

[0116] In some embodiments, the air inlet 115 is offset from the first air outlet 112 and the second air outlet 113. This means that in the direction from the front shell 121 to the rear shell 123, the air inlet 115 is offset from the first air outlet 112, and the air inlet 115 is offset from the second air outlet 113. This indicates that the air inlet 115 and the first air outlet 112 are not directly connected, and the air inlet 115 and the second air outlet 113 are not directly connected. Cold air flowing towards the first air outlet 112 and the second air outlet 113 may collide with the front shell 121 or the rear shell 123, resulting in energy loss. Therefore, a guide member 140 is provided in the mounting cavity 124 to guide the cold air within the mounting cavity 124, reducing the loss of kinetic energy and allowing the cold air to reach further within the cabinet 200. This, in turn, maximizes the uniformity of cooling within the cabinet 200 and improves the cooling effect on frozen items.

[0117] Referring to Figures 13, 14, and 15, in some embodiments, the first air outlet 112 includes a first left air outlet 112c and a first right air outlet 112d. The second air outlet 113 includes a second left air outlet 113c and a second right air outlet 113d. The guide member 140 includes a first guide portion 142 and a second guide portion 145. The first guide portion 142 and the second guide portion 145 are respectively disposed on both sides of the air inlet 115. The first guide portion 142 is correspondingly disposed with the first left air outlet 112c and the second left air outlet 113c. The second guide portion 145 is correspondingly disposed with the first right air outlet 112d and the second right air outlet 113d.

[0118] In some embodiments, there are two first air outlets 112, namely a first left air outlet 112c and a first right air outlet 112d. The first left air outlet 112c and the first right air outlet 112d are located at the same height of the front shell 121. There are two second air outlets 113, namely a second left air outlet 113c and a second right air outlet 113d. The second left air outlet 113c and the second right air outlet 113d are located at the same height of the front shell 121.

[0119] For ease of description, the view direction is from the front shell 121 towards the rear shell 123. The first left air vent 112c and the second left air vent 113c are located to the left of the air inlet 115, respectively. The first right air vent 112d and the second right air vent 113d are located to the right of the air inlet 115, respectively. The first left air vent 112c is located above the second left air vent 113c, and the first right air vent 112d is located above the second right air vent 113d.

[0120] In some embodiments, the first guide section 142 is located on the left side of the air inlet 115, and the second guide section 145 is located on the right side of the air inlet 115. The first guide section 142 is used to guide air to the first left air outlet 112c and the second left air outlet 113c, and the second guide section 145 is used to guide air to the first right air outlet 112d and the second right air outlet 113d.

[0121] Specifically, the shape of the first guide portion 142 can be set according to the height of the first left air outlet 112c and the second left air outlet 113c and its position relative to the guide member 130. In some embodiments, the shape of the second guide portion 145 can be set according to the height of the first right air outlet 112d and the second right air outlet 113d and its position relative to the guide member 130.

[0122] In some embodiments, the minimum distance between the first guide portion 142 and the guide member 130 is a first distance, and the minimum distance between the second guide portion 145 and the guide member 130 is a second distance;

[0123] When the guide member 130 is turned from the second guide section 145 to the first guide section 142, the first distance is greater than the second distance.

[0124] In some embodiments, the guide member 130 may be a centrifugal impeller, and the air inlet 115 is generally circular. The guide member 130 may be installed at the air inlet 115. The first left air outlet 112c, the first right air outlet 112d, the second left air outlet 113c, and the second right air outlet 113d are approximately distributed at the four symmetrical corners of the air inlet 115. The distance between the first guide portion 142 and the guide member 130 can be roughly considered as the distance between the first guide portion 142 and the air inlet 115. Specifically, the distance between the first guide portion 142 and the air inlet 115 refers to the distance between any point on the first guide portion 142 along the radial direction of the air inlet 115 and the edge of the air inlet 115. The minimum distance between the first guide portion 142 and the guide member 130 can be considered as the minimum distance between the first guide portion 142 and the edge of the air inlet 115.

[0125] Since the first guide section 142 extends from the air inlet 115 to the first left air outlet 112c and the second left air outlet 113c respectively, it can be considered that the minimum distance between the first guide section 142 and the guide member 130 is the first flow channel between the first guide section 142 and the air inlet 115.

[0126] In some embodiments, the distance between the second guide portion 145 and the guide member 130 can be approximately considered as the distance between the second guide portion 145 and the air inlet 115. The distance between the second guide portion 145 and the air inlet 115 refers to the distance between any point on the second guide portion 145 along the radial direction of the air inlet 115 and the edge of the air inlet 115. The minimum distance between the second guide portion 145 and the guide member 130 can be considered as the minimum distance between the edge of the second guide portion 145 and the air inlet 115.

[0127] Since the second guide section 145 extends from the air inlet 115 to the first right air outlet 112d and the second right air outlet 113d respectively, it can be considered that the minimum distance between the second guide section 145 and the guide member 130 is the second flow channel between the second guide section 145 and the air inlet 115.

[0128] The flow guide 130 rotates counterclockwise from the second guide section 145 to the first guide section 142, meaning it moves from the front housing 121 towards the rear housing 123. During this rotation, the air entering the receiving cavity 211 from the air inlet 115 first flows to the second guide section and then to the first guide section 142. If the first distance is greater than the second distance, it indicates that the first flow path is larger than the second flow path. Generally, the flow velocity through the second guide section 145, which passes first, will be slightly greater than the flow velocity through the first guide section 142. The first flow channel is larger than the second flow channel, so that the wind speed flowing through the first guide section 142 and the second guide section 145 may be approximately the same. That is, the air volume blown out from the first left air outlet 112c, the second left air outlet 113c, the first right air outlet 112d and the second right air outlet 113d is approximately the same. This makes the air volume of different air outlets approximately the same as much as possible, and ensures that the amount of cold air blown to all parts of the refrigeration equipment is the same, thereby improving the refrigeration effect of the refrigeration equipment.

[0129] In some embodiments, the first guide section 142 includes a first upper guide section 142a and a first lower guide section 142b. One end of the first upper guide section 142a and one end of the first lower guide section 142b are connected to form a first connection point 142c. The end of the first upper guide section 142a away from the first connection point 142c extends to a first left air outlet 112c. The end of the first lower guide section 142b away from the first connection point 142c extends to a second left air outlet 113c.

[0130] The first connection point 142c is the point on the first guide section 142 closest to the air inlet 115, that is, the first connection point 142c is the point on the entire first guide section 142 closest to the guide element 130. The first upper guide section 142a extends from the air inlet 115 to below the first left air outlet 112c, guiding the cold air to the first left air outlet 112c. The first lower guide section 142b extends from the air inlet 115 to above the second left air outlet 113c, guiding the cold air to the second left air outlet 113c. That is, the first upper guide section 142a and the first lower guide section 142b are located between the first left air outlet 112c and the second left air outlet 113c.

[0131] As for the shape of the first upper guide section 142a, it can be a straight line, an arc, or a combination of straight lines and arcs, and is not specifically limited. In some embodiments, the shape of the first lower guide section 142b can be a straight line, an arc, or a combination of straight lines and arcs.

[0132] In some embodiments, along the height direction Z of the housing 120, the tilt angle of the first upper guide section 142a is greater than the tilt angle of the first lower guide section 142b.

[0133] In some embodiments, the height direction Z of the housing 120 refers to the height direction Z (vertical direction) of the entire air duct module 100 after it is installed in the refrigeration equipment. Along the height direction Z of the housing 120, the inclination angle of the first upper guide section 142a can be considered as the angle of the first upper guide section 142a in the vertical direction. The larger the inclination angle of the first upper guide section 142a, the gentler the first upper guide section 142a, and the slower the airflow. The smaller the inclination angle of the first upper guide section 142a, the steeper the first upper guide section 142a, and the faster the airflow.

[0134] In some embodiments, the larger the inclination angle of the first lower guide section 142b in the height direction Z of the housing 120, the gentler the first lower guide section 142b, and the slower the flow. The smaller the inclination angle of the first lower guide section 142b, the steeper the first lower guide section 142b, and the faster the flow.

[0135] The greater inclination angle of the first upper guide section 142a than that of the first lower guide section 142b indicates that the first upper guide section 142a is relatively gentler than the first lower guide section 142b. Since the first upper guide section 142a is located above the first lower guide section 142b, the flow direction of the guide member 130 is from the first upper guide section 142a to the first lower guide section 142b. The flow velocity above is greater than below, meaning the lower first guide section 142b is set to be steeper, which balances the flow difference between the upper and lower sections, ensuring that the airflow of the first left air outlet 112c and the second left air outlet 113c is approximately the same.

[0136] In some embodiments, the angle between the first upper guide section 142a and the first lower guide section 142b is 0 degrees to 90 degrees. Since the first upper guide section 142a and the first lower guide section 142b are connected at the first connection point 142c and extend upwards and downwards (in different directions), the smaller the angle between the first upper guide section 142a and the first lower guide section 142b, the closer the distance between them. This results in a larger space above the first upper guide section 142a and / or below the first lower guide section 142b, allowing more cold air to be directed to the first left air vent 112c and the second left air vent 113c, increasing the airflow volume of the first left air vent 112c and the second left air vent 113c.

[0137] In some embodiments, the included angle between the first upper guide section 142a and the first lower guide section 142b can be 25°, 30°, 35°, 45°, 60°, and 65°, etc.

[0138] In some embodiments, the second guide section 145 includes a second upper guide section 145a and a second lower guide section 145b. One end of the second upper guide section 145a and one end of the second lower guide section 145b are connected to form a second connection point 145c. One end of the second upper guide section 145a away from the second connection point 145c extends to a first right air outlet 112d, and one end of the second lower guide section 145b away from the second connection point 145c extends to a second right air outlet 113d.

[0139] The second connection point 145c is the point on the second guide section 145 closest to the air inlet 115, that is, the second connection point 145c is the point on the entire second guide section 145 closest to the guide element 130. The second upper guide section 145a extends from the air inlet 115 to below the first right air outlet 112d, guiding the cold air to the first right air outlet 112d. The second lower guide section 145b extends from the air inlet 115 to above the second right air outlet 113d, guiding the cold air to the second right air outlet 113d. That is, the second upper guide section 145a and the second lower guide section 145b are located between the first right air outlet 112d and the second right air outlet 113d.

[0140] As for the shape of the second upper guide section 145a, it can be a straight line, an arc, or a combination of straight lines and arcs, and is not specifically limited. In some embodiments, the shape of the second lower guide section 145b can be a straight line, an arc, or a combination of straight lines and arcs.

[0141] In some embodiments, along the height direction Z of the housing 120, the tilt angle of the second upper guide section 145a is greater than the tilt angle of the second lower guide section 145b.

[0142] In some embodiments, the height direction Z of the housing 120 refers to the height direction Z (vertical direction) of the entire air duct module 100 after it is installed in the refrigeration equipment. Along the height direction Z of the housing 120, the inclination angle of the second upper guide section 145a can be considered as the angle of the second upper guide section 145a in the vertical direction. The larger the inclination angle of the second upper guide section 145a, the gentler the second upper guide section 145a, and the slower the airflow. The smaller the inclination angle of the second upper guide section 145a, the steeper the second upper guide section 145a, and the faster the airflow.

[0143] In some embodiments, the larger the inclination angle of the second lower guide section 145b in the height direction Z of the housing 120, the gentler the second lower guide section 145b, and the slower the flow. The smaller the inclination angle of the second lower guide section 145b, the steeper the second lower guide section 145b, and the faster the flow.

[0144] The fact that the inclination angle of the second upper guide section 145a is greater than that of the second lower guide section 145b indicates that the second upper guide section 145a is relatively gentler than the second lower guide section 145b. Since the second upper guide section 145a is located above the second lower guide section 145b, the flow guide 130 turns from the first lower guide section 142b to the second upper guide section 145a. The flow velocity above is greater than that below, meaning that the lower second lower guide section 145b is set to be steeper, which can balance the flow difference between the upper and lower sections, so that the air volume of the first right air outlet 112d and the second right air outlet 113d is approximately the same.

[0145] In some embodiments, the angle between the second upper guide section 145a and the second lower guide section 145b is 0 degrees to 90 degrees. Since the second upper guide section 145a and the second lower guide section 145b are connected at the second connection point 145c and extend upward and downward respectively (extending in different directions), the smaller the angle between the second upper guide section 145a and the second lower guide section 145b, the closer the distance between the second upper guide section 145a and the second lower guide section 145b is. This results in a larger space above the second upper guide section 145a and / or below the second lower guide section 145b, allowing more cold air to be guided to the first right air outlet 112d and the second right air outlet 113d, increasing the air volume of the first right air outlet 112d and the second right air outlet 113d.

[0146] In some embodiments, the included angle between the second upper guide section 145a and the second lower guide section 145b can be 25°, 35°, 40°, 45°, 55°, 60°, 65° and 70°, etc.

[0147] In some embodiments, when the guide member 130 is turned from the second guide section 145 to the first guide section 142, the air guiding angle of the first guide section 142 is smaller than the air guiding angle of the second guide section 145.

[0148] In some embodiments, the air guiding angle of the first guide section 142 refers to the included angle between the first upper guide section 142a and the first lower guide section 142b. Since the first upper guide section 142a and the first lower guide section 142b are not of the same shape (the first upper guide section 142a is partly straight and partly curved, and the curvature of different sections may be different; the first lower guide section 142b is partly straight and partly curved, and the curvature of different sections may be different), the included angle between the first upper guide section 142a and the first lower guide section 142b refers to the included angle at the first connection point 142c.

[0149] The air guiding angle of the second guide section 145 refers to the angle between the second upper guide section 145a and the second lower guide section 145b. Since the second upper guide section 145a and the second lower guide section 145b are not of the same shape (the second upper guide section 145a is partly straight and partly curved, and the curvature of different sections may be different; the second lower guide section 145b is partly straight and partly curved, and the curvature of different sections may be different), the angle between the second upper guide section 145a and the second lower guide section 145b refers to the angle at the second connection point 145c.

[0150] If the air guiding angle of the first guide section 142 is smaller than that of the second guide section 145, it means that the distance between the first upper guide section 142a and the first lower guide section 142b is relatively close, and the vertical space between the first upper guide section 142a and the first lower guide section 142b is relatively large. Conversely, this indicates that the distance between the second upper guide section 145a and the second lower guide section 145b is relatively short, and the vertical space between the second upper guide section 145a and the second lower guide section 145b is relatively small. Since the second guide section 145 turns to the first guide section 142, the second guide section 145 corresponds to the air inlet side, and the first guide section 142 corresponds to the air outlet side. The air volume on the air inlet side is greater than the air volume on the air outlet side. The vertical space between the first upper guide section 142a and the first lower guide section 142b is relatively large, while the vertical space between the second upper guide section 145a and the second lower guide section 145b is relatively small. This balances the air volume flowing to the first left air outlet, the second left air outlet 113c, the first right air outlet, and the second right air outlet, making the air volume of the four air outlets roughly balanced and stable.

[0151] In some embodiments, the flow guide 140 further includes a third flow guide portion 146, which is disposed below the flow guide 130 and is used to guide the flow to the second left air outlet 113c and the second right air outlet 113d.

[0152] The third airflow guide 146 is located below the rear shell 123 and can guide the cold air to the second left air outlet 113c and the second right air outlet 113d, so that the air volume of the second left air outlet 113c and the second right air outlet 113d is approximately the same, thereby maximizing the uniformity of the air outlet.

[0153] Please refer to Figures 16 and 17. In some embodiments, the air duct module 100 further includes a fixing cover plate 160 and a fixing member 150. The housing 120 has a mounting groove 128. The fixing member 150 is disposed in the mounting groove 128 and is used to fix the housing 120 to the cabinet 200 of the refrigeration equipment. The cover plate 160 covers the mounting groove 128.

[0154] The mounting cavity 124 and the mounting slot 128 can be two independent cavities, that is, the mounting cavity 124 and the mounting slot 128 are not connected. When the drain component 130 is installed inside the mounting cavity 124, and when the air duct module 100 is fixed to the refrigeration equipment, the drain component 130 will not be exposed, thereby minimizing the risk of damage to the drain component 130 during the assembly of the air duct module 100.

[0155] Of course, in some other embodiments, the mounting cavity 124 and the mounting groove 128 may also be partially connected, and there is no specific limitation on this.

[0156] In this embodiment of the disclosure, for ease of description, the height direction, width direction X, and thickness direction Y of the housing 120 are defined, as shown in FIG18. The mounting groove 128 can be disposed on the top of the entire housing 120. During the installation of the air duct module 100 to the refrigeration equipment, the mounting groove 128 is disposed close to the door 230 of the refrigeration equipment, that is, the mounting groove 128 is closest to the door 230 of the refrigeration equipment. Therefore, during installation, after the door 230 is opened, it is convenient for the fastener 150 to pass through the housing 120 and the cabinet 200 of the refrigeration equipment, thereby facilitating the assembly of the air duct module 100.

[0157] In this embodiment, the fastener 150 is disposed in the mounting groove 128 and can fix the housing 120 and the cabinet 200. The cover plate 160 covers the mounting groove 128 and can cover the fastener 150 in the mounting groove 128, so that the cover plate 160 and the housing 120 can form a whole, so that the fastener 150 is hidden in the mounting groove 128, avoiding the fastener 150 from being exposed, and making the appearance of the entire air duct module 100 neat.

[0158] In some embodiments, the cover plate 160 covers the fastener 150 within the mounting groove 128, preventing the fastener 150 from being exposed, reducing corrosion of the fastener 150 due to low temperature or condensate in the refrigeration equipment, and improving the service life of the fastener 150.

[0159] Referring to Figure 18, in some embodiments, the housing 120 is provided with a fixing hole 129a. The fixing hole 129a communicates with the mounting groove 128. A portion of the fastener 150 is received in the mounting groove 128. A portion of the fastener 150 passes through the fixing hole 129a for fixed connection with the cabinet 200.

[0160] During installation, the fastener 150 can be placed in the mounting slot 128 first, and then pushed towards the cabinet 200 so that the fastener 150 passes through the fixing hole 129a and is fixedly connected to the cabinet 200.

[0161] In some embodiments, the fastener 150 may be a screw, bolt, or other similar structure. A threaded hole may be provided on the cabinet 200, and the wall of the fixing hole 129a may or may not have threads. During assembly, the fastener 150 is first inserted into the fixing hole 129a, and then the fastener 150 is rotated to lock it into the cabinet 200.

[0162] It should be noted that the air duct module 100 is installed inside the cabinet 200 and placed on the bearing surface. The fastener 150 only serves to fix it and basically does not bear the weight of the air duct module 100.

[0163] In some embodiments, the cover plate 160 is snapped into the housing 120. After the housing 120 is fixed to the cabinet 200, the cover plate 160 is then placed over the mounting groove 128, so that the cover plate 160 is snapped into the housing 120, thereby installing the cover plate 160 onto the housing 120.

[0164] Regarding the method of engaging the cover plate 160 with the housing 120, one of the cover plate 160 and the housing 120 may have an engaging part 162, and the other may have an engaging hole 129b, with the engaging part 162 engaging with the engaging hole 129b. That is, the engaging part 162 may be provided on the cover plate 160, and the engaging hole 129b may be provided on the housing 120. Alternatively, the engaging hole 129b may be provided on the cover plate 160, and the engaging part 162 may be provided on the housing 120; no specific limitation is required.

[0165] Taking the example of a cover plate 160 having a snap-fit ​​part 162 and a housing 120 having a snap-fit ​​hole 129b, the following explanation will be provided. The snap-fit ​​part 162 is located below the cover plate 160. After the cover plate 160 is snapped into the housing 120, the cover plate 160 can also cover the snap-fit ​​part 162, which can prevent the connection position of the snap-fit ​​part 162 and the snap-fit ​​hole 129b from being exposed, thereby improving the aesthetics of the entire air duct module 100.

[0166] Referring to Figures 18 and 19, in some embodiments, the snap-fit ​​portion 162 may include a connecting section 162a and a snap-fit ​​section 162b. One end of the connecting section 162a is connected to the cover plate 160, and the other end is connected to the snap-fit ​​section 162b. The connecting section 162a passes through the snap-fit ​​hole 129b. The snap-fit ​​section 162b abuts against the side of the snap-fit ​​hole 129b away from the cover plate 160, allowing the cover plate 160 to snap into the housing 120.

[0167] In some embodiments, multiple snap-fit ​​portions 162 and snap-fit ​​holes 129b may be provided. If the cover plate 160 is rectangular, at least one snap-fit ​​portion 162 may be provided on each side of the cover plate 160. Correspondingly, multiple snap-fit ​​holes 129b are also provided, with one snap-fit ​​portion 162 engaging with one snap-fit ​​hole 129b. The number of snap-fit ​​portions 162 and snap-fit ​​holes 129b can be set according to actual conditions, and the specific number is not limited.

[0168] Please refer to Figures 18 and 20. In some embodiments, the housing 120 includes a front housing 121 and a rear housing 123, which are connected to form a mounting cavity 124, and a mounting groove 128 is disposed in the rear housing 123.

[0169] In some embodiments, the housing 120 may be a two-section housing 120 or a three-section housing 120. The front housing 121 and the rear housing 123 are relative to the cabinet 200 of the refrigeration equipment. Among the front housing 121 and the rear housing 123, the rear housing 123 is located closer to the cabinet 200, that is, the rear housing 123 is located behind the front housing 121, and the front housing 121 and the rear housing 123 are connected to form the mounting cavity 124.

[0170] Since the mounting slot 128 is mainly used to accommodate the fastener 150, and the rear shell 123 is fixedly connected to the cabinet 200, setting the mounting slot 128 on the rear shell 123 can facilitate the assembly between the rear shell 123 and the cabinet 200.

[0171] In some embodiments, the rear shell 123 includes a body 123a and a fixing portion 123b protruding from the body 123a, and a mounting groove 128 is disposed in the fixing portion 123b. The fixing portion 123b protruding from the body 123a means that the fixing portion 123b protrudes from the body 123a in the direction of the front shell 121. In some embodiments, in order to accommodate the fixing portion 123b, a groove 121d may be provided on the front shell 121, and the fixing portion 123b may be disposed within the groove 121d.

[0172] Since the body 123a is very thin, it is not possible to directly open the mounting groove 128 that can accommodate the fastener 150 on the body 123a. Instead, the mounting groove 128 can be set on the fixing part 123b. This allows the mounting groove 128 that can accommodate the fastener 150 to be set without increasing the thickness of the back cover 123. The process is simplified and the structure is relatively simple.

[0173] In some embodiments, the body 123a and the fixing part 123b can be integrally formed, thereby reducing the manufacturing process of the entire rear shell 123 and reducing the manufacturing cost of the shell 120.

[0174] In some embodiments, the cover plate 160 is snapped into both the front shell 121 and the rear shell 123. Since the front shell 121 and the rear shell 123 are both relatively thin, the simultaneous snapping of the cover plate 160 into both the front shell 121 and the rear shell 123 can improve the stability of the cover plate 160 and reduce the risk of the cover plate 160 detaching.

[0175] In some embodiments, the cover plate 160 may be snapped only to the front shell 121, or the cover plate 160 may be snapped only to the rear shell 123. The snapping method of the cover plate 160 with the front shell 121 and the rear shell 123 may be the same or different, and is not specifically limited.

[0176] The connection between the cover plate 160 and the housing 120 has been described above. The connection between the front housing 121 and the rear housing 123 will be described below. In some embodiments, the front housing 121 can be snapped into the rear housing 123. Specifically, the snapping method can be as follows: a snap hole can be provided on the front housing 121, and a snap part can be provided on the rear housing 123, with the snap hole and snap part engaging. Alternatively, a snap hole can be provided on the rear housing 123, and a snap part can be provided on the front housing 121, with the snap part and snap hole engaging.

[0177] In some embodiments, multiple card holes and card portions may be provided, which may be provided along the edges of the front shell 121 and the rear shell 123, respectively.

[0178] In some other embodiments, the front shell 121 may have a first connection hole, the rear shell 123 may have a second connection hole, and the air duct module 100 may also include a connector 170 (see FIG7), which passes through the first connection hole and the second connection hole.

[0179] The connector 170 can be a screw or a nut. Threads can be provided on the inner walls of the first and second connecting holes to lock the front housing 121 and the rear housing 123 together.

[0180] It should be noted that the above describes two connection methods for the front shell 121 and the rear shell 123. Both connection methods can coexist, or only one connection method can be selected. That is, the front shell 121 and the rear shell 123 can be connected by both snap-fit ​​and connector 170, or the front shell 121 and the rear shell 123 can be connected only by snap-fit, or the front shell 121 and the rear shell 123 can be connected only by connector 170. The specific method is not limited.

[0181] Please refer to Figures 1 and 21. In some embodiments, the receiving cavity 211 has a bottom surface 213 and a stepped surface 214 above the bottom surface 213, and the return air vent 114 is located on the stepped surface 214.

[0182] When users place items into the storage cavity 211, they usually start piling them up from the bottom of the storage cavity 211, meaning the bottom of the storage cavity 211 is the easiest place to fill with items. If the return air vent 114 is placed directly at the bottom of the cabinet, the items can easily block the return air vent 114, preventing the air in the storage cavity 211 from returning. This can easily cause the air in the storage cavity 211 to not circulate, resulting in insufficient cooling capacity in the storage cavity 211 and affecting the cooling effect.

[0183] In this embodiment, the return air vent 114 is located on the stepped surface 214, and the height of the stepped surface 214 is higher than the bottom surface 213 of the receiving cavity 211, so that the return air vent 114 and the bottom surface 213 of the receiving cavity 211 have a certain height. This ensures that the return air vent 114, with its certain height, is less likely to be blocked during the process of stacking items, thereby allowing the air in the receiving cavity 211 to circulate and improving the overall cooling effect of the horizontal freezer 10.

[0184] In some embodiments, the return air vent 114 is located on the step surface 214. This does not mean that the return air vent 114 is provided on the step surface 214, but rather that the return air vent 114 is located on the step surface 214. That is, the return air vent 114 can be provided above the step surface 214 or one side of it can abut against the step surface 214.

[0185] The main body 220 is roughly rectangular. For ease of description, the height direction Z, width direction X, and thickness direction Y are defined. In some embodiments, when the horizontal freezer 10 is in use, the vertical direction is the height direction Z, and the projection of the main body 220 in the vertical direction is a rectangle. The direction of the longer side is the width direction X, and the direction of the shorter side is the thickness direction Y.

[0186] Since the thickness of the air duct module 100 is relatively small compared to its width, and the width of the air duct module 100 is approximately equal to the thickness of the cabinet 200, the air duct module 100 can be installed on one side of the cabinet 200 in the width direction X. This allows the air blown from the first air outlet 112 to cover the side formed by the thickness direction Y and the width direction X as much as possible. This ensures that the air blown from the first air outlet 112 can cover the entire interior of the cabinet 200, maximizing the uniformity of cold air distribution.

[0187] In some embodiments, for ease of description, six directions are defined: up, down, left, right, front, and back. In the height direction Z, the area closer to the opening is up, and the area closer to the bottom surface 213 is down. In the width direction X, the two directions are left and right, with the installation position of the air duct module 100 being right, and the opposite side being left. In the thickness direction Y, the connection point between the door 230 and the main body 220 is back, and the opposite side is front.

[0188] In some embodiments, the return air vent 114 is inclined along the height direction Z of the cabinet 200.

[0189] For ease of description, the return air vent 114 is defined to have a first side 114a and a second side 114b that are arranged opposite to each other. The second side 114b is located above the first side 114a. The first side 114a abuts against the step surface 214. Along the height direction Z of the cabinet 200, the return air vent 114 is inclined, which means that the first side 114a and the second side 114b are misaligned in the width direction X or the thickness direction Y. That is, along the height direction Z, the projections of the first side 114a and the second side 114b on the bottom surface 213 are misaligned.

[0190] In some embodiments, the inclination direction of the return air vent 114 may be towards the bottom surface 213 of the receiving cavity 211 (i.e., the second side 114b is located to the left of the first side 114a), or it may be towards the opening of the receiving cavity 211 (i.e., the first side 114a is located to the left of the second side 114b).

[0191] The return air vent 114 is tilted so that it has a certain angle in the height direction Z. The return air vent 114 can form a small cavity with the stepped surface 214, which can provide space for the gas in the receiving cavity 211 to flow to the return air vent 114, reduce the risk of the return air vent 114 being blocked, and allow the cold air to circulate in the receiving cavity 211, thereby improving the cooling effect of the entire horizontal freezer 10.

[0192] In some embodiments, the return air vent 114 is positioned facing the bottom surface 213, meaning that the return air vent 114 is inclined downwards, that is, the second side 114b is positioned above the first side 114a and to the left of the first side 114a. The return air vent 114 being positioned facing the bottom surface 213 gives the return air direction of the return air vent 114 a downward inclined return air tendency.

[0193] Since the return air vent 114 is located on the stepped surface 214 and has a certain height from the bottom surface 213 of the receiving cavity 211, cold air may not be able to flow to the area between the stepped surface 214 and the bottom surface 213. By setting the return air vent 114 towards the bottom surface 213, there is a downward return air direction, which allows cold air to flow to the area between the stepped surface 214 and the bottom surface 213, enabling the freezing of items placed between the stepped surface 214 and the bottom surface 213, thereby improving the freezing effect.

[0194] In some embodiments, along the height direction Z of the cabinet 200, the return air vent 114 and the projection of the step surface 214 onto the bottom surface 213 at least partially overlap.

[0195] Because the return air vent 114 is inclined, the projection of the return air vent 114 on the bottom surface 213 is also roughly rectangular. The projections of the return air vent 114 and the step surface 214 on the bottom surface 213 are at least partially overlapping. That is, the second side 114b may be located within the projection of the step surface 214 on the bottom surface 213, or it may be located outside the projection of the step surface 214 on the bottom surface 213.

[0196] If the projections of the return air vent 114 and the stepped surface 214 onto the bottom surface 213 at least partially overlap, it means that the first side 114a only needs to be located on the stepped surface 214. The second side 114b can be located within the area of ​​the stepped surface 214 or on the left side of the stepped surface 214. The position of the first side 114a is not specifically limited.

[0197] In some embodiments, along the height direction Z of the cabinet 200, the second air outlet 113 is located at 3 / 5 to 4 / 5 of the cabinet 200.

[0198] In some embodiments, the second air outlet 113 is located at 3 / 5 to 4 / 5 of the cabinet 200, that is, in the height direction Z of the cabinet 200 and in the direction from bottom to top, the second air outlet 113 is approximately located at 0.6 to 0.8 of the cabinet 200, so that the second air outlet 113 is approximately located in the middle area of ​​the horizontal freezer 10 in the height direction Z, so that the horizontal freezer 10 can directly blow air onto the items in the receiving cavity 211, and can freeze the items in the area near the air duct module 100, thereby improving the cooling effect.

[0199] In some embodiments, along the height direction Z of the cabinet 200, the return air vent 114 is located at 1 / 4 to 1 / 2 of the cabinet 200. This means that in the vertical direction from bottom to top, the return air vent 114 is located in the area of ​​1 / 4 to 1 / 2 of the cabinet 200, that is, the return air vent 114 is roughly located in the lower area of ​​the entire cabinet 200 but is still a certain distance from the bottom surface 213 of the receiving cavity 211. This allows the return air vent 114 to be close to the bottom area of ​​the receiving cavity 211, reducing the risk of blockage, and enabling cold air to flow as far as possible to the bottom of the receiving cavity 211, allowing the cold air to penetrate the entire internal space of the receiving cavity 211 as much as possible, thereby improving the freezing effect.

[0200] Please refer to Figures 22 and 23. In some embodiments, a reinforcing part 240 is provided on the cabinet 200, and a fastener 150 is fixedly connected to the housing 120 and the reinforcing part 240.

[0201] The cabinet 200 includes an inner liner 221 and an outer shell 223, with a foam layer filling the space between the inner liner 221 and the outer shell 223. Generally, the inner liner 221 is relatively thin. A reinforcing part 240 is provided between the inner liner 221 and the outer shell 223, which allows the fastener 150 to pass through the reinforcing part 240, thereby improving the fixing effect of the fastener 150.

[0202] Please refer to Figure 24. In some embodiments, the cabinet 200 is provided with a first positioning part 250, and the housing 120 is provided with a second positioning part 129c. The first positioning part 250 and the second positioning part 129c cooperate with each other.

[0203] The first positioning part 250 can be a positioning groove, and the second positioning part 129c can be a protrusion. During the process of assembling the air duct module 100 into the receiving cavity 211, the second positioning part 129c can be inserted into the first positioning part 250 firstly to position the air duct module 100, which facilitates the installation of the air duct module 100.

[0204] In some embodiments, the first positioning part 250 is disposed on the stepped surface 214, which is higher than the bottom surface of the receiving cavity 211, since the overall appearance of the cabinet 200 is roughly cuboid. After the electrical cavity 215 is disposed between the inner liner 221 and the outer shell 223, the inner liner 221 is not a regular cuboid, that is, the stepped surface 214 is formed above the electrical cavity 215. By placing the entire air duct module on the stepped surface 214, the existing structure of the horizontal freezer 10 can be utilized, eliminating the need to separately construct a stepped surface 214 higher than the bottom surface 213 inside the receiving cavity 211. This can improve the problem of blockage of the return air vent 114, reduce the number of components in the horizontal freezer 10, and reduce the volume occupied by the receiving cavity 211.

[0205] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, a cooling component can be disposed between the inner liner and the outer shell, i.e., disposed in the foam layer and wrapped around the inner liner, to provide cooling to the items in the cavity, thereby freezing the items inside the cavity. The cooling is provided to the cavity via liquid cooling. The air duct module and evaporator work together to blow cold air into the cavity via air cooling. This combination of air cooling and liquid cooling can improve the cooling effect while minimizing condensation inside the cavity.

[0206] 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 this disclosure. 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. In addition, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification.

[0207] Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be considered that such combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed in this disclosure.

[0208] Although embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present disclosure, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A horizontal freezer, comprising: The cabinet (200) has a receiving cavity (211) for accommodating frozen items; The air duct module (100) and the evaporator (320) are both installed within the receiving cavity (211); and A cooling element (330) is disposed around the side wall of the receiving cavity (211).

2. The horizontal freezer according to claim 1, wherein, The receiving cavity (211) has a bottom surface (213) and a stepped surface (214) higher than the bottom surface (213), the air duct module (100) is installed on the stepped surface (214), and the cooling component (330) is at least wrapped between the bottom surface (213) and the stepped surface (214).

3. The horizontal freezer according to claim 2, wherein, The cabinet (200) also includes an electrical cavity (215) for accommodating a compressor (310), and the stepped surface (214) is located above the electrical cavity (215).

4. The horizontal freezer according to claim 3 further includes an electrical control unit (350), the electrical control unit (350) is installed in the electrical cavity (215), and an installation component (361) is provided in the cabinet body (200), the electrical control unit (350) and the installation component (361) are engaged.

5. The horizontal freezer according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, The stepped surface (214) is provided with a water collection trough (216), and the horizontal freezer (10) also includes a water collection box (362) and a connecting water pipe (363). The water collection trough (216) is connected to the water collection box (362) through the connecting water pipe (363).

6. The horizontal freezer according to claim 5 further includes a positioning post (364), the positioning post (364) being connected to the connecting water pipe (363), and the positioning post (364) abutting against the lower part of the water collection tank (216).

7. The horizontal freezer according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein, The refrigeration component (330) is connected in series or in parallel with the evaporator (320).

8. The horizontal freezer according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein, The air duct module (100) includes a housing (120) and a flow guide (130). The housing (120) has an installation cavity (124) for accommodating the flow guide (130). The housing (120) is connected to the cabinet (200) to form a fixed cavity (125). The evaporator (320) is installed in the fixed cavity (125).

9. The horizontal freezer according to claim 8, wherein, The housing (120) includes a front housing (121) and a rear housing (123). The front housing (121) includes a second housing segment (121b) and a first housing segment (121a) and a third housing segment (121c) respectively connected to the second housing segment (121b). The rear housing (123) is connected to the first housing segment (121a) to form the mounting cavity (124). The second housing segment (121b) and the third housing segment (121c) are used to form a fixing cavity (125) for mounting the evaporator (320) with the cabinet (200).

10. The horizontal freezer according to claim 8 or 9, wherein, The housing (120) has a first air outlet (112), a second air outlet (113) and a return air outlet (114), with the first air outlet (112) located above the second air outlet (113) and the second air outlet (113) located above the return air outlet (114).

11. The horizontal freezer according to claim 10, wherein, The first air outlet (112) is arc-shaped.

12. The horizontal freezer according to claim 10, wherein, The return air vent (114) is located on the stepped surface (214).

13. The horizontal freezer according to claim 10, wherein, Along the height direction (Z) of the cabinet (200), the return air vent (114) is located at 1 / 4 to 1 / 2 of the cabinet (200).

14. The horizontal freezer according to claim 10, wherein, Along the height direction (Z) of the cabinet (200), the second air outlet (113) is located at 3 / 5 to 4 / 5 of the cabinet (200).

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