EP2762809B1 - Refrigerator - Google Patents
Refrigerator Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2762809B1 EP2762809B1 EP12837515.1A EP12837515A EP2762809B1 EP 2762809 B1 EP2762809 B1 EP 2762809B1 EP 12837515 A EP12837515 A EP 12837515A EP 2762809 B1 EP2762809 B1 EP 2762809B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- condenser
- refrigerator
- tube
- refrigerant tube
- refrigerant
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Not-in-force
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Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D23/00—General constructional features
- F25D23/006—General constructional features for mounting refrigerating machinery components
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
- F28D1/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators
- F28D1/02—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid
- F28D1/04—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits
- F28D1/047—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits the conduits being bent, e.g. in a serpentine or zig-zag
- F28D1/0477—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits the conduits being bent, e.g. in a serpentine or zig-zag the conduits being bent in a serpentine or zig-zag
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B2500/00—Problems to be solved
- F25B2500/13—Vibrations
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
- F28D21/00—Heat-exchange apparatus not covered by any of the groups F28D1/00 - F28D20/00
- F28D2021/0019—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for
- F28D2021/0068—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for for refrigerant cycles
- F28D2021/007—Condensers
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F28F1/00—Tubular elements; Assemblies of tubular elements
- F28F1/10—Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses
- F28F1/12—Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses the means being only outside the tubular element
- F28F1/34—Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses the means being only outside the tubular element and extending obliquely
- F28F1/36—Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses the means being only outside the tubular element and extending obliquely the means being helically wound fins or wire spirals
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F28F2265/00—Safety or protection arrangements; Arrangements for preventing malfunction
- F28F2265/30—Safety or protection arrangements; Arrangements for preventing malfunction for preventing vibrations
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a refrigerator equipped with a fixing member capable of suppressing noise and vibration of a condenser easily with a low cost in the refrigerator of which the condenser and a compressor are air-cooled by an air blower.
- the present invention also relates to a refrigerator equipped with a condenser that can be accommodated in a small space, and capable of dissipating heat efficiently in the refrigerator of which the condenser and a compressor are air-cooled by an air blower.
- condensers that have been used are the spiral finned-tube type in which a metal strip fin is spirally wound around a refrigerant tube. This is because they are relatively easy to form any shape freely, besides being less prone to dust accumulation, so that they are used to obtain high heat dissipating capability when mounted within small machinery compartments and the like of household refrigerators (refer to Patent Literature 2, for instance).
- a finned condenser is known that comprises finned pipes formed by fixing radiation fins to the outer circumference of a pipe, bent in a plurality of stages and rows.
- Upper and lower securing members are provided for securing the upper and lower sections of the finned condenser, respectively.
- the upper securing member comprises a part for holding the finned pipe on the upper surface of the finned condenser, a fixing part is located above the holding part and is fixed to the machine room, and a resilient coupling part is provided for coupling the fins vertically.
- Fig. 9 is a rear view of a lower machinery compartment of a conventional refrigerator
- Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing a structure of a condenser and surrounding area of the conventional refrigerator.
- machinery compartment 100 is formed in a lower rear section of a main body of the refrigerator.
- Compressor 101, condenser 102, cooling fan 103, and the like components are provided in machinery compartment 100.
- Condenser 102 constitutes a part of refrigeration cycle, and is made of three stacked layers of plate-like elements, each of which includes wires 102b used as cooling fins welded to both sides of refrigerant tube 102a fabricated into serpentine form.
- Condenser 102 is mounted to the refrigerator's main body via fixing plate 104 on the rear side of machinery compartment 100.
- Fixing plate 104 is a molded synthetic resin formed by injection molding, and plate-like body has a size analogous with a plane of condenser 102.
- Fixing plate 104 has hanging aperture 104a formed in an upper center area of the plate surface for temporary fixation to a rear plate (not shown) of an outer cabinet.
- Fixing plate 104 is also provided with a plurality of retaining ribs 104b of a protruded shape across an upper end to a lower end on both right and left sides thereof for retaining curved portions 102d on both sides of serpentine-formed three layers of refrigerant tube 102a in a manner to maintain given spaces between the layers.
- fixing plate 104 is provided with fixing pieces 104c at upper right and left sides thereof for fixing condenser 102 to the main body together with fixing plate 104.
- Each of fixing pieces 104c includes through hole 104d for a screw to secure fixing plate 104 itself to the rear plate (not shown) of the outer cabinet, and integrally-formed fastening lug 104e for fastening metal hooks 106 used to hang and fix refrigerant tube 102a.
- Each of metal hooks 106 includes retaining section 106a for refrigerant tube 102a, and base section 106b provided with a through hole that engages with fastening lug 104e of fixing piece 104c.
- fixing plate 104 is provided with tube support 104f having a shape extending from one side of fixing plate 104 into a position corresponding to inlet tube 102c of condenser 102.
- retaining sections 106a of metal hooks 106 are engaged with refrigerant tube 102a, metal hooks 106 are attached by sliding base sections 106b into engagement with fixing pieces 104c of fixing plate 104, and metal hooks 106 are fixed together with fixing pieces 104c to the rear plate (not shown) of the outer cabinet by fastening screws into through holes 104d. Condenser 102 is thus fixed to the main body.
- inlet tube 102c of condenser 102 is retained with pressure while being positioned by fitting into metal support 107, which is then fastened together with a screw to angle reinforcing plate 108 located at insulating material side behind the rear plate (not shown) of the outer cabinet through tube support 104f.
- Condenser 102 is robustly fixed to the main body together with fixing plate 104 by virtue of this structure that fixes the inlet side of condenser 102 and the lower side of fixing plate104 on the other side to the rear plate (not shown) of the outer cabinet.
- inlet tube 102c leading to the condenser is fastened with metal support 107 to angle reinforcing plate 108 on the main body side via fixing plate 104, and hence inlet tube 102c liable to the influence of vibration of compressor 101 can be fixed rigidly. Since vibration from compressor 101 is absorbed in a portion around inlet tube 102c and not transmitted to refrigerant tube 102a on the downstream side of the refrigeration cycle, the vibration of condenser 102 can be reduced considerably with aid of fixing plate 104 securing various parts of refrigerant tube 102a, and thereby suppressing noise to develop. This can also suppress vibration of refrigerant tube 102a.
- fixing plate 104 i.e., a large resin component, having a projected area generally equivalent to condenser 102
- fixing plate 104 needs to be fixed so rigidly as to be integrated with condenser 102.
- It also requires a large number of small parts such as metal hooks 106 and screws for mounting, since various parts of condenser 102 need to be fixed.
- This causes an increase in cost of materials, a number of man-hours for assembling the unit and then mounting the unit to the main body of refrigerator, which gives rise to a problem, as a result, that the product becomes not so affordable for many users.
- increases in size and number of the component parts demand an additional installation space to some extent.
- vibration of the refrigerant tube tends to propagate directly to the refrigerator's main body because of the structure aimed to suppress the vibration of refrigerant tube 102a and inlet tube 102c by fixing them to the refrigerator's main body.
- the present invention addresses the above problems of the conventional art, and it is an object to improve quality and to provide a less expensive, space saving and highly usable refrigerator by adopting noble fixing methods that can minimize a number of component parts as well as a number of assembling and mounting man-hours, in addition to having a vibration and noise isolation function.
- Fig. 11 is a vertically sectioned view of a lower machinery compartment of a conventional refrigerator
- Fig. 12 is a horizontally sectioned view of the lower machinery compartment of the conventional refrigerator.
- insulation wall 111 of a storage compartment (not shown) is formed on an upper face of lower machinery compartment 110 of the refrigerator, and base plate 112 is formed on a lower face.
- Condenser 113 and air blower 114 for cooling condenser 113 are disposed inside lower machinery compartment 110.
- a cabinet of the refrigerator including lower machinery compartment 110 is supported by legs 115.
- condenser 113 is made from a spiral finned-tube in which strip fin 117 is wound around refrigerant tube 116, and that refrigerant tube 116 is bent into a serpentine form on a same single plane.
- refrigerant tube 116 is bent to form smallest possible curves of bending radius R in order to minimize spacing between adjoining tubes, when refrigerant tube 116 of condenser 113 made of the spiral finned-tube is bent into a serpentine form on one single plane.
- strip fin 117 is wound around refrigerant tube 116 while changing a distance between adjoining fins (hereafter referred to as "fin pitch") in a manner so that the distance become smaller toward the downwind side.
- Air blower 114 is disposed at a rear-face side of lower machinery compartment 110, and it cools condenser 113 by drawing outside air from a plurality of intake openings 118 provided in base plate 112 and another intake opening 119 provided in front face of lower machinery compartment 110.
- the number of intake openings 118 provided in base plate 112 is changed in a manner that it becomes smaller toward the downwind side.
- evaporating tray 120 for storing defrosted water from a storage compartment (not shown) and immersion tube 121 for heating the water stored in evaporating tray 120 are disposed at the windward side of air blower 114 in lower machinery compartment 110.
- Compressor 122 is disposed at the downwind side of air blower 114 in lower machinery compartment 110, and discharge opening 123 is formed in the downwind side of compressor 122.
- Lower machinery compartment 110 is separated by partition wall 124.
- the air that has passed while cooling condenser 113 is collected in an upper part of evaporating tray 120 by partition wall 124, cools compressor 122 as it passes through air blower 114, and is discharged from discharge opening 123 to the outside.
- an area around evaporating tray 120 is dried by the air warmed as the heat is exchanged with condenser 113, and promotes evaporation of the water collected in evaporating tray 120.
- the conventional refrigerator constructed as above operates in a manner which is described hereinafter.
- Condenser 113 is configured to have larger fin pitches at the windward side, and a larger number of intake openings 118 are formed also at the windward side. With this structure, a flow-path resistance at the windward side of condenser 113 becomes smaller whereas a flow-path resistance at the downwind side becomes relatively larger. It can inhibit the air discharged through discharge opening 123 from shortcutting into intake openings 118 of the downwind side. As a result, the heat exchanging capability can be used effectively, especially of the windward side of condenser 113 far from air blower 114.
- compressor 122 can be cooled at the same time by using the air that passes and cools condenser 113.
- the flat-shaped lower machinery compartment 110 exclusively for condenser 113 is located between insulation wall 111 and base plate 112 under the refrigerator, it reduces a frontage size of the storage compartment, thereby giving rise to a drawback of impairing usability for the users.
- the present invention addresses the problems of the conventional art, and it is an object to provide a refrigerator equipped with a condenser of high heat dissipating capability without providing an exclusive machinery compartment, and capable of ensuring the heat dissipating capability for an extended period of time.
- a refrigerator of the present invention has a machinery compartment in a rear-face side thereof, and the machinery compartment includes a spiral finned-tube condenser, an air blower serving as a primary driving source of a ventilation circuit, and a compressor for circulating a refrigerant in a refrigeration system to cool the refrigerator.
- the condenser is so configured that a refrigerant tube is spirally wound into an elliptic shape, a center of the spiral winding is serpentine-formed along a direction perpendicular to a principal axis of the air blower, and portions of the refrigerant tube at an inlet port and an outlet port of the refrigerant are linked with a connecting member made of rubber.
- the connecting member plays a role of rubber vibration isolator to absorb vibration of the condenser, it can suppress the vibration of the condenser.
- the connecting member helps reduce a number of component parts since it also plays a role of securing relative positions of the inlet port and the outlet port, and makes additional positioning part unnecessary.
- the connecting member can reduce a number of assembling man-hours since other ancillary parts such as screws need not be used to mount the rubber, and a number of mounting man-hours is also reducible because installation to the refrigerator's main body can be made independently of the connecting member.
- Another refrigerator of the present invention has a machinery compartment in a rear-face side thereof, and the machinery compartment includes a spiral finned-tube condenser, an air blower serving as a primary driving source of a ventilation circuit, and a compressor for circulating a refrigerant in a refrigeration system to cool the refrigerator.
- the condenser is so configured that a refrigerant tube is wound into a spiral shape, and the center of the spiral shape is serpentine-formed along a direction perpendicular to a principal axis of the air blower.
- an angle formed between a spiral plane of the spiral shape and a bottom surface of the machinery compartment is set larger at a windward side than that at a downwind side.
- this structure allows downsizing of the condenser in both depth direction and width direction, it becomes possible to dispose the condenser in the same machinery compartment with the compressor.
- the reduction of the size in the width direction can also decrease a flow-path resistance since it reduces a distance for the air to pass through the condenser.
- this structure can reduce a density of the refrigerant tube in the upwind side of the condenser in addition to providing an intake opening of an equal height to a height of the machinery compartment, which can reduce clogging attributed to accumulation of dust, and ensure performance of the condenser for an extended period of time.
- Fig. 1 is a rear perspective view of a refrigerator according to the first exemplary embodiment of this invention
- Fig. 2 is a plan view of a connecting member of the refrigerator according to the first exemplary embodiment of the invention.
- refrigerator 1 has cabinet 2, upper machinery compartment 3 provided in an upper section of cabinet 2, condenser 4, air blower 5 and compressor 6. Condenser 4, air blower 5 and compressor 6 are disposed in this order from the windward side within upper machinery compartment 3, and that condenser 4 and compressor 6 are air-cooled with air 7 in an upper area of refrigerator 1 suctioned by operating air blower 5. Air blower 5 is mounted to fixing member 8, and fixing member 8 divides an airflow path in upper machinery compartment 3 into a windward side space and a downwind side space of air blower 5.
- condenser 4 is made from a spiral finned-tube having strip fin 4b wound around refrigerant tube 4a, and it is formed by spirally winding refrigerant tube 4a into an elliptic shape.
- a height of condenser 4 can be set equivalent to that of compressor 6 by making the center of the spiral into a serpentine-form with respect to a shaft of air blower 5. In this way, it becomes possible to install condenser 4 in parallel with compressor 6 within upper machinery compartment 3 prepared for compressor 6, without providing an additional machinery compartment exclusively for condenser 4.
- Condenser 4 is also provided with inlet port 4c located in the uppermost stream of refrigerant tube 4a and outlet port 4d located in the downstream of refrigerant tube 4a.
- Inlet port 4c and outlet port 4d are linked together by connecting member 9 made of rubber.
- a distance between inlet port 4c and outlet port 4d is designed to become 7 to 15 times the diameter of refrigerant tube 4a by adjusting a bending dimension of refrigerant tube 4a.
- Condenser 4 is secured to screw mounting boss 12 provided on an inner wall of the machinery compartment by using a screw and metal clamper 10 attached to a portion of refrigerant tube 4a between connecting member 9 and fin 4b, and fixed in a state of being suspended.
- Clamper 10 is secured to refrigerant tube 4a through rubber cushion 11 wrapped around refrigerant tube 4a in a manner to tighten rubber cushion 11 with a screw.
- Clamper 10 may be formed of a resin.
- clamper 10 may be provided with flexibility in itself, or a vibration-proofing structure may be added between clamper 10 and an inner wall of the machinery compartment since refrigerant tube 4a is not liable to get damaged by clamper 10. Since this makes rubber cushion 11 unnecessary, it can further reduce a number of component parts and make it a simple design.
- the means to fix clamper 10 to the inner wall of upper machinery compartment 3 is not limited to the screw.
- the structure may be altered so that clamper 10 can be fixed by single step, such as providing a hole to insert boss 12 on the inner wall of upper machinery compartment 3, or a tab to be inserted in a slit formed in the inner wall of upper machinery compartment 3. Any such structure can reduce assembling variations and prevent condenser 4 from hitting against surrounding objects since a rotatable element like the screw is eliminated, in addition to the advantage of reducing man-hours for mounting.
- Connecting member 9 comprises two tube holders 9a for holding refrigerant tube 4a, and connecting section 9b having two tube holders 9a at both ends, as shown in Fig. 2 .
- Each of tube holders 9a has hole 9c for holding refrigerant tube 4a, and slit 9d for slide-fitting refrigerant tube 4a into hole 9c.
- slit 9d is so formed that an angle ⁇ formed between slit 9d and a longitudinal direction of connecting section 9b becomes an acute angle (i.e., ⁇ ⁇ 90°, and preferably ⁇ 80°).
- hole 9c is designed to have an inner diameter smaller than an outer diameter of refrigerant tube 4a so that refrigerant tube 4a is held fitted with pressure.
- corner edges 9e of slit 9d are rounded or chamfered.
- a material used for connecting member 9 is any of ethylene propylene rubber, silicone rubber, chlorination butyl rubber and the like having an excellent thermal resistance and hardness of 40 to 90 degrees, and more preferably between 50 to 70 degrees.
- the refrigerator constructed as above according to the first embodiment of this invention operates in a manner which is described hereinafter.
- compressor 6 When compressor 6 is operated, the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle is compressed, and it is introduced into condenser 4 from inlet port 4c by passing through refrigerant discharge tube 13 connected with a discharge port of compressor 6. After the heat is dissipated in condenser 4, the refrigerant flows out from outlet port 4d and into internal refrigerant tube 14 disposed at inside of an outer wall of the refrigerator. At this time, refrigerant discharge tube 13 and condenser 4 vibrate due to operational vibration of compressor 6 and pulsation in pressure of the discharged refrigerant, and they become a cause of generating noises due to these components coming into contact with surrounding parts, causing fatigue in bent sections and welded sections of the tubing, or impairing the quality.
- Fig. 3 shows amplitudes of vibration of outlet port 4d with and without connecting member 9 attached. It becomes possible to suppress the maximum amplitude of condenser 4 and keep the amplitude smaller for all the usable frequencies by mounting connecting member 9, as shown in Fig. 3 . Since the distance between inlet port 4c and outlet port 4d is as large as 7 to 15 times the diameter of refrigerant tube 4a, it inevitably increases the size as well as the weight of connecting member 9. It can hence provide an effect equivalent to what is given when a large rubber cushion is used.
- refrigerant tube 4a has 5mm in diameter, and a distance of 50mm between inlet port 4c and outlet port 4d, for instance.
- a rubber cushion of 15mm in width by 8mm in thickness is needed for each of inlet port 4c and outlet port 4d to obtain, for example, a weight equivalent to connecting member 9 of 10mm in width by 5mm in thickness. It is therefore safe to state that the connecting member in this embodiment can achieve a high quality product of which vibration is suppressed with a low cost with an advantage of space saving.
- condenser 4 has an effect of attenuating the vibration since it is formed of refrigerant tube 4a, spirally wound into the elliptic shape to have a spring-like property. Because the amplitude of vibration of outlet port 4d is inherently small, it is appropriate to state that the vibration of inlet port 4c can be absorbed more effectively by linking outlet port 4d with inlet port 4c. Clamper 10 is attached via rubber cushion 11 to the portion of inlet port 4c where the vibration is suppressed by connecting member 9, as described above. This means that condenser 4 is provided with a double vibration-proof structure before it is secured to the inner wall of upper machinery compartment 3.
- Connecting member 9 has a high Young's modulus of elasticity because it uses a comparatively hard material of 40 to 90 degrees in hardness, and more preferably between 50 to 70 degrees. It thus ensures a high holding strength of tube holder 9a. Large shocks and impacts attributed to loading, unloading and transportation by a ship and/or a track will be applied to condenser 4 during delivery to a refrigerator factory and to the refrigerator before reaching a user. For this reason, it is imperative for connecting member 9 not to disengage from condenser 4 when it is subjected to a force at least equal to a weight of condenser 4.
- a holding strength can be increased by changing a dimension of thickness or width of the tube holder, it results in an increase in size in order to increase the holding strength. Therefore, a space-saving structure can be achieved when the necessary holding strength is obtained by means of hardness. Since the hardness of rubber is dependent upon formulation of additives, the cost of materials does not rise by increasing the hardness. Although there has been apprehension about degradation in vibration damping property due to the increase of hardness, it has later been confirmed that there is very little influence upon the effect of reducing vibration by the hardness up to 90 degrees, according to the experiment by the inventors (refer to Fig. 3 ).
- slits 9d are provided in such a shape that an angle ⁇ formed between each of slits 9d and a longitudinal direction of connecting section 9b becomes an acute angle (i.e., ⁇ 90°, and preferably ⁇ 80°). It is for this shape which can prevent the holding strength of refrigerant tube 4a from becoming weaker and connecting member 9 from coming out of condenser 4, even if tube holders 9a are forced to turn and slits 9d shifted outward while a tensile stress is exerted on connecting member 9. On the other hand, there is not any concern about such disengagement while a compressive stress is exerted on connecting member 9 since tube holders 9a are turned into a direction of gripping refrigerant tube 4a.
- refrigerant tube 4a is kept in a press-fitted condition, since an inner diameter of holes 9c is designed to be smaller than an outer diameter of refrigerant tube 4a. Therefore, the holding strength can be increased since the compressive stress of tube holders 9a is added to the holding strength, and a frictional force against refrigerant tube 4a also increases at the same time. Because this helps suppress turning of tube holders 9a, it can further reduce the risk of disengagement when a tensile stress is exerted on connecting member 9.
- Condenser 4 has a spring-like property in itself due to its shape and a large dimensional variation especially in a right-to-left direction, so that it effects a force in a direction of widening between inlet port 4c and outlet port 4d (i.e., an expanding direction of refrigerant tube 4a) even after the process of forming.
- Connecting member 9 suppresses it, and prevents the refrigerant tube from coming into contact with the surrounding parts (e.g., a sidewall of the machinery compartment, in this embodiment).
- An elongation of connecting member 9 in the longitudinal direction can be divided broadly into two parts, i.e., an elongation of tube holders 9a due to turning, expanding and simple stretching, and an elongation of connecting section 9b due to simple stretching. As stated above, it is very effective to increase the holding strength of the tube in order to control accurately the dimension between inlet port 4c and outlet port 4d, since the latter is about 1/10 of the former in rough estimation though it depends on the shape of the connecting member.
- connecting section 9b it is also possible to shift connecting section 9b toward an upper side of connecting member 9 along a direction tangential to tube holders 9a, instead of providing it along a straight line connecting the centers of tube holders 9a as is shown in this embodiment. Since this configuration shortens outer portions of tube holders 9a subject to turning when a tensile stress is exerted on connecting member 9, it can reduce a turning angle of tube holders 9a, and even further reduce an extent of decrease in the holding strength attributed to the tensile stress.
- corner edges 9e of slits 9d are rounded or chamfered. Since they help ease insertion of refrigerant tube 4a, they can reduce a number of assembling man-hours, and hence the cost of the product. On the other hand, corner edges inside of holes 9c, when not rounded, have practically no effect on the risk of connecting member 9 to come off.
- condenser 4 in this embodiment is so configured that refrigerant tube 4a is spirally wound into an elliptic shape, and the center of the spiral winding is serpentine-formed along the direction perpendicular to the principal axis of air blower 5. Since inlet portion 4c and outlet portion 4d of the refrigerant tube are linked with connecting member 9 made of a rubber, connecting member 9 can play a role of rubber vibration isolator to absorb vibration of condenser 4, and suppress the vibration of condenser 4. In addition, connecting member 9 helps reduce a number of component parts since it also plays a role of setting relative positions of inlet port 4c and outlet port 4d, and makes additional positioning part unnecessary.
- connecting member 9 can reduce a number of assembling man-hours since it secures the necessary holding strength without using other ancillary parts such as screws for mounting, and also additional man-hours for mounting because installation to the refrigerator's main body can be made independently of the connecting member.
- clamper 10 provided to secure refrigerant tube 4a at the upstream of fin 4b through rubber cushion 11 and fix refrigerant tube 4a to the inner wall of the machinery compartment in a state of being suspended.
- the holding portion of connecting member 9 holding inlet port 4c is disposed at the upstream side of clamper 10. This helps suppress transmission of vibration to the refrigerator's main body since the vibration of inlet port 4c of which amplitude is largest in condenser 4 is absorbed by connecting member 9 at the upstream side of the point where condenser 4 is secured to the refrigerator's main body.
- Connecting member 9 can exhibit a higher effect of vibration absorption than any of conventional rubber cushions configured to be attached to only one place of the tube, since connecting member 9 is also linked to outlet port 4d of which vibration amplitude is smallest so that it exerts a suppressive force.
- connecting member 9 made of a rubber of 40 to 90 degrees in hardness can provide a high holding strength, it eliminates any concern about disengagement from refrigerant tube 4a even under large shocks and impacts during transportation of condenser 4 and refrigerator 1. It therefore makes other parts unnecessary to fix connecting member 9 to refrigerant tube 4a, and reduces a number of component parts as well as man-hours for assembling.
- the rubber of 40 to 90 degrees in the hardness has adequate viscoelasticity necessary to absorb vibration such that it does not interfere with the effect of suppressing vibration during operation of the refrigerator.
- connecting member 9 Since connecting member 9 has a length 7 to 15 times the diameter of refrigerant tube 4a, it can secure a sufficient weight to absorb the vibration without reducing the thickness or increasing the width of connecting member 9. It can hence make full use of the effect of downsizing the component.
- Tube holders 9a of connecting member 9 are provided with slits 9d for use to attach to refrigerant tube 4a, and slits 9d point toward the inner side of condenser 4.
- holes 9c in tube holders 9a are formed to have an inner diameter smaller than an outer diameter of refrigerant tube 4a. This configuration can ensure the necessary holding strength even when slits 9d are forced to turn toward the outer side of condenser 4a due to a tensile stress exerted on connecting member 9.
- Holes 9c formed to have the inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of refrigerant tube 4a keep refrigerant tube 4a fitted with pressure, and thereby improving the holding strength.
- Fig. 4 is an exploded rear perspective view of a refrigerator according to the second exemplary embodiment of this invention.
- refrigerator 21 comprises cabinet 22 of refrigerator 21, lower machinery compartment 23 provided in a lower section of cabinet 22.
- Lower machinery compartment 23 includes condenser 4, air blower 5 and compressor 6 disposed in this order from the windward side, and that condenser 4 and compressor 6 are air-cooled with air 7 in an upper area of the refrigerator suctioned by operating air blower 5.
- Air blower 5 is mounted to fixing member 8, and fixing member 8 divides an airflow path inside lower machinery compartment 23 into windward side space 23a and downwind side space 23b of air blower 5.
- Base plate 30 that constitutes a bottom surface of lower machinery compartment 23 is robustly joined at both right and left sides to cabinet 22 with screws or the like means. There is space 31 provided between one side facing the front of the refrigerator and cabinet 22, except that a part of space 31 in the downwind side is closed with air-sealing material 32 such as a tape to block air from passing therethrough.
- Machinery compartment cover 33 that closes lower machinery compartment 23 has intake openings 33a and discharge openings 33b to introduce air 7 into lower machinery compartment 23.
- Intake openings 33a and discharge openings 33b may also be provided in an upper rear side of a cabinet casing (not shown) that forms a side-face section of an upper machinery compartment (not shown) rather than only in machinery compartment cover 33.
- condenser 4 is made from a spiral finned-tube having strip fin 4b wound around refrigerant tube 4a, and it is formed by spirally winding refrigerant tube 4a into an elliptic shape.
- a height of condenser 4 can be set equivalent to compressor 6 by making the center of the spiral into a serpentine-form with respect to a shaft of air blower 5. In this way, it becomes possible to install condenser 4 in parallel with compressor 6 within lower machinery compartment 23 prepared for compressor 6, without providing an additional machinery compartment exclusively for condenser 4.
- condenser 4 An inlet portion and an outlet portion of condenser 4 are linked together by connecting member 9.
- condenser 4 is secured to screw mounting boss (not shown) provided on an inner wall of the machinery compartment by using a screw and metal clamper 10 attached to a portion of refrigerant tube 4a from connecting member 9 to fin 4b, and fixed in a state of being suspended.
- Clamper 10 is secured to refrigerant tube 4a through rubber cushion 11 wrapped around refrigerant tube 4a in a manner to tighten rubber cushion 11 with a screw.
- the refrigerator constructed as above according to the second embodiment of this invention operates in a manner which is described hereinafter.
- the present exemplary embodiment has a structure that facilitates suctioning fresh air to suppress temperature rise in the machinery compartment, thereby providing a highly reliable product.
- the present embodiment has lower machinery compartment 23 located in the rear side of the refrigerator, and lower machinery compartment 23 includes condenser 4 of spiral finned-tube type suspended from a sidewall of the machinery compartment.
- This structure is configured to introduce air 7 from intake openings 33a formed in base plate 30 that constitutes the bottom surface of the machinery compartment and machinery compartment cover 33, and to discharge air 7 from discharge openings 33b formed in machinery compartment cover 33. It is by virtue of this structure to guide the flow of air 7 smoothly around condenser 4, and prevent air 7 from shortcutting, thereby improving the efficiency of heat dissipation of the condenser and increasing the energy efficiency.
- Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a refrigerator according to a first example to better understand the present invention
- Fig. 6 is a detailed view of a condenser of the refrigerator
- Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line 7 - 7 of Fig. 6 .
- refrigerator 51 comprises cabinet 52, lower machinery compartment 53 provided in a lower section of cabinet 52, condenser 54, air blower 55, and compressor 56.
- Lower machinery compartment 53 includes condenser 54, air blower 55 and compressor 56 disposed in this order from the windward side.
- Condenser 54 and compressor 56 are air-cooled with air 57 in an upper area of the refrigerator suctioned by operating air blower 55.
- Air blower 55 is mounted to fixing member 58, and fixing member 58 divides an airflow path inside lower machinery compartment 53 into windward side space 53a and downwind side space 53b of air blower 55.
- Machinery compartment bottom surface 59 configured of a base plate of lower machinery compartment 53 may be formed integrally as a part of cabinet 52.
- Reference mark 60 denotes a machinery compartment cover that closes lower machinery compartment 53, and it has intake openings 61 and discharge openings 62 to introduce air 57 into lower machinery compartment 53.
- Intake openings 61 and discharge openings 62 may also be provided in any of a lower rear part of a side surface of cabinet 52 that forms a side-face section of lower machinery compartment 53, machinery compartment bottom surface 59, and an area between cabinet 52 and machinery compartment bottom surface 59, instead of only in machinery compartment cover 60.
- condenser 54 is made from a spiral finned-tube having strip fin 64 wound around refrigerant tube 63, and it is formed by spirally winding refrigerant tube 63 into an elliptic shape.
- a height of condenser 54 can be set equivalent to that of compressor 56 by making the center of the spiral into a serpentine-form with respect to a shaft of air blower 55. In this way, it becomes possible to dispose condenser 54 in parallel with compressor 56 within lower machinery compartment 53 prepared for compressor 56.
- Condenser 54 is designed to have such a structure that refrigerant tube 63 forms downwind-side spiral face 65a in the downwind side and windward-side spiral face 65b in the windward side, wherein downwind-side spiral angle ⁇ a designated as an angle formed between downwind-side spiral face 65a and machinery compartment bottom surface 59 and windward-side spiral angle ⁇ b designated as an angle formed between windward-side spiral face 65b and machinery compartment bottom surface 59 have a relation of ⁇ a ⁇ b.
- This structure can accommodate condenser 54 snugly in a limited space of the machinery compartment since the size of condenser 54 can be reduced in the width direction (i.e., axial direction of air blower 55).
- Reference mark 54a denotes an inlet port of condenser 54, and it is provided in the downwind side of condenser 54.
- Reference mark 66 denotes an upstream refrigerant tube communicating between compressor 56 and condenser 54 such that the refrigerant of high temperature and high pressure compressed by compressor 56 flows from the downwind side through upstream refrigerant tube 66 into condenser 54, and the heat dissipated.
- the refrigerator constructed as above according to the third embodiment of this invention operates in a manner which is described hereinafter.
- Air blower 55 is driven in ganged motion with operation of compressor 56. This operation of air blower 55 produces a negative pressure in windward side space 53a equipped with condenser 54 and separated by fixing member 58, and suctions the outside air, while it produces a positive pressure in downwind side space 53b equipped with compressor 56, and discharges the air inside lower machinery compartment 53 to the outside through discharge openings 62.
- intake openings 61 can introduce air 57 uniformly throughout a front face of the machinery compartment since these ports have a height equivalent to a height of the machinery compartment.
- Condenser 54 can be constructed to have a small dimension in a direction of its width (i.e., axial direction of air blower 55) by forming the spiral shape into a large angle in the downwind side. Since this structure decreases a distance for air 57 to pass through the condenser and decreases an air resistance, it can secure a large volume of airflow in lower machinery compartment 53, increase an amount of heat dissipation, and improve energy efficiency.
- all of introduced air 57 can be used to air-cool compressor 56, since compressor 56 is disposed in series with condenser 54 and air blower 55. It can thus improve reliability of compressor 56 while also increasing the heat dissipating capability of condenser 54 and decreasing the condensing temperature to achieve energy conservation at the same time.
- a small axial-flow fan is used as air blower 55, it exhibits such a characteristic that the air flows in a manner to gather and bundle toward the periphery of the fan shaft in windward side space 53a, and the air flows in a manner to spread out radially from the fan in downwind side space 53b.
- this structure can secure a large area of intake openings 61, it can reduce clogging attributed to accumulation of dust even after an extended period of use in user's home.
- downwind-side spiral angle ⁇ a and windward-side spiral angle ⁇ b are designed to satisfy the relation of ⁇ a ⁇ b.
- This structure helps increase a distance between adjoining refrigerant tubes 63 such that tubes of condenser 54 at the upwind side are sparse (i.e., airflow passage between fins 64 is large, and volume occupied by condenser 54 is small), and it can hence reduce clogging attributed to accumulation of dust.
- inlet port 54a of condenser 54 is disposed in the downwind side where accumulation of dust is not likely.
- the refrigerant of high temperature and high pressure compressed by operation of compressor 56 is introduced into condenser 54 from inlet port 54a after passing through upstream refrigerant tube 66 into condenser 54. Therefore, the efficiency of heat dissipation is considered to be high because the refrigerant that flows in the downwind side is higher than that in the windward side. Since the downwind side of high heat-dissipating efficiency is less prone to dust accumulation, it can reduce degradation of the performance for an extended period of use.
- condenser 54 is disposed at the windward side of air blower 55 and compressor 56, condenser 54 helps reduce accumulation of dust on air blower 55 and compressor 56.
- dust accumulates on air blower 55 and compressor 56, their operating temperatures rise considerably, thereby posing the possibility of degrading the long-term reliability since they are mechanical components equipped with movable parts.
- the condenser can be regarded as not suffering a substantial decrease in the reliability with a low risk of posing unsafe condition even with accumulation of dust because it is a structural component not having any movable part.
- condenser 54 is so configured that a refrigerant tube is spirally wound into an elliptic shape, and the center of the spiral winding is serpentine-formed along a direction perpendicular to the principal axis of the air blower, as described above.
- This configuration can make a height and a depth of condenser 54 to match with the size of the compressor, so that condenser 54 can be disposed in the same machinery compartment with the compressor.
- the angle formed between spirally wound spiral face 65 and machinery compartment bottom surface 59 is set larger at the windward side than at the downwind side to reduce the size in the width direction, so that condenser 54 can be accommodated snugly in the limited space.
- the above configuration decreases the distance for air 57 to pass through the condenser and reduces the air resistance, it can increase the volume of airflow and improve energy efficiency.
- This configuration also allows intake openings 61 to have a height equal to that of lower machinery compartment 53, and reduce a density of refrigerant tube 63 in the windward side of condenser 54, it can suppress clogging attributed to accumulation of dust, and hence ensure performance of the condenser for a long time.
- compressor 56 and condenser 54 are arranged in series by disposing air blower 55 to the downwind side of condenser 54, and compressor 56 to the downwind side of air blower 55, all of introduced air 57 can be used to air-cool compressor 56. It can hence achieve energy conservation by increasing the heat dissipating capability of condenser 54 and lowering the condensing temperature, while also improving the reliability of compressor 56 at the same time. Since it reduces accumulation of dust on air blower 55 and compressor 56, it can suppress temperature rises of air blower 55 and compressor 56, and improve their reliability.
- Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a refrigerator according to the fourth exemplary embodiment of this invention.
- refrigerator 71 comprises cabinet 72, and upper machinery compartment 73 provided in an upper section of cabinet 72.
- Upper machinery compartment 73 includes condenser 54, air blower 55 and compressor 56 disposed in this order from the windward side. Condenser 54 and compressor 56 are air-cooled with air 57 in an upper area of the refrigerator suctioned by operating air blower 55.
- Air blower 55 is mounted to fixing member 58, which divides an airflow path inside upper machinery compartment 73 into windward side space 73a and downwind side space 73b of air blower 55.
- Upper machinery compartment 73 is provided with machinery-compartment bottom surface 79 formed of an insulation wall that separates upper machinery compartment 73 from a refrigerator compartment (not shown).
- Upper machinery compartment 73 is covered with machinery compartment cover 80 having intake openings 81 and discharge openings 82 to introduce air 57 into upper machinery compartment 73.
- Intake openings 81 and discharge openings 82 may also be provided in an upper rear part of a side surface of cabinet 72 that forms a side-face section of upper machinery compartment 73, rather than only in machinery compartment cover 80. At least a part of discharge openings 82 is formed in a top surface of the refrigerator.
- the refrigerator constructed as above according to the fourth embodiment of this invention operates in a manner which is described hereinafter.
- Air blower 55 is driven in ganged motion with operation of compressor 56. This operation of air blower 55 produces a negative pressure in windward side space 73a equipped with condenser 54 and separated by fixing member 58, and suctions the outside air. It also produces a positive pressure in downwind side space 73b equipped with compressor 56, and the air inside upper machinery compartment 73 is discharged to the outside through discharge openings 82.
- refrigerator 71 has a second machinery compartment (not shown) equipped with a second air blower (not shown) in a lower section of cabinet 72
- air warmed in the second machinery compartment is blown up by the second air blower. Since the air is drawn into upper machinery compartment 73 from intake openings 81, it can increase a volume of the air that flows in upper machinery compartment 73 and hence an amount of the heat dissipation of condenser 54.
- the refrigerator according to this embodiment is provided with upper machinery compartment 73 in the upper rear section of the refrigerator, and upper machinery compartment 73 has intake openings 81 for introducing air into upper machinery compartment 73, and discharge openings 82 for discharging the air. At least a part of discharge openings 82 is formed in the top surface of the refrigerator, from where the air in upper machinery compartment 73 can be discharged smoothly, thereby increasing the heat dissipating efficiency of the condenser as well as the energy efficiency.
- the refrigerator of the present invention has a machinery compartment in a back-face side thereof, and the machinery compartment includes a spiral finned-tube condenser, an air blower serving as a primary driving source of a ventilation circuit, and a compressor for circulating a refrigerant through a refrigeration system to cool the refrigerator.
- the condenser is so configured that a refrigerant tube is spirally wound into an elliptic shape with the center of the spiral winding serpentine-formed along a direction perpendicular to the principal axis of the air blower. Furthermore, portions of the refrigerant tube at an inlet port and an outlet port of the refrigerant are linked with a connecting member made of rubber.
- the connecting member plays a role of rubber vibration isolator to absorb vibration of the condenser, it can suppress the vibration of the condenser.
- the connecting member helps reduce a number of component parts since it also plays a role of securing relative positions of the inlet port and the outlet port, and makes additional positioning part unnecessary.
- the connecting member can reduce a number of assembling man-hours since other ancillary parts such as screws need not be used to mount the connecting member, and a number of mounting man-hours is also reducible because installation to the refrigerator's main body can be made independently of the connecting member.
- the present invention also includes a clamper provided to secure the refrigerant tube at a position upstream of a heat dissipation fin in the flow of refrigerant, through a rubber cushion placed under the clamper, and fix the refrigerant tube to an inner wall of the machinery compartment in a state of being suspended.
- a holding portion of the connecting member at the inlet port side is disposed at the upstream side of the clamper.
- the connecting member can exhibit a higher effect of vibration absorption than any of conventional rubber cushions configured to be attached to only one place of the tube, since the connecting member is also linked to the outlet port of which vibration amplitude is smallest such that it exerts a suppressive force.
- the present invention is also characterized by having the connecting member of which rubber is 40 to 90 degrees in hardness.
- the rubber of the hardness between 40 to 90 degrees has adequate viscoelasticity necessary to absorb vibration such that it does not interfere with the effect of suppressing vibration during operation of the refrigerator.
- the connecting member is formed to have a length 7 to 10 times the diameter of the refrigerant tube.
- the present invention is characterized by having a slit in each of refrigerant tube holders of the connecting member for fitting the refrigerant tube, wherein the slits are formed to point toward the inner side of the condenser, and holes in the tube holders have an inner diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the refrigerant tube.
- the holes are formed to have the inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the refrigerant tube so that they can hold the refrigerant tube fitted in them with pressure, and thereby improving the holding strength in addition to further preventing the slits from widening outward.
- Another refrigerator of the present invention has a machinery compartment in a rear-face side thereof, and the machinery compartment includes a spiral finned-tube condenser, an air blower serving as a primary driving source of a ventilation circuit, and a compressor for circulating a refrigerant through a refrigeration system to cool the refrigerator.
- the condenser is so configured that a refrigerant tube is wound into a spiral shape, and the center of the spiral shape is serpentine-formed along a direction perpendicular to a principal axis of the air blower.
- an angle formed between a spiral plane of the spiral shape and a bottom surface of the machinery compartment is set larger at the windward side than the downwind side.
- this structure allows downsizing of the condenser in both depth direction and width direction, it becomes possible to dispose the condenser in the same machinery compartment with the compressor.
- the reduction of the size in the width direction can also decrease a flow-path resistance since it reduces a distance for the air to pass through the condenser.
- this structure can reduce a density of the refrigerant tube in the windward side of the condenser in addition to providing an intake opening of an equal height to a height of the machinery compartment, which can reduce clogging due to accumulation of dust, and ensure performance of the condenser for an extended period of time.
- the air blower is disposed at the downwind side of the condenser, and the compressor is disposed at further the downwind side of the air blower.
- this structure can increase the heat dissipating capability of the condenser, and reduce accumulation of dust on the air blower and the compressor, it can suppress temperature rises of the air blower and the compressor, and improve their reliability. In addition, it can also improve the heat dissipating efficiency since it increases a volume of the airflow for cooling the compressor and the condenser by the arrangement of disposing the compressor and the condenser in series.
- the present invention also discloses a refrigerator configured to flow refrigerant in the refrigerant tube of the condenser from the downwind side to the windward side along the airflow path of the air blower.
- This configuration can reduce accumulation of dust on the fins of the upstream side that carries the refrigerant of higher temperature, thereby suppressing decrease in the performance for an extended period of use.
- the present invention discloses a refrigerator provided with a machinery compartment in an upper rear section thereof, and the machinery compartment has an intake opening for introducing air into the machinery compartment, and a discharge opening for discharging the air, and that at least a part of the discharge opening is formed in a top surface of the refrigerator.
- This structure enables the refrigerator to discharge waste heat of the condenser more efficiently to the outside of the refrigerator, and increase the heat dissipating efficiency of the condenser as well as the energy efficiency.
- the refrigerator according to the present invention suppresses vibration of a condenser with components of low cost and space-saving features, it can provide the refrigerator of high quality, which is also applicable to any product having a refrigeration cycle employing a compressor, such as vending machine.
- the refrigerator of the present invention comprises a condenser of high heat dissipating capability without requiring a machinery compartment for exclusive use, and it can provide the refrigerator capable of securing the heat dissipating capability for an extended period, and therefore applicable to any product having a refrigeration cycle employing a compressor, such as vending machine.
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Description
- The present invention relates to a refrigerator equipped with a fixing member capable of suppressing noise and vibration of a condenser easily with a low cost in the refrigerator of which the condenser and a compressor are air-cooled by an air blower.
- The present invention also relates to a refrigerator equipped with a condenser that can be accommodated in a small space, and capable of dissipating heat efficiently in the refrigerator of which the condenser and a compressor are air-cooled by an air blower.
- In household refrigerators, there is a type having a combined use of condensers, one of which is air-cooled by an air blower in addition to another fixed to an inner side of a cabinet enclosure and cooled naturally through the cabinet enclosure in the light of energy saving. For household refrigerators, however, sizes of condenser main bodies and airflow paths are subject to limitations in view of space saving. It is therefore important to establish a fixing method to the refrigerator's main body and technique of suppressing noise and vibration attributable to physical contact with a cover, besides such techniques as improving circulation of air and increasing heat dissipating capability. Those conventionally used are such structures that suppress vibration and reduce the noise by fixing condensers firmly and without bringing them into contact with other components. One of the structures, for example, is to attach a condenser to a fixing plate made of resin mold, to make them into substantially an integrated unit, and fix a predetermined portion of it to a main body (refer to
Patent Literature 1, for instance). - There have also been concerns for household refrigerators that airflow paths may be clogged due to accumulation of house dust, besides the limitations on sizes of condenser main bodies and airflow paths from the viewpoint of space saving.
- Certain designs of condensers have therefore been disclosed in consideration of space saving and accumulation of dust.
- In particular, condensers that have been used are the spiral finned-tube type in which a metal strip fin is spirally wound around a refrigerant tube. This is because they are relatively easy to form any shape freely, besides being less prone to dust accumulation, so that they are used to obtain high heat dissipating capability when mounted within small machinery compartments and the like of household refrigerators (refer to
Patent Literature 2, for instance). FromJP 2001 153530 A -
Fig. 9 is a rear view of a lower machinery compartment of a conventional refrigerator, andFig. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing a structure of a condenser and surrounding area of the conventional refrigerator. - In
Fig. 9 andFig. 10 ,machinery compartment 100 is formed in a lower rear section of a main body of the refrigerator.Compressor 101,condenser 102,cooling fan 103, and the like components are provided inmachinery compartment 100. -
Condenser 102 constitutes a part of refrigeration cycle, and is made of three stacked layers of plate-like elements, each of which includeswires 102b used as cooling fins welded to both sides ofrefrigerant tube 102a fabricated into serpentine form.Condenser 102 is mounted to the refrigerator's main body viafixing plate 104 on the rear side ofmachinery compartment 100.Fixing plate 104 is a molded synthetic resin formed by injection molding, and plate-like body has a size analogous with a plane ofcondenser 102.Fixing plate 104 has hangingaperture 104a formed in an upper center area of the plate surface for temporary fixation to a rear plate (not shown) of an outer cabinet.Fixing plate 104 is also provided with a plurality of retainingribs 104b of a protruded shape across an upper end to a lower end on both right and left sides thereof for retainingcurved portions 102d on both sides of serpentine-formed three layers ofrefrigerant tube 102a in a manner to maintain given spaces between the layers. In addition,fixing plate 104 is provided withfixing pieces 104c at upper right and left sides thereof for fixingcondenser 102 to the main body together withfixing plate 104. - Each of
fixing pieces 104c includes throughhole 104d for a screw to securefixing plate 104 itself to the rear plate (not shown) of the outer cabinet, and integrally-formedfastening lug 104e for fasteningmetal hooks 106 used to hang and fixrefrigerant tube 102a. Each ofmetal hooks 106 includesretaining section 106a forrefrigerant tube 102a, andbase section 106b provided with a through hole that engages with fasteninglug 104e offixing piece 104c. In addition,fixing plate 104 is provided withtube support 104f having a shape extending from one side offixing plate 104 into a position corresponding toinlet tube 102c ofcondenser 102. - When fixing
condenser 102 to the main body, straight portions nearcurved portions 102d at both sides ofrefrigerant tube 102a are engaged in advance with retainingribs 104b formed vertically along two sides offixing plate 104. This step practically integratescondenser 102 assembled withfixing plate 104. This assembly unit ofcondenser 102 andfixing plate 104 is positioned and temporary fixed byengaging hanging aperture 104a offixing plate 104 to a hook on the rear plate (not shown) of the outer cabinet. Following the above, retainingsections 106a ofmetal hooks 106 are engaged withrefrigerant tube 102a,metal hooks 106 are attached by slidingbase sections 106b into engagement withfixing pieces 104c offixing plate 104, andmetal hooks 106 are fixed together withfixing pieces 104c to the rear plate (not shown) of the outer cabinet by fastening screws into throughholes 104d.Condenser 102 is thus fixed to the main body. - In addition,
inlet tube 102c ofcondenser 102 is retained with pressure while being positioned by fitting intometal support 107, which is then fastened together with a screw toangle reinforcing plate 108 located at insulating material side behind the rear plate (not shown) of the outer cabinet throughtube support 104f.Condenser 102 is robustly fixed to the main body together withfixing plate 104 by virtue of this structure that fixes the inlet side ofcondenser 102 and the lower side of fixing plate104 on the other side to the rear plate (not shown) of the outer cabinet. Furthermore,inlet tube 102c leading to the condenser is fastened withmetal support 107 toangle reinforcing plate 108 on the main body side viafixing plate 104, and henceinlet tube 102c liable to the influence of vibration ofcompressor 101 can be fixed rigidly. Since vibration fromcompressor 101 is absorbed in a portion aroundinlet tube 102c and not transmitted torefrigerant tube 102a on the downstream side of the refrigeration cycle, the vibration ofcondenser 102 can be reduced considerably with aid offixing plate 104 securing various parts ofrefrigerant tube 102a, and thereby suppressing noise to develop. This can also suppress vibration ofrefrigerant tube 102a. - In the structure of the conventional refrigerator, however, it is necessary to provide
fixing plate 104, i.e., a large resin component, having a projected area generally equivalent to condenser 102, andfixing plate 104 needs to be fixed so rigidly as to be integrated withcondenser 102. It also requires a large number of small parts such asmetal hooks 106 and screws for mounting, since various parts ofcondenser 102 need to be fixed. This causes an increase in cost of materials, a number of man-hours for assembling the unit and then mounting the unit to the main body of refrigerator, which gives rise to a problem, as a result, that the product becomes not so affordable for many users. Moreover, such increases in size and number of the component parts demand an additional installation space to some extent. It also leads directly to poor usability such as an increase in the installation space of the refrigerator's main body, and decrease in volume of inner compartment of the refrigerator. There are also such drawbacks as increase in the possibility of becoming into contact with surrounding components and decrease in the quality like noises attributed to large variations in the assembly of the component parts. - In addition, vibration of the refrigerant tube tends to propagate directly to the refrigerator's main body because of the structure aimed to suppress the vibration of
refrigerant tube 102a andinlet tube 102c by fixing them to the refrigerator's main body. There is therefore a possibility of having such problems as noise and food hitting against each other inside the storage compartment due to vibration of the refrigerator's main body and resonance of the refrigerator door. - It has therefore been the challenge to manage both the usability and quality by reducing sizes and a number of fastening parts such as
fixing plate 104 andmetal hooks 106, and reducing a number of contacting points between retainingribs 104b andcondenser 102, and also a number of contact points such as throughholes 104d of screws with the refrigerator's main body. - The present invention addresses the above problems of the conventional art, and it is an object to improve quality and to provide a less expensive, space saving and highly usable refrigerator by adopting noble fixing methods that can minimize a number of component parts as well as a number of assembling and mounting man-hours, in addition to having a vibration and noise isolation function.
- Description is provided hereinafter of another conventional refrigerator with reference to the accompanying drawings.
-
Fig. 11 is a vertically sectioned view of a lower machinery compartment of
a conventional refrigerator, andFig. 12 is a horizontally sectioned view of the lower machinery compartment of the conventional refrigerator. - As shown in
Fig. 11 ,insulation wall 111 of a storage compartment (not shown) is formed on an upper face oflower machinery compartment 110 of the refrigerator, andbase plate 112 is formed on a lower face.Condenser 113 andair blower 114 forcooling condenser 113 are disposed insidelower machinery compartment 110. A cabinet of the refrigerator includinglower machinery compartment 110 is supported bylegs 115. - Here,
condenser 113 is made from a spiral finned-tube in whichstrip fin 117 is wound aroundrefrigerant tube 116, and thatrefrigerant tube 116 is bent into a serpentine form on a same single plane. - In general,
refrigerant tube 116 is bent to form smallest possible curves of bending radius R in order to minimize spacing between adjoining tubes, whenrefrigerant tube 116 ofcondenser 113 made of the spiral finned-tube is bent into a serpentine form on one single plane. In addition,strip fin 117 is wound aroundrefrigerant tube 116 while changing a distance between adjoining fins (hereafter referred to as "fin pitch") in a manner so that the distance become smaller toward the downwind side. -
Air blower 114 is disposed at a rear-face side oflower machinery compartment 110, and it coolscondenser 113 by drawing outside air from a plurality ofintake openings 118 provided inbase plate 112 and anotherintake opening 119 provided in front face oflower machinery compartment 110. The number ofintake openings 118 provided inbase plate 112 is changed in a manner that it becomes smaller toward the downwind side. - As shown in
Fig. 12 , evaporatingtray 120 for storing defrosted water from a storage compartment (not shown) andimmersion tube 121 for heating the water stored in evaporatingtray 120 are disposed at the windward side ofair blower 114 inlower machinery compartment 110.Compressor 122 is disposed at the downwind side ofair blower 114 inlower machinery compartment 110, anddischarge opening 123 is formed in the downwind side ofcompressor 122.Lower machinery compartment 110 is separated bypartition wall 124. - Here, the air that has passed while
cooling condenser 113 is collected in an upper part of evaporatingtray 120 bypartition wall 124,cools compressor 122 as it passes throughair blower 114, and is discharged fromdischarge opening 123 to the outside. At this same time, an area around evaporatingtray 120 is dried by the air warmed as the heat is exchanged withcondenser 113, and promotes evaporation of the water collected in evaporatingtray 120. - The conventional refrigerator constructed as above operates in a manner which is described hereinafter.
-
Condenser 113 is configured to have larger fin pitches at the windward side, and a larger number ofintake openings 118 are formed also at the windward side. With this structure, a flow-path resistance at the windward side ofcondenser 113 becomes smaller whereas a flow-path resistance at the downwind side becomes relatively larger. It can inhibit the air discharged through discharge opening 123 from shortcutting intointake openings 118 of the downwind side. As a result, the heat exchanging capability can be used effectively, especially of the windward side ofcondenser 113 far fromair blower 114. - Since both
condenser 113 andcompressor 122 are disposed along the same airflow path,compressor 122 can be cooled at the same time by using the air that passes and coolscondenser 113. - However, in the case of
lower machinery compartment 110 employed in the above-said refrigerator of the conventional art, it is imperative tocool condenser 113 formed into a plane configuration within a space of strictly limited height. It is thus important that the comparatively warm air discharged throughdischarge opening 123 is prevented from being pulled again, or shortcutting, intointake openings 118 in the downwind side. The
shortcutting, if occurs, gives rise to such problems as a substantial reduction in the heat dissipating capability ofcondenser 113 and an increase in the amount of electric power consumption. - In the structure of the conventional refrigerator, however, fin pitches on the windward side of
condenser 113 are increased in order to reduce the flow-path resistance ofcondenser 113, which results in a decrease in per-unit-length value of the heat dissipating capability. Sincerefrigerant tube 116 needs to be lengthened to ensure the necessary heat dissipating capability, this gives rise to another problem that the space occupied bycondenser 113 increases. - Since the flat-shaped
lower machinery compartment 110 exclusively forcondenser 113 is located betweeninsulation wall 111 andbase plate 112 under the refrigerator, it reduces a frontage size of the storage compartment, thereby giving rise to a drawback of impairing usability for the users. - In the structure of the conventional refrigerator, fin pitches of
condenser 113 are narrowed and the number ofintake openings 118 is decreased in the downwind side. This causes a problem in which dust collects oncondenser 113 in the vicinity ofintake openings 118 in the downwind side, and blocksintake openings 118 in a short period of time. Whenintake openings 118 in the downwind side ofcondenser 113 are blocked, a temperature of the air coming from the windward side rises while exchanging the heat withcondenser 113, and this becomes a cause of increasing an amount of the power consumption due to the rise of condensing temperature incondenser 113. - The present invention addresses the problems of the conventional art, and it is an object to provide a refrigerator equipped with a condenser of high heat dissipating capability without providing an exclusive machinery compartment, and capable of ensuring the heat dissipating capability for an extended period of time.
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- PTL 1: Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No.
2007-71462 - PTL 2: Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No.
1997-282188 - A refrigerator of the present invention has a machinery compartment in a rear-face side thereof, and the machinery compartment includes a spiral finned-tube condenser, an air blower serving as a primary driving source of a ventilation circuit, and a compressor for circulating a refrigerant in a refrigeration system to cool the refrigerator. The condenser is so configured that a refrigerant tube is spirally wound into an elliptic shape, a center of the spiral winding is serpentine-formed along a direction perpendicular to a principal axis of the air blower, and portions of the refrigerant tube at an inlet port and an outlet port of the refrigerant are linked with a connecting member made of rubber.
- Since the connecting member plays a role of rubber vibration isolator to absorb vibration of the condenser, it can suppress the vibration of the condenser. In addition, the connecting member helps reduce a number of component parts since it also plays a role of securing relative positions of the inlet port and the outlet port, and makes additional positioning part unnecessary. Moreover, the connecting member can reduce a number of assembling man-hours since other ancillary parts such as screws need not be used to mount the rubber, and a number of mounting man-hours is also reducible because installation to the refrigerator's main body can be made independently of the connecting member.
- Another refrigerator of the present invention has a machinery compartment in a rear-face side thereof, and the machinery compartment includes a spiral finned-tube condenser, an air blower serving as a primary driving source of a ventilation circuit, and a compressor for circulating a refrigerant in a refrigeration system to cool the refrigerator. The condenser is so configured that a refrigerant tube is wound into a spiral shape, and the center of the spiral shape is serpentine-formed along a direction perpendicular to a principal axis of the air blower. In addition, an angle formed between a spiral plane of the spiral shape and a bottom surface of the machinery compartment is set larger at a windward side than that at a downwind side.
- Since this structure allows downsizing of the condenser in both depth direction and width direction, it becomes possible to dispose the condenser in the same machinery compartment with the compressor. In addition, the reduction of the size in the width direction can also decrease a flow-path resistance since it reduces a distance for the air to pass through the condenser. Furthermore, this structure can reduce a density of the refrigerant tube in the upwind side of the condenser in addition to providing an intake opening of an equal height to a height of the machinery compartment, which can reduce clogging attributed to accumulation of dust, and ensure performance of the condenser for an extended period of time.
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Fig. 1 is a rear perspective view of a refrigerator according to first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. -
Fig. 2 is a plan view of a connecting member of the refrigerator according to the first exemplary embodiment of the invention. -
Fig. 3 is a characteristic diagram showing effect of vibration reduction of the connecting member of the refrigerator according to the first exemplary embodiment of the invention. -
Fig. 4 is an exploded rear perspective view of a refrigerator according to second exemplary embodiment of the invention. -
Fig. 5 is an exploded rear perspective view of a refrigerator according to a first example provided to better understand the invention. -
Fig. 6 is a detailed perspective view of a condenser of the refrigerator according to the first example provided to better understand the invention. -
Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line 7 - 7 ofFig. 6 . -
Fig. 8 is an exploded rear perspective view of a refrigerator according to fourth exemplary embodiment of the invention. -
Fig. 9 is a rear perspective view showing a lower machinery compartment of a conventional refrigerator. -
Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing a condenser and surrounding area of the conventional refrigerator. -
Fig. 11 is a vertically sectioned view of a lower machinery compartment in another conventional refrigerator. -
Fig. 12 is a horizontally sectioned view of the lower machinery compartment in the conventional refrigerator. - Description will be provided hereinafter of exemplary embodiments of the present invention by referring to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention.
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Fig. 1 is a rear perspective view of a refrigerator according to the first exemplary embodiment of this invention, andFig. 2 is a plan view of a connecting member of the refrigerator according to the first exemplary embodiment of the invention. - In
Fig. 1 ,refrigerator 1 hascabinet 2,upper machinery compartment 3 provided in an upper section ofcabinet 2,condenser 4,air blower 5 andcompressor 6.Condenser 4,air blower 5 andcompressor 6 are disposed in this order from the windward side withinupper machinery compartment 3, and thatcondenser 4 andcompressor 6 are air-cooled withair 7 in an upper area ofrefrigerator 1 suctioned by operatingair blower 5.Air blower 5 is mounted to fixingmember 8, and fixingmember 8 divides an airflow path inupper machinery compartment 3 into a windward side space and a downwind side space ofair blower 5. - Here,
condenser 4 is made from a spiral finned-tube havingstrip fin 4b wound aroundrefrigerant tube 4a, and it is formed by spirally windingrefrigerant tube 4a into an elliptic shape. A height ofcondenser 4 can be set equivalent to that ofcompressor 6 by making the center of the spiral into a serpentine-form with respect to a shaft ofair blower 5. In this way, it becomes possible to installcondenser 4 in parallel withcompressor 6 withinupper machinery compartment 3 prepared forcompressor 6, without providing an additional machinery compartment exclusively forcondenser 4. -
Condenser 4 is also provided withinlet port 4c located in the uppermost stream ofrefrigerant tube 4a andoutlet port 4d located in the downstream ofrefrigerant tube 4a.Inlet port 4c andoutlet port 4d are linked together by connectingmember 9 made of rubber. In this case, a distance betweeninlet port 4c andoutlet port 4d is designed to become 7 to 15 times the diameter ofrefrigerant tube 4a by adjusting a bending dimension ofrefrigerant tube 4a. -
Condenser 4 is secured to screw mountingboss 12 provided on an inner wall of the machinery compartment by using a screw andmetal clamper 10 attached to a portion ofrefrigerant tube 4a between connectingmember 9 andfin 4b, and fixed in a state of being suspended.Clamper 10 is secured torefrigerant tube 4a throughrubber cushion 11 wrapped aroundrefrigerant tube 4a in a manner to tightenrubber cushion 11 with a screw. -
Clamper 10 may be formed of a resin. When this is the case,clamper 10 may be provided with flexibility in itself, or a vibration-proofing structure may be added betweenclamper 10 and an inner wall of the machinery compartment sincerefrigerant tube 4a is not liable to get damaged byclamper 10. Since this makesrubber cushion 11 unnecessary, it can further reduce a number of component parts and make it a simple design. The means to fixclamper 10 to the inner wall ofupper machinery compartment 3 is not limited to the screw. The structure may be altered so thatclamper 10 can be fixed by single step, such as providing a hole to insertboss 12 on the inner wall ofupper machinery compartment 3, or a tab to be inserted in a slit formed in the inner wall ofupper machinery compartment 3. Any such structure can reduce assembling variations and preventcondenser 4 from hitting against surrounding objects since a rotatable element like the screw is eliminated, in addition to the advantage of reducing man-hours for mounting. - Connecting
member 9 comprises twotube holders 9a for holdingrefrigerant tube 4a, and connectingsection 9b having twotube holders 9a at both ends, as shown inFig. 2 . Each oftube holders 9a hashole 9c for holdingrefrigerant tube 4a, and slit 9d for slide-fittingrefrigerant tube 4a intohole 9c. Here, slit 9d is so formed that an angle θ formed betweenslit 9d and a longitudinal direction of connectingsection 9b becomes an acute angle (i.e., θ <90°, and preferably θ<80°). In addition, hole 9c is designed to have an inner diameter smaller than an outer diameter ofrefrigerant tube 4a so thatrefrigerant tube 4a is held fitted with pressure. Furthermore, corner edges 9e ofslit 9d are rounded or chamfered. - A material used for connecting
member 9 is any of ethylene propylene rubber, silicone rubber, chlorination butyl rubber and the like having an excellent thermal resistance and hardness of 40 to 90 degrees, and more preferably between 50 to 70 degrees. - The refrigerator constructed as above according to the first embodiment of this invention operates in a manner which is described hereinafter.
- When
compressor 6 is operated, the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle is compressed, and it is introduced intocondenser 4 frominlet port 4c by passing throughrefrigerant discharge tube 13 connected with a discharge port ofcompressor 6. After the heat is dissipated incondenser 4, the refrigerant flows out fromoutlet port 4d and into internalrefrigerant tube 14 disposed at inside of an outer wall of the refrigerator. At this time,refrigerant discharge tube 13 andcondenser 4 vibrate due to operational vibration ofcompressor 6 and pulsation in pressure of the discharged refrigerant, and they become a cause of generating noises due to these components coming into contact with surrounding parts, causing fatigue in bent sections and welded sections of the tubing, or impairing the quality. - In the refrigerator according to this embodiment, vibration of
condenser 4 can be suppressed sinceinlet port 4c andoutlet port 4d of the condenser are linked by connectingmember 9 made of rubber and the vibration is absorbed by connectingmember 9.Fig. 3 shows amplitudes of vibration ofoutlet port 4d with and without connectingmember 9 attached. It becomes possible to suppress the maximum amplitude ofcondenser 4 and keep the amplitude smaller for all the usable frequencies by mounting connectingmember 9, as shown inFig. 3 . Since the distance betweeninlet port 4c andoutlet port 4d is as large as 7 to 15 times the diameter ofrefrigerant tube 4a, it inevitably increases the size as well as the weight of connectingmember 9. It can hence provide an effect equivalent to what is given when a large rubber cushion is used. - Assume that
refrigerant tube 4a has 5mm in diameter, and a distance of 50mm betweeninlet port 4c andoutlet port 4d, for instance. In this case, a rubber cushion of 15mm in width by 8mm in thickness is needed for each ofinlet port 4c andoutlet port 4d to obtain, for example, a weight equivalent to connectingmember 9 of 10mm in width by 5mm in thickness. It is therefore safe to state that the connecting member in this embodiment can achieve a high quality product of which vibration is suppressed with a low cost with an advantage of space saving. - In addition,
condenser 4 has an effect of attenuating the vibration since it is formed ofrefrigerant tube 4a, spirally wound into the elliptic shape to have a spring-like property. Because the amplitude of vibration ofoutlet port 4d is inherently small, it is appropriate to state that the vibration ofinlet port 4c can be absorbed more effectively by linkingoutlet port 4d withinlet port 4c.Clamper 10 is attached viarubber cushion 11 to the portion ofinlet port 4c where the vibration is suppressed by connectingmember 9, as described above. This means thatcondenser 4 is provided with a double vibration-proof structure before it is secured to the inner wall ofupper machinery compartment 3. This suppresses the vibration transmitted fromcondenser 4 tocabinet 2, and it can therefore reduce the possibility of causing vibration ofcabinet 2, vibration of refrigerator door (not shown), and food hitting against each other inside the storage compartment due to these vibrations. It is by virtue of this structure that limits the securing point ofcondenser 4 only to clamper 10, to minimize the path for transmitting the vibration, reduce the number of assembling man-hours, and thereby provide the product of high quality with a low cost. - Connecting
member 9 has a high Young's modulus of elasticity because it uses a comparatively hard material of 40 to 90 degrees in hardness, and more preferably between 50 to 70 degrees. It thus ensures a high holding strength oftube holder 9a. Large shocks and impacts attributed to loading, unloading and transportation by a ship and/or a track will be applied tocondenser 4 during delivery to a refrigerator factory and to the refrigerator before reaching a user. For this reason, it is imperative for connectingmember 9 not to disengage fromcondenser 4 when it is subjected to a force at least equal to a weight ofcondenser 4. - Although a holding strength can be increased by changing a dimension of thickness or width of the tube holder, it results in an increase in size in order to increase the holding strength. Therefore, a space-saving structure can be achieved when the necessary holding strength is obtained by means of hardness. Since the hardness of rubber is dependent upon formulation of additives, the cost of materials does not rise by increasing the hardness. Although there has been apprehension about degradation in vibration damping property due to the increase of hardness, it has later been confirmed that there is very little influence upon the effect of reducing vibration by the hardness up to 90 degrees, according to the experiment by the inventors (refer to
Fig. 3 ). - Additionally, slits 9d are provided in such a shape that an angle θ formed between each of
slits 9d and a longitudinal direction of connectingsection 9b becomes an acute angle (i.e., θ<90°, and preferably θ<80°). It is for this shape which can prevent the holding strength ofrefrigerant tube 4a from becoming weaker and connectingmember 9 from coming out ofcondenser 4, even iftube holders 9a are forced to turn and slits 9d shifted outward while a tensile stress is exerted on connectingmember 9. On the other hand, there is not any concern about such disengagement while a compressive stress is exerted on connectingmember 9 sincetube holders 9a are turned into a direction of grippingrefrigerant tube 4a. In this case,refrigerant tube 4a is kept in a press-fitted condition, since an inner diameter ofholes 9c is designed to be smaller than an outer diameter ofrefrigerant tube 4a. Therefore, the holding strength can be increased since the compressive stress oftube holders 9a is added to the holding strength, and a frictional force againstrefrigerant tube 4a also increases at the same time. Because this helps suppress turning oftube holders 9a, it can further reduce the risk of disengagement when a tensile stress is exerted on connectingmember 9. -
Condenser 4 has a spring-like property in itself due to its shape and a large dimensional variation especially in a right-to-left direction, so that it effects a force in a direction of widening betweeninlet port 4c andoutlet port 4d (i.e., an expanding direction ofrefrigerant tube 4a) even after the process of forming. Connectingmember 9 suppresses it, and prevents the refrigerant tube from coming into contact with the surrounding parts (e.g., a sidewall of the machinery compartment, in this embodiment). An elongation of connectingmember 9 in the longitudinal direction can be divided broadly into two parts, i.e., an elongation oftube holders 9a due to turning, expanding and simple stretching, and an elongation of connectingsection 9b due to simple stretching. As stated above, it is very effective to increase the holding strength of the tube in order to control accurately the dimension betweeninlet port 4c andoutlet port 4d, since the latter is about 1/10 of the former in rough estimation though it depends on the shape of the connecting member. - It is also possible to shift connecting
section 9b toward an upper side of connectingmember 9 along a direction tangential totube holders 9a, instead of providing it along a straight line connecting the centers oftube holders 9a as is shown in this embodiment. Since this configuration shortens outer portions oftube holders 9a subject to turning when a tensile stress is exerted on connectingmember 9, it can reduce a turning angle oftube holders 9a, and even further reduce an extent of decrease in the holding strength attributed to the tensile stress. - Moreover, corner edges 9e of
slits 9d are rounded or chamfered. Since they help ease insertion ofrefrigerant tube 4a, they can reduce a number of assembling man-hours, and hence the cost of the product. On the other hand, corner edges inside ofholes 9c, when not rounded, have practically no effect on the risk of connectingmember 9 to come off. - As described above,
condenser 4 in this embodiment is so configured thatrefrigerant tube 4a is spirally wound into an elliptic shape, and the center of the spiral winding is serpentine-formed along the direction perpendicular to the principal axis ofair blower 5. Sinceinlet portion 4c andoutlet portion 4d of the refrigerant tube are linked with connectingmember 9 made of a rubber, connectingmember 9 can play a role of rubber vibration isolator to absorb vibration ofcondenser 4, and suppress the vibration ofcondenser 4. In addition, connectingmember 9 helps reduce a number of component parts since it also plays a role of setting relative positions ofinlet port 4c andoutlet port 4d, and makes additional positioning part unnecessary. Moreover, connectingmember 9 can reduce a number of assembling man-hours since it secures the necessary holding strength without using other ancillary parts such as screws for mounting, and also additional man-hours for mounting because installation to the refrigerator's main body can be made independently of the connecting member. - There is
clamper 10 provided to securerefrigerant tube 4a at the upstream offin 4b throughrubber cushion 11 and fixrefrigerant tube 4a to the inner wall of the machinery compartment in a state of being suspended. In addition, the holding portion of connectingmember 9holding inlet port 4c is disposed at the upstream side ofclamper 10. This helps suppress transmission of vibration to the refrigerator's main body since the vibration ofinlet port 4c of which amplitude is largest incondenser 4 is absorbed by connectingmember 9 at the upstream side of the point wherecondenser 4 is secured to the refrigerator's main body. Connectingmember 9 can exhibit a higher effect of vibration absorption than any of conventional rubber cushions configured to be attached to only one place of the tube, since connectingmember 9 is also linked tooutlet port 4d of which vibration amplitude is smallest so that it exerts a suppressive force. - Because connecting
member 9 made of a rubber of 40 to 90 degrees in hardness can provide a high holding strength, it eliminates any concern about disengagement fromrefrigerant tube 4a even under large shocks and impacts during transportation ofcondenser 4 andrefrigerator 1. It therefore makes other parts unnecessary to fix connectingmember 9 torefrigerant tube 4a, and reduces a number of component parts as well as man-hours for assembling. In addition, the rubber of 40 to 90 degrees in the hardness has adequate viscoelasticity necessary to absorb vibration such that it does not interfere with the effect of suppressing vibration during operation of the refrigerator. - Since connecting
member 9 has alength 7 to 15 times the diameter ofrefrigerant tube 4a, it can secure a sufficient weight to absorb the vibration without reducing the thickness or increasing the width of connectingmember 9. It can hence make full use of the effect of downsizing the component. -
Tube holders 9a of connectingmember 9 are provided withslits 9d for use to attach torefrigerant tube 4a, and slits 9d point toward the inner side ofcondenser 4. In addition, holes 9c intube holders 9a are formed to have an inner diameter smaller than an outer diameter ofrefrigerant tube 4a. This configuration can ensure the necessary holding strength even whenslits 9d are forced to turn toward the outer side ofcondenser 4a due to a tensile stress exerted on connectingmember 9.Holes 9c formed to have the inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter ofrefrigerant tube 4a keeprefrigerant tube 4a fitted with pressure, and thereby improving the holding strength. -
Fig. 4 is an exploded rear perspective view of a refrigerator according to the second exemplary embodiment of this invention. - Description will be omitted for certain structural features and technological concepts to which those similar to the first exemplary embodiment apply. It is also possible that the present exemplary embodiment is practiced in combination with the structures of the first embodiment where applicable so long as such a combination does not pose any discrepancy.
- In
Fig. 4 ,refrigerator 21 comprises cabinet 22 ofrefrigerator 21,lower machinery compartment 23 provided in a lower section of cabinet 22.Lower machinery compartment 23 includescondenser 4,air blower 5 andcompressor 6 disposed in this order from the windward side, and thatcondenser 4 andcompressor 6 are air-cooled withair 7 in an upper area of the refrigerator suctioned by operatingair blower 5. -
Air blower 5 is mounted to fixingmember 8, and fixingmember 8 divides an airflow path insidelower machinery compartment 23 intowindward side space 23a anddownwind side space 23b ofair blower 5. -
Base plate 30 that constitutes a bottom surface oflower machinery compartment 23 is robustly joined at both right and left sides to cabinet 22 with screws or the like means. There isspace 31 provided between one side facing the front of the refrigerator and cabinet 22, except that a part ofspace 31 in the downwind side is closed with air-sealingmaterial 32 such as a tape to block air from passing therethrough. - Machinery compartment cover 33 that closes
lower machinery compartment 23 hasintake openings 33a anddischarge openings 33b to introduceair 7 intolower machinery compartment 23.Intake openings 33a anddischarge openings 33b may also be provided in an upper rear side of a cabinet casing (not shown) that forms a side-face section of an upper machinery compartment (not shown) rather than only inmachinery compartment cover 33. - Here,
condenser 4 is made from a spiral finned-tube havingstrip fin 4b wound aroundrefrigerant tube 4a, and it is formed by spirally windingrefrigerant tube 4a into an elliptic shape. A height ofcondenser 4 can be set equivalent tocompressor 6 by making the center of the spiral into a serpentine-form with respect to a shaft ofair blower 5. In this way, it becomes possible to installcondenser 4 in parallel withcompressor 6 withinlower machinery compartment 23 prepared forcompressor 6, without providing an additional machinery compartment exclusively forcondenser 4. - An inlet portion and an outlet portion of
condenser 4 are linked together by connectingmember 9. In addition,condenser 4 is secured to screw mounting boss (not shown) provided on an inner wall of the machinery compartment by using a screw andmetal clamper 10 attached to a portion ofrefrigerant tube 4a from connectingmember 9 tofin 4b, and fixed in a state of being suspended.Clamper 10 is secured torefrigerant tube 4a throughrubber cushion 11 wrapped aroundrefrigerant tube 4a in a manner to tightenrubber cushion 11 with a screw. - The refrigerator constructed as above according to the second embodiment of this invention operates in a manner which is described hereinafter.
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Air blower 5 is driven in ganged motion with operation ofcompressor 6. This operation ofair blower 5 produces a negative pressure inwindward side space 23a equipped withcondenser 4 and separated by fixingmember 8, and suctions the outside air. It also produces a positive pressure indownwind side space 23b equipped withcompressor 6, and air insidelower machinery compartment 23 is discharged to the outside throughdischarge openings 33b. At this same time,air 7 is introduced not only fromintake openings 33a but also fromspace 31. Sincecondenser 4 in this embodiment is suspended in the air, the heat can be dissipated more effectively by introducingair 17 fromspace 31. Furthermore, there is only one air-discharge area located in the rear side oflower machinery compartment 23 whereas there are two separate air-intake areas in both the front and the rear sides, which creates a difference in amounts ofair 7 that passes throughintake openings 33a anddischarge openings 33b. As a result, the air discharged fromdischarge openings 33b can be prevented from being taken as it is, or shortcutting intointake openings 33a. The shortcutting, if occurs, leads to a reduction in the efficiency of heat dissipation at the same time with a degradation in the reliability ofair blower 5 andcompressor 6, because the air inside of the machinery compartment becomes too hot. It is therefore safe to state that the present exemplary embodiment has a structure that facilitates suctioning fresh air to suppress temperature rise in the machinery compartment, thereby providing a highly reliable product. - As described above, the present embodiment has
lower machinery compartment 23 located in the rear side of the refrigerator, andlower machinery compartment 23 includescondenser 4 of spiral finned-tube type suspended from a sidewall of the machinery compartment. This structure is configured to introduceair 7 fromintake openings 33a formed inbase plate 30 that constitutes the bottom surface of the machinery compartment andmachinery compartment cover 33, and to dischargeair 7 fromdischarge openings 33b formed inmachinery compartment cover 33. It is by virtue of this structure to guide the flow ofair 7 smoothly aroundcondenser 4, and preventair 7 from shortcutting, thereby improving the efficiency of heat dissipation of the condenser and increasing the energy efficiency. -
Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a refrigerator according to a first example to better understand the present invention,Fig. 6 is a detailed view of a condenser of the refrigerator, andFig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line 7 - 7 ofFig. 6 . - In
Fig. 5 to Fig. 7 ,refrigerator 51 comprisescabinet 52,lower machinery compartment 53 provided in a lower section ofcabinet 52,condenser 54,air blower 55, andcompressor 56.Lower machinery compartment 53 includescondenser 54,air blower 55 andcompressor 56 disposed in this order from the windward side.Condenser 54 andcompressor 56 are air-cooled withair 57 in an upper area of the refrigerator suctioned by operatingair blower 55.Air blower 55 is mounted to fixingmember 58, and fixingmember 58 divides an airflow path insidelower machinery compartment 53 intowindward side space 53a anddownwind side space 53b ofair blower 55. Machinery compartmentbottom surface 59 configured of a base plate oflower machinery compartment 53 may be formed integrally as a part ofcabinet 52.Reference mark 60 denotes a machinery compartment cover that closeslower machinery compartment 53, and it hasintake openings 61 anddischarge openings 62 to
introduceair 57 intolower machinery compartment 53.Intake openings 61 anddischarge openings 62 may also be provided in any of a lower rear part of a side surface ofcabinet 52 that forms a side-face section oflower machinery compartment 53, machinery compartmentbottom surface 59, and an area betweencabinet 52 and machinery compartmentbottom surface 59, instead of only inmachinery compartment cover 60. - Here,
condenser 54 is made from a spiral finned-tube havingstrip fin 64 wound aroundrefrigerant tube 63, and it is formed by spirally windingrefrigerant tube 63 into an elliptic shape. A height ofcondenser 54 can be set equivalent to that ofcompressor 56 by making the center of the spiral into a serpentine-form with respect to a shaft ofair blower 55. In this way, it becomes possible to disposecondenser 54 in parallel withcompressor 56 withinlower machinery compartment 53 prepared forcompressor 56.Condenser 54 is designed to have such a structure thatrefrigerant tube 63 forms downwind-side spiral face 65a in the downwind side and windward-side spiral face 65b in the windward side, wherein downwind-side spiral angle θa designated as an angle formed between downwind-side spiral face 65a and machinery compartmentbottom surface 59 and windward-side spiral angle θb designated as an angle formed between windward-side spiral face 65b and machinery compartmentbottom surface 59 have a relation of θa<θb. This structure can accommodatecondenser 54 snugly in a limited space of the machinery compartment since the size ofcondenser 54 can be reduced in the width direction (i.e., axial direction of air blower 55). -
Reference mark 54a denotes an inlet port ofcondenser 54, and it is provided in the downwind side ofcondenser 54.Reference mark 66 denotes an upstream refrigerant tube communicating betweencompressor 56 andcondenser 54 such that the refrigerant of high temperature and high pressure compressed bycompressor 56 flows from the downwind side through upstreamrefrigerant tube 66 intocondenser 54, and the heat dissipated. - The refrigerator constructed as above according to the third embodiment of this invention operates in a manner which is described hereinafter.
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Air blower 55 is driven in ganged motion with operation ofcompressor 56. This operation ofair blower 55 produces a negative pressure inwindward side space 53a equipped withcondenser 54 and separated by fixingmember 58, and suctions the outside air, while it produces a positive pressure indownwind side space 53b equipped withcompressor 56, and discharges the air insidelower machinery compartment 53 to the outside throughdischarge openings 62. - In this case,
intake openings 61 can introduceair 57 uniformly throughout a front face of the machinery compartment since these ports have a height equivalent to a height of the machinery compartment.Condenser 54 can be constructed to have a small dimension in a direction of its width (i.e., axial direction of air blower 55) by forming the spiral shape into a large angle in the downwind side. Since this structure decreases a distance forair 57 to pass through the condenser and decreases an air resistance, it can secure a large volume of airflow inlower machinery compartment 53, increase an amount of heat dissipation, and improve energy efficiency. In addition, all of introducedair 57 can be used to air-cool compressor 56, sincecompressor 56 is disposed in series withcondenser 54 andair blower 55. It can thus improve reliability ofcompressor 56 while also increasing the heat dissipating capability ofcondenser 54 and decreasing the condensing temperature to achieve energy conservation at the same time. When a small axial-flow fan is used asair blower 55, it exhibits such a characteristic that the air flows in a manner to gather and bundle toward the periphery of the fan shaft inwindward side space 53a, and the air flows in a manner to spread out radially from the fan indownwind side space 53b. It is therefore considered a good arrangement to disposecondenser 54 withinwindward side space 53a where flow ofair 57 through the interior ofcondenser 54 is desired, and to disposecompressor 56
withindownwind side space 53b where flow ofair 57 around the exterior ofcompressor 56 is desired, in terms of high efficiency with an air resistance suppressed to the greatest extent possible. - Since this structure can secure a large area of
intake openings 61, it can reduce clogging attributed to accumulation of dust even after an extended period of use in user's home. Incondenser 54, downwind-side spiral angle θa and windward-side spiral angle θb are designed to satisfy the relation of θa<θb. This structure helps increase a distance between adjoiningrefrigerant tubes 63 such that tubes ofcondenser 54 at the upwind side are sparse (i.e., airflow passage betweenfins 64 is large, and volume occupied bycondenser 54 is small), and it can hence reduce clogging attributed to accumulation of dust. Since such a sparse condition can be formed by configuration ofrefrigerant tube 63, there is no need to change fin pitches like the one shown inPatent Literature 2. Accordingly, a compact and high performance condenser can be obtained at a low cost while ensuring the required amount of heat dissipation with a short refrigerant tube, since clogging by dust can be avoided without reducing an amount of heat dissipation per unit length ofrefrigerant tube 63. - In addition,
inlet port 54a ofcondenser 54 is disposed in the downwind side where accumulation of dust is not likely. The refrigerant of high temperature and high pressure compressed by operation ofcompressor 56 is introduced intocondenser 54 frominlet port 54a after passing through upstreamrefrigerant tube 66 intocondenser 54. Therefore, the efficiency of heat dissipation is considered to be high because the refrigerant that flows in the downwind side is higher than that in the windward side. Since the downwind side of high heat-dissipating efficiency is less prone to dust accumulation, it can reduce degradation of the performance for an extended period of use. - Because
condenser 54 is disposed at the windward side ofair blower 55 andcompressor 56,condenser 54 helps reduce accumulation of dust onair blower 55 andcompressor 56. When dust accumulates onair blower 55 andcompressor 56, their operating temperatures rise considerably, thereby posing the possibility of degrading the long-term reliability since they are mechanical components equipped with movable parts. On the other hand, the condenser can be regarded as not suffering a substantial decrease in the reliability with a low risk of posing unsafe condition even with accumulation of dust because it is a structural component not having any movable part. - According to the present exemplary embodiment,
condenser 54 is so configured that a refrigerant tube is spirally wound into an elliptic shape, and the center of the spiral winding is serpentine-formed along a direction perpendicular to the principal axis of the air blower, as described above. This configuration can make a height and a depth ofcondenser 54 to match with the size of the compressor, so thatcondenser 54 can be disposed in the same machinery compartment with the compressor. The angle formed between spirally wound spiral face 65 and machinery compartmentbottom surface 59 is set larger at the windward side than at the downwind side to reduce the size in the width direction, so thatcondenser 54 can be accommodated snugly in the limited space. In addition, the above configuration decreases the distance forair 57 to pass through the condenser and reduces the air resistance, it can increase the volume of airflow and improve energy efficiency. This configuration also allowsintake openings 61 to have a height equal to that oflower machinery compartment 53, and reduce a density ofrefrigerant tube 63 in the windward side ofcondenser 54, it can suppress clogging attributed to accumulation of dust, and hence ensure performance of the condenser for a long time. - Because
compressor 56 andcondenser 54 are arranged in series by disposingair blower 55 to the downwind side ofcondenser 54, andcompressor 56 to the downwind side ofair blower 55, all of introducedair 57 can be used
to air-cool compressor 56. It can hence achieve energy conservation by increasing the heat dissipating capability ofcondenser 54 and lowering the condensing temperature, while also improving the reliability ofcompressor 56 at the same time. Since it reduces accumulation of dust onair blower 55 andcompressor 56, it can suppress temperature rises ofair blower 55 andcompressor 56, and improve their reliability. - In the case of a refrigerator configured to flow refrigerant from the refrigerant tube in the downwind side of
condenser 54 to the refrigerant tube in the windward side, accumulation of dust can be reduced onfins 64 of the upstream side carrying the refrigerant of higher temperature, thereby suppressing decrease in the performance for an extended period of use. -
Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a refrigerator according to the fourth exemplary embodiment of this invention. - Description will be omitted for certain structural features and technological concepts to which those similar to the third exemplary embodiment apply. It is also appreciated that the present exemplary embodiment may be practiced in combination with the structures of the third embodiment where applicable so long as such a combination does not pose any discrepancy.
- In
Fig. 8 ,refrigerator 71 comprisescabinet 72, andupper machinery compartment 73 provided in an upper section ofcabinet 72.Upper machinery compartment 73 includescondenser 54,air blower 55 andcompressor 56 disposed in this order from the windward side.Condenser 54 andcompressor 56 are air-cooled withair 57 in an upper area of the refrigerator suctioned by operatingair blower 55.Air blower 55 is mounted to fixingmember 58, which divides an airflow path insideupper machinery compartment 73 intowindward side space 73a anddownwind side space 73b
ofair blower 55.Upper machinery compartment 73 is provided with machinery-compartment bottom surface 79 formed of an insulation wall that separatesupper machinery compartment 73 from a refrigerator compartment (not shown). -
Upper machinery compartment 73 is covered with machinery compartment cover 80 havingintake openings 81 anddischarge openings 82 to introduceair 57 intoupper machinery compartment 73. -
Intake openings 81 anddischarge openings 82 may also be provided in an upper rear part of a side surface ofcabinet 72 that forms a side-face section ofupper machinery compartment 73, rather than only inmachinery compartment cover 80. At least a part ofdischarge openings 82 is formed in a top surface of the refrigerator. - The refrigerator constructed as above according to the fourth embodiment of this invention operates in a manner which is described hereinafter.
-
Air blower 55 is driven in ganged motion with operation ofcompressor 56. This operation ofair blower 55 produces a negative pressure inwindward side space 73a equipped withcondenser 54 and separated by fixingmember 58, and suctions the outside air. It also produces a positive pressure indownwind side space 73b equipped withcompressor 56, and the air insideupper machinery compartment 73 is discharged to the outside throughdischarge openings 82. - At this same time,
air 57 warmed bycondenser 54 andcompressor 56 is discharged smoothly from thosedischarge openings 82 opened in the top surface of the refrigerator because the warmedair 57 is less dense than the outside air. Refrigerators are generally installed in given spaces prepared in kitchen corners, where rear and side surfaces are often located closely to kitchen walls, furniture such as cupboards, sink cabinets, and the like. - On the other hand, a largest space available is between the top surface and kitchen ceiling among the spaces surrounding the refrigerator in most cases, because the height of the top surface is designed within reaches of users in the light of convenience. It is thus considered that air can be discharged smoothly from the top surface regardless of the installation environment. It is therefore safe to state that use of the top surface as the primary path to discharge air is adequate means to ensure the heat dissipating efficiency of
condenser 54. - In a case where
refrigerator 71 has a second machinery compartment (not shown) equipped with a second air blower (not shown) in a lower section ofcabinet 72, air warmed in the second machinery compartment is blown up by the second air blower. Since the air is drawn intoupper machinery compartment 73 fromintake openings 81, it can increase a volume of the air that flows inupper machinery compartment 73 and hence an amount of the heat dissipation ofcondenser 54. - As described above, the refrigerator according to this embodiment is provided with
upper machinery compartment 73 in the upper rear section of the refrigerator, andupper machinery compartment 73 hasintake openings 81 for introducing air intoupper machinery compartment 73, anddischarge openings 82 for discharging the air. At least a part ofdischarge openings 82 is formed in the top surface of the refrigerator, from where the air inupper machinery compartment 73 can be discharged smoothly, thereby increasing the heat dissipating efficiency of the condenser as well as the energy efficiency. - As described previously, the refrigerator of the present invention has a machinery compartment in a back-face side thereof, and the machinery compartment includes a spiral finned-tube condenser, an air blower serving as a primary driving source of a ventilation circuit, and a compressor for circulating a refrigerant through a refrigeration system to cool the refrigerator. The condenser is so configured that a refrigerant tube is spirally wound into an elliptic shape with the center of the spiral winding serpentine-formed along a direction perpendicular to the principal axis of the air blower. Furthermore, portions of the refrigerant tube at an inlet port and an outlet port of the refrigerant are linked with a connecting member made of rubber.
- Since the connecting member plays a role of rubber vibration isolator to absorb vibration of the condenser, it can suppress the vibration of the condenser. In addition, the connecting member helps reduce a number of component parts since it also plays a role of securing relative positions of the inlet port and the outlet port, and makes additional positioning part unnecessary. Moreover, the connecting member can reduce a number of assembling man-hours since other ancillary parts such as screws need not be used to mount the connecting member, and a number of mounting man-hours is also reducible because installation to the refrigerator's main body can be made independently of the connecting member.
- The present invention also includes a clamper provided to secure the refrigerant tube at a position upstream of a heat dissipation fin in the flow of refrigerant, through a rubber cushion placed under the clamper, and fix the refrigerant tube to an inner wall of the machinery compartment in a state of being suspended. In addition, a holding portion of the connecting member at the inlet port side is disposed at the upstream side of the clamper.
- This helps suppress transmission of vibration to the refrigerator's main body since the vibration in the vicinity of the inlet port of which amplitude is largest in the condenser is absorbed by the connecting member at the upstream side of the point where the condenser is secured to the refrigerator's main body. The connecting member can exhibit a higher effect of vibration absorption than any of conventional rubber cushions configured to be attached to only one place of the tube, since the connecting member is also linked to the outlet port of which vibration amplitude is smallest such that it exerts a suppressive force.
- The present invention is also characterized by having the connecting member of which rubber is 40 to 90 degrees in hardness.
- It can provide a high holding strength to avoid any concern about disengagement from the refrigerant tube even under large shocks and impacts during transportation of individual piece of the condenser as well as the refrigerator. It therefore makes other parts unnecessary to fix the connecting member to the refrigerant tube, and reduces a number of component parts and assembling man-hours. In addition, the rubber of the hardness between 40 to 90 degrees has adequate viscoelasticity necessary to absorb vibration such that it does not interfere with the effect of suppressing vibration during operation of the refrigerator.
- In the present invention, the connecting member is formed to have a
length 7 to 10 times the diameter of the refrigerant tube. - This can provide the connecting member with a sufficient weight to absorb the vibration even if a thickness of the connecting member is reduced, and it can hence make full use of the advantage of downsized components.
- Moreover, the present invention is characterized by having a slit in each of refrigerant tube holders of the connecting member for fitting the refrigerant tube, wherein the slits are formed to point toward the inner side of the condenser, and holes in the tube holders have an inner diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the refrigerant tube. This structure can ensure the necessary holding strength even when the slits are forced to become widened toward the outer side of the condenser due to a tensile stress exerted on the connecting member.
- Furthermore, the holes are formed to have the inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the refrigerant tube so that they can hold the refrigerant tube fitted in them with pressure, and thereby improving the holding strength in addition to further preventing the slits from widening outward.
- Another refrigerator of the present invention has a machinery compartment in a rear-face side thereof, and the machinery compartment includes a spiral finned-tube condenser, an air blower serving as a primary driving source of a ventilation circuit, and a compressor for circulating a refrigerant through a refrigeration system to cool the refrigerator. The condenser is so configured that a refrigerant tube is wound into a spiral shape, and the center of the spiral shape is serpentine-formed along a direction perpendicular to a principal axis of the air blower. In addition, an angle formed between a spiral plane of the spiral shape and a bottom surface of the machinery compartment is set larger at the windward side than the downwind side.
- Since this structure allows downsizing of the condenser in both depth direction and width direction, it becomes possible to dispose the condenser in the same machinery compartment with the compressor. In addition, the reduction of the size in the width direction can also decrease a flow-path resistance since it reduces a distance for the air to pass through the condenser. Furthermore, this structure can reduce a density of the refrigerant tube in the windward side of the condenser in addition to providing an intake opening of an equal height to a height of the machinery compartment, which can reduce clogging due to accumulation of dust, and ensure performance of the condenser for an extended period of time.
- In the present invention, the air blower is disposed at the downwind side of the condenser, and the compressor is disposed at further the downwind side of the air blower.
- Since this structure can increase the heat dissipating capability of the condenser, and reduce accumulation of dust on the air blower and the compressor, it can suppress temperature rises of the air blower and the compressor, and improve their reliability. In addition, it can also improve the heat dissipating efficiency since it increases a volume of the airflow for cooling the compressor and the condenser by the arrangement of disposing the compressor and the condenser in series.
- The present invention also discloses a refrigerator configured to flow refrigerant in the refrigerant tube of the condenser from the downwind side to the windward side along the airflow path of the air blower.
- This configuration can reduce accumulation of dust on the fins of the upstream side that carries the refrigerant of higher temperature, thereby suppressing decrease in the performance for an extended period of use.
- Furthermore, the present invention discloses a refrigerator provided with a machinery compartment in an upper rear section thereof, and the machinery compartment has an intake opening for introducing air into the machinery compartment, and a discharge opening for discharging the air, and that at least a part of the discharge opening is formed in a top surface of the refrigerator.
- This structure enables the refrigerator to discharge waste heat of the condenser more efficiently to the outside of the refrigerator, and increase the heat dissipating efficiency of the condenser as well as the energy efficiency.
- As mentioned above, since the refrigerator according to the present invention suppresses vibration of a condenser with components of low cost and space-saving features, it can provide the refrigerator of high quality, which is also applicable to any product having a refrigeration cycle employing a compressor, such as vending machine.
- The refrigerator of the present invention comprises a condenser of high heat dissipating capability without requiring a machinery compartment for exclusive use, and it can provide the refrigerator capable of securing the heat dissipating capability for an extended period, and therefore applicable to any product having a refrigeration cycle employing a compressor, such as vending machine.
-
- 1
- refrigerator
- 2
- cabinet
- 3
- upper machinery compartment
- 4
- condenser
- 4a
- refrigerant tube
- 4b
- fin
- 4c
- inlet port
- 4d
- outlet port
- 5
- air blower
- 6
- compressor
- 7
- air
- 8
- fixing member
- 9
- connecting member
- 9a
- tube holder
- 9b
- connecting section
- 9c
- hole
- 9d
- slit
- 9e
- corner edge
- 10
- clamper
- 11
- rubber cushion
- 12
- boss
- 13
- refrigerant discharge tube
- 14
- internal refrigerant tube
- 17
- air
- 21
- refrigerator
- 22
- cabinet
- 23
- lower machinery compartment
- 23a
- windward side space
- 23b
- downwind side space
- 30
- base plate
- 31
- space
- 32
- air-sealing material
- 33
- machinery compartment cover
- 33a
- intake opening
- 33b
- discharge opening
- 51
- refrigerator
- 52
- cabinet
- 53
- lower machinery compartment
- 53a
- windward side space
- 53b
- downwind side space
- 54
- condenser
- 54a
- inlet port
- 55
- air blower
- 56
- compressor
- 57
- air
- 58
- fixing member
- 59
- machinery-compartment bottom surface
- 60
- machinery compartment cover
- 61
- intake opening
- 62
- discharge opening
- 63
- refrigerant tube
- 64
- fin
- 65a
- downwind-side spiral face
- 65b
- windward-side spiral face
- 66
- upstream refrigerant tube
- 71
- refrigerator
- 72
- cabinet
- 73
- upper machinery compartment
- 73a
- windward side space
- 73b
- downwind side space
- 79
- machinery-compartment bottom surface
- 80
- machinery compartment cover
- 81
- intake opening
- 82
- discharge opening
- 100
- machinery compartment
- 101
- compressor
- 102
- condenser
- 102a
- refrigerant tube
- 102b
- wire
- 102c
- inlet tube
- 102d
- curved portion
- 103
- cooling fan
- 104
- fixing plate
- 104a
- hanging aperture
- 104b
- retaining rib
- 104c
- fixing piece
- 104d
- through hole
- 104e
- fastening lug
- 104f
- tube support
- 106
- metal hook
- 106a
- retaining section
- 107
- metal support
- 108
- angle reinforcing plate
- 110
- lower machinery compartment
- 111
- insulation wall
- 112
- base plate
- 113
- condenser
- 114
- air blower
- 115
- leg
- 116
- refrigerant tube
- 117
- fin
- 118
- intake opening
- 119
- intake opening
- 120
- evaporating tray
- 121
- immersion tube
- 122
- compressor
- 123
- discharge opening
- 124
- partition wall
- θa
- downwind-side spiral angle
- θb
- windward-side spiral angle
Claims (4)
- A refrigerator (1) including a machinery compartment (3) on a rear-face side, the refrigerator (1) comprising in the machinery compartment:a spiral finned-tube condenser (4);an air blower (5) serving as a primary driving source of a ventilation circuit; anda compressor (6) configured to circulate a refrigerant in a refrigeration system for cooling the refrigerator (1), wherein the spiral finned-tube condenser (4) comprises a refrigerant tube (4a) and a fin (4b) wound around the refrigerant tube (4a), andwherein parts of the refrigerant tube (4a) at an inlet port (4c) and an outlet port (4d) of the refrigerant are linked with a connecting member (9)characterized in that the refrigerant tube (4a) is spirally wound into an elliptic shape to form spiral windings, wherein a center of the spiral windings is serpentine-formed along a direction perpendicular to a principal axis of the air blower (5), the connecting member (9) is made of rubber and the refrigerator (1) further comprisesa clamper (10) for holding the refrigerant tube (4a) at an upstream side of the fin for heat dissipation in a flow direction of the refrigerant through a rubber cushion (11) placed under the clamper (10), and fixing the refrigerant tube (4a) to an inner wall of the machinery compartment (3) in a state of being suspended, anda tube holder (9a) of the connecting member (9) at an inlet-port side is disposed at an upstream side of the clamper (10) in the flow direction of the refrigerant.
- The refrigerator (1) of claim 1, wherein the connecting member (9) has rubber hardness of 40 to 90 degrees.
- The refrigerator (1) of claim 1, wherein the connecting member (9) has a length 7 to 15 times a diameter of the refrigerant tube of the condenser.
- The refrigerator (1) according to any one of claims 1 - 3, wherein the connecting member (9) has the tube holder (9a) provided with a slit (9d) for attaching to the refrigerant tube (4a), the slit (9d) formed to point toward an inner side of the condenser (4), and an inner diameter of the refrigerant tube holder (9a) is smaller than an outer diameter of the refrigerant tube (4a).
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2011208583A JP5891348B2 (en) | 2011-09-26 | 2011-09-26 | refrigerator |
JP2011213948A JP2013072620A (en) | 2011-09-29 | 2011-09-29 | Refrigerator |
PCT/JP2012/006071 WO2013046633A1 (en) | 2011-09-26 | 2012-09-25 | Refrigerator |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2762809A1 EP2762809A1 (en) | 2014-08-06 |
EP2762809A4 EP2762809A4 (en) | 2015-05-27 |
EP2762809B1 true EP2762809B1 (en) | 2017-06-21 |
Family
ID=47994716
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP12837515.1A Not-in-force EP2762809B1 (en) | 2011-09-26 | 2012-09-25 | Refrigerator |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP2762809B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN103827609B (en) |
WO (1) | WO2013046633A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPWO2017006565A1 (en) * | 2015-07-09 | 2018-04-19 | パナソニックIpマネジメント株式会社 | refrigerator |
CN109073313B (en) * | 2016-05-13 | 2020-10-27 | 松下知识产权经营株式会社 | Refrigerator with a door |
JP6713836B2 (en) * | 2016-05-31 | 2020-06-24 | 東芝ライフスタイル株式会社 | refrigerator |
CN107238243A (en) * | 2017-05-31 | 2017-10-10 | 青岛海尔特种电冰柜有限公司 | Horizontal refrigerator and its assemble method |
US11624543B2 (en) * | 2019-08-26 | 2023-04-11 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Under counter type refrigerator |
DE102022213574A1 (en) | 2022-10-10 | 2024-04-11 | Vertiv Srl | HEAT PUMP WITH VIBRATION CONTROL DEVICE |
Family Cites Families (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPS5479050U (en) * | 1977-11-16 | 1979-06-05 | ||
JPS60113474U (en) * | 1984-01-05 | 1985-07-31 | 三菱電機株式会社 | piping fixtures |
JPS6145221U (en) * | 1984-08-30 | 1986-03-26 | カルソニックカンセイ株式会社 | grommet |
JPS63120068U (en) * | 1987-01-27 | 1988-08-03 | ||
JPH09282188A (en) | 1996-04-16 | 1997-10-31 | Mitsubishi Electric Corp | Interruption processing method and system using the method |
KR100308449B1 (en) * | 1998-06-30 | 2001-11-30 | 전주범 | Refrigerator Condenser |
JP3653426B2 (en) * | 1999-10-22 | 2005-05-25 | 三洋電機株式会社 | refrigerator |
JP3646033B2 (en) * | 1999-12-01 | 2005-05-11 | 株式会社東芝 | Fin capacitor mounting structure |
JP2002364946A (en) * | 2001-06-07 | 2002-12-18 | Sanoh Industrial Co Ltd | Condenser for forced air cooling |
JP2003185323A (en) * | 2001-12-20 | 2003-07-03 | Fujitsu General Ltd | Refrigerator |
JP4391208B2 (en) * | 2003-11-11 | 2009-12-24 | トーセツ株式会社 | Latent heat recovery heat exchanger |
JP3824010B1 (en) * | 2005-06-22 | 2006-09-20 | 松下電器産業株式会社 | refrigerator |
JP4473799B2 (en) | 2005-09-07 | 2010-06-02 | 株式会社東芝 | refrigerator |
JP2007113800A (en) * | 2005-10-18 | 2007-05-10 | Toshiba Corp | Refrigerator |
JP2011163694A (en) * | 2010-02-12 | 2011-08-25 | Panasonic Corp | Heat exchange unit and refrigerator |
-
2012
- 2012-09-25 EP EP12837515.1A patent/EP2762809B1/en not_active Not-in-force
- 2012-09-25 WO PCT/JP2012/006071 patent/WO2013046633A1/en active Application Filing
- 2012-09-25 CN CN201280046847.2A patent/CN103827609B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
None * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2013046633A1 (en) | 2013-04-04 |
CN103827609B (en) | 2016-03-16 |
CN103827609A (en) | 2014-05-28 |
EP2762809A1 (en) | 2014-08-06 |
EP2762809A4 (en) | 2015-05-27 |
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