CN116097053A

CN116097053A - Refrigerator with a door

Info

Publication number: CN116097053A
Application number: CN202280005674.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 梅江将司; 阿比留洋一; 吉田真崇
Original assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Current assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-04-23
Filing date: 2022-04-07
Publication date: 2023-05-09
Also published as: WO2022224836A1; JP7493150B2; JP2022167513A

Abstract

The invention provides a refrigerator, which can inhibit filled heat insulation materials from leaking out of two adjacent heat insulation walls. A refrigerator (1) of the present invention comprises: a heat insulation box body (10) provided with an opening (14) on the front surface; a pair of side panels (20) located on each side of the opening (14) and forming each side of the heat insulation box (10); a top panel (23) forming the top surface of the heat insulation box body (10); and a connecting member (60) for connecting the pair of side plates (20) and the top plate (23).

Description

Refrigerator with a door

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a refrigerator.

Background

Patent document 1 discloses a refrigerator with improved assemblability. The refrigerator includes an outer case and an inner case, and is formed in a case shape by combining a plurality of heat insulating walls in which heat insulating members are provided. The refrigerator includes: a heat-insulating box body forming a storage chamber therein; and a fixing member located in the heat insulating box body, the fixing member being provided at a corner portion formed by two adjacent heat insulating walls to join and fix the two heat insulating walls.

Prior art literature

Patent literature

Patent document 1: japanese patent application laid-open No. 2012-255629

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

The invention provides a refrigerator, which can inhibit the leakage of filled heat insulation materials from two adjacent heat insulation walls.

Technical scheme for solving problems

The refrigerator of the present invention includes: a heat-insulating box body having an opening on a front surface thereof; a pair of side panels located on each side of the opening to form each side of the heat insulation box; a top panel forming a top surface of the insulated box; and a connecting member connecting each of the pair of side panels and the top panel.

The present specification includes the entire contents of Japanese patent application No. 2021-073345 filed on App. 4.23 of 2021.

Effects of the invention

The refrigerator of the present invention is configured to connect a pair of side panels and a top panel by a connecting member. Therefore, the heat insulating material filled in the heat insulating box can be prevented from leaking from the joint portion between the pair of side panels and the top panel.

Drawings

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

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the outer case.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a connection structure of the bottom plate and the side plate.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the machine room.

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the top panel and the control unit housing.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the refrigerator.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the connecting member.

Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the refrigerator.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing a connection structure of a top panel and a side panel of the refrigerator.

Detailed Description

(insight underlying the present invention, etc.)

In order to solve the above problems, the present inventors have found that a refrigerator is provided which includes an outer case, an inner case, and a heat insulating case having a plurality of heat insulating walls provided with heat insulating members therein, and which is configured in a box shape, and in which a storage compartment is formed. The refrigerator includes the following technologies: a fixing member for connecting and fixing two heat-insulating walls is provided at a corner portion of the heat-insulating box body, the corner portion being formed by two adjacent heat-insulating walls. This improves the assemblability of the refrigerator.

However, the inventors have found that the conventional structure has the following technical problems: when a filler such as foamed polyurethane is used as the heat insulating material, the heat insulating material may leak from the joint portions of the respective heat insulating walls, and the present invention has been finally conceived to solve the above-described problems.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a refrigerator capable of suppressing leakage of a filled heat insulating material from two adjacent heat insulating walls.

The embodiments are described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the above detailed description may be omitted. For example, a detailed description of well-known matters or a repeated description of the substantially identical structure may be omitted. This is to avoid the following description being too lengthy to be easily understood by those skilled in the art.

Furthermore, the drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present invention, and are not intended to limit the subject matter of the claims by the drawings and the following description.

(embodiment)

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 9. Note that, reference numeral FR shown in each figure indicates the front of the refrigerator 1 in the installed state, UP indicates the upper side of the refrigerator 1, and LH indicates the left side of the refrigerator 1. In the following description, each direction is a direction along the direction of the refrigerator 1.

[1-1. Structure ]

[1-1-1. Structure of refrigerator ]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator 1 in an installed state according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in fig. 1, the refrigerator 1 includes: a heat insulation box 10 having an opening 14 on a front surface (front surface); a plurality of

doors

16, 17, 18 mounted to the insulated box 10; and a refrigerator (freezer) forming a refrigeration (freezing) cycle.

The heat insulating box 10 has heat insulating properties and is a box-like member forming the main body of the refrigerator 1. The heat insulating box 10 includes: an outer case 12 opened at a front surface; an inner case 13 which is housed in the outer case 12 and is open at the front surface; and a heat insulating material 11 provided between the outer case 12 and the inner case 13.

The inner case 13 is formed of a hard resin such as ABS.

In the heat-insulating box 10, an opening provided in the inner box 13 functions as an opening 14 of the heat-insulating box 10. The inner space of the inner box 13 is cooled by a refrigeration cycle, and functions as a storage chamber 15 in which predetermined articles can be frozen and refrigerated.

The storage chamber 15 is partitioned into a plurality of spaces by partitions. In the refrigerator 1, each of the spaces thus partitioned functions as a refrigerating chamber, a vegetable chamber, and a freezing chamber in this order from the top to the bottom, for example.

As described above, the opening 14 of the heat insulating box 10 is closed (closed) by the plurality of

doors

16, 17, 18. These

doors

16, 17, 18 are each heat-insulating doors having heat-insulating members inside.

In the refrigerator 1, an opening of an inner box 13 located in a refrigerating compartment is closed by a pair of doors 16. These doors 16 are left and right side-by-side doors that can be opened and closed by being rotated in the left and right directions of the refrigerator 1.

In the refrigerator 1, openings of the inner boxes 13 located in the vegetable and freezer compartments are closed by

doors

17, 18, respectively. These

doors

17 and 18 are drawer-type doors that can be opened and closed by sliding in the front-rear direction of the refrigerator 1.

A heat insulating material 11 as a filler is provided between the outer casing 12 and the inner casing 13. In the present embodiment, a rigid polyurethane foam is used as the heat insulating material 11. The rigid polyurethane foam can be easily foamed, self-adhered to various materials, and has high air tightness.

In the refrigerator 1, a rigid polyurethane foam is foam-filled as a heat insulating material 11 between an outer case 12 and an inner case 13, and self-adheres to the outer case 12 and the inner case 13.

In addition, the refrigerator 1 is not limited to this, and any material may be used as long as it is a heat insulating material that can be filled with heat insulation.

[1-1-2. Structure of outer case ]

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the outer case 12.

As shown in fig. 2, the outer case 12 includes: a pair of side panels 20 forming side surfaces of the heat insulation box 10 in the left-right direction: a bottom plate 21 forming the bottom surface of the heat insulation box 10; a back plate 22 forming the back surface of the heat insulation box 10; and a top panel 23 forming the top surface of the insulated box 10.

Each side plate 20 is a rectangular flat plate member, and

flange portions

24, 25, 26 that stand up toward the other side plate 20 by a predetermined width dimension are provided at edges of the side plates 20 on the front surface side, the back surface side, and the bottom surface side of the heat insulation box 10, respectively.

Each flange 24 on the front surface side of the heat insulating box 10 is connected to the edge of the opening of the inner box 13, and forms the opening 14 of the heat insulating box 10. These flange portions 24 function as contact surfaces against which sealing materials such as gaskets provided on the inner box 13 side surfaces of the

doors

16, 17, 18 are brought into contact.

The back plate 22 is a rectangular flat plate member, and a plurality of injection holes 27 as through holes are provided in the back plate 22. When the heat insulating box 10 is assembled, the heat insulating material 11 is injected between the outer box 12 and the inner box 13 through the injection holes 27.

The back plate 22 and each side plate 20 are fixed to each other by a fixing member such as a screw member in a state where the edge portion of the back plate 22 in the left-right direction of the heat insulation box 10 is in contact with the flange portion 25 of each side plate 20 located on the back side of the heat insulation box 10.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a connection structure of the bottom plate 21 and the side plate 20.

The bottom plate 21 is a rectangular flat plate member, and the edge of the bottom plate 21 located on the rear surface side of the heat insulation box 10 is raised upward.

The bottom panel 21 and each side panel 20 are interconnected by a pair of reinforcing members 28. The reinforcing member 28 is a long-strip-shaped plate-like member, and has a length substantially equal to a length in a longitudinal direction of the flange portion 26 of each side panel 20 located on the bottom surface side of the heat insulation box 10. The bottom plate 21 and the side plates 20 are connected to each other by being fixed by fixing members 29 such as screw members in a state where reinforcing members 28 are sandwiched between both edge portions of the bottom plate 21 and the flange portions 26 in the lateral direction of the heat insulation box 10.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the machine room 40.

As shown in fig. 4, a machine room 40 formed by protruding and recessing toward the storage room 15 side is provided at the corner formed by the top surface and the back surface of the heat-insulating box 10.

The machine chamber 40 is a space for housing a refrigerator for forming a refrigeration cycle.

By providing the machine room 40 on the rear side of the upper end portion of the refrigerator 1 in this way, the machine room 40 can be provided in the storage room 15 at the rear of the upper portion which is not easily used by the user. Therefore, the refrigerator 1 can have a large capacity of a portion of the storage compartment 15 that is easier for the user to use.

Here, the refrigerator is constituted by a compressor 41, an evaporator, a condenser, a radiating pipe for radiating heat, a capillary tube, and the like. These devices are connected in a loop by refrigerant piping 42 to form a refrigeration cycle. In the refrigerator 1, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 41 circulates in the refrigeration cycle, whereby the storage compartment 15 can be cooled.

As shown in fig. 4, a compressor 41 and a plurality of refrigerant pipes 42 connected to the compressor 41 are housed in a machine chamber 40.

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the top panel 23 and the control unit housing 50.

The top panel 23 is a substantially rectangular flat plate member. As shown in fig. 5, the top panel 23 has: a planar top surface portion 30 is formed on the front surface side of the heat insulation box 10, and a stepped portion 31 recessed stepwise toward the bottom surface side of the heat insulation box 10 is formed on the back surface side of the heat insulation box 10.

The step 31 has: a standing portion 32 arranged along the vertical direction of the heat insulation box 10: and a horizontal portion 33 disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the bottom surface and the top surface portion 30 of the heat insulation box 10. The standing portion 32 surrounds the machine chamber 40 from the front side of the heat-insulating box 10, and the horizontal portion 33 surrounds the machine chamber 40 from the bottom side of the heat-insulating box 10. In other words, the standing portion 32 forms the front surface (front surface) of the machine chamber 40, and the horizontal portion 33 forms the bottom surface of the machine chamber 40.

The upper edge of the rising portion 32 is connected to the edge of the top surface portion 30 on the rear surface side of the heat insulation box 10, and the lower edge of the rising portion 32 is connected to the edge of the horizontal portion 33 on the front surface side of the heat insulation box 10.

That is, the top surface portion 30 and the horizontal portion 33 are connected by the standing portion 32.

A flange 39 standing up toward the bottom surface of the heat insulation box 10 is provided at the edge of the horizontal portion 33 on the front surface side of the heat insulation box 10.

The top plate 23 and the back plate 22 are connected to each other by being fixed by a fixing member such as a screw member in a state where the upper edge portion of the back plate 22 in the vertical direction of the heat insulation box 10 is in contact with the flange portion 39.

A pair of concave portions 34 recessed toward the bottom surface side are provided on the plane of the horizontal portion 33. A pair of insertion holes 35 each of which is a through hole are provided at the bottom of the recess 34.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the refrigerator 1. Fig. 6 shows a cross section parallel to the front-rear direction and the up-down direction of the refrigerator 1. The cross section passes through the center axis in the up-down direction of the refrigerator 1.

As shown in fig. 6, the support member 43 is inserted into each insertion hole 35. Each support member 43 is a columnar member rising toward the top surface of the heat insulation box 10. A cushioning material 44 is provided on the side surface of the support member 43. The cushioning material 44 is an elastic member such as a rubber material.

The compressor 41 is supported by these support members 43 by being placed on the upper ends of the support members. As described above, the compressors 41 are accommodated in the machine chamber 40 in a state of being spaced apart from the horizontal portion 33, which is the bottom surface of the machine chamber 40, by being supported by the support members 43.

In this way, the compressor 41 is disposed at a distance from the top panel 23 and supported by the shock absorbing buffer material 44, and thus even when the compressor 41 is provided at the upper end of the refrigerator 1, the refrigerator 1 can be restrained from vibrating in response to the driving of the compressor 41.

A support member 43 for supporting the compressor 41 is attached to the recess 34. That is, by forming a three-dimensional shape on the top panel 23 and supporting the compressor 41 at this position, the refrigerator 1 can improve the strength of the heat insulation box 10.

The machine chamber 40 is covered with a cover member 45. The cover member 45 is formed by bending a flat plate member so as to have a substantially L-shape in a side view. The cover member 45 is attached to the heat-insulating box 10 so as to form the top and back surfaces of the machine room 40.

The top surface portion 30 is cut out in a substantially rectangular shape at a corner portion formed by a pair of edges located in the left-right direction of the heat insulation box 10 and an edge located on the front surface side of the heat insulation box 10, to form a notch portion 36.

A flange 37 is provided at the edge of the top surface 30 between the notches 36, and is raised toward the bottom surface of the heat insulation box 10.

On the front surface side of the heat insulating box 10, the top surface portion 30 and the inner box 13 are connected by a frame member 46.

The frame member 46 is an elongated rail-like member (fig. 8) having a length substantially equal to the length of the flange 37 in the longitudinal direction (longitudinal direction). A frame groove 47 is provided on the upper surface side of the frame member 46. The frame groove 47 is provided throughout the entire longitudinal direction of the frame member 46.

When the heat insulating box 10 is assembled, the flange 37 is inserted into the frame groove 47, and the inner box 13 and the upper edge member 19 located at the upper edge of the opening of the inner box 13 are brought into contact with the lower surface of the frame member 46. Thereby, the top panel 23 and the inner box 13 are coupled.

As shown in fig. 5, a holding hole 38 as a rectangular through hole is provided in the top surface portion 30. The holding hole 38 of the present embodiment is disposed adjacent to the rear edge of the top surface portion 30.

The control portion housing 50 is inserted into the holding hole 38. The control unit case 50 is a flat box-shaped member, and as shown in fig. 6, a control board 51 is housed in the control unit case 50.

The control board 51 functions as a control device for controlling various electric components and the like included in the refrigerator and the refrigerator 1 having a driving portion such as the compressor 41.

The control unit case 50 is provided with a case flange 52, and the case flange 52 is flush with the top surface of the control unit case 50, and extends from the top surface in the front-rear-left-right direction of the control unit case 50.

The control unit case 50 is inserted into the holding hole 38 on the bottom surface side, and the case flange 52 engages with the edge of the holding hole 38 to be held in the holding hole 38. That is, the control unit case 50 is fitted into the holding hole 38, and is thereby attached to the heat insulation box 10.

A seal such as a gasket may be provided between the case flange 52 and the control unit case 50 and the holding hole 38.

The top surface 30 is provided with a flange 81 standing up toward the bottom surface at the edges of the pair of notches 36 and the edges located in the lateral direction of the heat insulation box 10.

[1-1-3. Structure of connecting Member ]

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing one coupling member 60. In fig. 7, the hinge member 70 is shown by a one-dot chain line as a virtual line (virtual line).

In the outer case 12, the top panel 23 and the pair of side panels 20 are connected by a connecting member 60. The coupling members 60 are formed and arranged to be mirror-symmetrical to each other across the inner case 13. In the present embodiment, the coupling member 60 is formed of a resin material.

As shown in fig. 7, the coupling member 60 includes a coupling portion 61, a support portion 62, and a side wall portion 63.

The connecting portion 61 is a long portion extending in the front-rear direction of the heat insulation box 10. The length of the connecting portion 61 in the longitudinal direction is substantially the same as the length of the edge of the top surface portion 30 located in the lateral direction of the heat insulation box 10.

On the upper surface side of the connecting portion 61, a groove-shaped top surface groove 64 is integrally provided throughout the longitudinal direction of the connecting portion 61. Similarly, on the lower surface side of the coupling portion 61, a groove-shaped side surface groove 65 is integrally provided throughout the longitudinal direction of the coupling portion 61.

Further, in the connecting portion 61, a rib 66 extending toward the top panel 23 is integrally provided in the longitudinal direction of the connecting portion 61 at a position closer to the inner case 13 than the top surface groove 64.

Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the refrigerator 1. In fig. 8, the top panel 23 is omitted and illustrated.

A support portion 62 is provided at the distal end of the connecting portion 61. The support portion 62 is a box-like portion having a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view. The hinge member 70 is accommodated in the support portion 62. The hinge member 70 is a member that pivotally supports a hinge shaft provided to the door 16. The door 16 is pivotally supported by the hinge member 70 via a hinge shaft. That is, the support portion 62 supports the door 16 via the hinge member 70 in such a manner that the door 16 is rotatable.

The hinge cover 74 is provided on the support portion 62. The hinge cover 74 covers the support portion 62 together with the hinge member 70, thereby fixing the hinge member 70 to the support portion 62.

Further, a groove-shaped top surface groove 69 and a rib 71 extending toward the top panel 23 are continuously provided on a rear edge 67 of the support portion 62, which is an edge portion of the support portion 62 located on the rear surface side of the heat insulation box 10, and a side edge 68 of the support portion 62 located on the central portion side in the lateral direction of the heat insulation box 10. The top surface groove 69 is provided continuously with the top surface groove 64, and the rib 71 is provided continuously with the rib 66.

An engagement piece 72 is provided on the side edge 68. The engaging piece 72 is a convex portion protruding from the side edge 68 toward the central portion side in the lateral direction of the heat insulation box 10. Both ends of the frame member 46 are engaged with the engaging pieces 72 of the respective coupling members 60.

At the rear end of the connecting portion 61, a support piece 73 protruding toward the center side in the lateral direction of the heat insulating box 10 is provided. The support piece 73 has a predetermined length dimension.

A side wall 63 is provided on the rear end of the connecting portion 61 along the longitudinal direction (longitudinal direction) of the connecting portion 61 on the rear surface side of the heat insulating box 10.

The side wall portion 63 includes: an upper surface portion 75 that is flush with the upper surface of the coupling portion 61; and a side wall 76 extending downward from the upper surface 75.

The upper surface portion 75 is an elongated flat plate member extending in the same direction as the connecting portion 61. The length from the front end of the support portion 62 to the rear end of the upper surface portion 75 is substantially the same as the length of the upper edge 80 of the side panel 20.

A flat plate-shaped side wall 76 extending downward from an edge portion of the upper surface portion 75 located on the center side in the lateral direction of the heat insulating box 10 is provided. The side wall 76 is a flat plate portion having a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view.

A sidewall flange 77 is provided at a rim portion located at the lower end of the sidewall 76 and a rim portion located at the front end of the sidewall 76. The side wall flange 77 is provided to stand toward the center side in the lateral direction of the heat insulating box 10.

In addition, a sidewall flange 78 is provided at the edge portion at the rear end of the sidewall 76. The side wall flanges 78 are disposed upright toward the side panels 20 of the insulated box 10.

[1-2. Effect ]

The refrigerator 1 configured as described above functions as described below.

In the refrigerator 1, when the outer case 12 is assembled, the pair of side plates 20, the bottom plate 21, and the back plate 22 are fixed to each other by fixing members such as screw members. Also, the back plate 22 and the top plate 23 are fixed to each other by a fixing member.

Thus, the outer case 12 and the heat insulation case 10 have predetermined strength.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing a connection structure between the top panel 23 and the side panel 20 of the refrigerator 1. In fig. 9, a cross section of the refrigerator 1 parallel to the left-right direction and the up-down direction of the refrigerator 1 is partially enlarged. The cross section is parallel to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the connecting portion 61.

In contrast, the top panel 23 and the pair of side panels 20 are connected to each other by the connecting member 60.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 9, the flange 81 of the top panel 23 is inserted into the top surface groove 69 and the top surface groove 64 of the coupling member 60, and the upper edge 80 of each side panel 20 is inserted into the side surface groove 65 of the coupling member 60.

Thereby, the top panel 23 and the pair of side panels 20 are coupled.

Further, each support piece 73 supports a joint portion between the top surface portion 30 and the horizontal portion 33, and each side wall flange 77 supports both ends of the top surface portion 30 and the horizontal portion 33 in the lateral direction of the heat insulation box 10.

In this state, the top panel 23 and the pair of side panels 20 are temporarily fixed by fixing members such as adhesive tapes. The heat insulating material 11 is foamed and filled from the injection hole 27 of the back plate 22. The filled heat insulating material 11 fills the space between the outer case 12 and the inner case 13, and is self-bonded to the outer case 12 and the inner case 13. In this case, the top panel 23, the pair of side panels 20, and the pair of connecting members 60 are bonded by the heat insulating material 11.

As described above, since the heat insulating material 11 is a rigid polyurethane foam, the top panel 23, the pair of side panels 20, and the pair of connecting members 60 can be bonded to each other by the heat insulating material 11 having high strength, and the top panel 23 and the pair of side panels 20 can be fixed.

Therefore, when assembling the refrigerator 1, fixing members such as screw members can be omitted, fixing of the top panel 23 and the pair of side panels 20 can be facilitated, and the design of the appearance of the refrigerator 1 can be improved.

As shown in fig. 9, the flange portion 81 and the upper edge 80 inserted in the top surface groove 69, the top surface groove 64, and the side surface groove 65, respectively, are surrounded by the top surface groove 69, the top surface groove 64, and the side surface groove 65.

Accordingly, the heat insulating material 11 filled in the heat insulating box 10 is stored in the top surface groove 69, the top surface groove 64, and the side surface groove 65, and can be prevented from leaking from the connection portion between the pair of side panels 20 and the top panel 23.

Further, as described above, the rib 66 extending toward the top plate 23 is integrally provided in the connecting portion 61 at a position closer to the inner box 13 than the top surface groove 64 in the longitudinal direction of the connecting portion 61. When the top panel 23 and the pair of side panels 20 are coupled by the coupling member 60, the rib 66 abuts against the top panel 23. The rib 66 divides the space between the outer case 12 and the inner case 13 and the inner side of the top surface groove 64.

This can prevent the filled heat insulating material 11 from flowing out to the top surface groove 64 side. Accordingly, the heat insulating material 11 filled in the heat insulating box 10 can be prevented from leaking out from the joint portion between the pair of side panels 20 and the top panel 23.

As shown in fig. 4, each side surface of the machine room 40 located in the lateral direction of the heat-insulating box 10 is formed of each side wall 76. The side walls 76 are disposed at predetermined intervals from the side panels 20.

To describe in detail, a space surrounded by each side plate 20, the upper surface portion 75, and the side wall flange 78 is formed on each side of the machine chamber 40. The space is a space continuous with a space provided between the inner case 13 and the outer case 12. Accordingly, the space surrounded by each side panel 20, the upper surface portion 75, and the side wall flange 78 is filled with the heat insulating material 11.

This suppresses the heat generated by the refrigerator such as the compressor 41 stored in the machine room 40 from being transferred into the storage room 15. Further, by filling the heat insulating material 11 on both side surfaces of the machine room 40, even when the machine room 40 is provided on the upper portion of the refrigerator 1, the strength of the refrigerator 1 around the machine room 40 can be maintained or improved.

In the present embodiment, in the refrigerator 1, the top panel 23 and the pair of side panels 20 are separated, and the top panel 23 and the pair of side panels 20 are connected to each other by the connecting member 60. Therefore, for example, when the top panel 23 is changed in length dimension in the lateral direction of the heat insulating box 10 while maintaining the length dimension in the front-rear direction of the top panel 23, the same pair of side panels 20 can be used.

Therefore, when assembling the refrigerator 1, the same pair of side panels 20 can be used to change the volume of the refrigerator 1 by connecting the top panel 23 and the pair of side panels 20 by the connecting member 60.

[1-3. Effect etc. ]

As described above, in the present embodiment, the refrigerator 1 includes: a heat insulation box 10 having an opening 14 formed in a front surface thereof; a pair of side panels 20 located on each side of the opening 14 and forming each side of the heat insulation box 10; a top panel 23 forming a top surface of the heat insulation box 10; and a connecting member 60 connecting the pair of side panels 20 and the top panel 23.

By connecting the top panel 23 and the pair of side panels 20 with the connecting member 60, the heat insulating material 11 filled in the heat insulating box 10 can be prevented from leaking out of the gap between the pair of side panels 20 and the top panel 23.

Further, even when the top panel 23 is changed in the length dimension in the lateral direction of the heat insulating box 10 while maintaining the length dimension in the front-rear direction of the top panel 23, the outer box 12 can be assembled using the same pair of side panels 20. Therefore, by changing the length dimension of the heat insulating box 10 in the lateral direction of the top panel 23, the volume of the refrigerator 1 can be changed using the same pair of side panels 20.

As in the present embodiment, each of the pair of side panels 20 may have a length from the front surface to the rear surface of the heat insulation box 10, and the connecting member 60 may connect each of the side panels 20 and the top panel 23 of the pair of side panels 20 over the entire length of the pair of side panels 20.

Accordingly, the top panel 23 and the pair of side panels 20 can be integrally connected to each other in the front-rear direction of the heat insulation box 10 by the connecting member 60.

As in the present embodiment, the door 16 is provided with the door 16 closing the opening 14, and the support portion 62 is provided at the end of the coupling member 60 on the side of the opening 14 to rotatably support the door 16. Thus, in the refrigerator 1, the top panel 23 and the pair of side panels 20 can be coupled by the coupling member 60, and the door 16 can be rotatably supported by the door 16.

As in the present embodiment, the machine chamber 40 is provided as a space formed by recessing the back surface side of the top surface of the heat insulating box 10, and a side wall 76 forming a side surface of the machine chamber 40 is provided on the rear end side of the coupling member 60.

Thus, the coupling member 60 forms the side surface of the machine room 40, and the strength of the refrigerator 1 and the heat insulation box 10 can be improved.

As in the present embodiment, the side walls 76 are disposed at a predetermined distance from the pair of side panels 20, and a heat insulating material (heat insulator) 11 is provided between the side walls 76 and the side panels 20.

By this, by filling the heat insulating material 11 on both side surfaces of the machine room 40, even when the machine room 40 is provided on the upper portion of the refrigerator 1, the strength of the refrigerator 1 around the machine room 40 can be maintained or improved.

As in the present embodiment, the top panel 23 is provided with a stepped portion 31 recessed toward the bottom surface side of the heat insulation box 10, and the stepped portion 31 forms the bottom surface of the machine chamber 40.

Thereby, the machine room 40 can be formed above the refrigerator 1 by one top panel 23.

As in the present embodiment, the top panel 23 is provided with a holding hole 38, and the control unit case 50 housing the control board 51 is fitted into the holding hole 38.

Thus, even with the top panels 23 having different sizes, the same control board 51 can be mounted by making the sizes of the holding holes 38 the same.

As in the present embodiment, the heat insulation box includes a back plate 22 forming the back surface of the heat insulation box 10, and the back plate 22 is fixed to a pair of side plates 20 and a top plate 23 by fixing members.

(other embodiments)

As described above, as an example of the technology described in the present specification, an embodiment is described. However, the technique of the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to embodiments in which changes, combinations, substitutions, additions, omissions, and the like are performed.

Industrial applicability

As described above, the refrigerator according to the present invention can be suitably used as a refrigerator capable of suppressing leakage of a filled heat insulating material from two adjacent heat insulating walls.

Description of the reference numerals

1 refrigerator

10 heat insulation box

11 Heat insulation material (Heat insulation piece)

12 outer box

13 inner box

14 opening portion

15 storage room

16. 17, 18 door

20 side panel

21 bottom panel

22 back panel

23 top panel

31 step portion

40 machinery room

41 compressor

50 control part shell

51 control substrate

60 connecting parts

61 connection portion

62 support part

63 side wall portion

70 hinge parts (support)

76 side wall (flat plate portion).

Claims

1. A refrigerator, comprising:

a heat-insulating box body having an opening on a front surface thereof;

a pair of side panels located on each side of the opening to form each side of the heat insulation box;

a top panel forming a top surface of the insulated box; and

and a connecting member connecting the pair of side panels and the top panel.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein:

the pair of side panels each have a length dimension from a front surface to a back surface of the heat insulation box,

the coupling member couples each of the pair of side panels and the top panel throughout the entire length dimension of the pair of side panels.

3. A refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein:

comprising a door for closing the opening part,

a support portion for rotatably supporting the door is provided at an end portion of the connecting member on the opening side.

4. A refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein:

comprises a machine chamber which is a space formed by recessing a portion on the back side of the top surface of the heat insulation box,

a flat plate portion forming a side surface of the machine chamber is provided at a rear end side of the connecting member.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein:

the flat plate portion is disposed at a predetermined interval from the pair of side plates,

a thermal insulating material is disposed between the flat plate portion and the side panel.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 4 or 5, wherein: the top panel is formed with a stepped portion recessed toward the bottom surface side of the heat insulation box, and the stepped portion forms the bottom surface of the machine room.

7. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein:

the top panel is provided with a through hole,

a housing for housing the control device is provided in the through hole.

8. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein:

comprising a back panel forming the back of the insulated box,

the back panel is fixed to the pair of side panels and the top panel by a fixing member.