EP3306241A1 - Refrigerator - Google Patents
Refrigerator Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3306241A1 EP3306241A1 EP16802798.5A EP16802798A EP3306241A1 EP 3306241 A1 EP3306241 A1 EP 3306241A1 EP 16802798 A EP16802798 A EP 16802798A EP 3306241 A1 EP3306241 A1 EP 3306241A1
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- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- compartment
- switching
- storage compartment
- temperature
- refrigerator
- 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.)
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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
- F25D17/00—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
- F25D17/04—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection
- F25D17/06—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation
- F25D17/08—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation using ducts
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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
- F25D11/00—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
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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
- F25D11/00—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
- F25D11/02—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators with cooling compartments at different temperatures
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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
- F25D17/00—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
- F25D17/04—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection
- F25D17/042—Air treating means within refrigerated spaces
- F25D17/045—Air flow control arrangements
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a refrigerator in which a temperature in at least one storage compartment is switchable from a freezing temperature zone to a refrigerating temperature zone.
- a temperature in a refrigerator is set to preset temperature zones for respective storage compartments, a temperature is adjustable in a freezing compartment only within a range of a freezing temperature zone, and a temperature is adjustable in a refrigerating compartment only within a range of a refrigerating temperature zone.
- a refrigerator has been developed in which a temperature zone in a storage compartment can be switched from a freezing temperature zone to a refrigerating temperature zone or from the refrigerating temperature zone to the freezing temperature zone (see PTL 1, for example).
- FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view for describing conventional refrigerator 100 described in PTL 1.
- FIG. 5 is a front view of a switching compartment and a periphery of the switching compartment of conventional refrigerator 100.
- refrigerator 100 is provided with cooling system 104 which includes compressor 102, a condenser, a pressure reducing part, and evaporator 103.
- Refrigerator 100 includes refrigerating compartment 105, switching compartment 106, freezing compartment 107, and vegetable compartment 108, and openings of front surfaces of these compartments are hermetically sealed by openable doors 105a, 106a, 107a, 108a, respectively.
- Evaporator 103 is accommodated in cooling compartment 109 disposed on a back surface of freezing compartment 107.
- Cooling fan 110 is provided above evaporator 103, and circulates cool air generated by evaporator 103 in refrigerator 100.
- Switching damper 111 is provided on a back surface of switching compartment 106, and switching damper 111 introduces cool air circulated by cooling fan 110 into an inside of switching compartment 106 or interrupts the introduction of such cooling air.
- Heater 112 is provided on a bottom surface of switching compartment 106, and heater 112 heats an inside of switching compartment 106.
- refrigerator 100 cool air generated by evaporator 103 is circulated inside refrigerator 100 by cooling fan 110 so that the respective storage compartments are maintained at predetermined temperatures.
- blowing-off of cool air into switching compartment 106 is controlled by opening or closing of switching damper 111.
- switching compartment 106 when temperature setting of switching compartment 106 is changed from freeze setting to refrigeration setting, electricity is supplied to heater 112 so that the inside of switching compartment 106 is heated, whereby switching compartment 106 can be quickly brought into a refrigerating temperature zone thus maintaining qualities of stored foods or the like.
- the heater heats only a wall of a bottom surface of the switching compartment so that the switching compartment is heated by a natural convection, only the bottom surface is overheated and there is a drawback that a temperature at the center of switching compartment is hardly raised to a target temperature.
- a refrigerator includes: a storage compartment defined by a heat insulating wall; a cooling compartment in which a cooler is accommodated; a cooling fan which supplies cool air from the cooling compartment to the storage compartment; and a plurality of dampers provided in a discharge air passage which makes the cooling compartment and the storage compartment communicate with each other.
- the storage compartment has a switching storage compartment in which a temperature inside the switching storage compartment is switchable by an opening and closing control of the plurality of dampers.
- the refrigerator according to one example of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is configured such that when a set temperature in the switching storage compartment is switched from a low temperature to a high temperature, a switching-storage-compartment damper is closed, and a heater provided inside the switching storage compartment is operated by the control unit.
- the refrigerator according to one example of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be configured such that when a set temperature in the switching storage compartment is switched from a low temperature to a high temperature, the dampers other than the damper for the switching storage compartment are closed and the damper for the switching storage compartment is opened, and the heater and the cooling fan are operated by the control unit.
- FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a refrigerator according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of the refrigerator according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- refrigerator 13 is provided with cooling system 4 which includes compressor 2, condenser, pressure reducing part, and evaporator 3.
- Refrigerator 13 includes refrigerating compartment 5, first switching compartment 14, second switching compartment 15, and third switching compartment 16 (hereinafter, first switching compartment 14, second switching compartment 15, and third switching compartment 16 may be collectively referred to as switching storage compartments 14, 15, 16), and openable doors 5a, 14a, 15a, 16a are disposed on front surface openings of the respective switching compartments.
- Evaporator 3 is accommodated in cooling compartment 18 which is thermally insulated from the inside of second switching compartment 15 by heat insulating wall 17 behind second switching compartment 15. Cooling fan 10 is disposed above evaporator 3, and cool air generated by evaporator 3 is circulated in refrigerator 100 by cooling fan 10.
- first switching compartment 14, second switching compartment 15, and third switching compartment 16 there are disposed refrigerating compartment damper 19, first switching damper 20, second switching damper 21, and third switching damper 22 for introducing cool air circulated by cooling fan 10 into the inside of the respective storage compartments and interrupting the introduction of such cool air.
- refrigerating compartment damper 19 On bottom surfaces inside the respective storage compartments, i.e., first switching compartment 14, second switching compartment 15, and third switching compartment 16, there are disposed first heater 23, second heater 24, and third heater 25, respectively, and first to third heaters 23 to 25 heat first switching compartment 14, second switching compartment 15, and third switching compartment 16, respectively.
- refrigerating compartment thermistor 26, first thermistor 27, second thermistor 28, and third thermistor 29 are respectively disposed in refrigerating compartment 5, first switching compartment 14, second switching compartment 15, and third switching compartment 16 for controlling temperatures of refrigerating compartment 5, first switching compartment 14, second switching compartment 15, and third switching compartment 16, respectively.
- refrigerator 13 cool air generated by evaporator 3 is circulated inside refrigerator 13 by cooling fan 10 so that the respective storage compartments are maintained at predetermined temperatures.
- first switching compartment 14, second switching compartment 15, and third switching compartment 16 can be maintained in temperature zones ranging from a freezing temperature zone around minus 20 degrees to a refrigerating temperature zone around 5 degrees by opening or closing of first switching damper 20, second switching damper 21, and third switching damper 22.
- first switching damper 20 When a set temperature of first switching compartment 14 is switched to a temperature higher than a temperature at that point of time (in FIG. 2 , described as a current temperature) (S1, S2), firstly, first switching damper 20 is closed by a control unit (S3), and electricity is supplied to first heater 23 so that the inside of first switching compartment 14 is heated (S4).
- first thermistor 27 When a temperature detected by first thermistor 27 (in FIG. 2 , described as a detected temperature) becomes a predetermined value T1 or more (S5), the supply of electricity to first heater 23 is interrupted by control unit (S6), and first switching damper 20 is normally controlled (S7).
- first switching compartment 14 can be quickly raised to a target temperature by first heater 23, and since first switching damper 20 is closed, there is no possibility that warm air in first switching compartment 14 flows to other storage compartments and hence, there is no possibility that a thermal load of refrigerator 13 is increased.
- T1 can be changed according to an outside air temperature, a set temperature of another storage compartment, or the like. For example, by setting T1 to a lower value as an outside air temperature or the set temperature of another storage compartment becomes higher, a stable temperature control can be performed.
- evaporator 3 is disposed behind second switching compartment 15.
- evaporator 3 may be disposed behind any storage compartment. Accommodation of evaporator 3 inside one storage compartment brings about advantageous effects that a duct can be simplified, and a storage volume can be increased.
- the refrigerator includes three switching storage compartments, i.e., first switching compartment to third switching compartment.
- the refrigerator can obtain substantially the same effect as long as the refrigerator has one or more switching storage compartments.
- first heater 23, second heater 24, and third heater 25 are disposed on bottom surfaces of first switching compartment 14, second switching compartment 15, and third switching compartment 16, respectively.
- first heater 23, second heater 24, and third heater 25 may be disposed on side wall surfaces or ceilings. By additionally disposing heaters on the side wall surfaces, the ceilings, or the like, a temperature rising speed can be increased. However, in such a case, power consumption is increased.
- second heater 24 is disposed on a surface of heat insulating wall 17. Accordingly, when second switching compartment 15 is set to a refrigerating temperature, it is possible to suppress the cooling of the inside of second switching compartment 15 through heat insulating wall 17 from cooling compartment 18 by second heater 24. Accordingly, a thickness of heat insulating wall 17 can be made thin so that a storage volume of second switching compartment 15 can be increased.
- FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the refrigerator according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- first switching compartment 14 For simplifying the description, the description is made only of a switching control of first switching compartment 14. However, substantially the same effect can also be obtained by substantially the same operation for any of the switching storage compartments, i.e., first switching compartment 14, second switching compartment 15, and third switching compartment 16.
- first switching compartment 14 When a set temperature of first switching compartment 14 is switched to a temperature higher than a temperature at that point of time (in FIG. 3 , described as a current temperature) (S11, S12), firstly, refrigerating compartment damper 19, second switching damper 21, third switching damper 22 are closed by a control unit, and first switching damper 20 is opened by the control unit (S13). Electricity is supplied to first heater 23 (S14), and cooling fan 10 is operated (S15).
- first thermistor 27 When a temperature detected by first thermistor 27 (in FIG. 3 , described as a detected temperature) becomes a predetermined value T1 or more (S16), the supply of electricity to first heater 23 is interrupted by control unit (S17), and the respective dampers and cooling fan 10 are normally controlled (S18).
- first switching compartment 14 can be further quickly raised to a target temperature by first heater 23, and since refrigerating compartment damper 19, second switching damper 21, and third switching damper 22 are closed, there is no possibility that warm air in first switching compartment 14 flows to other storage compartments and hence, there is no possibility that a thermal load of refrigerator 13 is increased.
- the operation in the first exemplary embodiment and the operation in the second exemplary embodiment can be performed case by case depending on an operation state of compressor 2. That is, during operation of compressor 2 (when evaporator 3 is cooled), the operation in the first exemplary embodiment is performed. When compressor 2 is stopped (when evaporator 3 is not cooled), the operation in the second exemplary embodiment is performed. Accordingly, a temperature of first switching compartment 14 can be further efficiently raised.
- a temperature of first switching compartment 14 may be increased by making use of a defrosting heater disposed in proximity to evaporator 3.
- the refrigerator includes: the storage compartment defined by the heat insulating wall; the cooling compartment in which the cooler is accommodated; the cooling fan which supplies cool air from the cooling compartment to the storage compartment; and the plurality of dampers provided in the discharge air passage which makes the cooling compartment and the storage compartment communicate with each other.
- the storage compartments include the switching storage compartments in which indoor temperatures can be switched by controlling opening/closing of the plurality of dampers.
- the refrigerator is configured such that when a set temperature in the switching storage compartment is switched from a low temperature side to a high temperature side, a switching-storage-compartment damper is closed, and a heater inside the switching storage compartment is operated. With such a configuration, other storage compartments are not heated by heat of the heater for raising a temperature of the switching compartment, and it is possible to provide a refrigerator having low power consumption.
- the refrigerator according to one example of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be configured such that when a set temperature of the switching storage compartment is switched from a low temperature side to a high temperature side, the dampers other than the damper for the switching storage compartment are closed, and the damper for the switching storage compartment is opened, thus operating the heater and the cooling fan.
- the present invention provides a refrigerator which can quickly raise a temperature of a switching storage compartment without increasing a thermal load of other storage compartments when a temperature of the switching storage compartment is switched from a low temperature to a high temperature, thus enhancing heat insulation property. Accordingly, the present invention is widely applicable to a refrigerator and other refrigerating equipment in general which respectively include a storage compartment in which a temperature in the storage compartment can be switched.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
- Cold Air Circulating Systems And Constructional Details In Refrigerators (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a refrigerator in which a temperature in at least one storage compartment is switchable from a freezing temperature zone to a refrigerating temperature zone.
- Conventionally, a temperature in a refrigerator is set to preset temperature zones for respective storage compartments, a temperature is adjustable in a freezing compartment only within a range of a freezing temperature zone, and a temperature is adjustable in a refrigerating compartment only within a range of a refrigerating temperature zone.
- However, recently, due to diversity in a lifestyle, foodstuffs purchased by a user are also becoming diverse. Accordingly, there is an increasing need to change a storage volume in a desired temperature zone within a preset temperature zone by switching the temperature zone in the storage compartment.
- Accordingly, a refrigerator has been developed in which a temperature zone in a storage compartment can be switched from a freezing temperature zone to a refrigerating temperature zone or from the refrigerating temperature zone to the freezing temperature zone (see PTL 1, for example).
- The conventional refrigerator described above is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings.
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FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view for describingconventional refrigerator 100 described in PTL 1.FIG. 5 is a front view of a switching compartment and a periphery of the switching compartment ofconventional refrigerator 100. InFIG. 4 andFIG. 5 ,refrigerator 100 is provided withcooling system 104 which includescompressor 102, a condenser, a pressure reducing part, andevaporator 103.Refrigerator 100 includes refrigeratingcompartment 105,switching compartment 106,freezing compartment 107, andvegetable compartment 108, and openings of front surfaces of these compartments are hermetically sealed byopenable doors -
Evaporator 103 is accommodated incooling compartment 109 disposed on a back surface offreezing compartment 107.Cooling fan 110 is provided aboveevaporator 103, and circulates cool air generated byevaporator 103 inrefrigerator 100. - Switching
damper 111 is provided on a back surface ofswitching compartment 106, and switchingdamper 111 introduces cool air circulated bycooling fan 110 into an inside ofswitching compartment 106 or interrupts the introduction of such cooling air.Heater 112 is provided on a bottom surface ofswitching compartment 106, andheater 112 heats an inside ofswitching compartment 106. - During operation of
refrigerator 100, cool air generated byevaporator 103 is circulated insiderefrigerator 100 bycooling fan 110 so that the respective storage compartments are maintained at predetermined temperatures. - At this time, to maintain the inside of switching
compartment 106 at a set temperature, blowing-off of cool air intoswitching compartment 106 is controlled by opening or closing of switchingdamper 111. - In this case, when temperature setting of
switching compartment 106 is changed from freeze setting to refrigeration setting, electricity is supplied toheater 112 so that the inside ofswitching compartment 106 is heated, wherebyswitching compartment 106 can be quickly brought into a refrigerating temperature zone thus maintaining qualities of stored foods or the like. - However, in the conventional configuration described above, in the case where the switching damper is brought into an open state when electricity is supplied to the heater, heat from the heater flows into other storage compartments through the damper and becomes a thermal load thus giving rise to a drawback that power consumption of the refrigerator is increased.
- Further, since the heater heats only a wall of a bottom surface of the switching compartment so that the switching compartment is heated by a natural convection, only the bottom surface is overheated and there is a drawback that a temperature at the center of switching compartment is hardly raised to a target temperature.
- PTL 1: Japanese Patent No.
3,361,038 - The present invention have been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, and a refrigerator according to one example of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a storage compartment defined by a heat insulating wall; a cooling compartment in which a cooler is accommodated; a cooling fan which supplies cool air from the cooling compartment to the storage compartment; and a plurality of dampers provided in a discharge air passage which makes the cooling compartment and the storage compartment communicate with each other. In the refrigerator according to one example of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the storage compartment has a switching storage compartment in which a temperature inside the switching storage compartment is switchable by an opening and closing control of the plurality of dampers. The refrigerator according to one example of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is configured such that when a set temperature in the switching storage compartment is switched from a low temperature to a high temperature, a switching-storage-compartment damper is closed, and a heater provided inside the switching storage compartment is operated by the control unit.
- With such a configuration, heat generated by a heater is interrupted by the damper and hence, there is no possibility that other storage compartments are heated. Accordingly, the increase of power consumption can be suppressed.
- The refrigerator according to one example of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be configured such that when a set temperature in the switching storage compartment is switched from a low temperature to a high temperature, the dampers other than the damper for the switching storage compartment are closed and the damper for the switching storage compartment is opened, and the heater and the cooling fan are operated by the control unit.
- With such a configuration, a temperature in the switching compartment can be quickly raised and hence, degrading of freshness of stored products can be prevented.
-
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FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a refrigerator according to a first exemplary embodiment and a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 2 is a flowchart for describing an operation of the refrigerator according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for describing an operation of the refrigerator according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a conventional refrigerator. -
FIG. 5 is a front view of a switching compartment and a periphery of the switching compartment of the conventional refrigerator. - Exemplary embodiments according to the present invention are hereinafter described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited by these exemplary embodiments.
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FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a refrigerator according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of the refrigerator according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. - In
FIG. 1 ,refrigerator 13 is provided withcooling system 4 which includescompressor 2, condenser, pressure reducing part, andevaporator 3.Refrigerator 13 includes refrigeratingcompartment 5,first switching compartment 14,second switching compartment 15, and third switching compartment 16 (hereinafter,first switching compartment 14,second switching compartment 15, andthird switching compartment 16 may be collectively referred to asswitching storage compartments openable doors -
Evaporator 3 is accommodated incooling compartment 18 which is thermally insulated from the inside ofsecond switching compartment 15 byheat insulating wall 17 behindsecond switching compartment 15.Cooling fan 10 is disposed aboveevaporator 3, and cool air generated byevaporator 3 is circulated inrefrigerator 100 bycooling fan 10. - In the respective storage compartments, i.e., refrigerating
compartment 5,first switching compartment 14,second switching compartment 15, andthird switching compartment 16, there are disposed refrigeratingcompartment damper 19,first switching damper 20,second switching damper 21, andthird switching damper 22 for introducing cool air circulated bycooling fan 10 into the inside of the respective storage compartments and interrupting the introduction of such cool air. On bottom surfaces inside the respective storage compartments, i.e.,first switching compartment 14,second switching compartment 15, andthird switching compartment 16, there are disposedfirst heater 23,second heater 24, andthird heater 25, respectively, and first tothird heaters 23 to 25 heatfirst switching compartment 14,second switching compartment 15, andthird switching compartment 16, respectively. - Further, refrigerating
compartment thermistor 26,first thermistor 27,second thermistor 28, andthird thermistor 29 are respectively disposed in refrigeratingcompartment 5,first switching compartment 14,second switching compartment 15, andthird switching compartment 16 for controlling temperatures of refrigeratingcompartment 5,first switching compartment 14,second switching compartment 15, andthird switching compartment 16, respectively. - The operation and effect of the refrigerator having the above-mentioned configuration are hereinafter described.
- During operation of
refrigerator 13, cool air generated byevaporator 3 is circulated insiderefrigerator 13 bycooling fan 10 so that the respective storage compartments are maintained at predetermined temperatures. - At this time,
first switching compartment 14,second switching compartment 15, andthird switching compartment 16 can be maintained in temperature zones ranging from a freezing temperature zone aroundminus 20 degrees to a refrigerating temperature zone around 5 degrees by opening or closing offirst switching damper 20,second switching damper 21, andthird switching damper 22. - Next, the operation when set temperatures of
first switching compartment 14,second switching compartment 15, andthird switching compartment 16 are switched to temperatures higher than temperatures at that point of time is described with reference to a flowchart shown inFIG. 2 . - In this embodiment, for simplifying the description, the description is made only of a switching control of
first switching compartment 14. However, substantially the same effect can also be obtained by substantially the same operation for any offirst switching compartment 14,second switching compartment 15, andthird switching compartment 16. - When a set temperature of
first switching compartment 14 is switched to a temperature higher than a temperature at that point of time (inFIG. 2 , described as a current temperature) (S1, S2), firstly,first switching damper 20 is closed by a control unit (S3), and electricity is supplied tofirst heater 23 so that the inside offirst switching compartment 14 is heated (S4). - When a temperature detected by first thermistor 27 (in
FIG. 2 , described as a detected temperature) becomes a predetermined value T1 or more (S5), the supply of electricity tofirst heater 23 is interrupted by control unit (S6), andfirst switching damper 20 is normally controlled (S7). - Accordingly, a temperature of
first switching compartment 14 can be quickly raised to a target temperature byfirst heater 23, and since first switchingdamper 20 is closed, there is no possibility that warm air infirst switching compartment 14 flows to other storage compartments and hence, there is no possibility that a thermal load ofrefrigerator 13 is increased. - In this exemplary embodiment, T1 can be changed according to an outside air temperature, a set temperature of another storage compartment, or the like. For example, by setting T1 to a lower value as an outside air temperature or the set temperature of another storage compartment becomes higher, a stable temperature control can be performed.
- In this exemplary embodiment, the configuration is exemplified in which
evaporator 3 is disposed behindsecond switching compartment 15. However,evaporator 3 may be disposed behind any storage compartment. Accommodation ofevaporator 3 inside one storage compartment brings about advantageous effects that a duct can be simplified, and a storage volume can be increased. - In this exemplary embodiment, the case is exemplified where the refrigerator includes three switching storage compartments, i.e., first switching compartment to third switching compartment. However, it is needless to say that the refrigerator can obtain substantially the same effect as long as the refrigerator has one or more switching storage compartments.
- In this exemplary embodiment, the description has been made by taking as an example the case where
first heater 23,second heater 24, andthird heater 25 are disposed on bottom surfaces offirst switching compartment 14,second switching compartment 15, andthird switching compartment 16, respectively. However,first heater 23,second heater 24, andthird heater 25 may be disposed on side wall surfaces or ceilings. By additionally disposing heaters on the side wall surfaces, the ceilings, or the like, a temperature rising speed can be increased. However, in such a case, power consumption is increased. - In this exemplary embodiment,
second heater 24 is disposed on a surface ofheat insulating wall 17. Accordingly, whensecond switching compartment 15 is set to a refrigerating temperature, it is possible to suppress the cooling of the inside ofsecond switching compartment 15 throughheat insulating wall 17 from coolingcompartment 18 bysecond heater 24. Accordingly, a thickness ofheat insulating wall 17 can be made thin so that a storage volume ofsecond switching compartment 15 can be increased. - Next, a refrigerator according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described.
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FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the refrigerator according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. - The operation when set temperatures of switching
storage compartments FIG. 3 . - For simplifying the description, the description is made only of a switching control of
first switching compartment 14. However, substantially the same effect can also be obtained by substantially the same operation for any of the switching storage compartments, i.e.,first switching compartment 14,second switching compartment 15, andthird switching compartment 16. - When a set temperature of
first switching compartment 14 is switched to a temperature higher than a temperature at that point of time (inFIG. 3 , described as a current temperature) (S11, S12), firstly, refrigeratingcompartment damper 19,second switching damper 21,third switching damper 22 are closed by a control unit, and first switchingdamper 20 is opened by the control unit (S13). Electricity is supplied to first heater 23 (S14), and coolingfan 10 is operated (S15). - When a temperature detected by first thermistor 27 (in
FIG. 3 , described as a detected temperature) becomes a predetermined value T1 or more (S16), the supply of electricity tofirst heater 23 is interrupted by control unit (S17), and the respective dampers and coolingfan 10 are normally controlled (S18). - With such an operation, a temperature of
first switching compartment 14 can be further quickly raised to a target temperature byfirst heater 23, and since refrigeratingcompartment damper 19,second switching damper 21, andthird switching damper 22 are closed, there is no possibility that warm air infirst switching compartment 14 flows to other storage compartments and hence, there is no possibility that a thermal load ofrefrigerator 13 is increased. - The operation in the first exemplary embodiment and the operation in the second exemplary embodiment can be performed case by case depending on an operation state of
compressor 2. That is, during operation of compressor 2 (whenevaporator 3 is cooled), the operation in the first exemplary embodiment is performed. Whencompressor 2 is stopped (whenevaporator 3 is not cooled), the operation in the second exemplary embodiment is performed. Accordingly, a temperature offirst switching compartment 14 can be further efficiently raised. - Further, a temperature of
first switching compartment 14 may be increased by making use of a defrosting heater disposed in proximity toevaporator 3. - As described above, the refrigerator according to one example of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: the storage compartment defined by the heat insulating wall; the cooling compartment in which the cooler is accommodated; the cooling fan which supplies cool air from the cooling compartment to the storage compartment; and the plurality of dampers provided in the discharge air passage which makes the cooling compartment and the storage compartment communicate with each other. The storage compartments include the switching storage compartments in which indoor temperatures can be switched by controlling opening/closing of the plurality of dampers. The refrigerator is configured such that when a set temperature in the switching storage compartment is switched from a low temperature side to a high temperature side, a switching-storage-compartment damper is closed, and a heater inside the switching storage compartment is operated. With such a configuration, other storage compartments are not heated by heat of the heater for raising a temperature of the switching compartment, and it is possible to provide a refrigerator having low power consumption.
- Further, the refrigerator according to one example of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be configured such that when a set temperature of the switching storage compartment is switched from a low temperature side to a high temperature side, the dampers other than the damper for the switching storage compartment are closed, and the damper for the switching storage compartment is opened, thus operating the heater and the cooling fan. With such a configuration, it possible to obtain a refrigerator having high freshness keeping performance in which heat of a heater can be circulated in a desired switching storage compartment by a cooling fan, and a temperature of the desired switching storage compartment can be quickly raised.
- As described above, the present invention provides a refrigerator which can quickly raise a temperature of a switching storage compartment without increasing a thermal load of other storage compartments when a temperature of the switching storage compartment is switched from a low temperature to a high temperature, thus enhancing heat insulation property. Accordingly, the present invention is widely applicable to a refrigerator and other refrigerating equipment in general which respectively include a storage compartment in which a temperature in the storage compartment can be switched.
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- 3: evaporator
- 5: refrigerating compartment
- 5a: door
- 10: cooling fan
- 13: refrigerator
- 14: first switching compartment
- 14a, 15a, 16a: door
- 15: second switching compartment
- 16: third switching compartment
- 17: heat insulating wall
- 18: cooling compartment
- 19: refrigerating compartment damper
- 20: first switching damper
- 21: second switching damper
- 22: third switching damper
- 23: first heater
- 24: second heater
- 25: third heater
- 26: refrigerating compartment thermistor
- 27: first thermistor
- 28: second thermistor
- 29: third thermistor
Claims (2)
- A refrigerator comprising:a storage compartment defined by a heat insulating wall;a cooling compartment in which a cooler is accommodated;a cooling fan which supplies cool air from the cooling compartment to the storage compartment; anda plurality of dampers provided in a discharge air passage which makes the cooling compartment and the storage compartment communicate with each other,wherein the storage compartment has a switching storage compartment in which a temperature inside the switching storage compartment is switchable by an opening and closing control of the plurality of dampers, andwhen a set temperature in the switching storage compartment is switched from a low temperature to a high temperature, a damper for the switching storage compartment out of the plurality of dampers is closed, and a heater inside the switching storage compartment is operated.
- A refrigerator comprising:a storage compartment defined by a heat insulating wall;a cooling compartment in which a cooler is accommodated;a cooling fan which supplies cool air from the cooling compartment to the storage compartment; anda plurality of dampers provided in a discharge air passage which makes the cooling compartment and the storage compartment communicate with each other,wherein the storage compartment has a switching storage compartment in which a temperature inside the switching storage compartment is switchable by an opening and closing control of the plurality of dampers, andwhen a set temperature in the switching storage compartment is switched from a low temperature to a high temperature, out of the plurality of dampers, dampers other than adamper for the switching storage compartment are closed and the damper for the switching storage compartment is opened, and the heater and the cooling fan are operated.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2015113560A JP2016223752A (en) | 2015-06-04 | 2015-06-04 | refrigerator |
PCT/JP2016/002603 WO2016194356A1 (en) | 2015-06-04 | 2016-05-30 | Refrigerator |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP3306241A1 true EP3306241A1 (en) | 2018-04-11 |
EP3306241A4 EP3306241A4 (en) | 2018-08-08 |
Family
ID=57440393
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP16802798.5A Withdrawn EP3306241A4 (en) | 2015-06-04 | 2016-05-30 | Refrigerator |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP3306241A4 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2016223752A (en) |
CN (1) | CN107636408A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2016194356A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN111351292A (en) * | 2018-12-20 | 2020-06-30 | 日立环球生活方案株式会社 | Refrigerator with a door |
Families Citing this family (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2019043913A1 (en) * | 2017-09-01 | 2019-03-07 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Refrigerator |
JP6975699B2 (en) * | 2018-10-18 | 2021-12-01 | 日立グローバルライフソリューションズ株式会社 | refrigerator |
JP6578051B1 (en) * | 2018-11-20 | 2019-09-18 | 日立グローバルライフソリューションズ株式会社 | refrigerator |
JP6655747B1 (en) * | 2019-06-13 | 2020-02-26 | 日立グローバルライフソリューションズ株式会社 | refrigerator |
JP7478541B2 (en) * | 2020-01-31 | 2024-05-07 | 東芝ライフスタイル株式会社 | refrigerator |
JP7465686B2 (en) * | 2020-03-18 | 2024-04-11 | 東芝ライフスタイル株式会社 | refrigerator |
JP7372186B2 (en) * | 2020-03-23 | 2023-10-31 | 日立グローバルライフソリューションズ株式会社 | refrigerator |
Family Cites Families (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP2753360B2 (en) * | 1990-01-08 | 1998-05-20 | 株式会社日立製作所 | refrigerator |
US5458186A (en) * | 1992-08-17 | 1995-10-17 | Goldstar Co., Ltd. | Refrigerator with kimchi seasoning and storing chamber |
US5398599A (en) * | 1992-08-19 | 1995-03-21 | Goldstar Co., Ltd. | Apparatus for controlling seasoning of kimchi in refrigerator |
TW493727U (en) * | 1997-05-29 | 2002-07-01 | Toshiba Corp | Refrigerator |
JP3361038B2 (en) * | 1997-05-29 | 2003-01-07 | 株式会社東芝 | refrigerator |
KR100453236B1 (en) * | 2001-11-27 | 2004-10-15 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Refrigerator having a multipurpose room thereof control method |
JP2006090686A (en) * | 2004-08-26 | 2006-04-06 | Toshiba Corp | Refrigerator |
JP3938384B2 (en) * | 2004-10-28 | 2007-06-27 | シャープ株式会社 | refrigerator |
EP1806553A4 (en) * | 2004-10-28 | 2015-03-04 | Sharp Kk | Refrigerator |
JP3892015B2 (en) * | 2005-02-07 | 2007-03-14 | シャープ株式会社 | refrigerator |
-
2015
- 2015-06-04 JP JP2015113560A patent/JP2016223752A/en active Pending
-
2016
- 2016-05-30 EP EP16802798.5A patent/EP3306241A4/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2016-05-30 CN CN201680030626.4A patent/CN107636408A/en active Pending
- 2016-05-30 WO PCT/JP2016/002603 patent/WO2016194356A1/en unknown
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN111351292A (en) * | 2018-12-20 | 2020-06-30 | 日立环球生活方案株式会社 | Refrigerator with a door |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2016194356A1 (en) | 2016-12-08 |
JP2016223752A (en) | 2016-12-28 |
EP3306241A4 (en) | 2018-08-08 |
CN107636408A (en) | 2018-01-26 |
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