JPH10288444A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerator to improve facility and containing capacity of a vegetable chamber the using frequency of which is increased due to the increase of a consumption amount of vegetables resultant from a recent health intention. SOLUTION: A refrigerator is provided at an upper part with a refrigerating chamber 25, at a lower part with a refrigerating chamber 27, and at a central part with a vegetable chamber 31. A draft duct 45 arranged on the upper surface of a cover body to cover a vegetable container 33 and communicated with the suction duct of a low temperature chamber 30, a circulation duct 47 formed at the outer periphery of the vegetable container 33, and a feedback duct 49 communicated from the deep surface of the vegetable chamber with a cooler 35 are coupled together to form a cooling air passage for the vegetable chamber 31. This constitution performs preservation and management of vegetables, the using frequency of which is high, at a central part where facility is improved, and improves containing ability. Further, cooling capacity of the vegetable chamber 31 is rationally ensured as temperature distribution of the vegetable container 33 is improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerator in which a refrigerator compartment, a vegetable compartment, and a freezer compartment are arranged from above.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a refrigerator equipped with a low temperature room and a vegetable room for storing fresh foods such as fish, meat, vegetables and fruits in addition to a conventional freezing room and a refrigerator room has been developed. Widespread.

On the other hand, instead of the conventional refrigerator having a refrigerator at the upper part, a refrigerator having a frequent use of a refrigerator at an upper eye level to improve usability and storage capacity has become mainstream. I have. Representative examples of these are disclosed in, for example, JP-A-3-2676.
One example is shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 77, and the description will be given below with reference to FIG.

[0004] Reference numeral 1 denotes a refrigerator body composed of an outer box 2, an inner box 3, and a heat insulating material 4 filled in a space between the two boxes 2, 3. Reference numerals 5 and 6 denote partition walls that partition the inside of the refrigerator up and down.

[0005] Reference numeral 7 denotes a refrigerator compartment formed above the partition wall 5 and above the main body 1, and has a rotary door 8. Numeral 9 denotes a vegetable compartment for storing vegetables and fruits formed below the partition wall 6 at the lower portion of the main body 1, a humidity control means 10 for maintaining the interior at high humidity, and a drawer-type door 1.
1 is provided.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a freezer compartment formed between the partition walls 5 and 6 at the center of the main body 1 and has a drawer-type door 13,
14 is provided. 15 is a fish provided in the refrigerator compartment 7;
A low-temperature room for storing meat. 16 is a compressor, 17 is a cooler, and constitutes a refrigeration cycle.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a blower for forcibly ventilating the cool air cooled by the cooler 17 into the refrigerator, 19 denotes a cool air required for the refrigerator room 7 and the vegetable room 9, and 20 denotes a cool air required for the low temperature room 15. Temperature control means (hereinafter referred to as damper devices 19 and 20) for feeding the amount.

The operation of the refrigerator configured as described above will be described. The operation of the compressor 16 causes the cooler 17
The cool air cooled in the step (1) is forcibly ventilated to each room by the blower (18), and the refrigerating room (7), the vegetable room (9) and the low-temperature room (15) are maintained at appropriate temperatures by damper devices (19) and (20).

For this reason, the temperature of fresh food such as vegetables, fruits, fish, meat, etc. is well controlled and freshness can be maintained. Also,
Since the refrigerator compartment 7, which is most frequently used, is located at the upper eye level, the conventional freezer compartment 12 has a conventional refrigerator compartment 12 having ease of use and storage such as easy opening and closing of the door 8, easy view of food, and easy access. It is better than a refrigerator.

[0010]

However, in the above configuration, especially in the background where the consumption of vegetables is increasing due to the recent trend of health, the vegetable room 9 which is frequently used is located at the bottom and sits down. There was a problem that the usability and storage of the vegetable room 9 were not good, such as the number of times of bending and it was difficult to overlook the interior.

An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator in which the convenience and the storage capacity of a vegetable room are particularly improved.

[0012]

In order to achieve this object, a refrigerator according to the present invention has a refrigerator compartment at the top, a freezer compartment at the bottom, a vegetable compartment in the center, and a lid for covering the vegetable container. A ventilation duct provided on the upper surface of the body and communicating with the suction duct of the low-temperature chamber, a circulation duct formed on the outer periphery of the vegetable container communicating with the ventilation duct, and a return duct communicating from the back of the vegetable chamber to the cooler. To form a cooling air path.

[0013] Thereby, the frequently used vegetables can be stored and managed in the convenient central portion, and the storage property is also improved.

Further, the cooling capacity of the vegetable compartment can be rationally secured while improving the temperature distribution of the vegetable container.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a refrigerating compartment having a built-in low-temperature compartment in the upper part, a freezing compartment in the lower part, a vegetable compartment in the center, and is provided on the upper surface of a lid for covering the vegetable container. A ventilation duct communicating with the suction duct, a circulation duct formed on the outer periphery of the vegetable container, and a return duct communicating from the back of the vegetable compartment to the cooler are sequentially connected and configured.

In addition, while keeping and managing frequently used vegetables in the convenient central portion, it is possible to rationally secure the cooling capacity and good temperature distribution of the vegetable compartment.

[0017] Further, a communication duct for connecting the ventilation duct and the return duct is provided. If the required amount of cooling to keep the vegetable room at an appropriate temperature is even smaller, a part of the return air from the low-temperature room is returned from the ventilation duct directly to the cooler via the communication duct and the return duct, so that the vegetable room can be cooled. Prevents over-cooling and can reasonably ensure the vegetable room at a good temperature.

Further, a part of the discharge duct to the refrigerator compartment is diverted to the ventilation duct. Then, the cooling capacity of the vegetable compartment can be further enhanced by the joining of the low-temperature cold air for cooling the refrigerator compartment.

Further, a communication duct for communicating the ventilation duct and the return duct is provided, and a part of the discharge duct to the refrigerator compartment is diverted to the ventilation duct.

Then, a part of the return air from the low-temperature room is directly returned to the cooler through the communication duct to increase the combined flow rate of the low-temperature cold air for cooling the refrigerator and further increase the cooling capacity of the vegetable room. it can.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A refrigerator according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The same components as those in the related art are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description is omitted.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the embodiment.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 21 denotes a refrigerator main body. Reference numerals 22, 23, and 24 denote partition walls that partition the inside of the refrigerator up and down. 25 is a main body 21 above the partition wall 22.
Refrigerated compartment partitioned at the top of the
It has. 27 is a main body 21 below the partition wall 23.
Drawer-type door 2 which is a freezer compartment formed at the bottom of
8, 29 are provided.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a low-temperature room provided at the lower part of the refrigerator compartment 25 for storing mainly fish and meat, and 31 denotes a vegetable room for storing vegetables and fruits. And a small container 34 mainly for storing small vegetables and fruits arranged in the container. The upper refrigerator compartment 25 and the lower refrigerator compartment 25 are provided between the partition walls 22 and 23. Body 2 sandwiched between freezer compartments 27
1 is located at the center.

Reference numeral 35 denotes a cooler of the refrigeration cycle,
Is a blower for forcibly blowing the cool air cooled by the cooler 35 into the refrigerator. 37 is a discharge duct of the freezer which guides the cool air of the blower 36 to the freezer 27, 38 is a discharge duct of the cooler which guides the cool air of the blower 36 to the cooler 25, 3
9 is a discharge duct of the low-temperature room for guiding the cool air of the blower 36 to the low-temperature room 30; 40 is the refrigerator room 25;
And temperature control means (hereinafter referred to as damper devices 40 and 41) for feeding the required amount of cool air to each.

Reference numeral 42 denotes a lid that covers the upper surface opening of the vegetable container 33 in the vegetable compartment 31. The lid 42 is integrally provided with a humidity control means 43 such as a moisture-permeable functional film for maintaining the inside of the container at high humidity. 4
Reference numeral 4 denotes a suction duct of the low temperature chamber 30, and reference numeral 45 denotes a ventilation duct provided above the lid 42 in communication with the suction duct 44, and an opening 46 is provided in front of the humidity control means 43.
Is provided.

A circulation duct 47 communicates with the ventilation duct 45 and circulates around the outer periphery of the vegetable container 33.
Reference numeral 8 denotes a cool air return port provided in the upper part on the back side in the vegetable compartment 31. Reference numeral 49 denotes a return duct for returning air to the cooler 35 via the cool air return port 48.

Regarding the refrigerator configured as described above,
The operation will be described below. The cool air cooled by the cooler 35 is blown to the freezing room 27 by the blower 36 via the discharge duct 37 of the freezing room, and is maintained at an appropriate temperature such as -18 ° C. In addition, the refrigeration room 25 is discharged through the discharge duct 38 of the refrigeration room.
Then, an appropriate amount of cold air is sent into the refrigerator compartment 25 by the damper device 40 and is maintained at an appropriate temperature such as 4 ° C.

The low-temperature chamber 30 is ventilated through the discharge duct 39 of the low-temperature chamber 30 and is damped by the damper device 41.
An appropriate amount of cold air is sent to 0 and maintained at an appropriate temperature such as -3 ° C.

Next, the air that has cooled the low-temperature chamber 30 is led into the ventilation duct 45 through the suction dove 44, bypassing the upper space of the humidity control means 43, and passing through the opening 46 through the lid 4.
2 is opened forward.

Then, the return air of the low temperature chamber 30 convects through the circulation duct 47 with the outer periphery of the vegetable container 33 facing rearward. Thereafter, return air flows along the back surface of the vegetable container 33, and returns to the cooler 35 via a return duct 49 from a cool air return port 48 provided at an upper part inside the vegetable room 31.

As described above, the vegetable container 33 and the lid 42
The vegetable room 31 is maintained at an appropriate temperature such as 6 ° C. by indirect cooling from the outer periphery of the container. At this time, due to the action of the humidity control means 43 provided on the top surface of the vegetable container 33, the inside of the vegetable compartment 31 becomes highly humid due to the transpiration moisture of the stored food such as vegetables and fruits, and the freshness of the vegetables and fruits is increased. Is maintained for a long time.

By arranging the vegetable compartment 31 in the center of the main body in this way, the storage efficiency of vegetables frequently used in recent years is enhanced, and the usability is improved, for example, without having to bend down.

On the other hand, a circulation duct 47 for circulating the outer periphery of the vegetable container 33 in the vegetable compartment 31 from the front to the back is formed in the middle of the path in which the return air from the upper low-temperature chamber 30 returns to the lower cooler 35. As a result, the vegetable room 3 that requires a small amount of cooling due to heat transmission to the cooler 35 on the back side and the freezing room 27 on the bottom side
Sufficient cooling capacity to cool 1 is obtained from the return air of the cold room 30.

Further, the return air of still low temperature convects in front of the container having a distributionally high temperature, and the return air heated by passing through the front of the vegetable compartment 31 flows in the rear of the container having a distributionally low temperature. Indirect cooling can be rationally performed while improving the temperature distribution of the vegetable container 33.

Further, the moisture permeated from the inside of the vegetable container 33 is also induced and collected in the cool air return port 48 by the same convection. Can be prevented.

As described above, indirect cooling with a small amount of temperature variation and stable cooling is performed while preventing damage to stored vegetables due to dew condensation and icing in the vegetable container 33 and preventing dew condensation and icing failure outside the vegetable container 33. Storage management, vegetables,
Long-term freshening of fruits becomes possible.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

In FIGS. 1 and 3, reference numeral 50 denotes a communication duct which communicates the ventilation duct 45 with the return duct 49 and guides a part of the ventilation duct 45 to the return duct 49.

With respect to the refrigerator configured as described above,
The operation will be described below. The cool air cooled by the cooler 35 is blown to the freezing room 27 by the blower 36 via the discharge duct 37 of the freezing room, and is maintained at an appropriate temperature such as -18 ° C. In addition, the refrigeration room 25 is discharged through the discharge duct 38 of the refrigeration room.
Then, an appropriate amount of cold air is sent into the refrigerator compartment 25 by the damper device 40 and is maintained at an appropriate temperature such as 4 ° C.

Further, air is blown through the discharge duct 38 of the low-temperature chamber into the low-temperature chamber 30, and is damped by the damper device 41.
An appropriate amount of cold air is sent to 0 and maintained at an appropriate temperature such as -3 ° C.

Next, the air that has cooled the low-temperature chamber 30 is led to the ventilation duct 45 via the suction duct 44, and a part of the cool air is returned to the return duct 51 via the communication duct 50.
It returns to the cooler 35. The remaining cool air bypasses the upper space of the humidity control means 43 and is opened forward from the opening 46 to the upper surface of the lid 42.

Then, the return air of the refrigerating room 25 and the low-temperature room 30 flows through the circulation duct 47 with the outer periphery of the vegetable container 33 facing backward. Thereafter, return air flows along the back surface of the vegetable container 33, and returns to the cooler 35 via a return duct 49 from a cool air return port 48 provided at an upper part inside the vegetable room 31.

As described above, in order to cool the vegetable compartment 31, which requires relatively little heat permeation to the cooler 35 on the back surface and the freezing compartment 27 on the bottom surface and requires a smaller cooling amount, the return of the low-temperature compartment 30 for convection is required. Reduce the amount of air as much as possible
In addition, the vegetable room 31 is maintained at an appropriate temperature such as 6 ° C. without being too cold without being cooled down indirectly from the outer periphery of the lid 42.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

In FIGS. 1 and 4, reference numeral 51 denotes a refrigeration branch bypass port provided in the middle of a cool air discharge path to the refrigeration chamber 25.
52 is a refrigeration branch bypass duct that communicates with the ventilation duct 45 provided on the top surface of the vegetable compartment 31 from the bypass port 51.

Regarding the refrigerator configured as described above,
The operation will be described below. The cool air cooled by the cooler 35 is blown to the freezing room 27 by the blower 36 via the discharge duct 37 of the freezing room, and is maintained at an appropriate temperature such as -18 ° C. In addition, the refrigeration room 25 is discharged through the discharge duct 38 of the refrigeration room.
Then, an appropriate amount of cold air is sent into the refrigerator compartment 25 by the damper device 40 and is maintained at an appropriate temperature such as 4 ° C.

The low-temperature chamber 30 is ventilated through the discharge duct 38 of the low-temperature chamber, and is damped by the damper device 41.
An appropriate amount of cold air is sent to 0 and maintained at an appropriate temperature such as -3 ° C.

At this time, part of the cool air that has passed through the damper device 40 flows into the bypass duct 52 from the bypass port 51 and is led directly to the ventilation duct 45 of the vegetable room 31 without passing through the refrigerator compartment 25. On the other hand, this and the return air of the low-temperature chamber 30 that has cooled the low-temperature chamber 30 are guided to the ventilation duct 45 via the suction duct 44.

For this reason, in the ventilation duct 45, a part of the low-temperature discharge cold air to the refrigerating room 25 is mixed with the return air of the low-temperature room 30 having a relatively high temperature, so that the cool air has a higher cooling capacity.

Then, the cool air is opened from the opening 46 to the front of the upper surface of the lid 42, bypassing the upper space of the humidity control means 43. And, through the circulation duct 47, the vegetable container 33
Of the cold room 30 and the refrigerated room 2
The mixed cold air in which a part of the low-temperature discharge air to the air 5 is mixed flows.

Thereafter, return air flows along the back surface of the vegetable container 33 and returns to the cooler 35 through a return duct 49 from a cool air return port 48 provided in the upper part of the back of the vegetable compartment 31. For this reason, the indirect cooling effect of the vegetable container 33 is enhanced, and the stored items are more sufficiently cooled. For this reason, the temperature of the vegetable room 31 can be further lowered to maintain and improve the freshness, so that long-term storage management of vegetables and fruits can be performed.

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

1 and 5, reference numeral 53 denotes a communication duct which communicates the ventilation duct 45 with the return duct 49 and guides a part of the ventilation duct 45 to the return duct 49.
54 is a refrigeration branch bypass port provided in the middle of a cold air discharge path to the refrigeration room 25, and 55 is a refrigeration branch bypass duct communicating from the bypass port 54 to a ventilation duct 45 provided on the top surface of the vegetable compartment 31.

With respect to the refrigerator configured as described above,
The operation will be described below. The cool air cooled by the cooler 35 is blown by the blower 36 through the discharge duct 37 of the freezer compartment in the freezer compartment 27, and is maintained at an appropriate temperature such as -18 ° C. In addition, the refrigeration room 25 is discharged through the discharge duct 38 of the refrigeration room.
Then, an appropriate amount of cold air is sent into the refrigerator compartment 25 by the damper device 40 and is maintained at an appropriate temperature such as 4 ° C.

Further, the air is passed through the low-temperature chamber 30 through the discharge duct 38 of the low-temperature chamber, and is damped by the damper device 41.
An appropriate amount of cold air is sent to 0 and maintained at an appropriate temperature such as -3 ° C.

Next, the air that has cooled the low-temperature chamber 30 is guided to the ventilation duct 45 through the suction duct 44, and a part of the cool air is returned to the return duct 51 through the communication duct 53.
It returns to the cooler 35. At this time, part of the cool air that has passed through the damper device 40 flows into the bypass duct 55 from the bypass port 54, and is directly passed through the vegetable compartment 3 without passing through the refrigerator compartment 25.
It is led to one ventilation duct 45.

For this reason, in the ventilation duct 45, the ratio of the return air to the low-temperature chamber 30 having a relatively high temperature is reduced, and
The low-temperature discharged cool air to 5 is mostly mixed and becomes cool air having a higher cooling capacity.

This cool air bypasses the upper space of the humidity control means 43 and is opened from the opening 47 to the front of the upper surface of the lid 42. Then, a part of the return air of the low-temperature chamber 30 and the cool air discharged to the refrigerating chamber 25 are mixed with each other, and the convection flows toward the outer periphery of the vegetable container 33 backward through the circulation duct 48.

Thereafter, return air flows along the back surface of the vegetable container 33, and returns to the cooler 35 via the return duct 51 from the cool air return port 49 provided in the upper part of the back of the vegetable compartment 31.

As a result, the indirect cooling effect of the vegetable container 33 is enhanced, and the stored items are more sufficiently cooled. For this reason,
The temperature of the vegetable compartment 31 can be further reduced to maintain and improve the freshness, and the temperature rise due to opening and closing of the door can be easily suppressed, so that long-term preservation management of vegetables and fruits can be performed.

[0062]

As described above, the refrigerator of the present invention is provided with a refrigerator compartment with a built-in low-temperature compartment at the top, a freezer compartment at the bottom, and a vegetable compartment at the center, and is provided on the upper surface of the lid covering the vegetable container. Frequently used because the ventilation duct that communicates with the suction duct of the cold room, the circulation duct that is formed on the outer periphery of the vegetable container, and the return duct that communicates with the cooler from the back of the vegetable room are connected Vegetables and fruits can be preserved with a good cooling capacity and a good temperature distribution in the vegetable compartment, while preserving and managing vegetables in the convenient central area.

Further, by providing a communication duct for communicating the ventilation duct and the return duct, cooling of the vegetable compartment which requires a relatively large amount of heat permeation to the cooler on the back and the freezing compartment on the bottom can be further reduced. In addition, it is possible to reduce the amount of return air in the low-temperature room to be convected as much as possible, and to prevent the occurrence of low-temperature failure of vegetables due to the vegetable room being too cold.

Further, by diverting a part of the discharge duct to the refrigerator compartment to the ventilation duct, the cooling capacity of the vegetable compartment can be further enhanced by the joining of the low-temperature cold air for cooling the refrigerator compartment, and the temperature of the vegetable compartment can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to further maintain freshness and cope with a rise in temperature during practical use.

Further, by providing a communication duct for connecting the ventilation duct and the return duct, and by diverting a part of the discharge duct to the refrigerator compartment to the ventilation duct, the ratio of the return air in the relatively low-temperature compartment having a relatively high temperature can be reduced. The cool air discharged at a low temperature to the refrigerator compartment is mostly mixed and becomes cool air having a higher cooling capacity. For this reason, the cooling capacity of the vegetable compartment can be further enhanced, and the freshness maintenance due to the low temperature of the vegetable compartment and the response to the temperature rise in practical use can be further enhanced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a refrigerator according to Embodiments 1 to 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of Embodiment 1 of the refrigerator according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of Embodiment 2 of the refrigerator according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of Embodiment 3 of the refrigerator according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a refrigerator according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional refrigerator.

[Explanation of symbols]

 25 Refrigerator room 27 Freezer room 30 Low temperature room 31 Vegetable room 31 Vegetable room 33 Vegetable container 35 Cooler 42 Lid 44 Suction duct of low temperature room 45 Ventilation duct 47 Circulation duct 48 Cooling air return port of vegetable room 49 Return duct 50 Communication duct 52 Refrigeration branch bypass Duct 53 Communication duct 55 Refrigerated branch bypass duct

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A refrigerator room for storing frozen foods and the like at the upper part, a freezing room for storing frozen foods and the like at the lower part, a vegetable room for storing vegetables and fruits and the like at the center part, and a fish and a fish in the refrigerator room. A low-temperature room for storing meat and the like at a low temperature, a refrigerator of a refrigerating cycle arranged over the back of the vegetable room and the freezing room, and a lid covering an upper opening surface of a vegetable container provided in the vegetable room,
A ventilation duct provided on the upper surface of the lid and communicating with the suction duct of the low-temperature chamber, a circulation duct communicating with the ventilation duct and formed on the outer periphery of the vegetable container from the front to the rear, and the circulation duct A refrigerator comprising: a cold air return port provided on the inner surface of the vegetable room in communication with the cooling chamber; and a return duct communicating with the cooler from the cold air return port. 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a communication duct that connects the ventilation duct and the return duct. 3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein a part of the cool air discharge duct to the refrigerator compartment is diverted to a ventilation duct. 4. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein a part of the cool air discharge duct to the refrigerator compartment is diverted to the ventilation duct.