JP3176722B2 - Refrigerator with thawing function - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a storage,
The present invention relates to a storage that operates a heat exchange mechanism to maintain a storage room at a predetermined temperature.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art This type of storage includes a refrigerator and a hot storage.
One disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 57576 is known.

In this publication, a storage box is provided in a heat insulating box, and an evaporator of a cooling mechanism and air cooled by the evaporator are blown between the heat insulating box and the storage box. A cooling fan is provided, and a convection fan is provided in the storage box to blow the lower cooling air upward to convection. In such a configuration, when the cooling fan blows the air cooled by the evaporator to the outer periphery of the storage box, the air in the storage box is cooled through the wall material of the storage box, and the fresh food and the like stored in the storage box. Is indirectly cooled.

Then, the convection fan blows the cool air, which tends to be stagnant downward in the storage box in the natural state, upward, so that the temperature in the storage box is made uniform. Also, JP-A-63-18
Japanese Patent No. 5359 discloses a structure in which two independent storage boxes are provided in an insulated box without the convection fan, and a cooling mechanism is provided for a temperature sensor provided in one storage box. Temperature control is performed based on the detected temperature.

In such a configuration, the inside of each storage box is indirectly cooled by the cooled air blown to the outer periphery of the storage box.

[0006]

A refrigerator that indirectly cools the inside of a storage box has a feature that the inside of the storage box is maintained at a high humidity, and in particular, circulates air in the storage box. It was found to be suitable for thawing large frozen products. However, regardless of whether the cooling is indirect or direct, if the inside of the storage box is a single room as in the former case, when the frozen material is stored, the temperature in the storage box rapidly drops, and other Perishables may freeze.

However, the latter, which does not have a convection fan, is not suitable for thawing a large-sized frozen product because the air in the refrigerator is not circulated. In addition, if frozen material is put in one room, the temperature in the room will decrease,
Since each room is independent, if the temperature in the other room rises, the cooling mechanism will be activated, which is inefficient. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and simultaneously defrosts frozen foods and stores fresh foods in a storage box, holds dishes in a warm state, and stores hot dishes at a certain temperature. It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage that allows the temperature of each chamber to be kept within an appropriate range.

[0008]

To achieve the above object, according to an aspect of, the invention of claim 1, in thawing function refrigerator for holding the storage chamber by operating a cooling mechanism to a predetermined temperature, Osamu
By partitioning the inside of the box by the partition walls of the heat conductive member,
A plurality of storage chambers capable of performing thermal interference are configured , and cooling of the cooling mechanism is performed when a frozen lump having a temperature deviated to a low temperature side with respect to a holding temperature range is stored in any of the storage chambers
For thawing to reduce the capacity and circulate the air inside the refrigerator
And cooling mechanism control means for controlling the internal fan to operate .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the storage chamber is formed by partitioning the inside of a heat conduction box. The invention according to claim 3 is the device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the storage room is provided around the storage room.
With a double box structure with an air flow path,
Cooling the air in the air passage to a predetermined temperature.
A cooler and a circulation fan for circulating air in the air flow path.
The circulation fan further comprises a cooling fan.
It is configured to operate even when the frozen clot is stored in the storage chamber .

[0010]

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the cooling mechanism is normally operated at the normal time.
The storage chamber is operated to maintain a predetermined temperature. Only
And cool any of the storage compartments below the holding temperature range.
When the frozen clot is stored, the cooling mechanism control means
Reduce the cooling capacity and operate the thawing fan
You. The internal fan circulates the air inside the refrigerator to cool the frozen mass.
The air to the air,
Transfer cold to another storage room when flowing. That
Therefore, even if the cooling capacity is reduced, other storage rooms
Acts to maintain the holding temperature of In addition, cooling capacity
In order to lower the cooling capacity, besides weakening the capacity, the cooling mechanism
May be stopped.

[0012] According to the second aspect of the present invention, the cold storage housed in the storage room is provided.
The cold heat of the frozen clots passes through the heat conduction box on the outer periphery that forms the storage chamber.
It is transmitted to other storage rooms. According to the third aspect of the present invention, normally,
Inside the air passage formed around the storage room as a multi-box structure
The cooler cools the air to a predetermined temperature, and the circulation fan
The air in the air flow path is circulated. put it here,
When the frozen mass is stored in the storage room, the circulation fan operates.
By continuing, the cold heat of the frozen mass
Through the air in the air flow path, and this air
When circulating around the outer periphery of another storage room, the cooling
Tell

[0013]

[0014]

As described above, according to the present invention, heat interference
The cold of the frozen mass is transmitted to other storage rooms
So, while being able to defrost efficiently,
Cool other storage rooms without activating the cooling mechanism.
And can provide refrigerator with defrost function
You. According to the second aspect of the present invention, heat interference becomes more possible.
You.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the cooling mechanism is cooled.
Even if the capacity is reduced, one storage room can be replaced by another storage room.
Heat conduction to the substrate.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway front view, and FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway top view.

Referring to FIG. 1, the refrigerator main body includes an insulating box 10 and a storage box 20. The insulating box 10 is provided between the inner wall of the outer box 11 and the outer wall of the inner box 12 by insulating material 1 such as urethane foam.
3 and a pair of left and right openings 1
4a, 14b are formed and the openings 14a, 1
Insulated doors 15a and 15b for opening and closing the door 4b are attached so as to be opened and closed by hinges.

The storage box 20 is formed of a metal plate material such as stainless steel, which is a heat conductive member, in a housing shape having an opening 21 on one surface.
The openings 14a and 14b of the heat insulating box 10 are fixed to and supported by the outer peripheral edge of the inner surface of the front wall as desired. At this time, the left and right side walls 22, 23, the top wall 24, the bottom wall 25, and the rear wall 26 of the storage box 20 are respectively held at predetermined intervals from the inner wall of the inner box 12 in the heat insulating box 10, and the gap is formed by the air flow. A circulation passage W is formed.

In the storage box 20, a partition wall 27 made of a stainless steel plate material, which is a heat conductive member, is fixed to an upper wall 24 and a bottom wall 25 of the storage box 20 at an upper side and a lower side. The inside is divided into a room RM1 on the right side in the figure and a room RM2 on the left side in the figure. The partition 27 and the storage box 20 do not necessarily need to be sealed. Further, in the present embodiment, the partition wall 27 is formed of a flat plate. However, the partition wall 27 may be formed of a plate material having a large surface area such as a corrugated plate to improve the heat exchange efficiency.

The two in-compartment fans 30a and 30b are each formed by fixing a fan 32 to the rotation axis of a fan motor 31. Both ends are fixed to the upper wall 24 and the bottom wall 25 of the storage box 20 in the chamber RM1. The support column 33 is attached to the support column 33. In addition, a cover 40 is provided on the front side of the storage box 20 at the upper side and the lower side on the front side of the in-compartment fans 30a and 30b.
4 and the bottom wall 25, and the cover 40 has ventilation holes 41 at positions corresponding to the fan 32 and at both sides thereof.

The left side wall 2 of the storage box 20 in the heat insulating box 10
The evaporator 51 of the cooling mechanism 50 is fixed to the wall portion facing the upper surface 2 with its air flow path directed vertically, and the upper part between the evaporator 51 and the left side wall 22 of the storage box 20 has air A circulation hole 61 is formed, and a shielding plate 60 in which a blower fan 62 is disposed in the air circulation hole 61 is fixed at its upper piece so as to hang down from the upper wall of the inner box 12 in the heat insulating box 10. A sufficient gap is formed between the lower side of the shielding plate 60 and the lower wall of the inner box 12, and an air cooling flow path communicating from the gap to the upper air flow hole 61 via the air flow path of the evaporator 51. Is formed.

As shown in FIG. 4, the cooling mechanism 50 includes a compressor 52 for compressing the refrigerant, a condenser 54 for condensing the compressed refrigerant under the air cooling action of the air cooling fan 53, and a condenser 54 for condensing the refrigerant. A dryer 55 for dehumidifying the refrigerant, a capillary tube 56 for converting the dehumidified condensed refrigerant into a low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant, and the evaporator for cooling by the heat of vaporization of the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant and supplying the vaporized refrigerant to the compressor 52 51 are housed in an auxiliary box 10a formed on the left side of the heat insulating box 10 except for the evaporator 51. In the figure, a hot gas valve 57 for supplying the high-temperature compressed refrigerant compressed by the compressor 52 during defrosting to the evaporator 51 is connected to the output side of the compressor 52 and the evaporator 5.
1 is connected to a conduit connecting the input side.

The compressor 52 is a compressor motor 5
2a and a compression mechanism 52b driven by being connected to the rotation axis of the compressor motor 52a.
The drive of the compressor motor 52a is controlled by a sequence control circuit 71 in an electric control circuit 70 as shown in FIG. The electric control circuit 70 is connected to a commercial AC power supply, and the commercial AC power supply and an internal power supply path PW1,
A main power switch 72 for opening and closing with PW2, and internal fans 30a and 30b connected to the power supply paths PW1 and PW2.
And a blower fan 62 also connected to the power supply paths PW1 and PW2, and the sequence control circuit 71 for controlling the temperature in the chambers RM1 and RM2.

The sequence control circuit 71 includes a series circuit S1 in which a temperature sensor Th1 that conducts when the internal temperature T1 in the chamber RM1 is equal to or higher than a set upper limit temperature TH and an exciting coil of the relay R1 are connected in series. Temperature sensor Th that conducts when the internal temperature T1 becomes equal to or lower than the set lower limit temperature TL.
A series circuit S2 in which the excitation coil of the relay R2 and the exciting coil of the relay R3 are connected in series;
3 is connected in series with a make-up contact R2-2 of the relay R2 and a break contact R4-2 of the relay R3 in parallel with each other.
The relay R2 including R4-3 and R2-3 and the self-holding circuits S4 and S5 of the exciting coil in the relay R4 are connected to the power supply paths PW1 and PW2. The temperature sensors Th1 and Th2 are respectively mounted above the chamber RM1.

Next, the operation of this embodiment having the above configuration will be described. After the refrigerator is installed, the main power switch 72
Is turned on, the internal temperature T1 is equal to or higher than the set upper limit temperature TH, so that the temperature sensor Th1 is turned on and the relay R1 is turned on.
Energize the excitation coil. Then, make contacts R1-1 and R1-2 in self-holding circuit S4 of relay R2.
Is turned on, and the exciting coil of the relay R2 is energized, so that the make contact R2-1 is turned on to hold the relay R2 in the on state.

When the relay R2 is turned on, the make contact R2
-2 conducts, and the compressor motor 52a and the air-cooling fan 53 are energized via the break contact R4-2 of the relay R4, and the cooling mechanism 50 starts. On the other hand, at the same time when the main power switch 72 is turned on, the blower fan 62 starts blowing air, and sucks air from the gap between the lower side of the shield plate 60 and the lower wall of the inner box 12 through the air flow path of the evaporator 51. Then, the sucked air starts to be blown from the air circulation holes 61 to the air circulation path W formed around the storage box 20. Therefore, when the cooling mechanism 50 starts, the blower fan 6
The air sucked in by the heat exchanger 2 exchanges heat when passing through the air flow path of the evaporator 51, and the cooled air is blown from the air circulation hole 61 to the air flow circulation passage W formed around the storage box 20. .

Since the storage box 20 is formed of a heat conductive member, when cooled air is blown to the outer periphery, each wall 22
Heat exchange is carried out at -26, and the temperature inside the chambers in the chambers RM1 and RM2 gradually decreases. The main power switch 72
Since the internal fans 30a and 30b have started blowing air from the time when the air conditioner is turned on, uneven temperature in the chamber RM1 is eliminated. Then, even if the internal temperature T1 is lower than the set upper limit temperature TH and the temperature sensor Th1 is turned off, the operation of the cooling mechanism 50 is continued because the relay R2 is on and held by itself.

However, when the internal temperature T1 falls below the set lower limit temperature TL, the temperature sensor Th2 is turned on, and the relay R3
Energize the excitation coil. Then, as in the case of the self-holding circuit S4 described above, the relay R4 is turned on, the break contact R4-3 constituting the forced release circuit of the relay R2 is turned off, and the self-holding state of the relay R2 ends. Also, as in the case of the relay R2, the relay R4
Is maintained, the break contact R4-
2 is turned off, and the make contact R2-2 is also turned off. Therefore, the compressor motor 52a and the air cooling fan 5
3 is stopped, and the cooling operation of the cooling mechanism 50 is released.

Hereinafter, the sequence control circuit 71 will be described with reference to FIG.
Is controlled so as to maintain the inside temperature T1 within the range between the set upper limit temperature TH and the set lower limit temperature TL as shown in FIG. Meanwhile, the set upper limit temperature TH and the set lower limit temperature TL in the refrigerator are adjusted within a range of several degrees with reference to about 0 degree Celsius. Now, it is assumed that the room RM2 is used as a normal refrigerator and the room RM1 is used as a thawing chamber dedicated to thawing.

In the room RM1, the internal fans 30a, 30b
The air is circulated by the action of, and strong wind is blown over the whole area of the refrigerator. -30 degrees Celsius in such room RM1
When the frozen mass is frozen at a moderate temperature, the air flow is cooled when flowing along the surface of the frozen mass, and the cooled air circulates in the chamber RM1 so that the temperature T1 in the refrigerator is reduced. 7, as shown by the alternate long and short dash line. When the in-compartment temperature T1 falls below the set lower limit temperature TL, the power supply to the compressor motor 52a and the air cooling fan 53 is stopped as described above, and the cooling operation of the cooling mechanism 50 is released. However, even if the cooling operation of the cooling mechanism 50 is canceled, the blower fan 62 continues to blow air.

On the other hand, when the internal temperature T1 becomes equal to or lower than the set lower limit temperature TL and the cooling operation of the cooling mechanism 50 is released, the air circulating in the air circulation path W is not cooled by the evaporator 51. However, as described above, the temperature inside the refrigerator RM1 inside the chamber RM1 is lowered by the frozen mass, so that the air in the air flow circulation passage W flows along each of the walls 23 to 26 around the room RM1 so that the air inside the chamber RM1 is removed. Cooled by cold heat.

That is, when the frozen mass is thawed, the cooling heat in the chamber RM1 is discharged into the air flow circulation passage W instead of the evaporator 51 without cooling the cooling mechanism 50 in the chamber RM1. By operating the blower fan 62 regardless of the cooling operation of the cooling mechanism 50, the air in the airflow circulation passage W is cooled. Therefore,
Even if the cooling mechanism 50 is not operated, the inside of the chamber RM2 can be cooled.

The internal fans 30a and 30b draw in the air in the chamber RM1 from the vent holes 41 provided in the cover 40, on the front side and the rear side in the storage box 20, and the storage box 20 is opened. Air is blown from a vent hole 41 provided in front of a fan 32 arranged at a central portion in the inside. Therefore, the air cooled by the frozen mass in the chamber RM1 flows along the surface of the partition wall 27 when passing through such a flow path. As described above, since the partition wall 27 is made of a heat conductive member, when the cooled air flows along the surface of the partition wall 27, the cold heat in the chamber RM1 enters the chamber RM2 through the partition wall 27. It is transmitted and cools the air in the chamber RM2.

FIG. 7 shows the relationship between the temperature of the frozen mass (Tf), the temperature in the room RM1 (T1), the temperature in the room RM2 (T2), and the cooling operation in the cooling mechanism 50. In the figure, when the temperature T1 in the refrigerator gradually rises and the temperature T1 in the refrigerator reaches the set upper limit temperature TH, the compressor motor 52a and the air cooling fan 53 in the cooling mechanism 50 are energized,
It is assumed that the internal temperature T1 has gradually decreased. At this time, by storing the frozen mass having a very low temperature in the room RM1, the temperature T1 in the refrigerator suddenly drops and the temperature T1 in the refrigerator is reduced.
1 is lower than the set lower limit temperature TL and the operation of the cooling mechanism 50 is released. However, even if the operation of the cooling mechanism 50 is cancelled, the inside of the room RM2 is cooled by the cold heat in the room RM1,
The internal temperature T2 in the RM2 also decreases. However, although the air on the surface of the frozen mass is cooled to near the same temperature, the air in the chamber RM1 is forcibly circulated by the operation of the fans 30a and 30b in the refrigerator, and the temperature T1 in the refrigerator is sufficiently higher than the temperature of the frozen mass. Room temperature is lower than the set lower limit temperature TL
The inside of RM2 will be cooled.

Further, the cold heat in the chamber RM1 is applied to the partition 2
It is transmitted into the room RM2 through 7 and cools the room RM2,
As described above, the cooling is not performed by the extremely low temperature air cooled on the surface of the frozen mass, but by the air that has been circulated in the chamber RM1 and the temperature has increased to some extent. Therefore, the internal temperature T2 in the room RM2 does not drop sharply like the internal temperature T1 in the room RM1, but is cooled within the range between the set upper limit temperature TH and the set lower limit temperature TL, and is cooled in the room RM1. There is a large difference from the internal temperature T1.

On the other hand, while the chamber RM1 is cooling the air in the air circulation path W, the cooling heat of the frozen mass is gradually taken away by the air in the air circulation path W. To rise. Therefore, the internal temperature T1 in the chamber RM1 drops to some extent and then rises again. As the thawing of the frozen mass proceeds, the temperature passes through the set lower limit temperature TL and finally rises to the set upper limit temperature TH.

In this process, the air in the chamber RM1 is divided into the internal temperature T1 at the internal temperature and the internal temperature T in the chamber RM2.
The difference from 2 is gradually decreasing, and when the internal temperature T1 approaches the set upper limit temperature TH, the difference is small. When the internal temperature T1 exceeds the set upper limit temperature TH, the cooling mechanism 50 is started as described above, and the chamber RM1 is maintained such that the internal temperature T1 is maintained between the set upper limit temperature TH and the set lower limit temperature TL. Refrigerator and store the frozen mass after thawing.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
Since the other storage chambers are cooled by using the calorific value of the frozen mass, power is also saved. Also, the thawing is terminated when the inside fan 30a, 30b is stopped within the original holding temperature range. There is no need to set a heating time, and the method of use is easy. Furthermore, since the storage room where the thawing is not performed is affected by the temperature change within the range of the thermal interference, the temperature does not change rapidly, and the food being refrigerated is hardly damaged.

In the above-described embodiment, a case where the present invention is applied to a refrigerator as a storage is described.
It can also be used as a storage room. In this case, a heater is provided in place of the evaporator 51 in the cooling mechanism 50, and warm air is blown by the blower fan 62 into the air flow circulation passage W.
You only have to blow it inside. In the case of such a configuration,
The in-compartment fans 30a and 30b blow air around the dishes that are too hot to take away heat, and warm the inside of the room RM2 via the partition wall 27.

In order to indirectly maintain the storage chamber at a predetermined temperature, the storage box 20 is cooled from the outer periphery by cooling the air in the air flow circulation passage W. May be circulated to cool or warm. Further, the chambers RM1 and RM2 are configured such that the inside of the storage box 20 made of a heat conductive member is partitioned by the partition wall 27 so as to thermally interfere with each other. For example, as shown in FIG.
9, only the partition 27 is made of a heat conductive member and only the partition 27 is formed of a heat conductive member, as shown in FIG. It may not be composed of a good conducting member. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, a heat pipe HP may be provided between both chambers RM1 and RM2. The heat conducting member is not particularly limited to the heat conducting member as long as heat is transmitted relatively well.

On the other hand, in the above-described embodiment, the in-compartment fans 30a, 30a are installed in the chamber RM1 farther from the evaporator 51.
Although 30b is provided, as shown in FIG. 11, in-room fans 30a and 30b may be provided in the chamber RM2 to serve as a thawing chamber. In this case, the in-compartment fans 30a and 30b generate an airflow flowing from the wall surface of the upper wall 24 to which the cool air or the hot air comes in contact toward the partition wall 27, so that the temperature of the partition wall 27 decreases during refrigeration or the temperature during storage. The rise is substantially the same as the wall surface of the upper wall 24 with which the cool air or the warm air comes in contact, and the inside of the room RM1 on the opposite surface of the partition wall 27 is cooled or heated in the same manner as the inside of the room RM2.

The location of the temperature sensors Th1 and Th2 is not particularly limited as long as it is indoors, and may be another location. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the cooling operation of the cooling mechanism 50 is controlled by the sequence control circuit 71 based on the detection results of the temperature sensors Th1 and Th2, but a temperature sensor that measures the internal temperature T1 is used. Alternatively, software control may be performed by a microcomputer, and temperature control may be performed based on the detection result of the temperature sensor, or defrost control may be performed.

In the above embodiment, the internal fan 3
Although two pieces of Oa and 30b are arranged above and below, it may be arranged so that only one piece is arranged below and air is blown upward. Furthermore, it is also possible to arrange the in-compartment fans 30a, 30b in both the rooms RM1, RM2. Others
In the above-described embodiment, the inside of the storage box is divided into two, but the number of divisions is arbitrary, such as arranging a wind box at the center and dividing into three. Also, the direction of division is arbitrary, such as vertical division instead of left / right division. Further, when a sealing material is provided around the partition wall 27, the chambers RM1 and RM2 are air-tightly separated, so that even if air is blown to the frozen mass and the cool air smells, thawing can be performed in a non-wrapped state. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway front view of the refrigerator.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway top view of the refrigerator.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a cooling mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of an electric control circuit.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state of temperature control.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a temperature change at the time of thawing and a cooling operation state of a cooling mechanism.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a modification of the storage room.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a modification of the storage room.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a modification of the storage room.

FIG. 11 is a view showing a modification of the arrangement of the internal fans.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 20 storage box 27 partition 30a, 30b internal fan 50 cooling mechanism 71 sequence control circuit RM1, RM2 chamber HP heat pipe

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (31) Priority claim number Japanese Patent Application No. 4-151327 (32) Priority date May 18, 1992 (1992.5.18) (33) Priority claim country Japan (JP) (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F25D 17/08 311 F25D 11/02 F25D 23/12

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] In a refrigerator with a thawing function for maintaining a predetermined temperature in a storage room by activating a cooling mechanism , the inside of the storage box is separated by a partition wall of a heat conductive member.
A plurality of storage chambers capable of thermally interfering with each other, and having a low temperature in any of the storage chambers based on a holding temperature range.
The cooling mechanism when a frozen mass at a temperature outside
Cooling capacity and circulate air in the refrigerator
A thawing machine characterized by comprising a cooling mechanism for controlling the operation of an in-compartment fan for thawing.
Noh refrigerator . 2. A refrigerator with a thawing function according to claim 1.
The refrigerator with a thawing function according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the storage chamber is formed by partitioning the inside of a heat conduction box. 3. A defrosting machine according to claim 1 or 2.
In a noisy refrigerator, the storage room is surrounded by air.
The cooling device has a double box structure with a flow path formed therein.
Cooling the structure to cool the air in the air passage to a predetermined temperature.
And a circulation fan for circulating air in the air flow path.
The circulation fan further comprises the frozen mass
Is configured to be activated even when is stored in the storage chamber.
A refrigerator with a thawing function characterized by the following .