JP6747718B2 - refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a refrigerator that cools and stores foods and the like in a storage chamber, and particularly relates to a refrigerator that includes a shielding device that blocks a supply air passage through which cold air flows as necessary.

Conventionally, in a refrigerator configured to supply air cooled by a cooler in a cooling chamber to a storage chamber via a supply air passage, in order to prevent warm air during defrosting operation from flowing into the storage chamber, cooling is performed. It is known to provide a shielding device that closes the air outlet of the chamber (for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

13A and 13B are perspective views showing the shielding device 150 disclosed in Patent Document 1, FIG. 13A is a state in which the blower cover 160 is closed, and FIG. It shows a state in which the blower cover 160 is opened. As shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, the shielding device 150 is provided on the discharge side of the blower 140 attached to the blower port of the cooling chamber, and is a blower cover that can reciprocate in the rotation axis direction of the fan 142. Having 160.

As shown in FIG. 13A, when the blower cover 160 approaches the blower 140, the peripheral edge of the blower cover 160 fits into the casing 141 of the blower 140, and the air flow path of the blower 140 is closed. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 13B, when the blower cover 160 moves in a direction away from the blower 140, a flow path for air to flow is formed between the blower cover 160 and the casing 141. Then, as schematically shown by the arrow V, the air discharged by the blower 140 flows out.

The blower 140 is an axial blower, and the fan motor 143 of the blower 140 is fixed to the casing 141 by the support frame 148. Further, the blower cover 160 is supported by guide pins 152 provided on the casing 141 of the blower 140.

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view showing the shielding device 250 disclosed in Patent Document 2. As shown in FIG. 14, the shielding device 250 disclosed in the document has a blower cover 260 slidably supported by guide pins 252 provided upright on a support base 251. The blower cover 260 is opened and closed by a drive shaft 267 which is disposed so as to penetrate the blower cover 260 and is screwed into the screw hole 263 of the blower cover 260.

A motor that drives the drive shaft 267 is built in the shaft support portion 255, and the shaft support portion 255 is connected to the frame portion 253 of the support base 251 by the support frame 258. Then, the support base 251 is attached to a casing of a blower (not shown) attached to the blower port of the cooling chamber, and is fixed to the casing by fixing means such as a screw penetrating the hole 259.

JP, 2013-190149, A JP, 2005-64122, A

However, in the above-described refrigerator of the related art, there is a point to be improved regarding the shielding device and the blower in order to improve the cooling performance of the refrigerator.

Specifically, in order to improve the cooling performance of the refrigerator, it is effective to increase the blowing efficiency of the air supplied to the storage room and increase the flow rate of the air. However, in the configuration of the blower disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 described above, as shown in FIG. 13, since the support frame 148 for supporting the fan motor 143 exists in the air flow path, the support frame The air flow could be obstructed by 148.

Further, like the shielding device 250 disclosed in Patent Document 2 shown in FIG. 14, in the configuration in which the blower cover 260 is opened and closed by the drive shaft 267 supported by the support base 251 attached to the casing of the blower, the drive shaft 267 is The supporting frame 258 for supporting is arranged so as to straddle the flow path of air. Therefore, the support frame 258 arranged in the air flow path causes a flow loss of air.

If a wide air supply passage near the shielding device is secured in order to reduce air flow loss, the storage capacity of the storage chamber will be reduced. Also, when the configuration of the shielding device is changed to reduce the air flow loss, the ineffective volume of the shielding device and its surroundings becomes large, and the effective storage volume of the storage chamber may decrease, as in the above case. There is. Further, if the space around the shielding device is narrowed in order to secure a large storage volume in the storage chamber, it becomes difficult to assemble the shielding device.

For example, as a structure for supporting the shielding device, when considering a configuration in which an elastically deformable locking piece or the like is provided on the partition member and the supporting member of the shielding device is engaged with the locking piece or the like, In order to facilitate the assembling, it is necessary to form the locking pieces and the like relatively long so that the locking pieces and the like are easily elastically deformed. Then, since the shielding device is supported, the structure and the space around it become large, and the storage volume of the storage chamber decreases.

On the other hand, when the locking pieces and the like are formed to be short, the locking pieces and the like are less likely to be elastically deformed, which makes it difficult to assemble the shielding device. Further, if the space around the engaging portion due to the locking piece or the like is narrowed, the assembling work becomes more difficult, and there is a possibility that mounting failure or damage to parts due to application of excessive force may occur.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a shielding device that is easy to assemble, can secure a wide storage volume of a storage chamber, and can improve the ventilation efficiency. An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that can be improved in cooling performance.

The refrigerator of the present invention has a storage chamber, a cooling chamber in which a cooler for cooling the air supplied to the storage chamber is provided, and the air cooled by the cooler connecting the cooling chamber and the storage chamber is A supply air passage that flows, a blower provided on the supply air passage side of a blower opening that connects the cooling chamber and the supply air passage, and the blower and the blower opening that approach the blower from the supply air passage side. A movable blower cover for covering, and a base member fixed to a partition member for partitioning the storage chamber and the supply air passage to support the blower and slidably support the blower cover, The partition member includes a spindle portion projecting from a main surface facing the supply air passage side and inserted into a support hole formed in the base member, and a partition member projecting from the main surface on an outer peripheral portion of the base member. A locking piece that engages, and a claw portion of the locking piece when the base member is assembled to the partition member, in the vicinity of the outer peripheral portion of the base member with which the locking piece engages. It is characterized in that an elastic portion is formed which is deformed so as to allow passage of.

Further, the refrigerator of the present invention is characterized in that the elastic portion is elastically deformable by a slit formed along the outer peripheral portion.

Further, the refrigerator of the present invention is characterized in that an edge curving portion protruding toward the blower cover is formed at a peripheral edge of the slit.

Further, in the refrigerator of the present invention, a pressing portion that protrudes toward the base member side and presses the elastic portion when the base member is assembled to the partition member is formed on the surface of the blower cover on the base member side. It is characterized by being.

Further, the refrigerator of the present invention is characterized in that a chamfered inclined portion is formed at a corner of the outer peripheral portion of the portion where the elastic portion is formed on the partition member side.

According to the refrigerator of the present invention, a blower provided on the supply air passage side of a blower opening that connects the cooling chamber and the supply air passage, and the blower and the blower opening that approach the blower from the supply air passage side. A movable blower cover for covering and a base member for supporting the blower and slidably supporting the blower cover are provided, and the base member is a partition member for partitioning the storage chamber and the supply air passage. It is fixed. With such a configuration, all the members that support the fan motor of the blower and the members that support the drive shaft that drives the blower cover can be arranged on the partition member side with respect to the fan. Therefore, when the blower cover is opened, the member supporting the fan motor and the drive shaft does not obstruct the air flow path. That is, according to the present invention, the support frame 148 for supporting the fan motor 143 shown in the related art shown in FIG. 13 and the support frame 258 for supporting the drive shaft 267 as shown in the related art shown in FIG. Not placed in. Thereby, the flow loss of the air sent from the blower can be reduced, the flow rate of the air supplied to the storage chamber can be increased, and the cooling performance of the refrigerator can be improved.

Further, in the refrigerator of the present invention, the partition member is provided with a spindle portion projecting from a main surface facing the supply air passage side and inserted into a support hole formed in the base member, and a projecting portion from the main surface. And a locking piece that engages with the outer peripheral portion of the base member, and the base member is assembled to the partition member in the vicinity of the outer peripheral portion of the base member with which the locking piece engages. At this time, an elastic portion is formed that is deformed to allow passage of the claw portion of the locking piece. Accordingly, in the above-described configuration capable of increasing the air volume and improving the cooling performance, the shielding device including the blower cover and the blower can be easily assembled to the partition member.

Specifically, by fitting the support shaft portion of the partition member into the support hole of the base member that supports the blower and the blower cover, and pushing the base member toward the partition member side, the partition member is attached to the outer peripheral portion of the base member. The locking piece engages and the base member is fixed. As a result, the blower and the blower cover are assembled to the partition member.

Particularly, in the vicinity of the outer peripheral portion of the base member, an elastic portion that is deformed to allow passage of the claw portion of the locking piece when the base member is assembled to the partition member is formed. Without, the base member can be easily attached. Further, it is possible to prevent the base member, the locking claws, and the like from being excessively deformed and damaged during assembly.

Further, since the elastic portion is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the base member, it is not necessary to significantly deform the locking claw when mounting the base member. Therefore, the locking claw can be formed short, the space near the locking claw can be narrowed, and a large storage volume of the storage chamber can be secured.

Further, according to the refrigerator of the present invention, the elastic portion is elastically deformable by a slit formed along the outer peripheral portion. Thus, when the base member is assembled to the partition member, the elastic portion easily elastically deforms toward the center side of the base member. Therefore, the attachment of the base member becomes easy.

Further, according to the refrigerator of the present invention, an edge curving portion that projects toward the blower cover is formed at the peripheral edge of the slit. As a result, the rigidity in the vicinity of the elastic portion is enhanced and deformation of the elastic portion in the insertion direction of the base member is suppressed. Therefore, the work of assembling the base member to the partition member becomes easy, and the base member can be firmly fixed to the partition member.

Further, according to the refrigerator of the present invention, the surface of the blower cover on the side of the base member is a pressing portion that protrudes toward the base member and presses the elastic portion when the base member is assembled to the partition member. Are formed. Accordingly, when the base member is assembled to the partition member, the pressing portion can prevent the base member from being deformed in the insertion direction, and the elastic portion can be easily engaged with the locking piece.

That is, the base member can be easily engaged with the locking piece by pressing the vicinity of the blower cover attached to the base member in advance and pushing it toward the partition member. Further, with such a configuration, it is not necessary to secure a space into which the operator's finger or the like can be inserted in the vicinity of the elastic portion or the locking piece in order to press the base member. Therefore, the space around the shielding device can be narrowed to ensure a large storage volume in the storage chamber.

Further, according to the refrigerator of the present invention, a chamfered inclined portion is formed at a corner of the outer peripheral portion of the portion where the elastic portion is formed on the partition member side. Thereby, when the base member is assembled to the partition member, the elastic portion is easily pushed by the claw portion of the locking piece and easily deforms toward the center of the base member. Therefore, the work of assembling the base member becomes easy.

It is a front external view of the refrigerator which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a side sectional view showing a schematic structure of a refrigerator concerning an embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view which shows the outline of the air supply path of the refrigerator which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the vicinity of the cooling chamber showing a state where the blower cover of the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention is open. It is a side sectional view near a cooling room which shows a state where a fan cover of a refrigerator concerning an embodiment of the present invention is closed. It is an exploded perspective view of a shielding device of a refrigerator concerning an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective sectional view showing the shield device vicinity of the refrigerator concerning the embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the buffer member vicinity of the refrigerator which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is (A) vertical cross-sectional view of the buffer member of the refrigerator which concerns on embodiment of this invention, (B) Transverse sectional view. It is an exploded perspective view of a shielding device of a refrigerator concerning an embodiment of the present invention. It is the sectional view (A) showing the vicinity of the engaging part of the base member and the locking piece of the refrigerator concerning the embodiment of the present invention, and the (B) perspective view. It is sectional drawing which shows the wiring route part vicinity of the refrigerator which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state which closed the (A) blower cover of the shielding apparatus of a prior art, and the state which opened the (B) blower cover. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing another conventional shielding device.

Hereinafter, a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front external view showing a schematic structure of a refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment includes a heat insulating box 2 as a main body, and a storage chamber for storing food and the like is formed inside the heat insulating box 2. The inside of the storage chamber is divided into a plurality of storage chambers according to the storage temperature and use. The uppermost stage is the refrigerating chamber 3, the lower stage is the ice making chamber 4, the right side is the upper freezing chamber 5, and the lower stage is the lower stage freezing. Room 6 and the vegetable room 7 at the bottom. The ice making chamber 4, the upper freezing chamber 5, and the lower freezing chamber 6 are all storage chambers in the freezing temperature range. In the following description, these are collectively referred to as the freezer compartment 4A as appropriate.

The front surface of the heat insulating box 2 is open, and heat insulating doors 8 to 12 are provided at the openings corresponding to the storage chambers so as to be openable and closable. The heat insulating doors 8a and 8b divide and close the front surface of the refrigerating chamber 3, and the upper left lower part of the heat insulating door 8a and the upper right lower part of the heat insulating door 8b are rotatably supported by the heat insulating box 2. The heat insulation doors 9 to 12 are integrally combined with the storage container, and are supported by the heat insulation box body 2 so as to be freely drawn out in front of the refrigerator 1.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a schematic structure of the refrigerator 1. 2 to 4, the flow of air circulating in the refrigerator is indicated by solid arrows. As shown in FIG. 2, the heat insulating box 2 which is the main body of the refrigerator 1 is provided with an outer box 2a made of a steel plate having an opening on the front side and a space in the outer box 2a with an opening on the front side. It is composed of an inner box 2b made of synthetic resin and a heat insulating material 2c made of foamed polyurethane that is filled and foamed in the gap between the outer box 2a and the inner box 2b. The heat insulating doors 8 to 12 also have the same heat insulating structure as the heat insulating box 2.

The refrigerating compartment 3 and the freezing compartment 4A located below it are partitioned by a heat insulating partition wall 28. A partition wall (not shown in the drawing) separates the interior of the freezer compartment 4A from the ice compartment 4 and the upper stage freezer compartment 5. In addition, cold air is communicatably communicated between the ice making chamber 4 and the upper freezing chamber 5 and the lower freezing chamber 6 provided at the lower stage thereof. The freezer compartment 4A and the vegetable compartment 7 are partitioned by a heat insulating partition wall 29.

A refrigerating compartment supply air passage 14 is formed on the back surface of the refrigerating compartment 3 by a partition member 27 made of synthetic resin, and serves as a supply air passage for supplying cool air to the refrigerating compartment 3. The refrigerating compartment supply air passage 14 is formed with an outlet 17 for blowing cold air into the refrigerating compartment 3. A refrigerating compartment damper 34 is provided in the refrigerating compartment supply air passage 14. The refrigerating compartment damper 34 is a damper that is driven by a motor or the like and can be opened and closed, and controls the flow rate of the cool air supplied to the refrigerating compartment 3 to appropriately maintain the temperature inside the refrigerating compartment 3.

A freezer compartment supply air passage 15 that is a supply air passage through which the air cooled by the cooler 32 flows to the freezer compartment 4A is formed behind the freezer compartment 4A. A cooling chamber 13 is formed further behind the freezing chamber supply air passage 15, and a cooler 32, which is an evaporator for cooling the air circulating in the refrigerator, is arranged inside the cooling chamber 13.

The cooler 32 is connected to the compressor 31, a radiator (not shown), an expansion valve or a capillary tube (not shown) via a refrigerant pipe, and constitutes a vapor compression refrigeration cycle circuit. In the refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment, isobutane, that is, R600a is used as the refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a supply air passage of the refrigerator 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the refrigerator 1 includes a vegetable compartment supply air passage 16 that connects the refrigerating compartment 3 and the vegetable compartment 7. As a result, the cold air supplied to the refrigerating compartment 3 flows into the vegetable compartment supply air passage 16 from the return port 21 formed in the lower part of the refrigerating compartment 3, is blown out from the air outlet 20 and is supplied to the vegetable compartment 7. .. As shown in FIG. 2, the vegetable compartment 7 has a return port 24 connected to the lower portion of the cooling chamber 13, and the air in the vegetable compartment 7 flows from the return port 24 to the lower portion of the cooling chamber 13.

A return air passage for returning air from the refrigerating compartment 3 to the cooling compartment 13 is provided, and a vegetable compartment supply air passage for connecting the cooling compartment 13 or the freezing compartment supply air duct 15 and the vegetable compartment 7 is provided. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which cold air is supplied to the vegetable compartment 7 without going through 3. Further, a vegetable compartment damper may be provided to control the flow of cold air supplied to the vegetable compartment 7.

4 and 5 are side cross-sectional views showing the structure near the cooling chamber 13 of the refrigerator 1, FIG. 4 shows a state in which the blower cover 60 is open, and FIG. 5 shows the blower cover 60 in the closed state. It shows the state.

As shown in FIG. 4, the cooling chamber 13 is provided inside the heat insulating box 2 on the inner side of the freezing chamber supply air passage 15. A partition member 25 made of synthetic resin partitions the cooling chamber 13 from the freezing chamber supply air passage 15 or the freezing chamber 4A. That is, the cooling chamber 13 is a space formed by being sandwiched between the inner box 2b and the partition member 25.

The freezer compartment supply air passage 15 formed in front of the cooling chamber 13 is a space formed between the partition member 25 and the partition member 35 assembled in front of the partition member 25, and cool air cooled by the cooler 32 It becomes a flowing supply air passage. The upper part of the freezer compartment supply air passage 15 is connected to the refrigerating compartment supply air passage 14.

The partition member 35 is formed with a blowout port 18 which is an opening for blowing cold air to the freezer compartment 4A. A return port 23 for returning air from the freezing chamber 4A to the lower part of the cooling chamber 13 is formed on the lower rear surface of the lower freezing chamber 6.

Further, below the cooler 32, a defrost heater 33 is provided as a defrosting means for melting and removing the frost attached to the cooler 32. The defrost heater 33 is an electric resistance heating type heater. As the defrosting means, for example, off-cycle defrost that does not use an electric heater, or other defrosting method such as hot gas defrost can be adopted.

The partition member 25 above the cooling chamber 13 is formed with a blower port 26 which is an opening connected to the freezing chamber supply air passage 15. A blower 40 that blows cold air to the freezer compartment 4A and the like is disposed in front of the blower opening 26. The blower 40 is an eccentric blower including an eccentric fan 42.

A shielding device 50 having a movable blower cover 60 is provided in front of the blower 40. As shown in FIG. 5, the blower cover 60 approaches the blower 40 from the freezer compartment supply air passage 15 side to cover the blower 40 and the blower port 26.

The blower cover 60 is driven by a drive shaft 67 provided on the partition member 35 side to move in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 4, the blower cover 60 moves forward and moves away from the blower 40, so that a flow passage through which air can flow is formed between the blower cover 60 and the partition member 25. As a result, the air cooled by the cooler 32 is blown out by the blower 40 and supplied to the refrigerating compartment 3, the freezing compartment 4A and the vegetable compartment 7.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, when the blower cover 60 moves rearward and approaches the blower 40, the blower cover 60 covers the blower 40, the blower opening 26 is closed, and the cool air flows. Is shielded.

The surface of the blower cover 60 facing the blower 40 is formed into a substantially concave shape. As a result, the blower cover 60 does not contact the fan 42 of the blower 40 arranged in front of the blower port 26, but the rear end of the side surface portion of the blower cover 60 contacts the front surface of the partition member 25, and the blower port 26 Can be closed.

The opening/closing operation of the shielding device 50 is controlled by a control device (not shown), and for example, in the defrosting operation for removing the frost adhering to the cooler 32, the blower cover 60 is closed as shown in FIG.

Specifically, when the cooling operation is continued, frost adheres to the air-side heat transfer surface of the cooler 32, hinders heat transfer, and blocks the air flow path. Therefore, the control device determines the frost formation from the decrease of the refrigerant evaporation temperature or the like, or the defrost timer or the like, and starts the defrosting operation for removing the frost adhering to the cooler 32.

In the defrosting operation, the control device stops the compressor 31 and energizes the defrosting heater 33. As a result, the frost attached to the cooler 32 melts. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the blower port 60 is closed by the blower cover 60. Thereby, the air in the cooling chamber 13 heated by the defrost heater 33 can be prevented from flowing out to the freezing chamber supply air passage 15. As a result, the cooling performance of the refrigerator 1 can be improved.

Further, when the defrosting of the cooler 32 is completed, the control device stops the energization of the defrost heater 33, activates the compressor 31, and starts cooling by the refrigeration circuit. Then, after detecting that the cooler 32 and the cooling chamber 13 have been cooled to a predetermined temperature, or after a predetermined time elapses with a timer or the like, the control device removes the blower cover 60 as shown in FIG. Open and start operation of the blower 40. Thereby, the influence of the defrosting heat can be suppressed and the cooling operation can be restarted.

Next, the shielding device 50 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6 to 12. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the shielding device 50. As shown in FIG. 6, the shielding device 50 includes a blower cover 60 that opens and closes the blower 40, a base member 51 that supports the blower 40 and slidably supports the blower cover 60, and opens and closes the blower cover 60. And a drive shaft 67 for driving.

The shielding device 50 is attached to the freezer compartment supply air passage 15 side of the partition member 35 that divides the freezer compartment 4A and the freezer compartment supply air passage 15. More specifically, a substantially circular recessed portion 36 that is recessed forward is formed on the rear surface of the partition member 35, and the shielding device 50 is disposed in the recessed portion 36. That is, in the partition member 35, only a portion corresponding to the concave portion 36 in which the shielding device 50 is arranged projects forward. By disposing the shielding device 50 in the recess 36 in this way, it is possible to reduce the protrusion of the partition member 35 toward the freezing compartment 4A and ensure a large storage volume of the freezing compartment 4A.

Three main shafts 37 and three locking pieces 38 for fixing the base member 51 are rearward on the main surface of the partition member 35 facing the freezer compartment supply air passage 15 side, specifically, the surface inside the recess 36. Is projected toward. The base member 51 is fixed to and supported by the partition member 35 by a support shaft portion 37 and a locking piece 38 formed in the recess 36. Details will be described later.

The base member 51 is provided with a substantially columnar guide pin 52 that supports the blower cover 60 slidably in the front-rear direction. Three guide pins 52 are provided, each extending rearward from the base member 51 and substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the fan 42. The blower cover 60 is formed with a guide hole 62 into which the guide pin 52 is slidably fitted. The guide pin 52 is inserted into the guide hole 62 to guide the reciprocating movement of the blower cover 60.

A drive shaft 67 for reciprocating the blower cover 60 is attached to the base member 51. The drive shaft 67 is fitted in a shaft support portion 55 formed on the base member 51 and is rotatably supported.

The drive shaft 67 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and is provided with a screw thread 68 in which a part of its side surface is continuously projected in a spiral shape. Then, the drive shaft 67 is screwed into the screw hole 63 formed in the blower cover 60. A motor (not shown) is built in the drive shaft 67 or the shaft support portion 55, and the drive force of the motor causes the drive shaft 67 to rotate by a predetermined angle. When the drive shaft 67 rotates in a predetermined direction, the blower cover 60 approaches the blower 40 and the air passage is closed. On the other hand, when the drive shaft 67 is driven in the reverse rotation with respect to the predetermined direction, the blower cover 60 separates from the blower 40 and the air passage is opened.

The blower cover 60 is a synthetic resin material injection-molded into a roughly lid shape, and has a substantially circular main surface portion and a side surface portion extending rearward from a peripheral edge portion of the main surface portion. Have The guide pin 52 and the guide hole 62 fitted therein are arranged outside the side surface portion. Thus, when the blower cover 60 is closed, air does not leak from the inside of the blower cover 60 to the outside when the blower cover 60 is closed, and the sealing property of the blower cover 60 is improved.

A screw hole 63 is formed in the vicinity of the center of the main surface portion of the blower cover 60, the screw hole 63 penetrating in a substantially circular shape and having a thread groove formed inside. Further, the blower cover 60 is formed with a through hole 61 into which a support portion 53 formed on the base member 51 for fixing the partition member 35 and the base member 51 is slidably fitted.

The blower 40 is an eccentric fan that includes an eccentric fan 42, a fan motor 43 that rotationally drives the fan 42, and a fan base 41 that supports the fan motor 43. The fan base 41 is attached to and supported by the base member 51.

In addition, in the production process of the refrigerator 1, the blower cover 60, the drive shaft 67, and the blower 40 described above are assembled to the base member 51 in advance. Then, the assembly in which the shielding device 50 and the blower 40 are integrally assembled is assembled to the partition member 35.

FIG. 7 is a perspective sectional view showing the vicinity of the shielding device 50 of the refrigerator 1. Note that FIG. 7 shows a state in which the blower cover 60 is opened. As shown in FIG. 7, the blower port 26 that connects the cooling chamber 13 and the freezing chamber supply air passage 15 is a substantially circular opening, and its peripheral edge portion projects toward the cooling chamber 13 side in a substantially semicircular cross section. ing.

The fan 42 of the blower 40 is arranged in front of the blower port 26 so that its rotation axis is substantially coaxial with the central axis of the blower port 26. As described above, the blower 40 is of the eccentric type, and can suck air from the vicinity of the center of the cooling chamber 13 side of the fan 42 and efficiently send the air in the radial direction. As a result, compared with the case of adopting an axial blower as in the prior art, it is possible to improve the blowing efficiency and increase the blowing amount.

As shown in part A of FIG. 7, the base member 51 is supported by the support shaft portion 37 formed on the partition member 35 in the support portion 53, and also supports the fan base 41 of the blower 40. Further, as shown in part B of FIG. 7, the base member 51 is fixed to the partition member 35 by engaging with the locking piece 38 formed on the partition member 35 in the elastic portion 57 formed on the outer peripheral portion. ing. That is, the shielding device 50 and the blower 40 are supported by the partition member 35.

With such a configuration, the fan base 41 that supports the fan motor 43 of the blower 40 and the base member 51 that supports the drive shaft 67 that drives the blower cover 60 are all arranged on the partition member 35 side with respect to the fan 42. It becomes possible.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 7, when the blower cover 60 is opened, the member that supports the fan motor 43 and the member that supports the drive shaft 67 are not arranged in the air flow path, The air flow path is not obstructed. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the flow loss of the air sent from the blower 40, increase the flow rate of the air supplied to the storage room such as the freezing room 4A, and improve the cooling performance of the refrigerator 1.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view near the portion A shown in FIG. 7, showing the structure near the support portion 53. FIG. 9A is a vertical cross-sectional view of the cushioning member 70 provided on the support portion 53. FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 9A and shows a cross section of the cushioning member 70.

As shown in FIG. 8, the base member 51 is provided with a support hole 53a into which the support shaft portion 37 formed in the partition member 35 is inserted. Specifically, the base member 51 is formed with a substantially cylindrical support portion 53 extending in the front-rear direction and having at least the partition member 35 side opened, and the inner peripheral side of the support portion 53 serves as a support hole 53a. Then, the support member 53 is supported by the partition member 35 by fitting the support shaft portion 37 of the partition member 35 into the support hole 53 a of the base member 51 via the buffer member 70.

The buffer member 70 is, for example, an elastic body such as a synthetic rubber molded product, and as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the fitting portion 71 having a substantially cylindrical shape, and the fitting portion 71. And a flange portion 73 annularly protruding from the vicinity of one end portion toward the outer diameter side.

As shown in FIG. 8, the fitting portion 71 of the cushioning member 70 is fitted into the support hole 53 a of the base member 51. Further, the support shaft portion 37 of the partition member 35 is fitted into the inner hole 72 of the fitting portion 71. The flange portion 73 of the cushioning member 70 is sandwiched between the main surface of the partition member 35 and the base member 51. As a result, the fitting portion 71 of the cushioning member 70 can dampen the vibration in the radial direction with respect to the support shaft portion 37, and the flange portion 73 can dampen the vibration in the direction perpendicular to the main surface of the partition member 35. It is possible to suitably suppress vibration in the up, down, left, right, front, and rear directions.

As described above, since the base member 51 is fixed to the partition member 35 via the cushioning member 70, the vibration from the drive shaft 67 (see FIG. 7) that drives the blower cover 60 is propagated to the partition member 35. Can be suppressed, and an increase in noise can be suppressed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9B, the inner hole 72 of the cushioning member 70 is formed with a convex portion 74 that protrudes inward. That is, with reference to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the cushioning member 70 has a convex portion 74 protruding from the surface of the inner hole 72 facing the support shaft portion 37 of the partition member 35. It is in contact with the partition member 35. As a result, the contact area between the partition member 35 and the cushioning member 70 can be reduced to suppress the propagation of vibration, and an excellent vibration damping effect can be obtained.

The shape of the convex portion 74 is not particularly limited, and may be formed in a substantially linear shape, a substantially spiral shape, a substantially dot shape, or the like. Further, a convex shape equivalent to the convex portion 74 may be formed on the surface of the cushioning member 70 facing the base member 51, for example, on the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion 71, the flange portion 73, or the like. As a result, the contact area between the base member 51 and the cushioning member 70 can be reduced, and the vibration damping effect can be enhanced.

As shown in FIG. 8, the outer periphery of the support portion 53 is slidably fitted in a through hole 61 formed in the blower cover 60. As a result, the blower cover 60 is capable of reciprocating in the front-rear direction, and moves toward or away from the blower 40 from the open position shown by the solid line to the closed position shown by the chain line.

The vicinity of the rear end of the support portion 53 is stepped, and a blower support portion 54 having a small diameter is formed. A substantially cylindrical cushioning member 75 is fitted into the blower support portion 54, and the fan base 41 of the blower 40 is attached via the cushioning member 75. More specifically, an annular groove is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cushioning member 75, and the support hole 44 formed in the fan base 41 is fitted into the groove.

That is, the support portion 53 has a structure that has both a function of fixing the base member 51 to the support shaft portion 37 of the partition member 35 and a function of fixing the blower 40 to the base member 51. As described above, the configuration in which both the partition member 35 and the blower 40 are fixed by the support portion 53 of the base member 51 can prevent the shape of the base member 51 from becoming complicated. Further, the size of the shielding device 50 in the front-rear direction can be reduced, and a large storage volume of the freezer compartment 4A can be secured.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the shielding device 50. As shown in FIG. 10, in the vicinity of the outer peripheral portion of the base member 51, three elastic portions 57 are formed corresponding to the positions of the locking pieces 38 protruding from the rear surface of the partition member 35.

The elastic portion 57 is configured to be elastically deformable toward the center side of the base member 51 by the slit 58 formed along the outer peripheral portion of the base member 51. As a result, the elastic portion 57 is deformed to allow passage of the claw portion 39 (see FIG. 11) of the locking piece 38 when the base member 51 is assembled to the partition member 35.

Further, a pressing portion 64 protruding toward the base member 51 side is formed on the main surface of the blower cover 60 on the side of the base member 51 corresponding to the position of the elastic portion 57 of the base member 51. When the base member 51 is assembled to the partition member 35, the pressing portion 64 contacts the vicinity of the elastic portion 57 of the base member 51 and presses the base member 51. Details of the locking piece 38, the elastic portion 57, and the pressing portion 64 will be described later with reference to FIG. 11.

Further, the base member 51 is provided with a substantially rectangular tube-shaped wiring path portion 56 penetrating from the freezing chamber 4A side of the base member 51 to the cooling chamber 13 side. Corresponding to this, the blower cover 60 is formed with a wiring hole 65 penetrating from the freezing chamber 4A side to the cooling chamber 13 side and through which the wiring route portion 56 is inserted. Details will be described later with reference to FIG.

FIG. 11A is an enlarged cross-sectional view near the portion B shown in FIG. 7, and shows the vicinity of the engaging portion between the base member 51 and the locking piece 38. FIG. 11B is a perspective view showing the vicinity of the engaging portion between the base member 51 and the locking piece 38.

As shown in FIG. 11(A), the locking piece 38 protruding from the main surface of the partition member 35 has a claw portion 39 that engages with an elastic portion 57 formed in the vicinity of the outer peripheral portion of the base member 51. Has been formed. As described above, the elastic portion 57 of the base member 51 is deformable by forming the slit 58. Therefore, when the base member 51 is assembled to the partition member 35, the elastic portion 57 elastically deforms toward the center side of the base member 51, and the claw portion 39 of the locking piece 38 is pushed to the rear surface side of the elastic portion 57. Be done. Then, the locking piece 38 engages with the elastic portion 57, and the base member 51 is fixed to the partition member 35. By forming the elastic portion 57 near the outer peripheral portion of the base member 51 in this manner, the work of attaching the base member 51 to the partition member 35 becomes easy.

As shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, at the peripheral edge of the slit 58, a curved edge portion 59 is formed so as to surround the slit 58 and extend from the peripheral edge toward the blower cover 60 side. .. As a result, the rigidity in the vicinity of the elastic portion 57 is increased, and the elastic portion 57 is prevented from being deformed in the front-rear direction. Therefore, the work of assembling the base member 51 to the partition member 35 becomes easy, and the base member 51 can be firmly fixed to the partition member 35.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11A, a chamfered inclined portion 57 a is formed at a corner of the elastic portion 57 of the base member 51 on the partition member 35 side. Thereby, when the base member 51 is assembled to the partition member 35, the elastic portion 57 is easily pushed by the claw portion 39 of the locking piece 38 and deforms toward the center of the base member 51. Therefore, the work of assembling the base member 51 becomes easy.

In addition, since the elastic portion 57 that is elastically deformable is formed at a portion fixed by the locking piece 38 of the base member 51, vibration and noise generated from the drive shaft 67 (see FIG. 6) of the shielding device 50, etc. Propagation to the partition member 35 can be suppressed. That is, the elastic portion 57 has a vibration damping function.

In addition, the configuration in which the elastically deformable elastic portion 57 is provided eliminates the need to largely deform the locking piece 38. Thereby, the locking piece 38 can be shortened. Therefore, the dimension in the front-rear direction near the mounting portion of the shielding device 50 can be reduced, and a large storage volume of the freezer compartment 4A can be secured.

Further, as described above, the pressing portion 64 protruding toward the base member 51 is formed on the main surface of the blower cover 60 on the base member 51 side at a position corresponding to the vicinity of the elastic portion 57. Thereby, when the base member 51 is assembled to the partition member 35, the pressing portion 64 presses the base member 51 by abutting the vicinity of the elastic portion 57 of the base member 51, more specifically, the rear end of the curved edge portion 59. Therefore, the deformation of the base member 51 in the front-rear direction is suppressed, and the elastic portion 57 can be easily engaged with the locking piece 38.

That is, the base member 51 can be easily engaged with the locking piece 38 by pressing the vicinity of the blower cover 60 of the shield device 50 integrally assembled in advance and pushing it toward the partition member 35. The 50 can be easily assembled.

Further, with such a configuration, it is not necessary to secure a space in which the operator's finger or the like can be inserted in the vicinity of the elastic portion 57 and the locking piece 38 in order to press the base member 51. Therefore, the space around the shielding device 50 can be narrowed to secure a large storage volume in the freezer compartment 4A.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11B, the surface of the locking piece 38 opposite to the claw portion 39 is formed so as to connect the locking piece 38 and the main surface of the partition member 35. A rib-shaped reinforcing portion 38a may be formed. Accordingly, the deformation of the locking piece 38 can be suppressed and the base member 51 can be prevented from falling off.

In addition to or instead of the method of fixing the base member 51 by the locking piece 38 described above, a method of fixing the base member 51 to the partition member 35 by a fastening member such as a screw can be adopted. Thereby, the base member 51 can be firmly fixed.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the wiring route portion 56. As shown in FIG. 12, the base member 51 extends in the cooling chamber 13 side along the moving direction of the blower cover 60, and has a substantially cylindrical wiring that connects the partition member 35 side of the base member 51 and the cooling chamber 13 side. It has a path portion 56. The wiring route portion 56 is a route for passing the wiring 77 connected to the fan motor 43 of the blower 40.

The blower cover 60 is provided with a wiring hole 65 having a shape corresponding to the outer periphery of the wiring path portion 56 and into which the wiring path portion 56 is slidably fitted. The wiring path portion 56 is inserted through the wiring hole 65. As a result, the blower cover 60 is configured to be capable of reciprocating along the wiring path portion 56 from the open position shown by the solid line to the closed position shown by the chain line.

With the above configuration, in the configuration in which the base member 51 is fixed to the partition member 35 to enhance the air blowing performance, the wiring to the fan motor 43 arranged on the cooling chamber 13 side of the blower cover 60 is wired from the partition member 35 side. It can be passed to the blower 40 side via the route portion 56. Then, the wiring path portion 56 through which the wiring 77 is inserted is closed by a seal member or the like (not shown). Specifically, for example, a synthetic resin foam sheet material or the like is provided as a sealing member inside the wiring path portion 56 in which the wiring 77 is inserted or between the base member 51 and the partition member 35. The part 56 is closed. Alternatively, the partition member 35 may directly contact the periphery of the opening of the wiring path portion 56 so that the wiring member 56 is closed by the partition member 35. With such a configuration, the mobility of the blower cover 60 is ensured, the sealing performance of the wiring hole 65 is enhanced, the leakage of warm air when the blower cover 60 is closed is suppressed, and the cooling performance of the refrigerator 1 is improved. be able to. The wiring 78 to the motor that drives the drive shaft 67 passes through the gap between the partition member 35 and the base member 51 and is connected to the motor from the partition member 35 side of the base member 51.

In the embodiment described above, as the blower cover 60, a form in which the front surface and the entire side surface of the fan 42 of the blower 40 are covered in the closed state is illustrated. However, the form of the blower cover 60 is not limited to the above example. For example, the blower cover 60 may be formed with an opening that allows the air from the blower 40 to flow into a specific storage chamber such as the refrigerating chamber 3 in the closed state. By combining the blower cover 60 having such a configuration, the refrigerating compartment damper 34, and other dampers (not shown) or the like, it is possible to efficiently and independently cool each storage chamber in accordance with each cooling load.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

1 Refrigerator 2 Insulation Box 3 Refrigerating Room 4A Freezing Room 4 Ice Making Room 5 Upper Freezing Room 6 Lower Freezing Room 7 Vegetable Room 13 Cooling Room 14 Refrigerating Room Supply Airway 15 Freezing Room Supply Airway 26 Blower 32 Cooler 35 Partitioning Member 37 Support Shaft 38 Locking Piece 39 Claw 40 Blower 41 Fan Base 42 Fan 43 Fan Motor 50 Shielding Device 51 Base Member 52 Guide Pin 53 Supporting Part 53a Supporting Hole 54 Blower Supporting Part 56 Wiring Route 57 Elastic Part 57a Sloping Part Reference numeral 58 Slit 59 Curvature portion 60 Blower cover 61 Through hole 62 Guide hole 63 Screw hole 64 Pressing portion 67 Drive shaft 70 Buffer member 71 Fitting portion 72 Inner hole 73 Flange portion 74 Convex portion

Claims (5)

Storage room,
A cooling chamber provided with a cooler for cooling the air supplied to the storage chamber,
A supply air passage connecting the cooling chamber and the storage chamber, through which the air cooled by the cooler flows,
A blower provided on the supply air passage side of the air outlet connecting the cooling chamber and the supply air passage,
A movable blower cover that approaches the blower from the supply air passage side and covers the blower and the blower opening,
A base member that is fixed to a partition member that partitions the storage chamber and the supply air passage, supports the blower and supports the blower cover slidably,
The partition member is provided with a support shaft portion protruding from a main surface facing the supply air passage side and inserted into a support hole formed in the base member, and an outer peripheral portion of the base member protruding from the main surface. And a locking piece that engages with,
In the vicinity of the outer peripheral portion of the base member with which the locking piece engages, an elastic portion that deforms to allow passage of the claw portion of the locking piece when the base member is assembled to the partition member is formed. Refrigerator characterized by being. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the elastic portion is elastically deformable by a slit formed along the outer peripheral portion. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein an edge curving portion protruding toward the blower cover is formed at a peripheral edge of the slit. The surface of the blower cover on the side of the base member is formed with a pressing portion that protrudes toward the base member and presses the elastic portion when the base member is assembled to the partition member. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. A chamfered inclined portion is formed at a corner of the outer peripheral portion of the portion where the elastic portion is formed, on the side of the partition member. Refrigerator described in.

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