US20230366612A1

US20230366612A1 - Refrigerator and door body thereof

Info

Publication number: US20230366612A1
Application number: US18/245,295
Authority: US
Inventors: Peng LYU; Hao Zhang; Jiaming Li; Zhanpeng CUI; Sen Mou
Original assignee: Qingdao Haier Refrigerator Co Ltd; Haier Smart Home Co Ltd
Current assignee: Qingdao Haier Refrigerator Co Ltd; Haier Smart Home Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-09-15
Filing date: 2021-09-07
Publication date: 2023-11-16
Also published as: EP4206585A1; CN114183968A; WO2022057684A1; EP4206585A4

Abstract

Disclosed are a refrigerator and a door body thereof. The door body for the refrigerator comprises: a frame hinged to a refrigerator body or other door bodies of the refrigerator; an inner glass plate disposed in a hollow area of the frame; and an outer glass plate fixedly connected to an edge of the frame, having conductive particles, and configured to produce heat after being powered on to remove condensate water on the surface thereof. According to the solution of the present invention, the outer glass plate is powered on to produce heat so as to remove condensate water, thereby avoiding that the heat produced by an additional heating layer cannot be transferred to the outer glass plate. The present invention can effectively improve the condensate water removal effect.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the technical field of refrigeration and freezing, and in particular to a refrigerator and a door body thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With the development of society and the continuous improvement of people’s living standards, people’s pace of life is getting faster and faster. As a result, people are increasingly willing to buy lots of food and store the food in refrigerators. Therefore, refrigerators have become one of the indispensable household appliances in people’s daily life.
To make sure that objects stored in refrigerators can be checked conveniently, more and more refrigerator products with a door body provided with a transparent area have emerged. A transparent area of an existing refrigerator door body is generally double-layer glass or three-layer glass, where the double-layer glass is generally applied to wine cabinets with low requirements on temperature, no electric heating is required, and no condensation occurs. The three-layer glass is generally applied to a refrigeration door body of a refrigerator, and is generally provided with a first layer, a second layer and a third layer from outside to inside, where the first layer is a decorative layer, the second layer is a heating layer, and the third layer is a heat insulation layer. However, the heating layer is located in the middle. Therefore, when condensation occurs on the surface of the first layer, it is difficult to transfer the heat of the second layer to the first layer, and it is difficult to remove condensate water, which affects the use experience of users.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One purpose of the present invention is to improve a condensate water removal effect of a door body of a refrigerator.
A further purpose of the present invention is to remove condensate water with low energy consumption by cooperation of glass and a heating wire.
Particularly, the present invention provides a door body applied to a refrigerator, including: a frame configured to be hinged to a refrigerator body or another door body of the refrigerator; an inner glass plate disposed in a hollow area of the frame; and an outer glass plate fixedly connected to an edge of the frame, having conductive particles and configured to produce heat after powered on so as to remove condensate water on the surface of the outer glass plate.
Optionally, the door body applied to a refrigerator further includes a wire leading layer coated on an inner side of the outer glass plate, and configured to be connected to a conductor so as to power on the outer glass plate.
Optionally, the door body applied to a refrigerator further includes a decorative layer disposed between the outer glass plate and the frame, a hollow area of the decorative layer being disposed corresponding to the hollow area of the frame.
Optionally, the wire leading layer matches with the decorative layer in patterns so as to be integrated with the decorative layer.
Optionally, the wire leading layer is located at an inner edge of the outer glass plate, and the edge of the outer glass plate is wrapped to shield the wire leading layer.
Optionally, a foamed layer is disposed between the frame and the outer glass plate, a heating wire is pre-embedded in the foamed layer, and the heating wire is configured to produce heat in a controlled way to remove condensate water on the surface of the outer glass plate.
Optionally, when a humidity in a storage space of the refrigerator is greater than a preset humidity threshold, the outer glass plate and the heating wire produce heat simultaneously.
Optionally, the door body applied to a refrigerator further includes a spacing bar disposed between the inner glass plate and the outer glass plate to insulate heat.
Optionally, a gas with a heat conductivity smaller than a preset conductivity threshold is filled between the inner glass plate and the outer glass plate.
In another aspect, the present invention further provides a refrigerator, including the door body according to any one of the above descriptions.
The door body applied to a refrigerator according to the present invention includes: a frame, configured to be hinged to a refrigerator body or another door body of the refrigerator; an inner glass plate, disposed in a hollow area of the frame; and an outer glass plate, fixedly connected to an edge of the frame, where the outer glass plate includes conductive particles, and is configured to produce heat after powered on so as to remove condensate water on the surface of the outer glass plate. The condensate water can be removed by powering on the outer glass plate itself to produce heat, which avoids the problem that heat generated by an additionally arranged heating layer cannot be transferred to the outer glass plate, and can effectively improve a condensate water removal effect.
Further, the door body applied to a refrigerator according to the present invention further includes a wire leading layer, coated on an inner side of the outer glass plate and configured to be connected to a conductor to power on the outer glass plate; and a decorative layer, disposed between the outer glass plate and the frame, where a hollow area of the decorative layer is disposed corresponding to the hollow area of the frame, and the wire leading layer matches with the decorative layer in patterns so as to be integrated with the decorative layer. Alternatively, the wire leading layer is located at an inner edge of the outer glass plate, and the edge of the outer glass plate is wrapped to shield the wire leading layer. Through the above two ways, the wire leading layer can be prevented from being directly seen via the outer glass plate, thereby ensuring that the wire leading layer is connected to a conductor so that the outer glass plate is powered on and the aesthetics is guaranteed as well.
More further, according to the door body applied to a refrigerator in the present invention, a foamed layer is disposed between the frame and the outer glass plate, a heating wire is pre-embedded in the foamed layer, and the heating wire is configured to produce heat in a controlled way to remove condensate water on the surface of the outer glass plate. When a humidity in a storage space of the refrigerator is greater than a preset humidity threshold, the outer glass plate and the heating wire produce heat simultaneously. The outer glass plate may cooperate with the heating wire to remove condensate water with low energy consumption, thus ensuring visuality of a transparent area of the door body and improving use experience of users.
Specific embodiments of the present invention are described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, and persons skilled in the art can more clearly understand the above and other purposes, advantages and features of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some specific embodiments of the present invention are described below in detail in an exemplary and unlimited way with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same or similar components or parts are indicated by the same reference numerals in the drawings. Persons skilled in the art should understand that these drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a door body applied to a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the door body shown in FIG. 2 ; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic exploded view of the door body shown in FIG. 2 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following describes a refrigerator and a door body thereof according to embodiments of the present invention with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 . The orientations or positional relationships indicated by “front”, “rear”, “up”, “down”, “top”, “bottom”, “inside”, “outside”, “transverse”, “longitudinal” and the like are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. Such terms are intended merely for the ease and brevity of description of the present invention without indicating or implying that the apparatuses or components mentioned must have specified orientations or must be constructed and manipulated in specified orientations, and therefore shall not be construed as any limitation on the present invention.
An embodiment of the present invention provides a refrigerator, and a door body of the refrigerator includes a transparent area for conveniently checking objects stored inside the refrigerator. FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a refrigerator 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1 , the refrigerator 100 according to this embodiment may generally include a refrigerator body 110 and a door body 120.
A storage space may be defined inside the refrigerator body 110, and the storage space is provided with a plurality of storage areas. The number and structure of the storage space may be configured as required. FIG. 1 shows a situation of four storage spaces that are sequentially disposed from top to bottom. The above spaces may be configured as a refrigeration space, a freezing space, a variable-temperature space or a preservation space according to different purposes. Each storage space may be divided into a plurality of storage areas by partition plates, inside which objects are stored by using shelves or drawers. In a specific embodiment, the uppermost storage space in the refrigerator 100 according to this embodiment may be a refrigeration space.
The door body 120 may be disposed at a front surface of the refrigerator body 110 to seal the storage space. The door body 120 may be disposed corresponding to the storage space. That is, each storage space corresponds to one or more door bodies 120. The number of the storage space, the number of the door body 120, and the function of the storage space may be actually selected according to specific situations. The door body 120 may be pivotally disposed at the front surface of the refrigerator body 110. In some refrigerators 100 that are provided with double-layer door bodies, the door body 120 with a transparent area may also serve as a secondary door of a door-in-door, that is, this door body 120 is disposed in front of the other door body.
In addition, the refrigerator 100 may further include a refrigeration system that is configured to provide cold energy for the storage space. Moreover, the refrigeration system may be a compression refrigeration system including components such as an evaporator, a fan, and a compressor. The refrigeration system provides different cooling capacities for the refrigeration space and the freezing space, such that the refrigeration space and the freezing space have different temperatures inside. The temperature in the refrigeration space is generally between 2° C. and 10° C., preferably between 3° C. and 8° C. The temperature in the freezing space is generally between -22° C. and -14° C. Different types of foods should be stored at different optimal storage temperatures, and also should be stored in different storage spaces. For example, fruit and vegetable foods are suitable for being stored in a refrigeration space, while meat foods are suitable for being stored in a freezing space. The door body 120 with a transparent area may be applied to a refrigeration space.
After the door body 120 is opened or closed, cold and heat exchange between the interior of the storage space and an external environment is enhanced because there is a temperature difference between the interior of the storage space and the external environment, increasing a risk of condensation on the surface of the door body 120. The door body 120 applied to a refrigerator according to this embodiment can effectively improve a condensate water removal effect. FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a door body 120 applied to a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the door body 120 shown in FIG. 2 . FIG. 4 is a schematic exploded view of the door body 120 shown in FIG. 2 . As shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 , the door body 120 applied to a refrigerator may include a frame 121, an inner glass plate 122, and an outer glass plate 123.
The frame 121 is configured to be hinged to the refrigerator body 110 or another door body of the refrigerator 100. The inner glass plate 122 may be disposed in a hollow area of the frame 121. The outer glass plate 123 may be fixedly connected to an edge of the frame 121, includes conductive particles, and is configured to produce heat after powered on so as to remove condensate water on the surface of the outer glass plate. Actually, in a case that the door body 120 is closed, the outer glass plate 123 is located at one side facing the external environment, and the inner glass plate 122 is located at one side facing the storage space. Preferably, the inner glass plate 122 may be made of radiation-proof glass so as to enhance a heat insulation effect, for example, the inner glass plate 122 may be made of low-emissivity glass such as single-silver glass, or double-silver glass. The outer glass plate 123 includes conductive particles. Specifically, before common glass is cured, the surface of the glass may be spray-coated with conductive particles such as silver particles, such that the conductive particles are integrally formed with the glass after the glass is cured. The outer glass plate 123 is equivalent to a resistor with a large resistance. As long as a positive electrode and a negative electrode are led out of the outer glass plate 123, the resistor produces heat after powered on, that is, the outer glass plate 123 produces heat.
The hollow area of the frame 121 actually defines a transparent area of the door body 120. A user can check objects stored in the storage space via the transparent area, realizing visuality of a storage situation inside the refrigerator 100. In addition, the door frame may be provided with a reserved foaming space to implement foaming treatment between the door frame and the outer glass plate 123, thus enhancing a heat insulation effect. A gas with a heat conductivity smaller than a preset conductivity threshold may be filled between the inner glass plate 122 and the outer glass plate 123. Specifically, argon is filled between the inner glass plate 122 and the outer glass plate 123.
In a preferred embodiment, the door body 120 may further include a wire leading layer 124 and a decorative layer 125. The wire leading layer 124 may be coated on an inner side of the outer glass plate 123, and is configured to be connected to a conductor so as to power on the outer glass plate 123. The decorative layer 125 may be disposed between the outer glass plate 123 and the frame 121, and a hollow area of the decorative layer 125 is disposed corresponding to the hollow area of the frame 121. Generally, the decorative layer 125 may be an ink layer. To lower the cost, a decoration process such as screen printing may be adopted. The wire leading layer 124 may be a conductive layer applied on the inner side of the outer glass plate 123 in a brush coating way, for example, the inner side of the outer glass plate 123 may be brush-coated with silver paste so as to be connected to a conductor.
The wire leading layer 124 can be seen via the outer glass plate 123, which affects the appearance. Therefore, the wire leading layer 124 may match with the decorative layer 125 in patterns so as to be integrated with the decorative layer 125. In other words, the wire leading layer 124 becomes a part of the patterns of the decorative layer 125. In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4 , the wire leading layer 124 may be located at an inner edge of the outer glass plate 123. Therefore, the edge of the outer glass plate 123 is wrapped to shield the wire leading layer 124. The wrapped edge may be disposed separately, or may be implemented by the frame 121. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4 , the wire leading layer 124 may be located at edges of upper and lower ends of the inner side of the outer glass plate 123 so as to lead out a positive electrode and a negative electrode from upper and lower positions, such that the outer glass plate 123 becomes a resistor with a large resistance.
As mentioned above, the door frame may be provided with a reserved foaming space, a foamed layer may be disposed between the frame 121 and the outer glass plate 123, a heating wire 126 may be pre-embedded in the foamed layer, and the heating wire is configured to produce heat in a controlled way so as to remove condensate water on the surface of the outer glass plate 123. It should be noted that when a humidity in a storage space of the refrigerator 100 is greater than a preset humidity threshold, the outer glass plate 123 and the heating wire 126 simultaneously produce heat to remove condensate water. When the humidity in the storage space of the refrigerator 100 is smaller than or equal to the preset humidity threshold, one of the outer glass plate 123 and the heating wire 126 is used to produce heat to remove condensate water. In addition, a case of selecting one of the outer glass plate 123 and the heating wire 126 may also be optimized according to an actual condition of heat production of the outer glass plate 123 and the heating wire 126. Alternatively, a switch may be provided to control heating start and heating stop of the outer glass plate 123 and the heating wire 126 respectively, and a user can make a choice as needed.
In a specific embodiment, the door body 120 may further include a spacing bar 127 disposed between the inner glass plate 122 and the outer glass plate 123 to insulate heat. The spacing bar 127 may effectively prevent heat produced during heating of the outer glass plate 123 and/or the heating wire 126 from being transferred to the inner glass plate 122 to affect a storage temperature of the storage space, thereby effectively guaranteeing a storage effect. Preferably, the spacing bar 127 may be a heat insulating sealing bar such as aluminum alloy and a warm edge spacer.
The door body 120 applied to a refrigerator according to this embodiment includes: a frame 121, configured to be hinged to the refrigerator body 110 or another door body of the refrigerator 100; an inner glass plate 122, disposed in a hollow area of the frame 121; and an outer glass plate 123, fixedly connected to an edge of the frame 121, where the outer glass plate 123 includes conductive particles, and is configured to produce heat after powered on so as to remove condensate water on the surface of the outer glass plate 123. The condensate water can be removed by powering on the outer glass plate 123 itself to produce heat, which avoids the problem that heat generated by an additionally arranged heating layer cannot be transferred to the outer glass plate 123, and can effectively improve a condensate water removal effect.
Further, the door body 120 applied to a refrigerator according to this embodiment further includes a wire leading layer 124, coated on an inner side of the outer glass plate 123 and configured to be connected to a conductor to power on the outer glass plate 123; and a decorative layer 125, disposed between the outer glass plate 123 and the frame 121, where a hollow area of the decorative layer 125 is disposed corresponding to the hollow area of the frame 121, and the wire leading layer 124 matches with the decorative layer 125 in patterns so as to be integrated with the decorative layer 125. Alternatively, the wire leading layer 124 is located at an inner edge of the outer glass plate 123, and the edge of the outer glass plate 123 is wrapped to shield the wire leading layer 124. Through the above two ways, the wire leading layer 124 can be prevented from being directly seen via the outer glass plate 123, thereby ensuring that the wire leading layer 124 is connected to a conductor so that the outer glass plate 123 is powered on and the aesthetics is guaranteed as well.
More further, according to the door body 120 applied to a refrigerator in this embodiment, a foamed layer is disposed between the frame 121 and the outer glass plate 123, a heating wire 126 is pre-embedded in the foamed layer, and the heating wire is configured to produce heat in a controlled way so as to remove condensate water on the surface of the outer glass plate 123. When a humidity in a storage space of the refrigerator 100 is greater than a preset humidity threshold, the outer glass plate 123 and the heating wire 126 produce heat simultaneously. The outer glass plate 123 may cooperate with the heating wire 126 to remove condensate water with low energy consumption, thus ensuring visuality of a transparent area of the door body 120 and improving use experience of users.
In conclusion, it should be learned by those skilled in the art that although various exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described in detail herein, many other variations or modifications consistent with the principles of the present invention may be directly determined or derived from the disclosure of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should be construed and considered as covering all these other variations or modifications.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A door body applied to a refrigerator, comprising:

a frame, configured to be hinged to a refrigerator body or another door body of the refrigerator;

an inner glass plate, disposed in a hollow area of the frame; and

an outer glass plate, fixedly connected to an edge of the frame, having conductive particles, and configured to produce heat after powered on so as to remove condensate water on the surface of the outer glass plate.

2. The door body applied to a refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising:

a wire leading layer, coated on an inner side of the outer glass plate, and configured to be connected to a conductor so as to power on the outer glass plate.

3. The door body applied to a refrigerator according to claim 2, further comprising:

a decorative layer, disposed between the outer glass plate and the frame, a hollow area of the decorative layer being disposed corresponding to the hollow area of the frame.

4. The door body applied to a refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein

the wire leading layer matches with the decorative layer in patterns so as to be integrated with the decorative layer.

5. The door body applied to a refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein

the wire leading layer is located at an inner edge of the outer glass plate, and

the edge of the outer glass plate is wrapped to shield the wire leading layer.

6. The door body applied to a refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein

a foamed layer is disposed between the frame and the outer glass plate, and

a heating wire is pre-embedded in the foamed layer, and the heating wire is configured to produce heat in a controlled way to remove condensate water on the surface of the outer glass plate.

7. The door body applied to a refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein

when a humidity in a storage space of the refrigerator is greater than a preset humidity threshold, the outer glass plate and the heating wire produce heat simultaneously.

8. The door body applied to a refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising:

a spacing bar disposed between the inner glass plate and the outer glass plate to insulate heat.

9. The door body applied to a refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein

a gas with a heat conductivity smaller than a preset conductivity threshold is filled between the inner glass plate and the outer glass plate.

10. A refrigerator, comprising the door body according to claim 1.