JP2006145078A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerator capable of protecting stored foods by keeping a cooling function by emergency measure in the household, when a sudden trouble occurs in a compressor, and the stored foods are affected by temperature rise in a freezer and refrigerator. <P>SOLUTION: When the trouble occurs in the compressor 1 of a main body and cooling can not be implemented, an external apparatus 7 is applied as a compressor through an external connecting portion 6, thus a function of the refrigerator can be temporarily covered. That is, when the trouble occurs in the compressor 1 of the main body, the main body compressor 1 is stopped, and the compressor by the external apparatus 7 connected by the external connecting portion 6 is operated to cover a cooling function. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator that can be backed up from the outside when the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment are not cooled due to a sudden malfunction during use.

Conventionally, the refrigerator is generally cooled by absorbing heat from the surroundings by evaporating using refrigerant gas compression and expansion as the operating principle of a refrigerator. Moreover, the refrigerator which separates a compressor from a refrigerator main body and is installed as a refrigerator is disclosed (for example, refer patent document 1).
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-69676

  However, in the above-described conventional refrigerator, when a sudden failure occurs in, for example, the compressor of the refrigeration cycle, the temperature in the freezer compartment or the refrigerator compartment rises, and the food stored in the refrigerator may decay due to the temperature rise. is there. Also, if a failure occurs at home, the product cannot be replaced immediately, and a new product cannot be selected more slowly. Further, even in the conventional disclosed technology, after the installation, the structure between the refrigerator body and the compressor is not easily removed, and in order to maintain a quiet environment, the refrigerant freon removal work To make it easier.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a refrigerator having means for temporarily maintaining a temporary cooling function even when a component of a refrigeration cycle fails.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the refrigerator of the present invention includes an external connection part for connecting to an external device in the middle of the refrigeration cycle, so that an alternative device can be easily connected from the outside in the event of a malfunction. It becomes possible to temporarily maintain the function of the refrigerator.

  The refrigerator of the present invention can connect an external device externally from an external connection part installed in the refrigerator main body. For example, when the failed device is a compressor, the external compressor is used instead of the temporarily failed main unit compressor. The cooling function can be maintained by the connected alternative compressor.

  A first invention has a storage chamber and a refrigeration cycle provided with a compressor, a condenser, and a cooler, and includes an external connection portion that can be connected to an external device in the middle of the refrigeration cycle. The cooling capacity can be recovered from the outside, for example, by replacing the refrigerant inside the refrigerator main body with an external tank and pump, etc., at the time of malfunction of the component.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the external compressor is provided at both end portions of the compressor and the external device is a compressor, the compressor connected from the external connector is operated when the main body compressor does not function due to a malfunction. By doing so, the function of the refrigerator can be temporarily maintained.

  According to a third aspect of the invention, the external connection portion includes a switching valve for switching between the compressor provided in the original refrigerator and the external device, so that the internal refrigerant leaks when switching to the external device. Can be reduced. Furthermore, even when an external device is connected, it can be easily switched to the main body compressor.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, an external connection device can be connected more safely by providing the switching valve with a safety device for preventing leakage of refrigerant gas in the refrigeration cycle.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the compressor of the external device is provided with a sensor for detecting the temperature as a safety device, so that the abnormality of the compressor of the external device can be detected by the temperature, and the safety of the device installed outside Can also be confirmed.

  A sixth invention uses a combustible gas as a refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle, and includes a combustible gas detection sensor as a safety device in the compressor of the external device. If the refrigerant (isobutane, etc.) leaks, it can be detected immediately and can be dealt with before it becomes important.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a refrigeration cycle in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant gas compressed by the compressor 1 is radiated and condensed by the condenser 2, and then becomes a liquid refrigerant and dried by the dryer 3. Then, it introduce | transduces into the cooler 4, and cold air is substituted by storage rooms, such as a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment, here. The refrigerant that has passed through the cooler 4 is configured to be compressed again through the suction pipe 5 and into the compressor 1. Furthermore, the external connection part 6 is provided in the middle of the refrigeration cycle so that the external device 7 can be connected.

  In the refrigerator configured as described above, when some trouble occurs in the refrigeration cycle of the main body, for example, the refrigerant can be easily replaced from the external connection portion 6 and the trouble can be solved.

  In addition, when a problem occurs in the compressor 1 of the main body and cooling becomes impossible, the function of the refrigerator can be temporarily supplemented by using the external device 7 as a compressor through the external connection portion 6. That is, when a malfunction occurs in the compressor 1 of the main body, the cooling function can be supplemented by stopping the main body compressor 1 and operating the compressor connected from the external connection portion 2.

  By providing a switching valve in the external connection portion 6, it is possible to easily switch to the outside. Further, for example, a check valve is provided so that gas leakage does not occur in the switching valve, so that the refrigerant inside does not leak even if the connection part is disconnected.

  Furthermore, since the temperature sensor is provided in the compressor of the external connector 7, it can be monitored so that the compressor does not become abnormal due to, for example, overload.

  Further, when a flammable refrigerant is used in the refrigeration cycle, if the refrigerant leaks, an abnormality can be detected and dealt with by mounting a combustible gas detection sensor.

  As described above, the refrigerator according to the present invention can temporarily maintain the function as a refrigerator by connection from the outside when the function (cooling) of the refrigerator deteriorates due to a sudden failure. In addition to commercial refrigerators, vending machines, and showcases that have storage rooms, refrigerators such as air conditioning equipment can be used for the purpose of temporarily maintaining functions even if they are not defective for the storage room. It can be applied to a wide range of equipment.

The block diagram which showed the refrigerating cycle of the refrigerator in Embodiment 1 of this invention

Explanation of symbols

1 Compressor 2 Condenser 3 Dryer 4 Cooler 5 Suction Pipe 6 External Connection 7 External Equipment

Claims (6)

A refrigerator having a storage chamber and a refrigeration cycle including a compressor, a condenser, and a cooler, and having an external connection part that can be connected to an external device in the middle of the refrigeration cycle. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the external connection portion is provided at both ends of the compressor, and the external device is a compressor. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a switching valve for switching between a compressor and an external device provided in the original refrigerator in the external connection portion. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the switching valve includes a safety device for preventing leakage of refrigerant gas in the refrigeration cycle. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the compressor of the external device includes a sensor for detecting temperature as a safety device. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein a combustible gas is used as a refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle, and a compressor for the external device is provided with a combustible gas detection sensor as a safety device.

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