CN107735634B

CN107735634B - Refrigerator with a door

Info

Publication number: CN107735634B
Application number: CN201680005802.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 冈部裕一
Original assignee: Qingdao Haier Co Ltd; Haier Asia Co Ltd
Current assignee: Qingdao Haier Co Ltd; Haier Asia Co Ltd
Priority date: 2015-01-30
Filing date: 2016-01-29
Publication date: 2020-10-23
Anticipated expiration: 2036-01-29
Also published as: JP6446726B2; CN107735634A; JP2016142439A; WO2016121992A1

Abstract

In a refrigerator (1), a control unit (11) is housed in a case (52) provided on an outer side surface (2B) of a main body (2). An opening (52A) facing the outside of the main body (2) from the outer side surface (2B) along the front-back direction (Y) in the case (52) is closed from the front-back direction (Y) by a cover (53). Upper peripheral edges (52B, 53B) of upper ends of the case (52) and the lid (53) are inserted from below (Z2) into an insertion groove (62) recessed upward (Z1) in the closing section (60). Thus, the closing section (60) closes the boundary between the upper end sections from above (Z1).

Description

Refrigerator with a door

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a refrigerator.

Background

The refrigerator disclosed in patent document 1 includes a heat insulating box as a main body, and a storage chamber for storing foods and the like is formed inside the heat insulating box. The storage compartment is partitioned into a plurality of storage compartments such as a refrigerator compartment, a freezer compartment, and a vegetable compartment. The refrigerator includes a compressor, a cooler, and the like connected by a refrigerant pipe. The refrigerant that flows through the refrigerant pipe and circulates between the compressor and the cooler is compressed by the compressor to a high-temperature and high-pressure state, then condensed by heat dissipation, and evaporated in the cooler by heat exchange with the ambient air. Thereby, the air around the cooler is cooled for cooling the food and the like in the storage room. The operation of the electrical components such as the compressor is controlled by the controller.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2013-204891

Disclosure of Invention

Generally, a controller is housed in a case portion provided in a refrigerator. In order to prevent the controller from malfunctioning, it is preferable to prevent water from leaking into the case.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator capable of preventing a control unit electrically connected to an electric component from being broken down due to water leakage.

The present invention provides a refrigerator, comprising: a main body having a storage chamber for storing a cooled and stored article; a control unit electrically connected to an electric component in the main body; a case portion that houses the control portion, is provided on an outer side surface portion extending in a vertical direction of the main body, and has an opening portion facing an outer side of the main body from the outer side surface portion in a cross direction intersecting the vertical direction; a cover portion attached to the case portion and closing the opening portion from the intersecting direction; and a closing portion provided with an insertion groove recessed upward, wherein a boundary portion between upper end portions of the lid portion and the housing portion is closed from above by inserting the upper end portions from below into the insertion groove.

Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that: the closing portion includes a holding portion provided to the main body and held for carrying the refrigerator.

Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that: an outer plate constituting a housing of the main body; a vacuum heat insulating member covered with the outer plate from the outside of the main body; a compressor that compresses a refrigerant; a cooler that evaporates the refrigerant; and a flow path, a part of which is disposed between the outer plate and the vacuum heat insulating member, for circulating a refrigerant between the compressor and the cooler, wherein the outer plate is provided with: a pair of protrusions protruding toward the vacuum heat insulating member and extending along the flow path to sandwich the flow path; and a through hole that penetrates the outer panel between the pair of protruding portions.

Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that: and an attachment member attached to the outer panel from the side of the vacuum heat insulating member so as to be interposed between the vacuum heat insulating member and the through hole.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, the control portion electrically connected to the electric components in the main body of the refrigerator is housed in the case portion provided in the outer side portion of the main body extending in the up-down direction. The opening of the housing portion facing the outside of the main body from the outer side surface portion along the intersecting direction intersecting the vertical direction is closed from the intersecting direction by a cover portion attached to the housing portion. The upper end portions of the cover portion and the housing portion are inserted into the insertion groove recessed upward in the closing portion from below. Thereby, the closing portion closes the boundary portion between the upper end portions from above. Therefore, water droplets or the like falling from above cannot reach the boundary portion. Therefore, the control portion inside the lid portion can be prevented from malfunctioning due to water seepage from above. Further, the upper end portions of the cover portion and the case portion may be connected to each other by being inserted into the insertion groove without using a fastening member such as a screw, and therefore, the number of fastening members required for connecting the cover portion and the case portion can be reduced.

Further, according to the present invention, the closing portion also serves as a grip portion that is provided to the main body and is gripped for carrying the refrigerator, so that the number of components can be reduced.

Further, according to the present invention, in a configuration in which a part of a flow path through which a refrigerant circulates between the compressor and the cooler is disposed between the outer plate of the main body and the vacuum heat insulating member, a pair of protrusions provided on the outer plate protrude toward the vacuum heat insulating member and extend along the flow path so as to sandwich the flow path. This enables the positioning of the flow path between the outer panel and the vacuum heat insulating member.

Further, the through-holes provided in the main body plate allow excess air between the outer panel and the vacuum heat insulating member to be released to the outside of the main body. Therefore, the outer panel can be prevented from being deformed due to the air accumulated between the outer panel and the vacuum heat insulating member, and the appearance can be prevented from being deteriorated. The through-hole is provided in a region of the outer panel between the pair of protruding portions, that is, a region farther from the vacuum heat insulating member than the protruding portions. Therefore, the vacuum heat insulating member can be prevented from being damaged by contact with burrs that may be present at the peripheral edge of the through hole in the main plate.

Further, according to the present invention, since the mounting member is mounted to the outer panel from the side of the vacuum heat insulating member and interposed between the vacuum heat insulating member and the through hole, it is possible to reliably prevent the vacuum heat insulating member from being damaged by coming into contact with burrs that may be present at the peripheral edge portion of the through hole in the main body panel.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the refrigerator main body in a state where the door is omitted as viewed from the front.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the refrigerator viewed from the rear.

Fig. 4 is a schematic longitudinal sectional right side view of the refrigerator.

Fig. 5 is a right side view of a realistic longitudinal section of a refrigerator.

Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing an electrical structure of the refrigerator.

Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the refrigerator as viewed from the rear.

Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of an upper portion of the refrigerator viewed from the rear.

Fig. 9 is a rear view of the upper portion of the finished refrigerator.

Fig. 10 is an X-X sectional view of fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged view of a main portion of fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a rear view of a main portion of the refrigerator.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII in FIG. 12.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged view of a main portion of fig. 13.

Description of the reference numerals

1 refrigerator

2 main body

2B outer side surface part

4 storage chamber

11 control part

25 compressor

26 flow path

27 cooler

36 defrost heater

41 Fan drive Motor

42 air door switching motor

43 temperature sensor

51 outer plate

52 housing part

52A opening part

52B upper peripheral edge portion

53 cover part

53B upper peripheral edge portion

60 closure part

62 insertion groove

71 projection

72 vacuum heat insulating member

77 through hole

78 mounting component

Y front-back direction

Front of Y1

Z up-and-down direction

Above Z1

Below Z2

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, an outline of the refrigerator 1 will be described with reference to the left-right direction X, the front-back direction Y, and the up-down direction Z in fig. 1. The left side in the left-right direction X is referred to as a left side X1, and the right side is referred to as a right side X2. The front-rear direction Y is a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of fig. 1, and a front side on the near side of the paper surface in the front-rear direction Y is referred to as front Y1, and a rear side on the far side of the paper surface is referred to as rear Y2. The upper side in the vertical direction Z is referred to as an upper Z1, and the lower side is referred to as a lower Z2. The left-right direction X and the front-back direction Y are intersecting directions intersecting the vertical direction Z, and are included in the horizontal direction H.

The refrigerator 1 includes a main body 2 and a door 3. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the main body 2 with the door 3 omitted as viewed from the front Y1. Referring to fig. 2, the main body 2 is formed in a box shape elongated in the vertical direction Z and has a depth in the front-rear direction Y. A plurality of rectangular parallelepiped storage chambers 4 for storing articles such as food to be cooled and stored are formed in the main body 2. These housing chambers 4 are divided into: refrigerator chamber 4A occupying substantially the half of the internal space of main body 2, ice making chamber 4B and temperature changing chamber 4C arranged in left-right direction X below Z2 of refrigerator chamber 4A, first freezing chamber 4D located below Z2 of ice making chamber 4B and temperature changing chamber 4C, and second freezing chamber 4E located below Z2 of first freezing chamber 4D.

The articles stored in the refrigerator are housed in the refrigerator 4A. A rack 5 is disposed in the refrigerator compartment 4A, and the rack 5 is formed in a plate shape along the horizontal direction H. The three racks 5 are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction Z, for example. By these shelves 5, refrigerator compartment 4A is partitioned into a plurality of areas arranged in vertical direction Z. For example, the second rack 5 from the upper side Z1 to the lower side is divided into a front rack 5A disposed at the front side Y1 and a rear rack 5B disposed at the rear side Y2. The front frame 5A includes a rectangular glass plate long in the left-right direction X, and only the front and rear sides thereof are covered with resin or the like, but the glass material is exposed on the remaining left and right sides, whereby the appearance can be improved. On the other hand, the rear frame 5B is a rectangular glass plate which is long in the left-right direction X and whose four sides are all covered with resin or the like. The front frame 5A is folded and moved to the rear Y2, whereby the front frame 5A can be accommodated in the lower Y2 of the rear frame 5B. A box-shaped vegetable storage cabinet 6 for storing vegetables and the like is provided below Z2 of the lowermost rack 5 in the refrigerator compartment 4A.

The ice making chamber 4B is disposed on the left side X1 of the temperature changing chamber 4C. Ice is made or kept in the ice making chamber 4B. The water supply tank 7 for supplying ice water to the ice making chamber 4B is disposed at the lower end of the left side X1 of the vegetable storage cabinet 6, for example. The variable temperature chamber 4C can be used as a standby chamber for refrigerators or freezers by arbitrarily changing the room temperature thereof. In addition, the stored articles can be cooled at any temperature between the refrigerator temperature and the freezing temperature in the variable temperature chamber 4C. The first freezing chamber 4D and the second freezing chamber 4E accommodate articles to be frozen.

The side surface portion 2A of the front Y1 of the main body 2 is formed with the same number of openings 8 as the housing chambers 4. Each opening 8 communicates with the corresponding housing chamber 4 from the front Y1, and exposes the corresponding housing chamber 4 to the front Y1 from the side surface portion 2A.

The door 3 is provided for each storage chamber 4 in the side surface portion 2A. Doors 3 for refrigerator compartment 4A are provided in a pair on the left and right sides so as to be able to be opened in the left and right directions, and one door 3 is provided for each of ice making compartment 4B, temperature changing compartment 4C, first freezer compartment 4D, and second freezer compartment 4E, and any one of doors 3 can be pulled out to front Y1 (see fig. 1). These doors 3 open and close the corresponding storage chambers 4 from the front Y1.

Referring to fig. 3 of the refrigerator 1 viewed from the rear Y2, the outer side surface 2B of the rear Y2 of the main body 2 extends in the vertical direction Z. A substrate case 10 is provided in a substantially central region in the left-right direction X of the upper end portion of the outer surface portion 2B. The substrate case 10 is formed in a box shape that is long in the left-right direction X and flat in the front-rear direction Y. A control unit 11 electrically connected to an electric component (described later) in the main body 2 is housed in the substrate case 10. The control unit 11 is a board on which a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, or the like is mounted.

Fig. 4 and 5 are right side views of the sectional view a-a of the refrigerator 1, fig. 4 is a schematic view, and fig. 5 is a pictorial view. Referring to fig. 4, the main body 2 includes: an outer case 12 constituting an outer case thereof; a plurality of inner boxes 13 housed in the outer box 12; and a heat insulating member 14 disposed between the outer casing 12 and the inner casing 13.

The outer box 12 is made of metal and formed in a box shape elongated in the vertical direction Z, and the entire front surface thereof is an opening 12A that exposes the internal space of the outer box 12 to the front Y1.

The inner box 13 is formed in a box shape made of resin, and the entire front surface thereof is an opening 13A that exposes the internal space of the inner box 13 to the front Y1. The inner boxes 13 are two in total, and these inner boxes 13 are divided into: a refrigerator inner 15 located in substantially a half of the inner space of the outer box 12, and a freezer inner 16 located in substantially a lower half of the inner space of the outer box 12. Within the interior refrigerator 15 are formed refrigerators 4A. The opening 13A of the refrigerator inner 15 is the opening 8 of the refrigerator compartment 4A. In the freezing inner box 16, an ice making chamber 4B, a temperature change chamber 4C, a first freezing chamber 4D, and a second freezing chamber 4E are formed. Opening 13A of inner freezer compartment 16 is divided into respective openings 8 of ice making compartment 4B, temperature changing compartment 4C, first freezer compartment 4D, and second freezer compartment 4E.

Inside the freezing inner box 16 are provided: a plate-shaped partition member 17 which is thin in the vertical direction Z and extends along the horizontal direction H, and a plate-shaped partition member 18 which is thin in the horizontal direction X and extends in the front-rear vertical direction. The partition member 17 is disposed between the ice making chamber 4B and the temperature change chamber 4C and the first freezing chamber 4D in a state of being bridged between both side walls in the left-right direction X of the freezing inner box 16. Thereby, the partition member 17 partitions between the ice making chamber 4B and the first freezing chamber 4D adjacent to each other in the vertical direction Z, and partitions between the variable temperature chamber 4C and the first freezing chamber 4D adjacent to each other in the vertical direction Z (see fig. 2). The partition member 18 is disposed between the ice making chamber 4B and the temperature change chamber 4C in a state of being bridged between a substantially central portion of the partition member 17 in the left-right direction X and the upper wall 16A of the freezing inner box 16. Thereby, the partition member 18 partitions the ice making chamber 4B and the temperature change chamber 4C adjacent to each other in the left-right direction X (see fig. 2). Further, a partition member 19 that partitions between the first freezing chamber 4D and the second freezing chamber 4E may be provided in the freezing inner box 16. However, the first freezing chamber 4D and the second freezing chamber 4E are not completely partitioned by the partition member 19, and the first freezing chamber 4D and the second freezing chamber 4E are in a state of being communicated with each other.

The refrigerator inner box 15 and the refrigerator inner box 16 are disposed adjacent to each other in the vertical direction Z in the outer box 12. The lower wall 15A of the refrigerator inner 15 is disposed above the upper wall 16A of the refrigerator inner 16 at a gap Z1. A plate-shaped connecting portion 20 extending in the left-right direction X is provided between the front end portions of the lower wall 15A and the upper wall 16A. Thereby, the refrigerator inner 15 and the freezer inner 16 are connected to each other.

The heat insulating material 14 is made of, for example, polyurethane. In manufacturing the main body 2, foamed polyurethane is injected into the gap between the outer box 12 and the inner box 13 and the gap between the refrigerator inner box 15 and the freezer inner box 16, and then foamed, and the gaps are filled with the foamed polyurethane to form the heat insulating member 14. The heat insulating member 14 insulates heat between the outer box 12 and the inner box 13, and insulates heat between the refrigerator inner box 15 and the freezer inner box 16. The heat insulating member 14 is disposed in advance in the internal space of each of the

partition members

17 and 18 before they are assembled to the main body 2. Accordingly, the partition member 17 insulates the ice-making chamber 4B and the temperature-changing chamber 4C from the first freezing chamber 4D, and the partition member 18 insulates the ice-making chamber 4B from the temperature-changing chamber 4C. Further, a molded product of polystyrene foam may be used as the heat insulating material 14 of each of the

partition members

17 and 18, instead of polyurethane foam. Note that hatching (see fig. 5) showing a cross section of the heat insulating member 14 is omitted in fig. 4 for convenience of explanation.

The refrigerator 1 generates cold air for cooling the articles in each storage chamber 4 by a vapor compression refrigeration circuit using a refrigerant such as isobutane. The refrigerator 1 includes a compressor 25, a flow path 26, a cooler 27, a condenser 29, a dryer 30, and the like, which constitute the refrigeration circuit.

In the compressor 25, a known component is used as a component for compressing the refrigerant. The compressor 25 is disposed at the lower end of the rear Y2 of the main body 2. The flow path 26 is a circulation flow path that is formed of, for example, a metal pipe, and that takes out the refrigerant from the compressor 25 and returns the refrigerant to the compressor 25. As shown by the broken line in fig. 4, the flow path 26 is disposed so as to surround the main body 2 and the partition member 17. Specifically, the flow path 26 is surrounded over the entire region of the heat insulating member 14 of the main body 2 or the partition member 17. The flow direction of the refrigerant in the flow path 26 is indicated by a broken-line arrow.

The cooler 27 is also referred to as an evaporator, and a known component is used in the cooler 27 as a component for evaporating the refrigerant. The coolers 27 are provided one in each of the refrigerator inner 15 and the freezer inner 16. The cooler 27 of the refrigerator inner 15 is hereinafter referred to as a first cooler 27A, and the cooler 27 of the freezer inner 16 is hereinafter referred to as a second cooler 27B. The first cooler 27A and the second cooler 27B are provided in the middle of the flow path 26. The first cooler 27A is housed in, for example, a box-shaped first cooling chamber 31, and the second cooler 27B is housed in, for example, a box-shaped second cooling chamber 32. The first cooling chamber 31 is disposed inside the refrigerator cabinet 15. An outlet 31A and an inlet 31B are formed in the first cooling chamber 31, and a fan 33 that is rotationally driven is provided at the outlet 31A. The second cooling chamber 32 is disposed in the freezing inner box 16. An outlet 32A and an inlet 32B are formed in the second cooling chamber 32, and a fan 34 that is rotationally driven is provided at the outlet 32A.

The condenser 29 is a member for condensing the refrigerant, and is provided between the compressor 25 and the cooler 27 in the flow path 26. The dryer 30 is a member for drying the refrigerant, and is provided between the condenser 29 and the cooler 27 in the flow path 26. A part of the flow path 26 between the dryer 30 and the cooler 27 is configured as a capillary tube.

The refrigerant is compressed by the compressor 25, thereby becoming a high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant, and then liquefied while dissipating heat while passing through the condenser 29. The liquefied refrigerant is decompressed while passing through the capillary tube after passing through the dryer 30, and then evaporated in the first cooler 27A or the second cooler 27B. Incidentally, the flow path 26 is provided with a branch path 26A which can lead to a (short) second cooler 27B without passing through the first cooler 27A. Therefore, a part of the refrigerant decompressed by the capillary tube flows directly to the second cooler 27B through the branch passage 26A as indicated by a broken-line arrow a 1.

When the refrigerant evaporates in the first cooler 27A, the air around the first cooler 27A in the first cooling chamber 31 is cooled to become cold air. The cooled air in the first cooling compartment 31 is discharged to the outside of the first cooling compartment 31 from the outlet 31A by the rotating fan 33, and as indicated by solid arrows, after flowing through the refrigerator compartment 4A of the refrigerator inner 15, returns to the inside of the first cooling compartment 31 from the inlet 31B, and is cooled again by the first cooler 27A. The cold air circulates between the refrigerator chamber 4A and the first cooling chamber 31 all the time while the fan 33 is rotating, cooling the articles in the refrigerator chamber 4A.

When the refrigerant in the second cooler 27B evaporates, the air around the second cooler 27B in the second cooling chamber 32 is cooled to become cold air. The cold air in the second cooling chamber 32 is discharged from the outlet 32A to the outside of the second cooling chamber 32 by the rotating fan 34, flows through the inside of the first freezing chamber 4D and the inside of the second freezing chamber 4E of the freezing inner box 16 as indicated by the arrow of the chain line, returns to the inside of the second cooling chamber 32 from the inlet 32B, and is cooled again by the second cooler 27B. The cold air is always circulated between the first and second freezing

chambers

4D and 4E and the second cooling chamber 32 while the fan 34 is rotating, and cools the articles in the first and second freezing

chambers

4D and 4E. The flow rate of cool air in the freezer inner 16 is set to be greater than the flow rate of cool air in the freezer inner 15, and therefore the articles in the freezer inner 16 are frozen.

The ice making chamber 4B (refer to fig. 2) and the first freezing chamber 4D are always in a state of communication, and therefore the cold air in the first freezing chamber 4D also always flows into the ice making chamber 4B while the fan 34 is rotating. Thereby, the ice in the ice making chamber 4B is generated or stored.

On the other hand, although temperature-changing chamber 4C and first freezing chamber 4D are in a state of communicating with each other through hole 17A penetrating the rear end portion of partition member 17 in vertical direction Z, through hole 17A is opened and closed by rotatable plate-like opening and closing member 35 called a damper (damper). Therefore, as shown by the solid line, in a state where opening/closing member 35 closes through hole 17A in a posture along horizontal direction H, temperature-varying chamber 4C and first freezing chamber 4D are blocked from each other, and therefore, the cold air in first freezing chamber 4D does not flow into temperature-varying chamber 4C. On the other hand, as shown by the broken line, in a state where opening/closing member 35 is pivoted upward Z1 to open through hole 17A, since temperature-varying chamber 4C and first freezing chamber 4D communicate with each other, the cold air in first freezing chamber 4D flows into temperature-varying chamber 4C through hole 17A as shown by the two-dot chain line arrow, and cools the articles in temperature-varying chamber 4C. When the opening degree of the through hole 17A is adjusted by changing the opening/closing time of the opening/closing member 35, the flow rate of the cooling air flowing from the through hole 17A to the temperature changing chamber 4C can be adjusted. This enables the room temperature of the variable temperature chamber 4C to be set arbitrarily.

As described above, the refrigerant evaporated in the first cooler 27A or the second cooler 27B continuously flows through the flow path 26 and returns to the compressor 25, and is compressed again by the compressor 25. That is, the refrigerant flows through the flow path 26, and thus is repeatedly compressed, radiated, decompressed, and evaporated while circulating between the compressor 25 and the cooler 27.

Since the second cooler 27B of the second cooling chamber 32 generates cold air for freezing, frost may be generated on the surface of the second freezer 28. Therefore, the second cooling chamber 32 is provided with a defrosting heater 36. Since the defrosting heater 36 generates heat after being energized, the frost on the surface of the second cooler 27B is melted and falls. For example, an evaporation pan 37 opened upward Z1 is provided at the lower end of the main body 2. The water falling from the surface of the second cooler 27B passes through a water passage 38 (see fig. 5) extending downward from the second cooling chamber 32 to Z2 and connected to the evaporation pan 37, and is stored in the evaporation pan 37. The water stored in the evaporation pan 37 is evaporated by the heat of the flow path 26 or the refrigerant having a high temperature generated by the compressor 25. A defrosting heater (not shown) having the same function as the defrosting heater 36 is also provided in the first cooling chamber 31.

Referring to fig. 6, which is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the refrigerator 1, the refrigerator 1 includes, as the above-described electrical components, a fan driving motor 41, a damper switching motor 42, and a temperature sensor 43 in addition to the above-described compressor 25 and the defrosting heater 36. The fan drive motors 41 are provided in the

fans

33 and 34, respectively, and rotationally drive the corresponding fans. The shutter switching motor 42 opens and closes the opening and closing member 35. The temperature sensor 43 is provided in each storage chamber 4, and detects the room temperature of the corresponding storage chamber 4. The controller 11 is electrically connected to these electric components, and controls the operations of the compressor 25, the defrosting heater 36, the fan drive motor 41, and the damper switching motor 42, or receives an input of a detection result of the temperature sensor 43.

The above is an outline of the refrigerator 1, and the configuration of the outer surface portion 2B of the rear Y2 of the main body 2 of the refrigerator 1 will be described in detail below. Referring to fig. 7, which is an exploded perspective view of the refrigerator 1 viewed from the rear Y2, the outer box 12 includes a metal outer panel 51 constituting a rear wall thereof. The outer panel 51 is formed in a rectangular plate shape that is thin in the front-rear direction Y and long in the vertical direction Z. The region of the outer panel 51 exposed rearward Y1 is the outer side surface portion 2B.

Referring to fig. 8, which is an exploded perspective view of the upper portion of the refrigerator 1 viewed from the rear Y2, the base plate case 10 provided at the upper end portion of the outer side surface portion 2B as described above includes: a case 52 fixed to the outer side surface 2B, and a cover 53 detachable from the case 52.

The case 52 is formed in a box shape that is long in the left-right direction X and flat in the front-rear direction Y, as in the completed substrate case 10. A rectangular opening 52A elongated in the left-right direction X is formed in the rear side surface of the case 52. The opening 52A faces the outside of the main body 2 from the outer side surface 2B along the front-rear direction Y, which is a direction intersecting the vertical direction Z, and exposes the inner space of the case 52 to the rear Y2. In this embodiment, the opening portion 52A faces the rear Y2 along the horizontal direction H, but may face the rear Y2 along a direction inclined with respect to the horizontal direction H. The control unit 11 (see fig. 7) is housed in the internal space of the case 52.

In the rear side of the case 52, a portion bordering (る) the opening 52A from the upper Z1 is referred to as an upper peripheral edge 52B, and a portion bordering the opening 52A from the lower Z2 is referred to as a lower peripheral edge 52C. The upper and lower

peripheral edges

52B and 52C are each formed in a plate shape that is thin in the front-rear direction Y and elongated in the left-right direction X, and protrude in a flange shape in the up-down direction Z from the opening 52A (see fig. 10 described later). The upper peripheral edge portion 52B is an upper end portion of the case portion 52. A plurality of (here, three) screw holes 54 are formed in the lower peripheral edge portion 52C in a row at substantially equal intervals in the left-right direction X. The left screw hole 54 is located at the left end of the lower peripheral edge portion 52C, and the right screw hole 54 is located at the right end of the lower peripheral edge portion 52C.

In the rear side portion of the case 52, a portion where the opening 52A is covered from the left side X1 is referred to as a left peripheral edge portion 52D, and a portion where the opening 52A is covered from the right side X2 is referred to as a right peripheral edge portion 52E. The left and right

peripheral edges

52D and 52E are each formed in a plate shape that is thin in the front-rear direction Y and elongated in the vertical direction Z, and protrude in a flange shape from the opening 52A in the left-right direction X. Upper peripheral edge 52B, lower peripheral edge 52C, left peripheral edge 52D, and right peripheral edge 52E are formed in a frame shape surrounding opening 52A in a joined state. The inner space of the case portion 52 is formed so as to be recessed forward Y1 from the upper peripheral edge portion 52B, the lower peripheral edge portion 52C, the left peripheral edge portion 52D, and the right peripheral edge portion 52E.

In the posture of fig. 8, the lid portion 53 is formed in a rectangular plate shape that is thin in the front-rear direction Y and long in the left-right direction X. The lid portion 53 has a protruding portion 53A formed so as to protrude rearward Y2 inward of the outer peripheral edge portion extending over the four sides. In the outer peripheral edge of the lid 53, a portion above Z1 with respect to the projecting portion 53A is referred to as an upper peripheral edge 53B, and a portion below Z2 with respect to the projecting portion 53A is referred to as a lower peripheral edge 53C. The upper peripheral edge portion 53B and the lower peripheral edge portion 53C are each formed in a plate shape that is thin in the front-rear direction Y and is elongated in the left-right direction X. The upper peripheral edge 53B is an upper end of the lid 53. The upper peripheral edge portion 53B is formed with a notch 55 slightly recessed downward Z2 from its upper end edge. The lower peripheral portion 53C has through holes 56, the number of which is equal to that of the screw holes 54 of the case portion 52, arranged at substantially equal intervals in the left-right direction X. The left through hole 56 is located at the left end of the lower peripheral edge 53C, and the right through hole 56 is located at the right end of the lower peripheral edge 53C.

In the outer peripheral edge of the lid 53, a portion on the left side X1 with respect to the protruding portion 53A is referred to as a left peripheral edge 53D, and a portion on the right side X2 with respect to the protruding portion 53A is referred to as a right peripheral edge 53E. The left and right

peripheral edges

53D and 53E are each formed in a plate shape that is thin in the front-rear direction Y and elongated in the vertical direction Z. The upper peripheral edge 53B, the lower peripheral edge 53C, the left peripheral edge 53D, and the right peripheral edge 53E are formed in a frame shape surrounding the convex portion 53A in a joined state.

The closing portion 60 is provided above Z1 of the case portion 52 at the upper end of the outer surface portion 2B of the main body 2. The closing portion 60 is made of, for example, resin, is formed to be elongated in the left-right direction X, and is fixed to the outer side surface portion 2B so as to cover an upper end of the outer side surface portion 2B in the left-right direction X. One recess 61 recessed toward the front Y1 is formed at each end in the left-right direction X of the rear side surface portion of the closing portion 60. When the refrigerator 1 is conveyed, the closing portion 60 is a grip portion for an operator to insert and grip a fingertip into the concave portion 61.

An insertion groove 62 recessed upward Z1 from a lower end surface thereof and extending in the left-right direction X is provided in a lower end portion 60A of the closing portion 60. In the case 52 fixed to the outer surface 2B, the entire region in the left-right direction X of the upper peripheral edge portion 52B is inserted from below Z2 with respect to the insertion groove 62. A plurality of screws 63 (see fig. 9 described later) for fixing the closing portion 60 to the main body 2 are assembled in a row in the left-right direction X in the closing portion 60. A part of the screw 63 is exposed in the insertion groove 62.

As shown in fig. 8, the cover 53 is attached to the case 52 from the rear Y2. In the attachment, first, as shown by the solid arrow, the upper peripheral edge portion 53B of the lid portion 53 is inserted through the lower portion Z2 of the lower end portion 60A of the closing portion 60, and then inserted into the insertion groove 62 of the lower end portion 60A from the lower portion Z2. At this time, the screw 63 (see fig. 9) exposed in the insertion groove 62 is fitted into the notch 55 of the upper peripheral edge portion 53B from above Z1, whereby the lid portion 53 is positioned in the left-right direction X.

Since the entire lid 53 is slightly moved upward Z1 by inserting the upper peripheral edge portion 53B from the lower side Z2 into the insertion groove 62, the lower peripheral edge portion 53C of the lid 53 is located at the same position as the lower peripheral edge portion 52C of the case portion 52 in the vertical direction Z, and faces the lower peripheral edge portion 52C from the rear side Y2. At this time, each through hole 56 of the lower peripheral edge portion 53C overlaps any screw hole 54 of the lower peripheral edge portion 52C in the front-rear direction Y. Subsequently, the screws 64 are inserted into the through holes 56 from the rear Y2 and assembled into the screw holes 54, and then the lid 53 is attached to the case 52.

Fig. 9 is a rear view of the upper portion of the refrigerator 1 after the mounting of the cover portion 53 to the case portion 52 is completed. Referring to fig. 9, in a state where the cover 53 is attached to the case 52, the protruding portion 53A of the cover 53 is in a state where the opening 52A of the case 52 is closed from the rear Y2 in the front-rear direction Y. The upper peripheral edge 53B of the lid 53 is in contact with the upper peripheral edge 52B of the case 52 from the rear Y2 over the entire region in the left-right direction X. The lower peripheral edge 53C of the lid 53 is in contact with the lower peripheral edge 52C of the case 52 from the rear Y2 over the entire region in the left-right direction X. The left peripheral edge 53D of the lid 53 is in contact with the left peripheral edge 52D of the case 52 from the rear Y2 over the entire region in the vertical direction Z. The right peripheral edge 53E of the lid 53 is in contact with the right peripheral edge 52E of the case 52 from the rear Y2 over the entire region in the vertical direction Z.

Referring to fig. 10, which is a cross-sectional view taken along X-X in fig. 9, or fig. 11, which is an enlarged view of a main portion of fig. 10, in particular, the upper peripheral edge portion 52B and the upper peripheral edge portion 53B are in a state of being inserted from below Z2 into the insertion groove 62 at the lower end of the closing portion 60 over the entire region in the left-right direction X in a state of being in contact with each other. Thus, the boundary between upper peripheral edge portion 52B and upper peripheral edge portion 53B is closed from above Z1 by groove bottom 62A of insertion groove 62 of closing portion 60.

Therefore, the water droplets and the like falling from the upper Z1 cannot reach the boundary portion. Therefore, the control unit 11 in the lid 53 can be prevented from being broken down by water leakage from the upper portion Z1. Further, since the upper peripheral edge portion 52B and the upper peripheral edge portion 53B can be coupled by being inserted into the insertion groove 62 without using a fastening member such as a screw, a fastening member required for coupling the cover portion 53 and the case portion 52 can be reduced. Further, since the closing portion 60 also serves as a grip portion to be gripped for carrying the refrigerator 1 as described above, the number of components can be reduced.

Fig. 12 is a rear view of the outer panel 51 of the main body 2 of the refrigerator 1. Referring to fig. 12, a part of the flow path 26 is disposed in a front portion Y1 of the outer panel 51 so as to meander in the vertical direction Z as it goes in the horizontal direction X. Therefore, the flow path 26 disposed in the front Y1 of the outer panel 51 includes a plurality of straight portions 70 linearly extending in the vertical direction Z.

The outer panel 51 is provided with a pair of protruding portions 71 that protrude forward Y1 and linearly extend along any of the straight portions 70, at least in the vicinity of the straight portions 70, for each of the straight portions 70. In fig. 12, a pair of protruding portions 71 is provided in the vicinity of each of the inner two straight line portions 70 among the four straight line portions 70 arranged in the left-right direction X. Each of the projections 71 is shaped like a ridge (bead) by recessing a portion of the outer panel 51 near the straight portion 70 toward the front Y1. Each of the projections 71 is slightly shorter than the straight portion 70 in the up-down direction Z.

Referring to fig. 13, which is a cross-sectional view taken along XIII-XIII in fig. 12, the main body 2 includes a vacuum heat insulating member 72. The vacuum heat insulating member 72 includes, for example, a bag 73 made of a resin laminated film and a heat insulating material 74 such as glass fibers filled in a vacuum state inside the bag 73, and is formed in a panel (panel) shape that is thin in the front-rear direction Y as a whole. The vacuum heat insulating member 72 is provided separately from the heat insulating member 14 made of polyurethane, and is fixed to the outer panel 51 of the rear Y2 by an adhesive. Therefore, the vacuum heat insulating member 72 is covered with the outer panel 51 from the outside of the main body 2. In this case, the front Y1 of the outer panel 51 is the vacuum heat insulating member 72 side. A part of the flow path 26 located at the front Y1 of the outer panel 51 is disposed between the outer panel 51 and the vacuum heat insulating member 72.

A recess 75 for accommodating the flow path 26 is formed in a side surface portion of the rear Y2 of the vacuum heat insulating member 72. In fig. 13, four concave portions 75 each accommodating one straight portion 70 are provided in parallel along the left-right direction X, corresponding to the four straight portions 70 in the flow path 26. The four recesses 75 are closed by the outer panel 51 from the rear Y2. Of the four concave portions 75, the inner spaces of the concave portions 75A are exposed to the outside in the lateral direction X in the two outer concave portions 75A in the lateral direction X, but the inner spaces of the remaining two inner concave portions 75B are in a sealed state without being exposed. In this case, if the refrigerant compressed to a high temperature radiates heat when flowing through the flow path, the excess air remaining in the recess 75B expands. Accordingly, the portion of the outer panel 51 that closes the recess 75B is deformed so as to bulge rearward Y2 as indicated by the broken line, which may deteriorate the appearance of the refrigerator 1.

Referring to fig. 14, which is an enlarged view of a main portion of fig. 13, a pair of projections 71 in the outer panel 51 are provided in the vicinity of the linear portion 70 housed in the recess 75B. The area between the pair of protruding portions 71 in the outer panel 51 forms a housing groove 76 recessed rearward Y2 and extending in the vertical direction Z. A plurality of through holes 77 (see also fig. 12) that penetrate the outer plate 51 in the groove bottom 76A in the front-rear direction Y are provided in the groove bottom 76A of the housing groove 76 at substantially equal intervals along the vertical direction Z.

The linear portion 70 near which the protruding portion 71 is provided is housed in the housing groove 76 from the front Y1. Thereby, the linear portion 70 is sandwiched by the pair of projections 71 on both sides of the housing groove 76 from the left-right direction X. Therefore, the positioning of the straight line portion 70 within the recess 75B can be achieved. The inner space of the recess 75B is in communication with the outside of the main body 2 via the through hole 77. Therefore, the excess air in the recess 75B can be released to the outside of the main body 2 from the through hole 77. Therefore, as described above, the portion of the outer panel 51 that closes the recessed portion 75B can be prevented from being deformed and deteriorating the appearance.

However, since the through-hole 77 is provided, burrs (not shown) are present at the peripheral edge portion of the through-hole 77 in the outer plate 51. If the bag 73 of the vacuum heat insulating material 72 is punctured due to the contact of the burr with the vacuum heat insulating material 72, the degree of vacuum of the vacuum heat insulating material 72 is reduced, and the heat insulating performance of the vacuum heat insulating material 72 is also reduced. However, the through-hole 77 is provided in a region between the pair of protruding portions 71 in the outer panel 51, that is, in a region that is farther from the vacuum heat insulating member 72 toward the rear Y2 than the protruding portions 71. Further, a straight portion 70 of the flow path 26 is present between the peripheral edge of the through hole 77 and the vacuum heat insulating member 72. Therefore, the vacuum heat insulating member 72 can be prevented from being damaged by contact with burrs that may be located on the peripheral edge of the through-hole 77.

The mounting member 78 made of an aluminum tape or the like is mounted to the outer panel 51 from the front Y1 so as to be interposed between the vacuum heat insulating member 72 and the through hole 77. The mounting member 78 is formed in a strip shape longer than the region of the outer plate 51 where the through hole 77 is formed, and is attached to the pair of protruding portions 71 and the straight portions 70 therebetween from the front Y1 so as to be long in the vertical direction Z along the region (see also fig. 12). In this case, the vacuum heat insulating member 72 can be reliably prevented from being damaged by contact with burrs that may be located at the peripheral edge of the through hole 77 in the plate of the main body 2. Further, since the straight line portions 70 are fixed to the outer panel 51 by the mounting members 78, the straight line portions 70 can be reliably positioned.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

For example, the substrate case 10, the outer panel 51, or the vacuum heat insulating member 72 may be provided not only on the outer side surface 2B of the rear portion Y2 of the main body 2 but also on any side surface in the left-right direction X.

A pair of protrusions 80 (see fig. 12) having the same configuration as the protrusion 71 may be provided so as to position the end of the straight portion 70 of the flow path 26 or the portion of the flow path 26 other than the straight portion 70.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, characterized by comprising:

a main body having a storage chamber for storing a cooled and stored article;

a control unit electrically connected to an electric component in the main body;

a case portion that houses the control portion, is provided on an outer side surface portion extending in a vertical direction of the main body, and has an opening portion facing an outer side of the main body from the outer side surface portion in a cross direction intersecting the vertical direction;

a cover portion attached to the case portion and closing the opening portion from the intersecting direction;

a closing portion provided with an insertion groove recessed upward, the closing portion closing a boundary portion between upper end portions of the cover portion and the housing portion from above by inserting the upper end portions into the insertion groove from below;

an outer plate constituting a housing of the main body;

a vacuum heat insulating member covered with the outer panel from an outer side of the main body;

a compressor that compresses a refrigerant;

a cooler that evaporates the refrigerant; and

a flow path, a part of which is disposed between the outer plate and the vacuum heat insulating member, for circulating a refrigerant between the compressor and the cooler;

the outer plate is provided with: a pair of protrusions protruding toward the vacuum heat insulating member and extending along the flow path so as to sandwich the flow path; and a through hole penetrating the outer panel between the pair of protruding portions;

the vacuum heat insulating member is formed with a recess recessed in a direction away from the through hole.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein:

the closing portion includes a grip portion provided to the main body and gripped for carrying the refrigerator.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by comprising:

and an attachment member attached to the outer panel from the side of the vacuum heat insulating member so as to be provided between the vacuum heat insulating member and the through hole.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that:

the flow path is housed in the recess and faces the through hole from the vacuum heat insulating member side.