JPH10292974A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce defrosting time by improving the circulation of a cool air and hence improving the efficiency in a cooling operation and at the same time raising a warm air that is generated by a defrosting heater on defrosting toward an evaporator side efficiently. SOLUTION: A refrigerator forms the rear wall 14b of an air gap part located at the lower part of an evaporator 10 in a retreated state and at the same time arranges a defrosting heater 15 and its protection cover 16 at the lower, rear part of the evaporator 10 and expands the front air gap, thus improving the flow of a cool air returning to the evaporator from cool air circulation paths 6a and 6b on cooling operation and raising a warm air that is generated by the defrosting heater 15 on defrosting not only toward the front and the rear of the evaporator 10 but also in a wide range speedily.

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

【０００１】[0001]

【発明の属する技術分野】本発明は冷気強制循環方式の
冷蔵庫に係わり、詳しくは冷気の循環を良くすると共に
除霜時間をより短縮するための除霜用ヒータとその保護
カバーの配置と、同ヒータ等を収容する空隙部の構成に
関する。BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerator of a forced air circulation system, and more particularly, to an arrangement of a defrost heater and a protective cover for improving the circulation of the cool air and further shortening the defrost time. The present invention relates to a configuration of a space for accommodating a heater and the like.

【０００２】[0002]

【従来の技術】冷気強制循環方式の冷蔵庫には例えば図
１に示すような冷凍室７と、冷蔵室８と、野菜室９とが
あり、冷凍室７の背後に配置された蒸発器１０で生成さ
れる冷気は送風機１１により冷凍室７に供給されると共
に、冷気分配室１２に接続された冷気ダクト１３を介し
て冷蔵室８や野菜室９に供給され、これら各室に供給さ
れた冷気は冷凍室７と野菜室９間の断熱仕切体６に形成
されている冷気還流路６ａ，６ｂを通して蒸発器１０に
戻すようになっている。2. Description of the Related Art A refrigerator of the cold air forced circulation type includes, for example, a freezing room 7, a refrigerating room 8 and a vegetable room 9 as shown in FIG. The generated cool air is supplied to the freezing room 7 by the blower 11, and is also supplied to the refrigerator room 8 and the vegetable room 9 via the cool air duct 13 connected to the cool air distribution room 12, and the cool air supplied to each of these rooms is provided. Is returned to the evaporator 10 through cold air recirculation paths 6a and 6b formed in the heat insulating partition 6 between the freezing compartment 7 and the vegetable compartment 9.

【０００３】ところで、蒸発器１０の温度は圧縮器２０
の運転中に−３０℃程度まで降下する。一方、冷気還流
路６ｂを通り、蒸発器１０に戻る冷気は５〜７℃程度ま
で上昇しており、且つ、湿気を伴っているため蒸発器１
０の表面には霜が発生し、凍結する。蒸発器１０の霜の
付着量は圧縮機２０の運転時間の経過と共に増え、これ
に伴って蒸発器１０の熱交換性能が低下していく。そこ
で、図４にも示すように蒸発器１０の下部に除霜用ヒー
タ１５を並行に配置し、その輻射熱を利用して蒸発器１
０の除霜を行う一方、蒸発器１０と除霜用ヒータ１５間
にアルミ板からなる保護カバー１６を設けて除霜用ヒー
タ１５を蒸発器１０から流下する除霜水から保護するよ
うになっている。なお、除霜用ヒータ１５と保護カバー
１６は蒸発器１０の下部左右両端より下部の空隙部１４
の中央に突出させた一対の支持体２２に固定された構成
となっている。[0003] The temperature of the evaporator 10 is controlled by the compressor 20.
During the operation of, the temperature drops to about −30 ° C. On the other hand, the cool air returning to the evaporator 10 through the cool air recirculation path 6b has risen to about 5 to 7 ° C. and is accompanied by moisture, so that the evaporator 1
Frost is generated on the surface of No. 0 and freezes. The amount of frost adhering to the evaporator 10 increases as the operation time of the compressor 20 elapses, and accordingly, the heat exchange performance of the evaporator 10 decreases. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, a heater 15 for defrosting is disposed in parallel below the evaporator 10, and the evaporator 1 is
On the other hand, while performing the defrost of 0, a protective cover 16 made of an aluminum plate is provided between the evaporator 10 and the defrost heater 15 to protect the defrost heater 15 from defrost water flowing down from the evaporator 10. ing. Note that the defrosting heater 15 and the protective cover 16 are provided in a gap 14 below the lower left and right ends of the evaporator 10.
Are fixed to a pair of support members 22 protruding from the center of the support member.

【０００４】[0004]

【発明が解決しようとする課題】しかしながら、上述の
ような構成では保護カバー１６が蒸発器１０の下部中央
に位置するため、冷気還流路６ａ，６ｂの出口と蒸発器
１０間の冷気の通路が狭められた状態になっており、冷
気の循環に悪影響を及ぼすだけでなく、除霜時には蒸発
器１０への暖気の上昇の妨げとなり、結果として除霜時
間が長くなる要因になっている。したがって、本発明に
おいては冷気の循環を良くすると共に除霜時間をより短
縮できるようにした冷蔵庫を提供することを目的として
いる。However, in the above configuration, since the protective cover 16 is located at the lower center of the evaporator 10, the cool air passage between the outlets of the cool air recirculation passages 6a and 6b and the evaporator 10 is not provided. The narrowed state not only adversely affects the circulation of the cool air, but also hinders the rise of warm air to the evaporator 10 during defrosting, resulting in a longer defrosting time. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator that improves the circulation of cool air and can further reduce the defrosting time.

【０００５】[0005]

【課題を解決するための手段】本発明は上記の課題を解
決するためになされたものであり、冷凍室の背後に配置
された蒸発器の下部に除霜用ヒータをほぼ並行かつ水平
に配置すると共に、前記蒸発器と除霜用ヒータ間に同ヒ
ータを除霜水から保護する保護カバーを設け、前記蒸発
器により生成された冷気を同蒸発器の上部空隙に配設さ
れた送風機により冷凍室に供給すると共に、冷気ダクト
を介して冷蔵室および野菜室に供給し、冷凍室と冷蔵室
間もしくは冷凍室と野菜室間の断熱仕切体に形成された
冷気還流路を通して蒸発器に戻し、除霜時に前記除霜用
ヒータをオンし、蒸発器の除霜を行うようにしてなる冷
蔵庫において、前記除霜用ヒータと保護カバーとを収容
する空隙部の後部壁を後退させた状態に形成すると共
に、前記除霜用ヒータと保護カバーとを前記蒸発器の下
部後方に配置して前方の空隙を拡大することにした。な
お、前記除霜用ヒータと保護カバーとを前記蒸発器の下
部両端より下方に突出させた一対の支持体に固定する構
成とした。SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and a heater for defrosting is disposed substantially in parallel and horizontally below an evaporator disposed behind a freezing compartment. In addition, a protective cover is provided between the evaporator and the defrosting heater to protect the heater from defrost water, and cool air generated by the evaporator is frozen by a blower disposed in an upper space of the evaporator. While supplying to the room, supply to the refrigerator room and the vegetable room through the cool air duct, return to the evaporator through the cool air reflux path formed in the heat insulating partition between the freezer room and the refrigerator room or between the freezer room and the vegetable room, In a refrigerator configured to turn on the defrosting heater during defrosting and perform defrosting of an evaporator, a rear wall of a cavity accommodating the defrosting heater and the protective cover is formed in a state of being retracted. And the defrosting heat And a protective cover disposed below the rear of the evaporator to have to expand the front of the air gap. Note that the defrosting heater and the protective cover were fixed to a pair of supports projecting downward from both lower ends of the evaporator.

【０００６】[0006]

【発明の実施の形態】本発明によれば、冷気強制循環方
式の冷蔵庫において、蒸発器の下部に位置し、除霜用ヒ
ータと保護カバーとを収容する空隙部の後部壁を後退さ
せた状態に形成すると共に、除霜用ヒータと保護カバー
とを蒸発器の下部後方に配置して前方の空隙を拡大した
構成としているので、冷却運転時に冷気還流路を経て蒸
発器に戻る冷気の還流を良くすることができ、また、除
霜時には除霜用ヒータにより生成された暖気を蒸発器の
前後だけでなく広範囲に上昇させることができる。DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS According to the present invention, in a refrigerator of a forced air circulation system, a rear wall of a void located at a lower portion of an evaporator and accommodating a heater for defrosting and a protective cover is retracted. In addition, since the defrosting heater and the protective cover are arranged behind the lower part of the evaporator and the front gap is enlarged, the cooling air returns to the evaporator via the cooling air return path during the cooling operation. In addition, at the time of defrosting, warm air generated by the defrosting heater can be raised not only before and after the evaporator but also over a wide range.

【０００７】[0007]

【実施例】以下、本発明の実施例を図１〜図３に基づい
て説明する。図１は冷蔵庫の内部を側面から示したもの
で、１は外箱２と、内箱３と、これら両者間に充填され
た発泡断熱材４とからなる冷蔵庫本体である。内箱３の
内部は上下二つの断熱仕切体５、６により冷凍室７と冷
蔵室８と野菜室９とに区画されている。冷凍室７の背後
には蒸発器１０と、この蒸発器１０で生成される冷気を
前記各室７〜９に循環させる送風機１１とが有り、冷蔵
室８および野菜室９への冷気は冷凍室７後方の冷気分配
室１２に接続されている冷気ダクト１３を通して、まず
冷蔵室冷気吹出口8aより冷蔵室８へ送り込まれ、次に冷
蔵室８下部の野菜室冷気流入口8bより図示されてない野
菜室ダクトを経て野菜室９へ送り込まれる。各室７〜９
に送り込まれた冷気は冷凍室７と野菜室９間の断熱仕切
体６に形成された冷気還流路６ａ、６ｂを通して蒸発器
１０に戻すように構成されている。DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows the inside of the refrigerator from the side. Reference numeral 1 denotes a refrigerator main body including an outer box 2, an inner box 3, and a foam insulating material 4 filled between the two. The inside of the inner box 3 is divided into a freezer compartment 7, a refrigerator compartment 8 and a vegetable compartment 9 by two upper and lower heat insulating partitions 5 and 6. Behind the freezing room 7, there is an evaporator 10 and a blower 11 for circulating the cool air generated by the evaporator 10 to each of the above-mentioned rooms 7 to 9. The cool air to the refrigerating room 8 and the vegetable room 9 is supplied to the freezing room. Through a cool air duct 13 connected to a cool air distribution chamber 12 at the rear of the refrigerator 7, the cool air is first sent from a cool air outlet 8 a to the cool room 8, and then not shown through a cool air inlet 8 b at the bottom of the cool room 8. It is sent to the vegetable room 9 via the vegetable room duct. Each room 7-9
The cool air sent to the evaporator 10 is configured to return to the evaporator 10 through cool air return paths 6a and 6b formed in the heat insulating partition 6 between the freezing compartment 7 and the vegetable compartment 9.

【０００８】また、蒸発器１０の真下に位置する断熱仕
切体６の後部には樋状に形成された露受部１４ａ（図２
参照）を有する空隙部１４が有り、この空隙部１４には
除霜時にオンされる除霜用ヒータ（ガラス管ヒータ）１
５と、この除霜用ヒータ１５を蒸発器１０より流下する
除霜水から保護するためのアルミ製の保護カバー１６と
が設けられ、露受部１４ａに流下した除霜水は排水管１
７を通して冷蔵庫本体１の下部後方に形成されている機
械室１８内の蒸発皿１９に放出され、圧縮機２０の発熱
等を利用して蒸発させるようになっている。At the rear of the heat insulating partition 6 located directly below the evaporator 10, a gutter-shaped dew receiving portion 14a (FIG. 2).
(See FIG. 1), and the defrosting heater (glass tube heater) 1 which is turned on at the time of defrosting
5 and an aluminum protection cover 16 for protecting the defrosting heater 15 from defrosting water flowing down from the evaporator 10, and the defrosting water flowing down to the dew receiving portion 14a is supplied to the drain pipe 1.
The air is discharged to the evaporating dish 19 in the machine room 18 formed at the lower rear of the refrigerator body 1 through the evaporator 7, and is evaporated by utilizing the heat generated by the compressor 20.

【０００９】図２および図３は本発明に係わる要部を側
方と斜め前方から見た拡大図で、特徴とするところは除
霜用ヒータ１５と保護カバー１６とを収容する空隙部１
４の後部壁１４ｂを後退させた状態に形成すると共に、
除霜用ヒータ１５と保護カバー１６とを蒸発器１０の下
部後方に配置して、保護カバー１６および除霜用ヒータ
１５より前方の空隙を拡大したことである。このような
構成であれば、冷却運転時に冷気還流路６ａ、６ｂの出
口より蒸発器１０に戻る冷気の流れを良くすることがで
き、また、除霜時には除霜用ヒータ１５により生成され
た暖気を蒸発器の前後だけでなく広範囲に上昇させるこ
とができる。なお、除霜用ヒータ１５と保護カバー１６
は蒸発器１０の下部両端より下方に突出させた一対の支
持体２１に固定されている。FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are enlarged views of a main part according to the present invention viewed from the side and obliquely forward, and are characterized by a gap 1 for accommodating the heater 15 for defrosting and the protective cover 16.
4 in a state where the rear wall 14b is retracted,
The defrost heater 15 and the protective cover 16 are arranged at the lower rear of the evaporator 10, and the space in front of the protective cover 16 and the defrost heater 15 is enlarged. With such a configuration, it is possible to improve the flow of the cool air returning to the evaporator 10 from the outlets of the cool air recirculation paths 6a and 6b during the cooling operation, and to increase the warm air generated by the defrost heater 15 during the defrost. Can be raised not only before and after the evaporator but also over a wide range. The defrost heater 15 and the protective cover 16
Are fixed to a pair of supports 21 projecting downward from both lower ends of the evaporator 10.

【００１０】[0010]

【発明の効果】以上、説明したような冷蔵庫であるなら
ば、冷却運転時には冷気の循環が良くなり、効率の良い
冷却運転が可能になる一方、除霜時には除霜用ヒータに
より生成された暖気を蒸発器の前後だけでなく広範囲に
且つ速やかに上昇させることが可能になるため、蒸発器
に付着した霜が効率良く除霜され、除霜時間が短縮され
ることにより、除霜時の庫内温度の上昇が抑制され、消
費電力も少なくなる。According to the refrigerator as described above, the circulation of the cool air is improved during the cooling operation, and the efficient cooling operation becomes possible. On the other hand, the warm air generated by the defrost heater during the defrosting operation is obtained. Can be raised not only in front of and behind the evaporator but also in a wide range and quickly, so that frost adhering to the evaporator can be efficiently defrosted, and the defrosting time can be shortened. The rise in internal temperature is suppressed, and power consumption is reduced.

【図面の簡単な説明】[Brief description of the drawings]

【図１】本発明および従来例に係わる冷蔵庫の概略構成
を表す側断面図である。FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a refrigerator according to the present invention and a conventional example.

【図２】本発明の一実施例を示す要部拡大側断面図であ
る。FIG. 2 is an enlarged side sectional view of a main part showing one embodiment of the present invention.

【図３】本発明の一実施例を示す要部拡大斜視図であ
る。FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part showing one embodiment of the present invention.

【図４】従来例を示す冷蔵庫の要部拡大側断面図であ
る。FIG. 4 is an enlarged side sectional view of a main part of a refrigerator showing a conventional example.

【符号の説明】[Explanation of symbols]

１ 冷蔵庫本体 ５ 断熱仕切体 ６ 断熱仕切体 ６ａ 冷気還流路 ６ｂ 冷気還流路 ７ 冷凍室 ８ 冷蔵室 ９ 野菜室 １０ 蒸発器 １４ 空隙部 １４ａ 露受部 １４ｂ 後部壁 １５ 除霜用ヒータ（ガラス管ヒータ） １６ 保護カバー ２１ 支持体 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigerator main body 5 Heat insulation partition body 6 Heat insulation partition body 6a Cold air recirculation path 6b Cold air recirculation path 7 Freezer room 8 Refrigeration room 9 Vegetable room 10 Evaporator 14 Void part 14a Dew receiving part 14b Rear wall 15 Defrost heater (glass tube heater) ) 16 Protective cover 21 Support

Claims (2)

【特許請求の範囲】[Claims] 【請求項１】 冷凍室の背後に配置された蒸発器の下部
に除霜用ヒータをほぼ並行かつ水平に配置すると共に、
前記蒸発器と除霜用ヒータ間に同ヒータを除霜水から保
護する保護カバーを設け、前記蒸発器により生成された
冷気を同蒸発器の上部空隙に配設された送風機により冷
凍室に供給すると共に、冷気ダクトを介して冷蔵室およ
び野菜室に供給し、冷凍室と冷蔵室間もしくは冷凍室と
野菜室間の断熱仕切体に形成された冷気還流路を通して
蒸発器に戻し、除霜時に前記除霜用ヒータをオンし、蒸
発器の除霜を行うようにしてなる冷蔵庫において、 前記除霜用ヒータと保護カバーとを収容する空隙部の後
部壁を後退させた状態に形成すると共に、前記除霜用ヒ
ータと保護カバーとを前記蒸発器の下部後方に配置して
前方の空隙を拡大してなることを特徴とする冷蔵庫。1. A heater for defrosting is disposed substantially in parallel and horizontally below an evaporator disposed behind a freezing room,
A protective cover is provided between the evaporator and the defrosting heater to protect the heater from defrosting water, and cool air generated by the evaporator is supplied to a freezing chamber by a blower disposed in an upper space of the evaporator. At the same time, it is supplied to the refrigerator compartment and the vegetable compartment through the cool air duct, and is returned to the evaporator through the cool air return path formed in the heat insulating partition between the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment or between the freezer compartment and the vegetable compartment, and when defrosting. In the refrigerator configured to turn on the defrosting heater and perform defrosting of the evaporator, the rear wall of the cavity accommodating the defrosting heater and the protective cover is formed in a state of being retracted, The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the defrosting heater and the protective cover are arranged at a lower rear portion of the evaporator so as to enlarge a front space. 【請求項２】 前記除霜用ヒータと保護カバーとを前記
蒸発器の下部両端より下方に突出させた一対の支持体に
固定してなることを特徴とする請求項１記載の冷蔵庫。2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the defrosting heater and the protective cover are fixed to a pair of supports projecting downward from both lower ends of the evaporator.