JP7637082B2

JP7637082B2 - refrigerator

Info

Publication number: JP7637082B2
Application number: JP2022014825A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 翔一田口; 良二河井; 慎一郎岡留; 祐理石▲崎▼; 遵自鈴木; 真也岩渕
Original assignee: Hitachi Global Life Solutions Inc
Current assignee: Hitachi Global Life Solutions Inc
Priority date: 2022-02-02
Filing date: 2022-02-02
Publication date: 2025-02-27
Anticipated expiration: 2042-02-02
Also published as: JP2023112855A

Description

本発明は、冷蔵庫に関する。 The present invention relates to a refrigerator.

冷蔵庫における冷蔵室の高湿化を実現する技術として、例えば、特許文献１に記載された冷蔵庫がある。 One example of a technology for achieving high humidity in the refrigerator compartment is the refrigerator described in Patent Document 1.

特許文献１の冷蔵庫は、冷凍室用蒸発器（第１冷却器）と、冷蔵室用蒸発器（第２冷却器）と、冷蔵室と、冷凍室とを備える。冷凍室は冷凍室用蒸発器と熱交換された冷気のみを用いて冷却される（段落００３５）。冷蔵室は、冷蔵室用蒸発器、具体的には冷蔵室の背面に配置された冷却板を用いて収容空間を冷やす直接冷却方式で冷却されると共に、冷凍室用蒸発器と熱交換された冷気を冷蔵室の収容空間内へ送出して冷やす間接冷却方式で冷却される（段落００３２－００３４）。この冷蔵庫は冷凍室用蒸発器と熱交換された冷気を冷蔵室へ送出するために、冷蔵室の背面に冷気送出流路が設けられ、冷気送出流路は冷凍室用蒸発器が配置された冷却室に連通している（段落００３５）。冷却室と冷気送出流路との間には冷蔵室送りダンパが設けられ、冷蔵室送りダンパを開状態とすることで、冷凍室用冷却器と熱交換された冷気が冷気送出流路を通過して冷蔵室内へ流入する（段落００３３）。特許文献１の図１では、冷却板は冷気送出流路の内側に設けられることで、冷蔵室の背面に配置されており、冷蔵室内部の空気を冷却板に戻す戻り口が冷気送出流路に設けられている。 The refrigerator in Patent Document 1 includes a freezer evaporator (first cooler), a refrigerator evaporator (second cooler), a refrigerator compartment, and a freezer compartment. The freezer compartment is cooled only using cold air that has exchanged heat with the freezer evaporator (paragraph 0035). The refrigerator compartment is cooled by a direct cooling method that uses the refrigerator evaporator, specifically a cooling plate arranged at the back of the refrigerator compartment, to cool the storage space, and by an indirect cooling method that sends the cold air that has exchanged heat with the freezer evaporator into the storage space of the refrigerator compartment (paragraphs 0032-0034). In this refrigerator, a cold air sending flow path is provided at the back of the refrigerator compartment to send the cold air that has exchanged heat with the freezer evaporator to the refrigerator compartment, and the cold air sending flow path is connected to the cooling compartment in which the freezer evaporator is arranged (paragraph 0035). A refrigerator compartment feed damper is provided between the cooling compartment and the cold air delivery passage, and by opening the refrigerator compartment feed damper, the cold air that has exchanged heat with the freezer cooler passes through the cold air delivery passage and flows into the refrigerator compartment (paragraph 0033). In FIG. 1 of Patent Document 1, the cooling plate is provided inside the cold air delivery passage, and is positioned at the rear of the refrigerator compartment, and a return port that returns the air inside the refrigerator compartment to the cooling plate is provided in the cold air delivery passage.

特開２０２０－１８０７２１号公報JP 2020-180721 A

特許文献１の構成では、
直接冷却方式で使用する流路と間接冷却方式で使用する流路とが１つの流路を供用する構成であり、間接冷却方式による冷蔵室の冷却の際に、冷凍室用冷却器と熱交換された冷気が戻り口から冷蔵室に流入する可能性がある。この場合、冷蔵室の上部が十分冷えない、あるいは、冷蔵室の下部が過度に冷えるといった課題が発生する。 In the configuration of Patent Document 1,
In this configuration, one flow path is shared by both the direct cooling method and the indirect cooling method, and when cooling the refrigerator compartment by the indirect cooling method, the cold air that has exchanged heat with the freezer cooler may flow into the refrigerator compartment through the return port. In this case, problems may occur such as the upper part of the refrigerator compartment not being cooled sufficiently or the lower part being cooled excessively.

本発明の目的は、間接冷却方式による冷却の際に冷蔵室の上部が十分に冷えない、あるいは、冷蔵室の下部が過度に冷えるといった課題に有効な冷蔵庫を提供することにある。 The object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that effectively solves the problem that the upper part of the refrigerator compartment is not cooled sufficiently or the lower part of the refrigerator compartment is cooled excessively when cooling using an indirect cooling method.

上記課題を解決するために、例えば特許請求の範囲に記載の構成を採用する。 To solve the above problem, the configuration described in the claims is adopted, for example.

本願は上記課題を解決する手段を複数含んでいるが、その一例を挙げるならば、
貯蔵室としての冷蔵室及び冷凍室と、
冷却器が収容された冷却器室と、
前記冷却器室で前記冷却器と熱交換した冷気を送風する冷凍室ファンと、
前記冷蔵室に冷気を循環させる冷蔵室第一風路と、
前記冷却器室から前記冷蔵室第一風路への冷気の流通を制御する冷蔵室第一ダンパと、
前記冷蔵室の冷気を循環させる冷蔵室ファンと、
前記冷凍室ファン、前記冷蔵室第一ダンパ及び前記冷蔵室ファンを制御する制御装置と、
前記冷蔵室に配置された冷蔵室温度センサと、前記冷蔵室温度センサよりも下方で前記冷蔵室に配置された冷蔵室下部温度センサと、
を備え、
前記冷蔵室第一風路は、前記冷蔵室の内部冷気を取り込む冷蔵室第一戻り口と、取り込んだ内部冷気を前記冷蔵室へ吹き出す冷蔵室吹き出し口と、を有すると共に、前記冷蔵室第一ダンパを介して前記冷凍室ファンの吹き出し領域と連通するように構成され、
冷蔵室第一戻り口は、前記冷蔵室吹き出し口に対して、前記冷蔵室第一ダンパの側に位置し、
前記冷蔵室ファンは、前記冷蔵室の内部冷気が、前記冷蔵室、前記冷蔵室第一戻り口、前記冷蔵室第一風路、及び前記冷蔵室吹き出し口の順で循環するように、前記冷蔵室第一風路に配置され、
前記制御装置は、前記冷蔵室第一ダンパが開状態の場合に、前記冷蔵室ファンを駆動状態に制御し、前記冷却器室で前記冷却器と熱交換し前記冷蔵室第一ダンパを通過した冷気が、前記冷蔵室第一風路から前記冷蔵室第一戻り口を介して前記冷蔵室に流れる逆流を防止し、
さらに前記制御装置は、第一送風モードと第二送風モードとを備え、
前記第一送風モードでは、前記冷蔵室第一ダンパが開状態の場合に、前記冷蔵室ファンと共に前記冷凍室ファンを駆動して、前記冷却器室で前記冷却器と熱交換した冷気を、前記冷蔵室第一ダンパから前記冷蔵室第一風路に送風して、前記冷蔵室吹き出し口から前記冷蔵室に吹き出した後、前記冷蔵室第一戻り口から前記冷蔵室第一風路に送風して、再び前記冷蔵室吹き出し口から前記冷蔵室に吹き出して循環させ、
前記第二送風モードでは、前記冷蔵室第一ダンパが開状態の場合に、前記冷却器室で前記冷却器と熱交換した冷気を、前記冷蔵室吹き出し口及び前記冷蔵室第一戻り口から前記冷蔵室に送風し、
前記冷蔵室温度センサが検知した温度と前記冷蔵室下部温度センサの検知した温度との差が所定の温度差を上回り、且つ、前記冷蔵室下部温度センサの検知した温度が、前記冷蔵室温度センサが検知した温度よりも高い場合に、前記第二送風モードによる冷却を行い、
前記第一送風モードによる冷却時間は、第二送風モードによる冷却時間よりも長くする。
また、貯蔵室としての冷蔵室及び冷凍室と、
冷却器が収容された冷却器室と、
前記冷却器室で前記冷却器と熱交換した冷気を送風する冷凍室ファンと、
前記冷蔵室に冷気を循環させるのに使用される冷蔵室第一風路と、
前記冷却器室から前記冷蔵室第一風路への冷気の流通を制御する冷蔵室第一ダンパと、
前記冷蔵室の冷気を循環させる冷蔵室ファンと、
前記冷凍室ファン、前記冷蔵室第一ダンパ及び前記冷蔵室ファンを制御する制御装置と、
を備え、
前記冷蔵室第一風路は、前記冷蔵室の内部冷気を取り込む冷蔵室第一戻り口と、冷気を前記冷蔵室へ吹き出す冷蔵室吹き出し口と、を有すると共に、前記冷蔵室第一ダンパを介して前記冷凍室ファンの吹き出し領域と連通するように構成され、
冷蔵室第一戻り口は、前記冷蔵室の庫内側から前記冷蔵室第一風路に向かうにつれて流路断面積が減少する構造を有すると共に、前記冷蔵室吹き出し口に対して、前記冷蔵室第一ダンパの側に位置し、
前記冷蔵室ファンは、前記冷蔵室の内部冷気が、前記冷蔵室、前記冷蔵室第一戻り口、前記冷蔵室第一風路、及び前記冷蔵室吹き出し口の順で循環するように、前記冷蔵室第一風路に配置され、
前記制御装置は、前記冷蔵室第一ダンパが開状態の場合に、前記冷蔵室ファンを駆動状態に制御する。
また、貯蔵室としての冷蔵室及び冷凍室と、
冷却器が収容された冷却器室と、
前記冷却器室で前記冷却器と熱交換した冷気を送風する冷凍室ファンと、
前記冷蔵室に冷気を循環させるのに使用される冷蔵室第一風路と、
前記冷却器室から前記冷蔵室第一風路への冷気の流通を制御する冷蔵室第一ダンパと、
前記冷蔵室の冷気を循環させる冷蔵室ファンと、
前記冷凍室ファン、前記冷蔵室第一ダンパ及び前記冷蔵室ファンを制御する制御装置と、
前記冷蔵室第一風路とは独立した風路として設けられ前記冷却器室で前記冷却器と熱交換した冷気を流通させる冷蔵室第二風路と、
前記冷蔵室第二風路へ流入する冷気の風量を調整する冷蔵室第二ダンパと、
を備え、
前記冷蔵室第一風路は、前記冷蔵室の内部冷気を取り込む冷蔵室第一戻り口と、冷気を前記冷蔵室へ吹き出す冷蔵室吹き出し口と、を有すると共に、前記冷蔵室第一ダンパを介して前記冷凍室ファンの吹き出し領域と連通するように構成され、
冷蔵室第一戻り口は、前記冷蔵室吹き出し口に対して、前記冷蔵室第一ダンパの側に位置し、
前記冷蔵室ファンは、前記冷蔵室の内部冷気が、前記冷蔵室、前記冷蔵室第一戻り口、前記冷蔵室第一風路、及び前記冷蔵室吹き出し口の順で循環するように、前記冷蔵室第一風路に配置され、
前記制御装置は、前記冷蔵室第一ダンパが開状態の場合に、前記冷蔵室ファンを駆動状態に制御する。 The present application includes a number of means for solving the above problems. To give an example of such means,
A refrigerator and a freezer as storage rooms;
a cooler chamber in which a cooler is accommodated;
a freezer compartment fan for blowing cold air that has exchanged heat with the cooler in the cooler compartment;
A first refrigeration chamber air duct for circulating cold air in the refrigeration chamber;
a first damper for controlling flow of cold air from the cooling chamber to the first air passage for the refrigerator chamber;
A refrigerator compartment fan that circulates cold air in the refrigerator compartment;
a control device for controlling the freezer compartment fan, the refrigerator compartment first damper, and the refrigerator compartment fan;
A refrigerator compartment temperature sensor disposed in the refrigerator compartment; and a refrigerator compartment lower part temperature sensor disposed in the refrigerator compartment below the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor.
Equipped with
The first refrigeration chamber air passage has a first refrigeration chamber return port that takes in the internal cold air of the refrigeration chamber, and a refrigeration chamber outlet port that blows out the taken in internal cold air to the refrigeration chamber, and is configured to communicate with a blowing area of the freezer chamber fan via the first refrigeration chamber damper,
The first refrigeration chamber return port is located on the first refrigeration chamber damper side with respect to the refrigeration chamber outlet port,
The refrigerator compartment fan is disposed in the refrigerator compartment first air duct so that the cold air inside the refrigerator compartment circulates through the refrigerator compartment, the refrigerator compartment first return port, the refrigerator compartment first air duct, and the refrigerator compartment outlet port in this order;
the control device controls the refrigerator compartment fan to a drive state when the refrigerator compartment first damper is in an open state , and prevents a backflow of cold air that has exchanged heat with the cooler in the cooler chamber and passed through the refrigerator compartment first damper from flowing from the refrigerator compartment first air duct to the refrigerator compartment via the refrigerator compartment first return port;
The control device further includes a first air blowing mode and a second air blowing mode.
In the first air blowing mode, when the refrigerator compartment first damper is in an open state, the freezer compartment fan is driven together with the refrigerator compartment fan, and the cold air that has exchanged heat with the cooler in the cooler compartment is blown from the refrigerator compartment first damper to the refrigerator compartment first air duct, blown out from the refrigerator compartment outlet into the refrigerator compartment, and then blown out from the refrigerator compartment first return port into the refrigerator compartment first air duct, and then blown out again from the refrigerator compartment outlet into the refrigerator compartment to circulate the cold air.
In the second air blowing mode, when the first damper of the refrigerator compartment is in an open state, the cold air that has exchanged heat with the cooler in the cooler compartment is blown into the refrigerator compartment from the refrigerator compartment outlet and the first return port of the refrigerator compartment,
When a difference between the temperature detected by the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor and the temperature detected by the lower refrigerator compartment temperature sensor exceeds a predetermined temperature difference and the temperature detected by the lower refrigerator compartment temperature sensor is higher than the temperature detected by the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor, cooling is performed in the second air blowing mode;
The cooling time in the first air blowing mode is set to be longer than the cooling time in the second air blowing mode .
In addition, a refrigerator and a freezer as storage rooms;
A cooler chamber in which a cooler is housed;
a freezer compartment fan for blowing cold air that has exchanged heat with the cooler in the cooler compartment;
A first refrigeration chamber air duct used for circulating cold air in the refrigeration chamber;
a first damper for controlling flow of cold air from the cooling chamber to the first air passage for the refrigerator chamber;
A refrigerator compartment fan that circulates cold air in the refrigerator compartment;
a control device for controlling the freezer compartment fan, the refrigerator compartment first damper, and the refrigerator compartment fan;
Equipped with
The first refrigeration chamber air passage has a first refrigeration chamber return port that takes in cold air inside the refrigeration chamber and a first refrigeration chamber outlet port that blows the cold air into the refrigeration chamber, and is configured to communicate with a blowing area of the freezer chamber fan via the first refrigeration chamber damper,
The first return port of the refrigerator compartment has a structure in which a flow path cross-sectional area decreases from the inside of the refrigerator compartment toward the first air duct of the refrigerator compartment, and is located on the side of the first damper of the refrigerator compartment with respect to the outlet of the refrigerator compartment,
The refrigerator compartment fan is disposed in the refrigerator compartment first air duct so that the cold air inside the refrigerator compartment circulates through the refrigerator compartment, the refrigerator compartment first return port, the refrigerator compartment first air duct, and the refrigerator compartment outlet port in this order;
The control device controls the refrigerator compartment fan to a driven state when the refrigerator compartment first damper is in an open state.
In addition, a refrigerator and a freezer as storage rooms;
A cooler chamber in which a cooler is housed;
a freezer compartment fan for blowing cold air that has exchanged heat with the cooler in the cooler compartment;
A first refrigeration chamber air duct used for circulating cold air in the refrigeration chamber;
a first damper for controlling flow of cold air from the cooling chamber to the first air passage for the refrigerator chamber;
A refrigerator compartment fan that circulates cold air in the refrigerator compartment;
a control device for controlling the freezer compartment fan, the refrigerator compartment first damper, and the refrigerator compartment fan;
a second air duct for a refrigerator compartment that is provided as an air duct independent of the first air duct for a refrigerator compartment and that circulates cold air that has exchanged heat with the cooler in the cooler compartment;
a second damper for adjusting the amount of cold air flowing into the second air duct;
Equipped with
The first refrigeration chamber air passage has a first refrigeration chamber return port that takes in cold air inside the refrigeration chamber and a first refrigeration chamber outlet port that blows the cold air into the refrigeration chamber, and is configured to communicate with a blowing area of the freezer chamber fan via the first refrigeration chamber damper,
The first refrigeration chamber return port is located on the first refrigeration chamber damper side with respect to the refrigeration chamber outlet port,
The refrigerator compartment fan is disposed in the refrigerator compartment first air duct so that the cold air inside the refrigerator compartment circulates through the refrigerator compartment, the refrigerator compartment first return port, the refrigerator compartment first air duct, and the refrigerator compartment outlet port in this order;
The control device controls the refrigerator compartment fan to a driven state when the refrigerator compartment first damper is in an open state.

本発明によれば、冷蔵室の上部が十分に冷えない、あるいは、冷蔵室の下部が過度に冷えるといった課題に有効な冷蔵庫を提供することができる。 The present invention provides a refrigerator that effectively addresses the problem of the upper part of the refrigerator compartment not being cooled sufficiently or the lower part of the refrigerator compartment being cooled excessively.

上記した以外の課題、構成及び効果は、以下の実施形態の説明により明らかにされる。 Issues, configurations, and advantages other than those described above will become clear from the description of the embodiments below.

本発明の第一実施例に係る冷蔵庫の正面図。1 is a front view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 図１の冷蔵庫の縦断面図。FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the refrigerator of FIG. 図１の冷蔵庫の庫内の構成を示す正面図。FIG. 2 is a front view showing the configuration of the interior of the refrigerator in FIG. 1 . 第一実施例に係る冷蔵庫の冷蔵室風路を示す分解斜視図。FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a refrigerator compartment air duct of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment. 図２のＶ部拡大図。FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of part V in FIG. 2 . 図２のＶ部について、第一変形例を示す拡大図。FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a first modified example of a portion V in FIG. 2 . 図２のＶ部について、第二変形例を示す拡大図。FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a second modified example of a portion V in FIG. 2 . 第一実施例に係る冷蔵庫の冷気の流れ（風路構成）を示す概略図。1 is a schematic diagram showing a flow of cool air (air path configuration) in a refrigerator according to a first embodiment. FIG. 第一実施例に係る冷蔵庫の冷凍サイクルの構成の概略を示す構成概略図。FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of a configuration of a refrigeration cycle of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment. 第一比較例に係る冷蔵庫の冷気の流れ（風路構成）を示す模式図。FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a flow of cool air (air passage configuration) in a refrigerator according to a first comparative example. 第一実施例に係る冷蔵庫の冷蔵室ファンの回転数と、冷蔵室第一戻り口の通過風量と、の関係を示す図。FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between the rotation speed of a refrigerator compartment fan and the amount of air passing through a first refrigerator compartment return port of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment. 第二比較例に係る冷蔵庫の冷気の流れ（風路構成）を示す模式図。FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a flow of cool air (air passage configuration) in a refrigerator according to a second comparative example. 第一実施例に係る冷蔵庫の冷凍室ファンの回転数と、冷凍室戻り口の通過風量と、の関係を示す図。FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the rotation speed of the freezer compartment fan and the amount of air passing through the freezer compartment return port of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment. 本発明の実施例に係る冷凍室ファンの回転数と、冷蔵室ファンの回転数と、の関係を示す図。FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the rotation speed of a freezer compartment fan and the rotation speed of a refrigerator compartment fan in an embodiment of the present invention. 本発明の第三実施例に係る冷蔵庫の縦断面図。FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 本発明の第四実施例に係る冷蔵庫の縦断面図。FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a refrigerator according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 本発明に係る冷蔵庫１で用いられる制御装置の構成を示すブロック図。FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control device used in the refrigerator 1 according to the present invention.

以下、本発明の実施例について、図１乃至図１６を用いて説明する。なお、以下の説明では、冷蔵庫１を正面から見た場合に右側に見える方を右側、左側に見える方を左側として説明する。 The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to Figs. 1 to 16. In the following description, the side that appears to the right when viewing the refrigerator 1 from the front is referred to as the right side, and the side that appears to the left side is referred to as the left side.

［実施例１］
本発明の第１実施例に係る冷蔵庫１の実施形態について、図１を用いて説明する。図１は本発明の第一実施例に係る冷蔵庫１の正面図である。 [Example 1]
A refrigerator 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a front view of the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

図１に示すように、冷蔵庫１の断熱箱体１０は、上方から、冷蔵室２、左右に併設された製氷室３及び上段冷凍室４、下段冷凍室５、野菜室６の順に貯蔵室を有している。 As shown in FIG. 1, the insulated box 10 of the refrigerator 1 has, from the top, a refrigerator compartment 2, an ice-making compartment 3 on the left and right, an upper freezer compartment 4, a lower freezer compartment 5, and a vegetable compartment 6, in that order.

冷蔵庫１はそれぞれの貯蔵室の開口を開閉する扉を備えている。これらの扉は、冷蔵室２の開口を開閉する、左右に分割された回転式の冷蔵室扉２ａ、２ｂと、製氷室３、上段冷凍室４、下段冷凍室５及び野菜室６の各開口をそれぞれ開閉する引き出し式の製氷室扉３ａ、上段冷凍室扉４ａ、下段冷凍室扉５ａ及び野菜室扉６ａである。これら複数の扉の内部材料は主に発泡ウレタンで構成されている。また、各扉は図示しないシール部材を内面外周部に備えている。 The refrigerator 1 is equipped with doors that open and close the openings of each storage compartment. These doors are rotating refrigerator compartment doors 2a and 2b, which are divided into left and right doors and open the opening of the refrigerator compartment 2, and pull-out ice-making compartment door 3a, upper freezer compartment door 4a, lower freezer compartment door 5a, and vegetable compartment door 6a, which open and close the openings of the ice-making compartment 3, upper freezer compartment 4, lower freezer compartment 5, and vegetable compartment 6, respectively. The interior material of these multiple doors is mainly composed of urethane foam. In addition, each door is equipped with a sealing member (not shown) on the inner periphery.

冷蔵室２と製氷室３及び上段冷凍室４との間は断熱仕切壁２７によって隔てられ、下段冷凍室５と野菜室６との間は断熱仕切壁２８によって隔てられている。また、製氷室３と、上段冷凍室４との間の前縁部には、製氷室扉３ａ及び上段冷凍室扉４ａを閉じた状態において、製氷室扉３ａの右端内面のシール部材と、上段冷凍室扉４ａの左端内面のシール部材と当接する位置に仕切部２９を備えている。製氷室３及び上段冷凍室４と、下段冷凍室５との間の前縁部には、製氷室扉３ａ、上段冷凍室扉４ａ及び下段冷凍室扉５ａを閉じた状態において、製氷室扉３ａ及び上段冷凍室扉４ａの下端内面の各シール部材と、下段冷凍室扉５ａの上端内面のシール部材と当接する位置に、仕切部３０を備えている。 The refrigerator compartment 2 is separated from the ice-making compartment 3 and the upper freezer compartment 4 by a heat-insulating partition wall 27, and the lower freezer compartment 5 is separated from the vegetable compartment 6 by a heat-insulating partition wall 28. In addition, a partition 29 is provided at the front edge between the ice-making compartment 3 and the upper freezer compartment 4 at a position where it abuts against the seal member on the right end inner surface of the ice-making compartment door 3a and the seal member on the left end inner surface of the upper freezer compartment door 4a when the ice-making compartment door 3a and the upper freezer compartment door 4a are closed. A partition 30 is provided at the front edge between the ice-making compartment 3 and the upper freezer compartment 4 and the lower freezer compartment 5 at a position where it abuts against the seal members on the lower end inner surfaces of the ice-making compartment door 3a and the upper freezer compartment door 4a and the seal member on the upper end inner surface of the lower freezer compartment door 5a when the ice-making compartment door 3a, the upper freezer compartment door 4a, and the lower freezer compartment door 5a are closed.

断熱箱体１０の天面庫外側の前方と、断熱仕切壁２７の前縁とには、冷蔵庫１と扉２ａ、２ｂとを固定するための扉ヒンジ（図示せず）が配設されており、天面庫外側に設けられた上部の扉ヒンジは扉ヒンジカバー１６で覆われている。 Door hinges (not shown) for fixing the refrigerator 1 to the doors 2a and 2b are provided at the front of the outer top compartment of the insulated box body 10 and at the front edge of the insulated partition wall 27, and the upper door hinge provided on the outer top compartment is covered with a door hinge cover 16.

製氷室３、上段冷凍室４及び下段冷凍室５は、基本的に庫内を冷凍温度（０℃未満）の例えば平均的に－１８℃程度にした貯蔵室であり、冷蔵室２は庫内を冷蔵温度（０℃以上）の例えば平均的に４℃程度にした貯蔵室、野菜室６は庫内を冷蔵温度（０℃以上）の例えば平均的に７℃程度にした貯蔵室である。 The ice-making compartment 3, upper freezer compartment 4, and lower freezer compartment 5 are basically storage compartments whose interior temperature is kept at a freezing temperature (below 0°C), for example, around -18°C on average, while the refrigerator compartment 2 is a storage compartment whose interior temperature is kept at a refrigeration temperature (above 0°C), for example, around 4°C on average, and the vegetable compartment 6 is a storage compartment whose interior temperature is kept at a refrigeration temperature (above 0°C), for example, around 7°C on average.

図２は図１の冷蔵庫１の縦断面図であり、図１のII－II断面図である。図３は図１の冷蔵庫１の庫内の構成を示す正面図であり、図１の冷蔵庫１から扉及び容器を外した状態の正面図である。図２及び図３を参照しながら、冷蔵庫１の構成を説明する。 Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the refrigerator 1 in Figure 1, and a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a front view showing the configuration of the interior of the refrigerator 1 in Figure 1, and is a front view of the refrigerator 1 in Figure 1 with the door and containers removed. The configuration of the refrigerator 1 will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3.

図２に示すように、冷蔵庫１は、鋼板製の外箱１０ａと合成樹脂製（例えばＡＢＳ樹脂）の内箱１０ｂとの間に発泡断熱材（本実施形態の冷蔵庫では発泡ウレタン）を充填して形成される断熱箱体１０により、庫外と庫内とが隔てられている。断熱箱体１０には発泡断熱材に加えて、発泡断熱材より熱伝導率が低い真空断熱材２５を外箱１０ａと内箱１０ｂとの間に実装することで、内容積の低下を抑えて断熱性能を高めている。本実施形態では、断熱箱体１０の背面、下面及び両側面に真空断熱材２５を実装している。 As shown in FIG. 2, the inside and outside of the refrigerator 1 are separated by an insulated box 10 formed by filling a space between an outer box 10a made of steel plate and an inner box 10b made of synthetic resin (e.g., ABS resin) with foam insulation material (urethane foam in the refrigerator of this embodiment). In addition to the foam insulation material, vacuum insulation material 25, which has a lower thermal conductivity than the foam insulation material, is installed between the outer box 10a and the inner box 10b of the insulated box 10, thereby suppressing a decrease in the internal volume and improving the insulation performance. In this embodiment, vacuum insulation material 25 is installed on the back, bottom, and both sides of the insulated box 10.

また、断熱仕切壁２７の内部の断熱材は発泡ポリスチレンであり、断熱仕切壁２８の内部には断熱材として発泡ウレタンが充填されている。なお、断熱仕切壁２８の内部の発泡ウレタンは、断熱箱体１０の外箱１０ａと内箱１０ｂとの間にウレタンを発泡充填する工程において、断熱箱体１０の発泡ウレタンとともに充填される。 The insulating material inside the insulating partition wall 27 is expanded polystyrene, and the inside of the insulating partition wall 28 is filled with urethane foam as an insulating material. The urethane foam inside the insulating partition wall 28 is filled together with the urethane foam of the insulating box 10 in the process of foaming and filling the space between the outer box 10a and the inner box 10b of the insulating box 10 with urethane.

冷蔵室扉２ａ、２ｂは、庫内側に複数の扉ポケット３３ａ、３３ｂ、３３ｃを備えている。また、冷蔵室２内は、棚３４ａ、３４ｂ、３４ｃ、３４ｄによって複数の貯蔵スペースに区画されている。製氷室扉３ａ、上段冷凍室扉４ａ、下段冷凍室扉５ａ及び野菜室扉６ａは、それぞれ一体に引き出される製氷室容器３ｂ、上段冷凍室容器４ｂ、下段冷凍室容器５ｂ及び野菜室容器６ｂを備えている。 The refrigerator compartment doors 2a and 2b are provided with multiple door pockets 33a, 33b, and 33c on the inside of the compartment. The refrigerator compartment 2 is also divided into multiple storage spaces by shelves 34a, 34b, 34c, and 34d. The ice-making compartment door 3a, the upper freezer compartment door 4a, the lower freezer compartment door 5a, and the vegetable compartment door 6a are each provided with an ice-making compartment container 3b, an upper freezer compartment container 4b, a lower freezer compartment container 5b, and a vegetable compartment container 6b, which are pulled out as a unit.

図２及び図３に示すように、冷蔵庫１は、下段冷凍室５の背部に、冷却器１４が収納された冷却器室８を備え、冷却器室８の上部には、冷凍室ファン９ａを備えている。冷凍室ファン９ａの吹き出し領域（吐き出し領域）には冷凍室風路１００を備えている。冷凍室風路１００には、前方の製氷室３、上段冷凍室４及び下段冷凍室５に冷気を吹き出す製氷室吹き出し口（製氷室吐き出し口）１０１、上段冷凍室吹き出し口（上段冷凍室吐き出し口）１０２及び下段冷凍室吹き出し口（下段冷凍室吐き出し口）１０３をそれぞれ備えている。 As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the refrigerator 1 has a cooler chamber 8 in which a cooler 14 is housed at the back of the lower freezer chamber 5, and a freezer chamber fan 9a at the top of the cooler chamber 8. The blowing area (discharge area) of the freezer chamber fan 9a has a freezer chamber air duct 100. The freezer chamber air duct 100 has an ice chamber air outlet (ice chamber air outlet) 101, an upper freezer chamber air outlet (upper freezer chamber air outlet) 102, and a lower freezer chamber air outlet (lower freezer chamber air outlet) 103 that blow cold air to the ice chamber 3 in the front, the upper freezer chamber 4, and the lower freezer chamber 5, respectively.

冷却器室８の下部前方には、製氷室３、上段冷凍室４及び下段冷凍室５からの戻り冷気が流れる冷凍室戻り風路１０４が形成されている。冷凍室戻り風路１０４は、冷却器１４の幅と略等しい幅に形成されており、製氷室３、上段冷凍室４及び下段冷凍室５からの戻り冷気が冷却器１４に効率よく流入するようにしている。 At the lower front of the cooler chamber 8, a freezer chamber return air duct 104 is formed through which the return cold air from the ice-making chamber 3, the upper freezer chamber 4, and the lower freezer chamber 5 flows. The freezer chamber return air duct 104 is formed with a width approximately equal to the width of the cooler 14, allowing the return cold air from the ice-making chamber 3, the upper freezer chamber 4, and the lower freezer chamber 5 to flow efficiently into the cooler 14.

冷蔵室２の背面には、冷蔵室循環風路１１０を備えている。冷蔵室循環風路１１０には、最上段の棚３４ａの上方の空間に空気を吹き出す冷蔵室吹き出し口（冷蔵室吐き出し口）１１１ａと、最上段の棚３４ａと上から２段目の棚３４ｂとの間の空間に空気を吹き出す冷蔵室吹き出し口（冷蔵室吐き出し口）１１１ｂと、を備えている。冷蔵庫１は、冷蔵室循環風路１１０の後方に、隔壁を隔てて冷蔵室循環風路１１０と隣接する冷蔵室第二風路１２０を備えている。冷蔵室第一風路と、冷蔵室第二風路１２０との間の隔壁には、伝熱面２００が形成されており、冷蔵室第一風路１１０及び冷蔵室第二風路１２０は、冷蔵室第一風路１１０内の空気と、冷蔵室第二風路１２０内の空気との間で熱交換が行われるように構成されている。冷蔵室第一風路１１０及び冷蔵室第二風路１２０の詳細は後で詳細に説明する。なお、冷蔵室吹き出し口１１１ａの開口面積は１０００ｍｍ^２、冷蔵室吹き出し口１１１ｂの開口面積は５００ｍｍ^２であり、最上段の吹き出し口１１１ａの開口面積を下段の吹き出し口１１１ｂの開口面積よりも大きくしている。 The refrigerator compartment 2 is provided at the rear with a refrigerator compartment circulation air duct 110. The refrigerator compartment circulation air duct 110 is provided with a refrigerator compartment outlet (refrigerator compartment outlet) 111a for blowing air into the space above the top shelf 34a, and a refrigerator compartment outlet (refrigerator compartment outlet) 111b for blowing air into the space between the top shelf 34a and the second shelf from the top shelf 34b. The refrigerator 1 is provided with a refrigerator compartment second air duct 120 adjacent to the refrigerator compartment circulation air duct 110 across a partition wall behind the refrigerator compartment circulation air duct 110. A heat transfer surface 200 is formed on the partition wall between the refrigerator compartment first air duct and the refrigerator compartment second air duct 120, and the refrigerator compartment first air duct 110 and the refrigerator compartment second air duct 120 are configured so that heat exchange occurs between the air in the refrigerator compartment first air duct 110 and the air in the refrigerator compartment second air duct 120. The details of the refrigerator compartment first air duct 110 and the refrigerator compartment second air duct 120 will be described later. The opening area of the refrigerator compartment outlet 111a is 1000 ^mm2 , and the opening area of the refrigerator compartment outlet 111b is 500 ^mm2 , so that the opening area of the uppermost outlet 111a is larger than the opening area of the lower outlet 111b.

冷蔵室第一風路１１０の下部中央には、冷蔵室２の内部の空気（冷気）を取り込む冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５が形成される。また、冷蔵室２の背面下部右側には冷蔵室第二戻り口１３１が形成される。上段冷凍室４と下段冷凍室５の後方右端には、一端部が冷蔵室第二戻り口１３１に連通する冷蔵室戻り風路１３０が形成される。冷蔵室戻り風路１３０の他端部は冷却器室８の右下部に接続される。 A first refrigerator compartment return port 115 is formed in the lower center of the first refrigerator compartment air duct 110, which takes in air (cold air) from inside the refrigerator compartment 2. A second refrigerator compartment return port 131 is formed on the lower right side of the rear of the refrigerator compartment 2. A refrigerator compartment return air duct 130 is formed at the rear right end of the upper freezer compartment 4 and the lower freezer compartment 5, with one end connected to the second refrigerator compartment return port 131. The other end of the refrigerator compartment return air duct 130 is connected to the lower right of the cooler compartment 8.

製氷室３、上段冷凍室４及び下段冷凍室５の背部の冷凍室風路１００の左下部から下方に向けて野菜室風路１３２が形成され、野菜室風路１３２の出口には野菜室吹き出し口（野菜室吐き出し口）１０２ａが形成される。下段冷凍室５と野菜室６との間の断熱仕切壁２８の下面には野菜室戻り口１３６が開口しており、冷却器室８の下部前方に接続される野菜室戻り風路１３５が断熱仕切壁２８内に形成される。 A vegetable compartment air duct 132 is formed downward from the lower left of the freezer compartment air duct 100 at the back of the ice making compartment 3, the upper freezer compartment 4, and the lower freezer compartment 5, and a vegetable compartment outlet (vegetable compartment discharge port) 102a is formed at the outlet of the vegetable compartment air duct 132. A vegetable compartment return port 136 opens on the underside of the insulated partition wall 28 between the lower freezer compartment 5 and the vegetable compartment 6, and a vegetable compartment return air duct 135 connected to the lower front of the cooler compartment 8 is formed inside the insulated partition wall 28.

冷却器室８の下部前方には、製氷室３、上段冷凍室４及び下段冷凍室５からの戻り冷気が流れる冷凍室戻り口１０５が形成されている。冷凍室戻り口１０５は、冷却器１４の幅と略等しい幅に形成されており、製氷室３、上段冷凍室４及び下段冷凍室５からの戻り冷気が冷却器１４に効率よく流入するようにしている。 At the lower front of the cooler chamber 8, a freezer chamber return port 105 is formed through which the return cold air from the ice-making chamber 3, the upper freezer chamber 4, and the lower freezer chamber 5 flows. The freezer chamber return port 105 is formed with a width approximately equal to the width of the cooler 14, allowing the return cold air from the ice-making chamber 3, the upper freezer chamber 4, and the lower freezer chamber 5 to flow efficiently into the cooler 14.

冷蔵室２、上段冷凍室４及び野菜室６の庫内背面側には、それぞれ冷蔵室温度センサ４１、冷凍室温度センサ４３及び野菜室温度センサ４４が設けられ、冷却器１４の上部には冷却器温度センサ４０が設けられている。本実施例では冷凍室温度センサ４３は上段冷凍室４に設けられているが、下段冷凍室５に設けられてもよい。これらのセンサにより、冷蔵室２、製氷室３、上段冷凍室４、下段冷凍室５、野菜室６、冷却器室８、及び冷却器１４の温度が検知される。また、冷蔵庫１の天井部の扉ヒンジカバー１６の内部には、外気温度センサ３７と外気湿度センサ３８とが設けられ、外気（庫外空気）の温度と湿度とが検知される。その他にも、扉センサ（図示せず）が設けられることで、扉２ａ、２ｂ、３ａ、４ａ、５ａ、６ａの開閉状態がそれぞれ検知される。 The refrigerator compartment 2, the upper freezer compartment 4, and the vegetable compartment 6 are provided with a refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 41, a freezer compartment temperature sensor 43, and a vegetable compartment temperature sensor 44 on the rear side of the interior of the refrigerator compartment 2, the upper freezer compartment 4, and the vegetable compartment 6, respectively, and a cooler temperature sensor 40 is provided on the top of the cooler 14. In this embodiment, the freezer compartment temperature sensor 43 is provided in the upper freezer compartment 4, but it may be provided in the lower freezer compartment 5. These sensors detect the temperatures of the refrigerator compartment 2, the ice making compartment 3, the upper freezer compartment 4, the lower freezer compartment 5, the vegetable compartment 6, the cooler compartment 8, and the cooler 14. In addition, an outside air temperature sensor 37 and an outside air humidity sensor 38 are provided inside the door hinge cover 16 on the ceiling of the refrigerator 1, and detect the temperature and humidity of the outside air (air outside the refrigerator). In addition, a door sensor (not shown) is provided to detect the open/closed state of the doors 2a, 2b, 3a, 4a, 5a, and 6a.

冷蔵室第一風路１１０の下部には、冷蔵室ファン９ａが設置されている。また、冷蔵室第一風路１１０の入口部には冷気遮断手段として冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１が設けられる。 A refrigerator compartment fan 9a is installed at the bottom of the refrigerator compartment first air duct 110. In addition, a refrigerator compartment first damper 151 is provided at the entrance of the refrigerator compartment first air duct 110 as a cold air blocking means.

冷蔵室第二風路１２０の入口部には冷気遮断手段として冷蔵室第二ダンパ１５２が設けられている。なお冷蔵室第二風路１２０は、冷蔵室第一風路１１０とは独立した風路として設けられる。すなわち本実施例の冷蔵庫１は、冷蔵室第一風路１１０とは独立した風路として設けられ冷却器室８で冷却器１４と熱交換した冷気を流通させる冷蔵室第二風路１２０と、冷蔵室第二風路１２０へ流入する冷気の風量を調整する冷蔵室第二ダンパ１５２と、を備える。 A second refrigerator compartment damper 152 is provided at the entrance of the second refrigerator compartment air duct 120 as a cold air blocking means. The second refrigerator compartment air duct 120 is provided as an air duct independent of the first refrigerator compartment air duct 110. That is, the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment is provided with the second refrigerator compartment air duct 120, which is provided as an air duct independent of the first refrigerator compartment air duct 110 and circulates cold air that has exchanged heat with the cooler 14 in the cooler chamber 8, and the second refrigerator compartment damper 152, which adjusts the amount of cold air flowing into the second refrigerator compartment air duct 120.

冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１及び冷蔵室第二ダンパ１５２は単一のモータで駆動され一体に形成されており、以下では、冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１及び冷蔵室第二ダンパ１５２の機能を合わせた部品を冷蔵室ダンパ１５０と呼ぶ。また、野菜室風路１３２には冷気遮断手段として野菜室ダンパ１６０が設けられる。 The first refrigerator compartment damper 151 and the second refrigerator compartment damper 152 are driven by a single motor and are integrally formed. In the following, the part combining the functions of the first refrigerator compartment damper 151 and the second refrigerator compartment damper 152 is referred to as the refrigerator compartment damper 150. In addition, a vegetable compartment damper 160 is provided in the vegetable compartment air duct 132 as a cold air blocking means.

冷却器室８内の冷却器１４下方には、除霜ヒータ２１が備えられており、冷却器室８の下面には樋２３が形成されている。樋２３の下端部からは、機械室３９と連通する排水管２２が下方に向けて設けられている。また、機械室３９には、圧縮機２４と、圧縮機２４の上部に配置された蒸発皿３２とが設置されている。 A defrost heater 21 is provided below the cooler 14 in the cooler chamber 8, and a gutter 23 is formed on the underside of the cooler chamber 8. A drain pipe 22 that communicates with the machine chamber 39 is provided downward from the lower end of the gutter 23. In addition, the machine chamber 39 contains a compressor 24 and an evaporator dish 32 that is placed above the compressor 24.

除霜ヒータ２１は、例えば５０Ｗ～２００Ｗの電気ヒータを採用すれば良く、本実施形態では１２０Ｗのラジアントヒータとしている。冷却器１４の除霜時に発生した除霜水は、樋２３から排水管２２を介して圧縮機２４の上部の蒸発皿３２に排出され、圧縮機２４からの放熱や、図示しない機械室ファンによる通風等の作用により蒸発する。 The defrost heater 21 may be, for example, a 50W to 200W electric heater, and in this embodiment, a 120W radiant heater is used. The defrost water generated when defrosting the cooler 14 is discharged from the gutter 23 through the drain pipe 22 into the evaporation dish 32 above the compressor 24, where it evaporates due to the effects of heat radiation from the compressor 24 and ventilation by a machine room fan (not shown).

冷蔵室２内の、断熱仕切壁２７の上部には、内部が－１℃程度に維持される容器３６が備えられており、容器３６の前方は蓋体３６ａにより開閉可能となっている。蓋体３６ａの外周にはパッキン（図示せず）が備えられており、蓋体３６ａを閉鎖状態とした場合、パッキンにより蓋体３６ａと容器３６とが隙間なく接触し、容器３６はその内部空間が密閉される構造となっている。また、容器３６の背部には、容器３６内の空気を吸引するポンプ（図示せず）が備えられており、蓋体３６ａが閉鎖された状態でポンプを駆動することで、容器３６内の気圧が約０．８気圧に減圧されるようになっている。これにより容器３６内は、蓋体３６ａにより冷気が直接送風されなくなるとともに、減圧環境となるので、食品の乾燥と酸化を抑制する収納スペースとなる。 A container 36, whose inside temperature is maintained at about -1°C, is provided above the insulating partition wall 27 in the refrigerator compartment 2, and the front of the container 36 can be opened and closed by a lid 36a. A gasket (not shown) is provided on the outer periphery of the lid 36a, and when the lid 36a is closed, the gasket brings the lid 36a and the container 36 into contact with no gaps, and the container 36 is structured so that its internal space is sealed. In addition, a pump (not shown) is provided at the back of the container 36 to suck air from inside the container 36, and by driving the pump with the lid 36a closed, the air pressure inside the container 36 is reduced to about 0.8 atm. As a result, the lid 36a prevents cold air from being blown directly into the container 36, and a reduced-pressure environment is created inside the container 36, making it a storage space that suppresses the drying and oxidation of food.

図４は第一実施例に係る冷蔵庫１の冷蔵室風路を示す分解斜視図であり、冷蔵室第１風路１１０と冷蔵室第２風路１２０との構成を表している。 Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the refrigerator compartment air duct of the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment, showing the configuration of the refrigerator compartment first air duct 110 and the refrigerator compartment second air duct 120.

図４に示すように、冷蔵室２の背部に設置される冷蔵室第一風路１１０の前面には冷蔵室吹き出し口１１１ａ、１１１ｂが備えられ、冷蔵室第一風路１１０の背面には冷蔵室第２風路１２０との間に伝熱面２００が設置される。冷蔵室第二風路１２０の内部には、仕切部材１２１が配置されており、冷蔵室第二ダンパ１５２が開放状態の場合には、図中に矢印で示すように、冷蔵室第二風路１２０の左側１２０ａを上方に向けて流れた流れが、冷蔵室第二風路１２０上部において反転し、冷蔵室第二風路１２０の右側１２０ｂを下方に流れるようにしている。 As shown in FIG. 4, the front of the first refrigerator compartment air passage 110 installed at the rear of the refrigerator compartment 2 is provided with refrigerator compartment outlets 111a, 111b, and a heat transfer surface 200 is installed between the rear of the first refrigerator compartment air passage 110 and the second refrigerator compartment air passage 120. A partition member 121 is arranged inside the second refrigerator compartment air passage 120, and when the second refrigerator compartment damper 152 is in the open state, the flow that flows upward on the left side 120a of the second refrigerator compartment air passage 120 is reversed at the top of the second refrigerator compartment air passage 120 and flows downward on the right side 120b of the second refrigerator compartment air passage 120, as shown by the arrow in the figure.

本実施形態の冷蔵庫においては、伝熱面２００の材質をアルミニウムとしている。熱伝導率が高いアルミニウムを採用することで、冷蔵室第二風路１２０側の冷熱を冷蔵室第一風路１１０の空気に伝えやすくしている。伝熱面２００としては、樹脂（一例としてポリプロピレン）を採用して、よりコストを抑える構成とするといった実施形態も考えられる。すなわち伝熱面は、冷蔵室第二風路１２０側の冷熱を冷蔵室第一風路１１０の空気に伝える機能を果たすものであればよく、材質や形状は限定されない。 In the refrigerator of this embodiment, the material of the heat transfer surface 200 is aluminum. By using aluminum, which has a high thermal conductivity, it is easier to transfer the cold heat on the side of the second refrigerator air duct 120 to the air in the first refrigerator air duct 110. In another embodiment, a resin (polypropylene, as an example) is used for the heat transfer surface 200 to reduce costs. In other words, the material and shape of the heat transfer surface are not limited as long as it functions to transfer the cold heat on the side of the second refrigerator air duct 120 to the air in the first refrigerator air duct 110.

図５は図２のＶ部拡大図である。図５を参照しながら、冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５の構成を説明する。 Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the V portion of Figure 2. The configuration of the first refrigerator compartment return port 115 will be explained with reference to Figure 5.

冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５には、冷蔵室２の庫内側から冷蔵室第一風路１１０に向かうにつれて前記冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５の断面積が減少する断面積減少部１１５ａが設けられている。すなわち本実施例の冷蔵庫１では、冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５は、冷蔵室２の庫内側から庫外側（冷蔵室第一風路１１０）に向かうにつれて流路断面積が減少する構造を有する。 The first refrigerator compartment return port 115 is provided with a cross-sectional area reduction section 115a in which the cross-sectional area of the first refrigerator compartment return port 115 decreases from the inside of the refrigerator compartment 2 toward the first refrigerator compartment air duct 110. That is, in the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment, the first refrigerator compartment return port 115 has a structure in which the flow path cross-sectional area decreases from the inside of the refrigerator compartment 2 toward the outside (first refrigerator compartment air duct 110).

これにより、冷蔵室第一風路１１０から冷蔵室２庫内側に空気が流れ難くなる一方、冷蔵室２庫内側から冷蔵室第一風路１１０には空気がながれ易くなり、冷気の逆流を抑制することができる。 This makes it difficult for air to flow from the first air duct 110 to the inside of the second refrigerator compartment, while making it easier for air to flow from the inside of the second refrigerator compartment to the first air duct 110, thereby preventing the backflow of cold air.

断面積減少部１１５ａは、冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５の一部に含まれていればよい。また、断面積減少部１１５ａは、円弧状の断面でもよく、図５に示す直線形状に限定されない。 The cross-sectional area reduction portion 115a may be included as part of the first refrigerator compartment return port 115. The cross-sectional area reduction portion 115a may also have an arc-shaped cross section and is not limited to the linear shape shown in FIG. 5.

図６は、図２のＶ部について、第一変形例を示す拡大図であり、冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５の第一変形例を示す断面図である。 Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the V portion of Figure 2 showing a first modified example, and is a cross-sectional view showing the first modified example of the first return port 115 of the refrigerator compartment.

本例の冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５は、冷蔵室２の貯蔵スペース側から冷蔵室第一風路１１０に向かうにつれて冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５の断面積が減少する断面積減少部１１５ａと、断面積が一定で変化しない直線部１１５ｂとを備えており、断面積減少部１１５ａと断面積が減少しない直線部１１５ｂとは滑らかに接続されている。本例によれば、冷蔵室第一風路１１０から冷蔵室２の貯蔵スペース側に空気が流れ難く、冷蔵室２の貯蔵スペース側から冷蔵室第一風路１１０には空気が流れ易くなり、冷気の逆流を抑制することができる。 The first refrigerator return port 115 in this example has a cross-sectional area reduction section 115a in which the cross-sectional area of the first refrigerator return port 115 decreases as it moves from the storage space side of the refrigerator compartment 2 toward the first refrigerator compartment air duct 110, and a straight section 115b in which the cross-sectional area is constant and does not change, and the cross-sectional area reduction section 115a and the straight section 115b in which the cross-sectional area does not decrease are smoothly connected. According to this example, air does not easily flow from the first refrigerator compartment air duct 110 to the storage space side of the refrigerator compartment 2, and air easily flows from the storage space side of the refrigerator compartment 2 to the first refrigerator compartment air duct 110, suppressing the backflow of cold air.

図７は、冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５の第二変形例であり、実施例１の冷蔵庫のＣ部に相当する位置の図である。 Figure 7 shows a second modified example of the first return port 115 of the refrigerator compartment, which corresponds to part C of the refrigerator in Example 1.

図７は、図２のＶ部について、第二変形例を示す拡大図であり、冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５の第二変形例を示す断面図である。 Figure 7 is an enlarged view of the V portion of Figure 2 showing a second modified example, and is a cross-sectional view showing the second modified example of the first return port 115 of the refrigerator compartment.

本例では、冷蔵室２の貯蔵スペース側から冷蔵室第一風路１１０に向かうにつれて冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５の断面積が減少する断面積減少部１１５ａが曲面状に形成されている。本例によれば、冷蔵室第一風路１１０から冷蔵室２の貯蔵スペース側に空気が流れ難く、冷蔵室２の貯蔵スペース側から冷蔵室第一風路１１０には空気が流れ易くなり、冷気の逆流を抑制することができる。 In this example, the cross-sectional area reduction section 115a, in which the cross-sectional area of the first refrigerator return port 115 decreases from the storage space side of the refrigerator compartment 2 toward the first refrigerator compartment air duct 110, is formed in a curved shape. According to this example, air does not easily flow from the first refrigerator compartment air duct 110 to the storage space side of the refrigerator compartment 2, and air easily flows from the storage space side of the refrigerator compartment 2 to the first refrigerator compartment air duct 110, thereby suppressing the backflow of cold air.

図８は、第一実施例に係る冷蔵庫１の冷気の流れ（風路構成）を示す概略図である。図８、図２及び図３を用いて、庫内の冷気の流れを説明する。 Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of cold air (air passage configuration) in the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment. The flow of cold air inside the refrigerator will be explained using Figures 8, 2, and 3.

冷凍室ファン９ａを駆動することによって、図８に示すように冷却器室８において冷却器１４と熱交換した冷気は、冷凍室風路１００に送られる。冷凍室風路１００に送られた冷気は、冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１、冷蔵室第二ダンパ１５２及び野菜室ダンパ１６０の開閉状態によらず、製氷室吹き出し口１０１、上段冷凍室吹き出し口１０２及び下段冷凍室吹き出し口１０３から、それぞれ製氷室３、上段冷凍室４及び下段冷凍室５に吹き出す。製氷室３、上段冷凍室４及び下段冷凍室５を冷却した冷気は、それぞれの貯蔵室を冷却して、下段冷凍室５から冷凍室戻り風路１０４を介して冷却器室８に戻る。 By driving the freezer fan 9a, the cold air that has exchanged heat with the cooler 14 in the cooler chamber 8 is sent to the freezer chamber air duct 100 as shown in FIG. 8. The cold air sent to the freezer chamber air duct 100 is blown out from the ice making chamber outlet 101, the upper freezer chamber outlet 102, and the lower freezer chamber outlet 103 to the ice making chamber 3, the upper freezer chamber 4, and the lower freezer chamber 5, respectively, regardless of the open/close state of the first refrigerator chamber damper 151, the second refrigerator chamber damper 152, and the vegetable chamber damper 160. The cold air that has cooled the ice making chamber 3, the upper freezer chamber 4, and the lower freezer chamber 5 cools each storage chamber and returns to the cooler chamber 8 from the lower freezer chamber 5 via the freezer chamber return air duct 104.

冷蔵室第二ダンパ１５２が開放状態で、冷凍室ファン９ａを駆動した場合、冷凍室ファン９ａによって昇圧された冷気は、製氷室３、上段冷凍室４及び下段冷凍室５に送られるとともに、冷蔵室第二風路１２０を流れ、伝熱面２００において冷蔵室第一風路１１０内の空気と熱交換して、冷蔵室戻り風路１３０を流れ、冷却器室８に戻る。 When the second refrigerator damper 152 is open and the freezer fan 9a is driven, the cold air pressurized by the freezer fan 9a is sent to the ice-making compartment 3, the upper freezer compartment 4, and the lower freezer compartment 5, and flows through the second refrigerator air duct 120, exchanges heat with the air in the first refrigerator air duct 110 on the heat transfer surface 200, flows through the refrigerator return air duct 130, and returns to the cooler chamber 8.

野菜室ダンパ１６０が開放状態で、冷凍室ファン９ａを駆動した場合、冷凍室ファン９ａによって昇圧された冷気は、製氷室３、上段冷凍室４及び下段冷凍室５に送られるとともに、冷凍室風路１００の下流部において冷凍室風路１００から分岐した野菜室風路１３２を流れ、野菜室吹き出し口１３１から野菜室６に吹き出す。野菜室６においては、野菜室容器６ｂの外側を指向して冷気が吹き出すようにしてあり、野菜室容器６ｂに収納される野菜等の食品が乾燥したり、低温になりすぎたりすることが抑制される。野菜室６を冷却した冷気は、断熱仕切壁２８下面に備えられた野菜室戻り口１３６（図２参照）を介して、断熱仕切壁２８内に設けられた野菜室戻り風路１３５（図２参照）を流れ、冷却器室８に戻る。 When the freezer fan 9a is driven with the vegetable compartment damper 160 open, the cold air pressurized by the freezer fan 9a is sent to the ice making compartment 3, the upper freezer compartment 4, and the lower freezer compartment 5, and flows through the vegetable compartment air duct 132 that branches off from the freezer compartment air duct 100 at the downstream part of the freezer compartment air duct 100, and is blown out from the vegetable compartment outlet 131 to the vegetable compartment 6. In the vegetable compartment 6, the cold air is directed toward the outside of the vegetable compartment container 6b, so that foods such as vegetables stored in the vegetable compartment container 6b are prevented from drying out or becoming too cold. The cold air that has cooled the vegetable compartment 6 flows through the vegetable compartment return port 136 (see FIG. 2) provided on the underside of the thermal insulation partition wall 28, through the vegetable compartment return air duct 135 (see FIG. 2) provided in the thermal insulation partition wall 28, and returns to the cooler chamber 8.

冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１が閉鎖状態、冷蔵室第二ダンパ１５２が開放状態で、冷凍室ファン９ａ及び冷蔵室ファン９ｂを駆動した場合、冷蔵室２内の空気が、冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５から、冷蔵室第一風路１１０に入り、冷蔵室第一風路１１０を流れて冷蔵室吹き出し口１１１（１１１ａ、１１１ｂ）から再び冷蔵室２に入り冷蔵室２内を循環する空気流が形成される。一方で、冷蔵室第二ダンパ１５２を開放しているので、冷凍室ファン９ａによって昇圧された冷気は、冷蔵室第二風路１２０を流れ、伝熱面２００において冷蔵室第一風路１１０内の空気と熱交換する。冷蔵室第一風路１１０内の空気と熱交換した冷蔵室第二風路１２０内の空気は、冷蔵室戻り風路１３０を流れ、冷却器室８に戻る。 When the first refrigerator damper 151 is closed and the second refrigerator damper 152 is open, and the freezer fan 9a and the refrigerator fan 9b are driven, the air in the refrigerator chamber 2 enters the first refrigerator chamber air duct 110 from the first refrigerator chamber return port 115, flows through the first refrigerator chamber air duct 110, and re-enters the refrigerator chamber 2 from the refrigerator chamber outlet port 111 (111a, 111b), forming an air flow that circulates within the refrigerator chamber 2. On the other hand, since the second refrigerator damper 152 is open, the cold air pressurized by the freezer chamber fan 9a flows through the second refrigerator chamber air duct 120 and exchanges heat with the air in the first refrigerator chamber air duct 110 on the heat transfer surface 200. The air in the second refrigerator chamber air duct 120 that has exchanged heat with the air in the first refrigerator chamber air duct 110 flows through the return refrigerator chamber air duct 130 and returns to the cooler chamber 8.

冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１及び冷蔵室第二ダンパ１５２が閉鎖状態で、冷蔵室ファン９ｂを駆動することで、冷蔵室２内の空気が、冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５から、冷蔵室第一風路１１０に入り、冷蔵室第一風路１１０を流れて冷蔵室吹き出し口１１１から再び冷蔵室２に入り冷蔵室２内を循環する空気流が形成される。一方で、冷蔵室第二ダンパ１５２を閉鎖しているので、冷蔵室第二風路１２０内に冷却器１４と熱交換した低温冷気は流れず、伝熱面２００を介した冷蔵室第一風路１１０内空気の冷却は行われない状態となる。 By driving the refrigerator compartment fan 9b with the refrigerator compartment first damper 151 and the refrigerator compartment second damper 152 in a closed state, the air inside the refrigerator compartment 2 enters the refrigerator compartment first air duct 110 from the refrigerator compartment first return port 115, flows through the refrigerator compartment first air duct 110, and re-enters the refrigerator compartment 2 from the refrigerator compartment outlet 111, forming an airflow that circulates inside the refrigerator compartment 2. On the other hand, because the refrigerator compartment second damper 152 is closed, the low-temperature cold air that has exchanged heat with the cooler 14 does not flow into the refrigerator compartment second air duct 120, and the air inside the refrigerator compartment first air duct 110 is not cooled via the heat transfer surface 200.

冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１が開放状態で、冷凍室ファン９ａ及び冷蔵室ファン９ｂをそれぞれ駆動した場合、冷凍室ファン９ａによって昇圧された冷気は、製氷室３、上段冷凍室４及び下段冷凍室５に送られるとともに、冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１を通過し、冷蔵室ファン９ｂにより再度昇圧されて冷蔵室第一風路１１０に流れ、冷蔵室吹き出し口１１１から冷蔵室２に送られる。このために本実施例の冷蔵庫１は、冷凍室ファン９ａの吹き出し領域に連通すると共に、冷却器室８で冷却器１４と熱交換した冷気を冷凍室３、４、５に吹き出す冷凍室吹き出し口１０１、１０２、１０３を有する冷凍室風路１００を備え、冷蔵室第一風路１１０は、冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１を介して冷凍室風路１００と連通するように構成される。 When the first refrigerator damper 151 is open and the freezer fan 9a and the refrigerator fan 9b are driven, the cold air pressurized by the freezer fan 9a is sent to the ice making compartment 3, the upper freezer compartment 4, and the lower freezer compartment 5, passes through the first refrigerator damper 151, is pressurized again by the refrigerator fan 9b, flows into the first refrigerator air duct 110, and is sent to the refrigerator compartment 2 from the refrigerator outlet 111. For this reason, the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment is equipped with a freezer air duct 100 that communicates with the blowing area of the freezer fan 9a and has freezer outlets 101, 102, and 103 that blow out the cold air that has exchanged heat with the cooler 14 in the cooler chamber 8 to the freezer compartments 3, 4, and 5, and the first refrigerator air duct 110 is configured to communicate with the freezer air duct 100 via the first refrigerator damper 151.

製氷室３、上段冷凍室４及び下段冷凍室５を冷却した冷気は、冷凍室戻り口１０５から冷凍室戻り風路１０４を流れて冷却器室８に戻る。冷蔵室２を冷却した冷気は、冷蔵室第二戻り口１３１を介して冷蔵室戻り風路１３０を流れ、冷却器室８に戻る。 The cold air that has cooled the ice-making compartment 3, the upper freezer compartment 4, and the lower freezer compartment 5 flows from the freezer compartment return port 105 through the freezer compartment return air duct 104 and returns to the cooler compartment 8. The cold air that has cooled the refrigerator compartment 2 flows through the refrigerator compartment second return port 131 through the refrigerator compartment return air duct 130 and returns to the cooler compartment 8.

冷凍室ファン９ａの回転数は冷蔵庫１の熱的負荷等に応じて変更することができる。例えば、扉の開閉時における外気の下段冷凍室５内への流入により負荷が増大した場合は、冷凍室ファン９ａを１５００ｒｐｍから２０００ｒｐｍに増加させる。この時、冷凍室ファン９ａの回転数の増加と同時に、冷蔵室ファン９ｂの回転数も１０００ｒｐｍから１８００ｒｐｍに増加させる。 The rotation speed of the freezer compartment fan 9a can be changed depending on the thermal load of the refrigerator 1, etc. For example, if the load increases due to the inflow of outside air into the lower freezer compartment 5 when the door is opened or closed, the rotation speed of the freezer compartment fan 9a is increased from 1500 rpm to 2000 rpm. At this time, at the same time as the increase in the rotation speed of the freezer compartment fan 9a, the rotation speed of the refrigerator compartment fan 9b is also increased from 1000 rpm to 1800 rpm.

冷蔵室ファン９ｂの回転数は冷蔵室２内の温度分布等に応じて変更することができる。例えば、時間の経過により温度の偏りができた場合は、冷蔵室ファン９ｂを１０００ｒｐｍから１８００ｒｐｍに増加させる。この時、冷凍室ファン９ａの回転数は冷蔵室ファン９ｂの回転数の増加とともに１５００ｒｐｍから２０００ｒｐｍに増加させる。 The rotation speed of the refrigerator compartment fan 9b can be changed according to the temperature distribution inside the refrigerator compartment 2. For example, if temperature deviations occur over time, the refrigerator compartment fan 9b is increased from 1000 rpm to 1800 rpm. At this time, the rotation speed of the freezer compartment fan 9a is increased from 1500 rpm to 2000 rpm along with the increase in the rotation speed of the refrigerator compartment fan 9b.

冷凍室ファン９ａ及び冷蔵室ファン９ｂの回転数は上記のもの以外の回転数も選択することができる。回転数を選択する際には、事前に作成したテーブルの中の回転数の組み合わせを選択する。 The rotation speeds of the freezer fan 9a and the refrigerator fan 9b can be selected to be other than those mentioned above. When selecting the rotation speeds, select a combination of rotation speeds from a table created in advance.

テーブルは、事前に行う温度測定により作成される。温度測定は測定用に用意された冷凍室戻り口１０５及び冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５付近の空気温度を測定可能な温度センサにより、冷凍室ファン９ａ及び冷蔵室ファン９ｂの回転数と冷凍室戻り口１０５及び冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５における逆流の発生有無との関係を測定するものである。逆流についての詳細な説明は後述する。この測定の結果を用い、テーブルを作成することで、逆流の発生を制御することができる。 The table is created by temperature measurements taken in advance. Temperature measurements are made using temperature sensors prepared for the measurements that can measure the air temperature near the freezer compartment return port 105 and the first refrigerator compartment return port 115, and measure the relationship between the rotation speed of the freezer compartment fan 9a and the refrigerator compartment fan 9b and the occurrence of backflow at the freezer compartment return port 105 and the first refrigerator compartment return port 115. A detailed explanation of backflow will be given later. The occurrence of backflow can be controlled by creating a table using the results of these measurements.

以上で説明したように、本実施例の冷蔵庫１は、
貯蔵室としての冷蔵室２及び冷凍室３、４、５と、
冷却器１４が収容された冷却器室８と、
冷却器室８で冷却器１４と熱交換した冷気を送風する冷凍室ファン９ａと、
冷蔵室２に冷気を循環させるのに使用される冷蔵室第一風路１１０と、
冷却器室８から冷蔵室第一風路１１０への冷気の流通を制御する冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１と、
冷蔵室２の冷気を循環させる冷蔵室ファン９ｂと、
冷凍室ファン９ａ、冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１及び冷蔵室ファン９ｂを制御する制御装置７０Ａと、
を備え、
冷蔵室第一風路１１０は、冷蔵室２の内部冷気を取り込む冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５と、冷気を冷蔵室２へ吹き出す冷蔵室吹き出し口１１１と、を有すると共に、冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１を介して冷凍室ファン９ａの吹き出し領域と連通するように構成され、
冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５は、冷蔵室吹き出し口１１１に対して、冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１の側に位置し、
冷蔵室ファン９ｂは、冷蔵室２の内部冷気が、冷蔵室２、冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５、冷蔵室第一風路１１０、及び冷蔵室吹き出し口１１１の順で循環するように、冷蔵室第一風路１１０に配置され、
制御装置７０Ａは、冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１が開状態の場合に、冷蔵室ファン９ｂを駆動状態に制御する。 As described above, the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment has the following features:
A refrigerator compartment 2 and freezer compartments 3, 4, and 5 as storage compartments;
A cooler chamber 8 in which a cooler 14 is housed;
a freezer compartment fan 9a for blowing cold air that has exchanged heat with the cooler 14 in the cooler compartment 8;
A first refrigeration chamber air duct 110 used to circulate cold air to the refrigeration chamber 2;
a first refrigeration chamber damper 151 for controlling the flow of cold air from the cooling chamber 8 to the first refrigeration chamber air passage 110;
A refrigerator compartment fan 9b that circulates cold air in the refrigerator compartment 2;
A control device 70A that controls the freezer compartment fan 9a, the refrigerator compartment first damper 151, and the refrigerator compartment fan 9b;
Equipped with
The first refrigeration compartment air passage 110 has a first refrigeration compartment return port 115 for taking in cold air from the inside of the refrigeration compartment 2 and a refrigeration compartment outlet port 111 for blowing the cold air into the refrigeration compartment 2, and is configured to communicate with the outlet region of the freezer compartment fan 9a via a first refrigeration compartment damper 151.
The first refrigeration chamber return port 115 is located on the side of the first refrigeration chamber damper 151 with respect to the refrigeration chamber outlet port 111.
The refrigerator compartment fan 9b is disposed in the refrigerator compartment first air duct 110 so that the cold air inside the refrigerator compartment 2 circulates in the order of the refrigerator compartment 2, the refrigerator compartment first return port 115, the refrigerator compartment first air duct 110, and the refrigerator compartment outlet port 111.
When the refrigerator compartment first damper 151 is in the open state, the control device 70A controls the refrigerator compartment fan 9b to the driven state.

図９は、第一実施例に係る冷蔵庫の冷凍サイクルの構成の概略を示す構成概略図である。
本実施例の冷蔵庫１は、圧縮機２４、冷媒の放熱を行う放熱手段としての庫外放熱器５０ａ、断熱箱体１０の両側面に配置された壁面放熱配管５０ｂ、断熱仕切壁２７、２８と仕切部２９、３０の前面部とに配置されて結露を抑制する結露防止配管５０ｃ、冷媒を減圧する減圧手段であるキャピラリチューブ５３、及び冷媒と庫内の空気を熱交換することで庫内の熱を吸熱する冷却器１４を備えている。なお、壁面放熱配管５０ｂは外箱１０ａと内箱１０ｂとの間の領域の外箱１０ａの内面に配置される。また、結露防止配管５０ｃは断熱仕切壁２７、２８及び仕切部２９、３０の内面に配置される。 FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment.
The refrigerator 1 of this embodiment includes a compressor 24, an external radiator 50a as a heat dissipation means for dissipating heat from the refrigerant, wall surface heat dissipation piping 50b arranged on both sides of the heat-insulating box 10, dew prevention piping 50c arranged on the front parts of the heat-insulating partition walls 27, 28 and the partition parts 29, 30 to suppress dew, a capillary tube 53 as a pressure reducing means for reducing the pressure of the refrigerant, and a cooler 14 that absorbs heat inside the refrigerator by exchanging heat between the refrigerant and the air inside the refrigerator. The wall surface heat dissipation piping 50b is arranged on the inner surface of the outer box 10a in the region between the outer box 10a and the inner box 10b. The dew prevention piping 50c is arranged on the inner surfaces of the heat-insulating partition walls 27, 28 and the partition parts 29, 30.

また冷蔵庫１は、冷凍サイクル中の水分を除去するドライヤ５１と、液冷媒の圧縮機２４への流入を抑制する気液分離器５４とを備えており、これらを冷媒配管により接続することで冷凍サイクルを構成している。キャピラリチューブ５３と冷却器１４と圧縮機２４とを接続する冷媒配管は、冷媒の熱交換を行う熱交換部５７を備えている。 The refrigerator 1 also includes a dryer 51 that removes moisture in the refrigeration cycle, and a gas-liquid separator 54 that prevents liquid refrigerant from flowing into the compressor 24. These are connected by refrigerant piping to form a refrigeration cycle. The refrigerant piping that connects the capillary tube 53, the cooler 14, and the compressor 24 includes a heat exchanger 57 that exchanges heat of the refrigerant.

本実施例の冷蔵庫１において、圧縮機２４が駆動すると冷媒が圧縮されて、高温高圧のガス冷媒となって、庫外放熱器５０ａに入る。庫外放熱器５０ａにおいては、図示しない庫外ファンによる通風によって冷媒から熱が奪われてエンタルピが減少し、二相状態となって壁面放熱配管５０ｂに流入する。断熱箱体１０の両側面に配置された壁面放熱配管５０ｂでは、断熱箱体１０の外壁を介して主に庫外の空気に冷媒から放熱が行われる。 In the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment, when the compressor 24 is driven, the refrigerant is compressed and becomes a high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant, which enters the external radiator 50a. In the external radiator 50a, heat is removed from the refrigerant by ventilation from an external fan (not shown), reducing the enthalpy, and the refrigerant flows into the wall heat dissipation pipe 50b in a two-phase state. In the wall heat dissipation pipes 50b, which are arranged on both sides of the insulated box 10, heat is dissipated from the refrigerant mainly to the air outside the box through the outer wall of the insulated box 10.

続いて、断熱仕切壁２７、２８、仕切部２９、３０の前面部に配置された、結露防止配管５０ｃに冷媒が入る。断熱仕切壁２７、２８及び仕切部２９、３０の前方には断熱性を有する扉が備えられているために、結露防止配管５０ｃにおいては、主に庫内の空気に冷媒から放熱されて、液冷媒となり、ドライヤ５１を流れて水分が除去された後に、キャピラリチューブ５３に至る。冷媒はキャピラリチューブ５３を流れることで減圧されて、低温低圧の二相冷媒になって冷却器１４の入口に至る。 The refrigerant then enters the condensation prevention pipe 50c, which is located in front of the insulating partition walls 27, 28 and the partitions 29, 30. Because the insulating partition walls 27, 28 and the partitions 29, 30 are provided with doors with thermal insulation, in the condensation prevention pipe 50c, heat is dissipated from the refrigerant mainly to the air inside the storage unit, and the refrigerant becomes liquid, and after flowing through the dryer 51 to remove moisture, it reaches the capillary tube 53. The refrigerant is decompressed as it flows through the capillary tube 53, and becomes a low-temperature, low-pressure two-phase refrigerant before reaching the inlet of the cooler 14.

庫内の各貯蔵室から戻った空気は、冷凍室ファン９ａの駆動によって冷却器１４を通過することで、冷却されて低温になり、再び庫内の各貯蔵室の冷却を行う。このとき冷媒は庫内の空気から吸熱してエンタルピが上昇し、渇き度が上がり、略飽和ガス冷媒となって冷却器１４の出口に至る。 The air returning from each storage compartment in the freezer passes through the cooler 14 by driving the freezer compartment fan 9a, and is cooled to a low temperature, and then cools each storage compartment again. At this time, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the air in the freezer, increasing its enthalpy and dryness, and becomes a nearly saturated gas refrigerant before reaching the outlet of the cooler 14.

冷却器１４の出口から圧縮機２４に戻る配管の一部は、キャピラリチューブ５３と熱交換するように近接して設けられており、キャピラリチューブ５３内の冷媒によって加熱されてエンタルピが上昇して（温度が上がって）、再び圧縮機２４に吸い込まれる。このように熱交換部５７を備えることで、圧縮機に吸い込まれる冷媒の温度が上昇して、冷媒配管への結露や着霜が防止できるとともに、熱交換によって冷却器１４に流入する冷媒のエンタルピが低下して、蒸発器における冷却能力が向上するようになる。なお、冷凍サイクルに用いる冷媒は可燃性冷媒のイソブタンである。 A portion of the piping returning from the outlet of the cooler 14 to the compressor 24 is provided in close proximity to the capillary tube 53 so as to exchange heat with it, and is heated by the refrigerant in the capillary tube 53, causing the enthalpy to increase (the temperature to rise), before being sucked back into the compressor 24. By providing the heat exchange section 57 in this way, the temperature of the refrigerant sucked into the compressor increases, preventing condensation and frost on the refrigerant piping, and the enthalpy of the refrigerant flowing into the cooler 14 is reduced by the heat exchange, improving the cooling capacity of the evaporator. The refrigerant used in the refrigeration cycle is isobutane, a flammable refrigerant.

以上で、本実施例の冷蔵庫の構成を説明したが、次に、本実施例の冷蔵庫１の奏する効果について説明する。 The configuration of the refrigerator of this embodiment has been explained above, and next we will explain the effects of the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment.

本実施例の冷蔵庫１では、冷凍室風路１００と冷蔵室第一風路１１０とは連通している。また、この連通した風路１００、１１０上に昇圧手段である２つのファン（冷凍室ファン９ａ及び冷蔵室ファン９ｂ）が配置され、冷凍室ファン９ａの下流に製氷室吹き出し口１０１、上段冷凍室吹き出し口１０２及び下段冷凍室吹き出し口１０３が配置される。またファン９ｂの下流に冷蔵室吹き出し口１１１が配置される。冷蔵庫１には、冷凍室３、４、５に流入した空気が冷却器室８に戻るための経路である冷凍室戻り風路１０４が設けられ、また冷蔵室２に流入した空気が冷却器室８に戻るための経路である冷蔵室戻り風路１３０が設けられており、冷蔵室ファン９ｂが冷気を冷蔵室吹き出し口１１１、冷蔵室２、冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５、冷蔵室第一風路１１０、及び冷蔵室吹き出し口１１１の順で循環させる逆流防止運転を行う。 In the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment, the freezer compartment air duct 100 and the first refrigerator compartment air duct 110 are connected to each other. In addition, two fans (freezer compartment fan 9a and refrigerator compartment fan 9b) that serve as pressure boosting means are arranged on the connected air ducts 100, 110, and the ice-making compartment outlet 101, upper freezer compartment outlet 102, and lower freezer compartment outlet 103 are arranged downstream of the freezer compartment fan 9a. In addition, the refrigerator compartment outlet 111 is arranged downstream of the fan 9b. The refrigerator 1 is provided with a freezer compartment return air duct 104, which is a path for air that has flowed into the freezer compartments 3, 4, and 5 to return to the cooler compartment 8, and a refrigerator compartment return air duct 130, which is a path for air that has flowed into the refrigerator compartment 2 to return to the cooler compartment 8. The refrigerator compartment fan 9b performs backflow prevention operation to circulate the cold air in the following order: refrigerator compartment outlet 111, refrigerator compartment 2, refrigerator compartment first return port 115, refrigerator compartment first air duct 110, and refrigerator compartment outlet 111.

すなわち制御装置７０Ａは、冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１が開状態の場合に冷蔵室ファン９ｂを駆動して、冷却器室８で冷却器１４と熱交換し冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１を通過した冷気が、冷蔵室第一風路１１０から冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５を介して冷蔵室２に流れる逆流を防止する。 In other words, when the first refrigerator compartment damper 151 is open, the control device 70A drives the refrigerator compartment fan 9b to prevent the cold air that has exchanged heat with the cooler 14 in the cooler chamber 8 and passed through the first refrigerator compartment damper 151 from flowing back from the first refrigerator compartment air duct 110 to the refrigerator compartment 2 via the first refrigerator compartment return port 115.

これにより、冷蔵室２の上部が十分に冷えない、あるいは、冷蔵室２の下部が過度に冷えるといった事態が生じ難くなり、本実施例の冷蔵庫１は信頼性の高い冷蔵庫となる。 This makes it less likely that the upper part of the refrigerator compartment 2 will not be cooled sufficiently, or that the lower part of the refrigerator compartment 2 will be cooled excessively, making the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment a highly reliable refrigerator.

理由を図１０及び図１１を参照しながら説明する。 The reason will be explained with reference to Figures 10 and 11.

図１０は、第一比較例に係る冷蔵庫１の冷気の流れ（風路構成）を示す概略図である。図１０に示す第一比較例では、冷蔵室ファン９ｂが駆動していない点が第一実施例と異なっている。 Figure 10 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of cold air (air passage configuration) in a refrigerator 1 according to a first comparative example. The first comparative example shown in Figure 10 differs from the first embodiment in that the refrigerator compartment fan 9b is not driven.

第一比較例では、冷凍室ファン９ａにより製氷室３、上段冷凍室４、下段冷凍室５、及び冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１に冷気を送風する。ここで、冷蔵室ファン９ｂの回転数が小さい状態では、冷蔵室２内の圧力よりも冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１下流の圧力が高い状態となり、逆流Ｓ２が生じる。その結果、冷却器１４と熱交換した冷気が冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５から冷蔵室２に流入するため、この状態で冷却を続けると、冷蔵室吹き出し口１１１から冷蔵室２に流入する冷気の風量が低下し、冷凍室２上部が十分に冷えない。 In the first comparative example, the freezer fan 9a blows cold air to the ice-making compartment 3, the upper freezer compartment 4, the lower freezer compartment 5, and the first refrigerator damper 151. Here, when the rotation speed of the refrigerator fan 9b is low, the pressure downstream of the first refrigerator damper 151 is higher than the pressure inside the refrigerator compartment 2, and a backflow S2 occurs. As a result, the cold air that has exchanged heat with the cooler 14 flows into the refrigerator compartment 2 from the first refrigerator return port 115. If cooling is continued in this state, the amount of cold air flowing into the refrigerator compartment 2 from the refrigerator outlet 111 decreases, and the upper part of the freezer compartment 2 is not cooled sufficiently.

図１１は、第一実施例に係る冷蔵庫の冷蔵室ファン９ｂの回転数と、冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５の通過風量と、の関係を示す図である。なお、図１１の横軸は、冷蔵室ファン９ｂの回転数である。図１１の縦軸は冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５に流入する空気の風量であり、冷蔵室２から冷蔵室第二風路１１０に流れる風量を正とする。また、図１１に示す逆流Ｓ２発生範囲では、冷蔵室第二風路１１０から冷蔵室２に流れる逆流Ｓ２が生じる。 Figure 11 is a diagram showing the relationship between the rotation speed of the refrigerator compartment fan 9b of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment and the amount of air passing through the refrigerator compartment first return port 115. The horizontal axis of Figure 11 is the rotation speed of the refrigerator compartment fan 9b. The vertical axis of Figure 11 is the amount of air flowing into the refrigerator compartment first return port 115, and the amount of air flowing from the refrigerator compartment 2 to the refrigerator compartment second air duct 110 is taken as positive. In addition, in the backflow S2 generation range shown in Figure 11, a backflow S2 flows from the refrigerator compartment second air duct 110 to the refrigerator compartment 2.

本実施例の冷蔵庫１では、冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１が開放し、冷凍室ファン９ａが駆動している状態で、冷蔵室ファン９ｂを冷蔵室吹き出し口１１１、冷蔵室２、冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５、冷蔵室第一風路１１０、及び冷蔵室吹き出し口１１１の順で冷気を循環させるよう駆動する。 In the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment, when the first refrigerator compartment damper 151 is open and the freezer compartment fan 9a is driven, the refrigerator compartment fan 9b is driven to circulate cold air in the following order: refrigerator compartment outlet 111, refrigerator compartment 2, first refrigerator compartment return port 115, first refrigerator compartment air duct 110, and refrigerator compartment outlet 111.

より具体的には、本実施例の冷蔵庫１は、冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１が開状態の場合に、冷蔵室ファン９ｂと共に冷凍室ファン９ａを駆動して、冷却器室８で冷却器１４と熱交換した冷気を、冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１から冷蔵室第一風路１１０に送風して、冷蔵室吹き出し口１１１から冷蔵室２に吹き出した後、冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５から冷蔵室第一風路１１０に送風して、再び冷蔵室吹き出し口１１１から冷蔵室２に吹き出して循環させる送風モード（第一送風モード）を備える。 More specifically, the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment has an air blowing mode (first air blowing mode) in which, when the first refrigerator damper 151 is open, the freezer fan 9a is driven together with the refrigerator fan 9b, and the cold air that has exchanged heat with the cooler 14 in the cooler chamber 8 is blown from the first refrigerator damper 151 to the first refrigerator air duct 110, blown out from the refrigerator outlet 111 into the refrigerator chamber 2, and then blown out from the first refrigerator return outlet 115 into the first refrigerator air duct 110, and then blown out again from the refrigerator outlet 111 into the refrigerator chamber 2 to circulate the air.

これにより、冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５に逆流Ｓ２が発生しなくなり、冷蔵室２上部が十分に冷えない、あるいは、冷蔵室２下部が過度に冷えるといった事態が生じ難くなり、冷蔵庫１は信頼性が高い冷蔵庫となる。 As a result, backflow S2 does not occur at the first return port 115 of the refrigerator compartment, making it less likely that the upper part of the refrigerator compartment 2 will not be cooled sufficiently or that the lower part of the refrigerator compartment 2 will be cooled excessively, making the refrigerator 1 a highly reliable refrigerator.

また本実施例の冷蔵庫１では、冷凍室風路１００上に昇圧手段である冷凍室ファン９ａが配置され、冷凍室ファン９ａの下流に製氷室吹き出し口１０１、上段冷凍室吹き出し口１０２及び下段冷凍室吹き出し口１０３が配置される。冷蔵庫１には、冷凍室３、４、５に流入した空気が冷却器室８に戻るための経路である冷凍室戻り風路１０４が設けられ、冷凍室ファン９ａは、冷気が冷凍室吹き出し口１０１、１０２、１０３、冷凍室３、４、５、冷凍室戻り口１０５、及び冷凍室戻り風路１０４の順で循環するように、駆動される。 In addition, in the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment, the freezer compartment fan 9a, which is a boosting means, is disposed on the freezer compartment air duct 100, and the ice-making compartment outlet 101, the upper freezer compartment outlet 102, and the lower freezer compartment outlet 103 are disposed downstream of the freezer compartment fan 9a. The refrigerator 1 is provided with a freezer compartment return air duct 104, which is a path for air that has flowed into the freezer compartments 3, 4, and 5 to return to the cooler compartment 8, and the freezer compartment fan 9a is driven so that the cold air circulates in the order of the freezer compartment outlets 101, 102, and 103, the freezer compartments 3, 4, and 5, the freezer compartment return port 105, and the freezer compartment return air duct 104.

これにより下段冷凍室５をはじめとする冷凍温度帯の貯蔵室が温められるといった事態が生じ難くなり、冷蔵庫１は信頼性が高い冷蔵庫となる。 This makes it less likely that storage compartments in the freezing temperature range, such as the lower freezer compartment 5, will become warm, making the refrigerator 1 a highly reliable refrigerator.

理由を図１２、図１３を参照しながら説明する。図１２は、第二比較例に係る冷蔵庫の冷気の流れ（風路構成）を示す模式図である。図１２に示す第二比較例では、冷凍室ファン９ａを駆動していない点が第一実施例と異なっている。 The reason will be explained with reference to Figures 12 and 13. Figure 12 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of cold air (airway configuration) in a refrigerator according to a second comparative example. The second comparative example shown in Figure 12 differs from the first embodiment in that the freezer compartment fan 9a is not driven.

第二比較例では、冷凍室ファン９ａにより昇圧された空気は冷凍室３、４、５に流れ、冷凍室戻り風路１０４を介して、冷却器室８に流入する。ここで、冷凍室ファン９ａの回転数が小さい状態では、冷却器１４の上流の圧力よりも冷凍室ファン９ａの吐出領域である冷凍室戻り風路１０４、ひいては冷凍室３、４、５の圧力が低い状態となり、逆流Ｓ１が生じる。その結果、冷蔵室２の比較的高温な空気が製氷室３、上段冷凍室４及び下段冷凍室５に流入するため温度が上昇する。
In the second comparative example, air pressurized by the freezer compartment fan 9a flows into the freezer compartments 3, 4, and 5, and then flows into the cooler compartment 8 via the freezer compartment return air duct 104. When the rotation speed of the freezer compartment fan 9a is low, the pressure in the freezer compartment return air duct 104, which is the discharge area of the freezer compartment fan 9a, and further the pressure in the freezer compartments 3, 4, and 5, is lower than the pressure upstream of the cooler 14, and a backflow S1 occurs. As a result, the relatively high-temperature air in the refrigerator compartment 2 flows into the ice-making compartment 3, the upper freezer compartment 4, and the lower freezer compartment 5, causing the temperature to rise.

図１３は、第一実施例に係る冷蔵庫１の冷凍室ファン９ａの回転数と、冷凍室戻り口１０５の通過風量と、の関係を示す図である。図１３の横軸は、冷凍室ファン９ａの回転数である。図１３の縦軸は冷凍室戻り口１０５を通過する空気の風量であり、冷凍室２から冷却器室８に流れる風量を正とする。また、図１３に示す逆流Ｓ１発生範囲では、冷却器室８から冷凍室戻り口１０５への逆流が生じる。 Figure 13 is a diagram showing the relationship between the rotation speed of the freezer compartment fan 9a of the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment and the amount of air passing through the freezer compartment return port 105. The horizontal axis of Figure 13 is the rotation speed of the freezer compartment fan 9a. The vertical axis of Figure 13 is the amount of air passing through the freezer compartment return port 105, with the amount of air flowing from the freezer compartment 2 to the cooler compartment 8 being positive. Also, in the backflow S1 generation range shown in Figure 13, a backflow occurs from the cooler compartment 8 to the freezer compartment return port 105.

本実施例の冷蔵庫１では、冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１が開放し、冷蔵室ファン９ｂが駆動している状態で、冷却器室８で冷却器１４と熱交換した冷気が冷凍室吹き出し口１０１、１０２、１０３、冷凍室３、４、５、冷凍室戻り口１０５、及び冷凍室戻り風路１０４の順で循環するように、冷凍室ファン９ａが駆動される。 In the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment, when the first refrigerator damper 151 is open and the refrigerator fan 9b is driven, the freezer fan 9a is driven so that the cold air that has exchanged heat with the cooler 14 in the cooler chamber 8 circulates in the following order: freezer outlets 101, 102, 103, freezer chambers 3, 4, 5, freezer return port 105, and freezer return air duct 104.

すなわち本実施例の冷蔵庫１では、冷凍室３、４、５は、冷気が冷却器室８に戻るための出口となる冷凍室戻り口１０５を備え、冷凍室風路１００は冷却器室８の吐出側と冷凍室吹き出し口１０１、１０２、１０３とを接続し、制御装置７０Ａは冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１を開状態とすると共に、冷凍室ファン９ａを駆動して、冷却器室８で冷却器１４と熱交換した冷気を、冷凍室風路１００、冷凍室吹き出し口１０１、１０２、１０３、冷凍室３、４、５、冷凍室戻り口１０５、及び冷却器室８の順で冷気を循環させる。 In other words, in the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment, freezer compartments 3, 4, and 5 are equipped with a freezer compartment return port 105 that serves as an outlet for the cold air to return to the cooler compartment 8, and the freezer compartment air duct 100 connects the discharge side of the cooler compartment 8 to the freezer compartment outlets 101, 102, and 103. The control device 70A opens the first refrigerator compartment damper 151 and drives the freezer compartment fan 9a to circulate the cold air that has exchanged heat with the cooler 14 in the cooler compartment 8 in the following order: the freezer compartment air duct 100, the freezer compartment outlets 101, 102, and 103, the freezer compartments 3, 4, and 5, the freezer compartment return port 105, and the cooler compartment 8.

これにより、冷凍室戻り口１０５で逆流Ｓ１が発生しなくなり、下段冷凍室５をはじめとする冷凍温度帯の貯蔵室が温められるといった事態が生じ難くなり、冷蔵庫１は信頼性が高い冷蔵庫となる。 As a result, backflow S1 does not occur at the freezer compartment return port 105, making it difficult for storage compartments in the freezing temperature range, such as the lower freezer compartment 5, to become heated, making the refrigerator 1 a highly reliable refrigerator.

本実施例では、冷凍室ファン９ａの回転数は冷蔵室ファン９ｂの回転数の増加と同時に増加させる。また、冷蔵室ファン９ｂの回転数は冷凍室ファン９ａの回転数の増加と同時に増加させる。このような構成によれば、逆流が比較的発生し難い制御が可能になる。 In this embodiment, the rotation speed of the freezer compartment fan 9a is increased simultaneously with the increase in the rotation speed of the refrigerator compartment fan 9b. Also, the rotation speed of the refrigerator compartment fan 9b is increased simultaneously with the increase in the rotation speed of the freezer compartment fan 9a. This configuration enables control that makes it relatively difficult for backflow to occur.

この場合の冷凍室ファン９ａ及び冷蔵室ファン９ｂの制御は、制御装置７０Ａが行う。すなわち本実施例の冷蔵庫１では、制御装置７０Ａは、冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１が開状態の場合に、冷凍室ファン９ａの回転数が増加するにつれて冷蔵室ファン９ｂの回転数が増加するように、冷凍室ファン９ａ及び冷蔵室ファン９ｂを制御する。また制御装置７０Ａは、冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１が開状態の場合に、冷蔵室ファン９ｂの回転数が増加するにつれて冷凍室ファン９ａの回転数が増加するように、冷蔵室ファン９ｂ及び冷凍室ファン９ａを制御する。 In this case, the control of the freezer compartment fan 9a and the refrigerator compartment fan 9b is performed by the control device 70A. That is, in the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment, when the refrigerator compartment first damper 151 is open, the control device 70A controls the freezer compartment fan 9a and the refrigerator compartment fan 9b so that the rotation speed of the freezer compartment fan 9b increases as the rotation speed of the freezer compartment fan 9a increases. Also, when the refrigerator compartment first damper 151 is open, the control device 70A controls the freezer compartment fan 9b and the freezer compartment fan 9a so that the rotation speed of the freezer compartment fan 9a increases as the rotation speed of the refrigerator compartment fan 9b increases.

本実施例の冷蔵庫１は、冷凍室ファン９ａ及び冷蔵室ファン９ｂを逆流が発生しない範囲の回転数で駆動する。これにより下段冷凍室５をはじめとする冷凍温度帯の貯蔵室が温められるといった事態、及び冷蔵室吹き出し口１１１から冷蔵室２に流入する冷気の風量が低下し、冷凍室２上部が十分に冷えなくなったり、冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５近傍が過度に冷えたりするといった事態が生じ難くなり、冷蔵庫１は信頼性が高い冷蔵庫となる。 In the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment, the freezer compartment fan 9a and the refrigerator compartment fan 9b are driven at a rotation speed within a range in which backflow does not occur. This makes it less likely that the lower freezer compartment 5 and other storage compartments in the freezing temperature range will be heated, and that the amount of cold air flowing into the refrigerator compartment 2 from the refrigerator compartment outlet 111 will decrease, causing the upper part of the freezer compartment 2 to not be cooled sufficiently, or the area near the first refrigerator compartment return port 115 to become excessively cold, making the refrigerator 1 a highly reliable refrigerator.

理由を、図１４を参照しながら説明する。図１４は、本発明の実施例に係る冷凍室ファン９ａの回転数と、冷蔵室ファン９ｂの回転数と、の関係を示す図である。なお図１４では、冷凍室ファン９ａ及び冷蔵室ファン９ｂの回転数と逆流との関係が示される。 The reason for this will be explained with reference to Figure 14. Figure 14 is a diagram showing the relationship between the rotation speed of the freezer compartment fan 9a and the rotation speed of the refrigerator compartment fan 9b in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 14 also shows the relationship between the rotation speed of the freezer compartment fan 9a and the refrigerator compartment fan 9b and the backflow.

図１４の横軸は、冷凍室ファン９ａの回転数であり、縦軸は冷蔵室ファン９ｂの回転数である。破線は逆流Ｓ１発生範囲と逆流が発生しない範囲との境界、実線は逆流Ｓ２発生範囲と逆流が発生しない範囲との境界を示す。 The horizontal axis of FIG. 14 is the rotation speed of the freezer compartment fan 9a, and the vertical axis is the rotation speed of the refrigerator compartment fan 9b. The dashed line indicates the boundary between the area where backflow S1 occurs and the area where backflow does not occur, and the solid line indicates the boundary between the area where backflow S2 occurs and the area where backflow does not occur.

逆流Ｓ１が発生するのは冷凍室ファン９ａの回転数が小さく冷蔵室ファン９ｂの回転数が大きい状態である。一方、逆流Ｓ２が発生するのは冷凍室ファン９ａの回転数が大きく冷蔵室ファン９ｂの回転数が小さい状態である。 Backflow S1 occurs when the rotation speed of the freezer compartment fan 9a is low and the rotation speed of the refrigerator compartment fan 9b is high. On the other hand, backflow S2 occurs when the rotation speed of the freezer compartment fan 9a is high and the rotation speed of the refrigerator compartment fan 9b is low.

本実施形態では、冷凍室ファン９ａ及び冷蔵室ファン９ｂを逆流Ｓ１、Ｓ２が発生しない範囲の回転数で駆動する。 In this embodiment, the freezer compartment fan 9a and the refrigerator compartment fan 9b are driven at a rotation speed range that does not generate backflows S1 and S2.

このような構成によれば、冷蔵室ファン９ｂの昇圧による冷却器１４の上流の圧力よりも、冷凍室ファン９ａの昇圧による冷凍室ファン９ａの吐出領域の圧力が高い状態となり、逆流Ｓ１が発生しない。 With this configuration, the pressure in the discharge area of the freezer compartment fan 9a due to the boost in the freezer compartment fan 9a is higher than the pressure upstream of the cooler 14 due to the boost in the refrigerator compartment fan 9b, and backflow S1 does not occur.

この場合、制御装置７０Ａは、冷却器室８で冷却器１４と熱交換した冷気を、冷凍室風路１００、冷凍室吹き出し口１０１、１０２、１０３、冷凍室３、４、５、冷凍室戻り口１０５、及び冷却器室８の順で冷気が循環するように、冷凍室ファン９ａ及び冷蔵室ファン９ｂの回転数を設定する。 In this case, the control device 70A sets the rotation speeds of the freezer compartment fan 9a and the refrigerator compartment fan 9b so that the cold air that has exchanged heat with the cooler 14 in the cooler chamber 8 circulates in the following order: freezer compartment air duct 100, freezer compartment outlets 101, 102, 103, freezer chambers 3, 4, 5, freezer compartment return port 105, and the cooler chamber 8.

また、冷蔵室ファン９ｂの昇圧による冷蔵室２内の圧力よりも冷凍室ファン９ａの昇圧による冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１下流の圧力が低い状態となり、逆流Ｓ２が発生しない。この場合、制御装置７０Ａは、冷却器室８で冷却器１４と熱交換した冷気が、冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１から冷蔵室第一風路１１０に送風され、冷蔵室吹き出し口１１１から冷蔵室２に吹き出した後、冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５から冷蔵室第一風路１１０に送風され、再び冷蔵室吹き出し口１１１から冷蔵室２に吹き出して循環するように、冷凍室ファン９ａ及び冷蔵室ファン９ｂの回転数を設定する。 In addition, the pressure downstream of the first refrigerator damper 151 due to the boost of the freezer fan 9a is lower than the pressure inside the refrigerator chamber 2 due to the boost of the refrigerator fan 9b, and backflow S2 does not occur. In this case, the control device 70A sets the rotation speeds of the freezer fan 9a and the refrigerator fan 9b so that the cold air that has exchanged heat with the cooler 14 in the cooler chamber 8 is blown from the first refrigerator damper 151 to the first refrigerator air duct 110, blown out from the refrigerator outlet 111 to the refrigerator chamber 2, then blown out from the first refrigerator return outlet 115 to the first refrigerator air duct 110, and blown out again from the refrigerator outlet 111 to the refrigerator chamber 2 to circulate.

さらに、本実施例の冷蔵庫１は図５乃至図７に示すように冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５に、冷蔵室２庫内側から冷蔵室第一風路１１０に向かうにつれて冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５の断面積が減少する断面積減少部１１５ａが設けられている。このような構成によれば、冷蔵室第一風路１１０から冷蔵室２庫内側に空気が流れやすく、冷蔵室２庫内側から冷蔵室第一風路１１０には空気がながれにくくなり、冷気の逆流を抑制することができる。これにより、図１２に示す逆流が発生しない範囲が拡大する。したがって、冷凍室ファン９ａ及び冷蔵室ファン９ｂの選択可能な回転数の範囲が広くなり、制御設計自由度が向上する。 Furthermore, as shown in Figs. 5 to 7, the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment is provided with a cross-sectional area reduction section 115a in which the cross-sectional area of the first return port 115 decreases from the inside of the refrigerator compartment 2 toward the first air duct 110. With this configuration, air flows more easily from the first air duct 110 to the inside of the refrigerator compartment 2, and air does not flow easily from the inside of the refrigerator compartment 2 to the first air duct 110, suppressing the backflow of cold air. This expands the range in which backflow does not occur as shown in Fig. 12. Therefore, the range of selectable rotation speeds of the freezer compartment fan 9a and the refrigerator compartment fan 9b is wider, improving the freedom of control design.

［実施例２］
次に、第二実施形態（実施例２）について説明する。尚、実施例１と同様の構成については説明を省略する。 [Example 2]
Next, a second embodiment (Example 2) will be described. Note that the description of the same configuration as Example 1 will be omitted.

実施例２の冷蔵庫１では、冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１が開放状態において、２つの送風モードを使用して冷蔵室２を冷却する点が実施例１の冷蔵庫１と異なっている。２つの送風モードは、第一送風モード及び第二送風モードと呼んで説明する。 The refrigerator 1 of Example 2 differs from the refrigerator 1 of Example 1 in that, when the first refrigerator damper 151 is in the open state, the refrigerator compartment 2 is cooled using two airflow modes. The two airflow modes will be described as the first airflow mode and the second airflow mode.

第一送風モード及び第二送風モードにおける冷凍室ファン９ａ及び冷蔵室ファン９ｂの回転数と、冷気の流れを説明する。 The rotation speed of the freezer compartment fan 9a and the refrigerator compartment fan 9b in the first and second air blowing modes, and the flow of cold air are explained below.

第一送風モードでは、冷凍室ファン９ａ及び冷蔵室ファン９ｂを駆動し、冷凍室ファン９ａによって昇圧された冷気は、製氷室３、上段冷凍室４及び下段冷凍室５に送られるとともに、冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１を通過し、冷蔵室ファン９ｂによって再度昇圧されて冷蔵室第一風路１１０に流れ、冷蔵室吹き出し口１１１から冷蔵室２に送られる。製氷室３、上段冷凍室４及び下段冷凍室５を冷却した冷気は、冷凍室戻り口１０５を介して冷凍室戻り風路１０４を流れ、冷却器室８に戻る。冷蔵室２を冷却した冷気は、冷蔵室第二戻り口１３１を介して冷蔵室戻り風路１３０を流れ、冷却器室８に戻る。 In the first airflow mode, the freezer fan 9a and the refrigerator fan 9b are driven, and the cold air pressurized by the freezer fan 9a is sent to the ice-making chamber 3, the upper freezer chamber 4, and the lower freezer chamber 5, passes through the refrigerator chamber first damper 151, is pressurized again by the refrigerator chamber fan 9b, flows into the refrigerator chamber first air duct 110, and is sent to the refrigerator chamber 2 from the refrigerator chamber outlet 111. The cold air that has cooled the ice-making chamber 3, the upper freezer chamber 4, and the lower freezer chamber 5 flows through the freezer chamber return air duct 104 via the freezer chamber return port 105 and returns to the cooler chamber 8. The cold air that has cooled the refrigerator chamber 2 flows through the refrigerator chamber second return port 131 and the refrigerator chamber return air duct 130, and returns to the cooler chamber 8.

第二送風モードでは、冷凍室ファン９ａを駆動し、冷蔵室ファン９ｂを非駆動とする。冷凍室ファン９ａによって昇圧された冷気は、製氷室３、上段冷凍室４及び下段冷凍室５に送られるとともに、冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１を通過し、冷蔵室第一風路１１０に流れ、冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５及び冷蔵室吹き出し口１１１から冷蔵室２に送られる。製氷室３、上段冷凍室４及び下段冷凍室５を冷却した冷気は、冷凍室戻り口１０５を介して冷凍室戻り風路１０４を流れ、冷却器室８に戻る。冷蔵室２を冷却した冷気は、冷蔵室第二戻り口１３１を介して冷蔵室戻り風路１３０を流れ、冷却器室８に戻る。 In the second airflow mode, the freezer fan 9a is driven and the refrigerator fan 9b is not driven. The cold air pressurized by the freezer fan 9a is sent to the ice-making chamber 3, the upper freezer chamber 4, and the lower freezer chamber 5, passes through the first refrigerator damper 151, flows into the first refrigerator air duct 110, and is sent to the refrigerator chamber 2 from the first refrigerator return port 115 and the refrigerator outlet 111. The cold air that has cooled the ice-making chamber 3, the upper freezer chamber 4, and the lower freezer chamber 5 flows through the freezer return air duct 104 via the freezer return port 105 and returns to the cooler chamber 8. The cold air that has cooled the refrigerator chamber 2 flows through the second refrigerator return port 131 and the refrigerator return air duct 130, and returns to the cooler chamber 8.

第二送風モードは、冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５から冷蔵室２に流れる逆流Ｓ２を利用する送風モードである。図１４に示すように、冷蔵室ファン９ｂを駆動しても、冷蔵室ファン９ｂの回転数が小さい範囲では、逆流Ｓ２を発生させることができる。このため、冷蔵室ファン９ｂは非駆動とせず、逆流Ｓ２が発生する回転数の小さい範囲で駆動してもよい。 The second airflow mode is an airflow mode that utilizes the backflow S2 that flows from the first return port 115 into the refrigerator compartment 2. As shown in FIG. 14, even if the refrigerator compartment fan 9b is driven, the backflow S2 can be generated in a range of low rotation speeds of the refrigerator compartment fan 9b. For this reason, the refrigerator compartment fan 9b may be driven in a range of low rotation speeds that generates the backflow S2, rather than being deactivated.

すなわち本実施例では、冷凍室ファン９ａ及び冷蔵室ファン９ｂの回転数は上記のもの以外の回転数も選択することができる。実施例１と同様の方法で作成したテーブルの中から、第一送風モードでは、図１４に示す逆流Ｓ２が発生しない範囲の回転数を選択し、第二送風モードでは、図１４に示す逆流Ｓ２の発生範囲に収まる回転数を選択することができる。 That is, in this embodiment, the rotation speeds of the freezer compartment fan 9a and the refrigerator compartment fan 9b can be selected other than those mentioned above. From the table created in the same manner as in embodiment 1, in the first air blowing mode, a rotation speed within the range in which the backflow S2 shown in FIG. 14 does not occur can be selected, and in the second air blowing mode, a rotation speed within the range in which the backflow S2 shown in FIG. 14 occurs can be selected.

また、冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５近傍に冷蔵室第一戻り口温度センサ４７を設けることにより着霜等で各風路の抵抗が変わってもより正確に第一送風モードと第二送風モードを選択することができる。
各送風モードの選択及び各ファン９ａ、９ｂの回転数の制御は、制御装置７０Ａが行う。
In addition, by providing a refrigerator compartment first return port temperature sensor 47 near the refrigerator compartment first return port 115, the first airflow mode and the second airflow mode can be selected more accurately even if the resistance of each air path changes due to frost, etc.
The selection of each air blowing mode and the control of the rotation speed of each of the fans 9a, 9b are performed by a control device 70A.

なお第二送風モードにおいて冷蔵室ファン９ｂを非駆動とすることで、冷蔵室ファン９ｂで消費される電力を低減して逆流Ｓ２を発生させることができる。 In addition, by deactivating the refrigerator compartment fan 9b in the second airflow mode, the power consumed by the refrigerator compartment fan 9b can be reduced and backflow S2 can be generated.

冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１が開放している時間の内、第一送風モードを使用した冷却時間Ｔ１と第二送風モードを使用した冷却時間Ｔ２の比が、Ｔ１：Ｔ２＝８：２となるように制御する。 During the time that the first refrigerator compartment damper 151 is open, the ratio of the cooling time T1 using the first airflow mode to the cooling time T2 using the second airflow mode is controlled to be T1:T2 = 8:2.

すなわち本実施例の冷蔵庫１は、第一送風モードの他に、冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１が開状態の場合に、冷却器室８で冷却器１４と熱交換した冷気を、冷蔵室吹き出し口１１１及び冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５から冷蔵室２に送風する第二送風モードを備え、第一送風モードによる冷却時間Ｔ１を第二送風モードによる冷却時間Ｔ２より長くする。 In other words, the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment has, in addition to the first air blowing mode, a second air blowing mode in which, when the first refrigerator compartment damper 151 is open, the cold air that has exchanged heat with the cooler 14 in the cooler chamber 8 is blown into the refrigerator chamber 2 from the refrigerator compartment outlet 111 and the first refrigerator compartment return port 115, and the cooling time T1 in the first air blowing mode is made longer than the cooling time T2 in the second air blowing mode.

本実施例の冷蔵庫１の奏する効果について説明する。
本実施例の冷蔵庫１では、冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１が開放状態において、第一送風モードと第二送風モードとを切り替えて、冷蔵室２を冷却する。このような構成によれば、冷気が冷蔵室吹き出し口１１１に集中する第一送風モードと、冷気が冷蔵室吹き出し口１１１及び冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５の両方から送出する第二送風モードとを、冷蔵室２の温度偏りの発生状況に応じて切り替えることにより、冷蔵室２の温度偏りの小さい冷蔵庫１を提供することができる。 The effects achieved by the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment will be described.
In the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment, when the refrigerator compartment first damper 151 is in an open state, the refrigerator compartment 2 is cooled by switching between a first air blowing mode and a second air blowing mode. According to this configuration, by switching between the first air blowing mode in which cold air is concentrated at the refrigerator compartment outlet 111 and the second air blowing mode in which cold air is blown out from both the refrigerator compartment outlet 111 and the refrigerator compartment first return outlet 115 according to the occurrence state of temperature bias in the refrigerator compartment 2, it is possible to provide a refrigerator 1 with small temperature bias in the refrigerator compartment 2.

また、本実施例の冷蔵庫１では、冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１が開放している時間の内、第一送風モードを使用した冷却時間Ｔ１が第二送風モードを使用した冷却時間Ｔ２に比べて長くなる（Ｔ_１＞Ｔ_２）よう制御する。このような構成によれば、自然対流の影響で比較的冷え難い冷蔵室２上部の冷却量が大きくなり、冷蔵室２の温度偏りの小さい冷蔵庫１を提供することができる。 In addition, in the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment, during the time that the first refrigerator compartment damper 151 is open, the cooling time T1 using the first air blowing mode is controlled to be longer than the cooling time T2 using the second air blowing mode ( _T1 > _T2 ). With this configuration, the amount of cooling of the upper part of the refrigerator compartment 2, which is relatively difficult to cool due to the influence of natural convection, is increased, and it is possible to provide a refrigerator 1 with small temperature deviation in the refrigerator compartment 2.

［実施例３］
次に、第三実施例（実施例３）について説明する。 [Example 3]
Next, a third embodiment (third embodiment) will be described.

図１５は、本発明の第三実施例に係る冷蔵庫の縦断面図である。尚、実施例１又は実施例２と同様の構成には実施例１又は実施例２と同様の符号を付し、重複する説明を省略する。 Figure 15 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same components as those in the first or second embodiment are given the same reference numerals as those in the first or second embodiment, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

本実施例の冷蔵庫１は、実施例１の冷蔵室温度センサ４１に加えて、容器３６の背面に冷蔵室下部温度センサ４９を設けており、第一送風モードと第二送風モードとを冷蔵室温度センサ４１及び冷蔵室下部温度センサ４９の検知した温度に基づいて切り替える。冷蔵室下部温度センサ４９は冷蔵室温度センサ４１に対して下部に配置されており、冷蔵室２の下部に配置される。 In addition to the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 41 of the first embodiment, the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment is provided with a lower refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 49 on the back surface of the container 36, and switches between the first and second air blowing modes based on the temperatures detected by the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 41 and the lower refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 49. The lower refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 49 is located below the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 41, and is located at the bottom of the refrigerator compartment 2.

冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１が開放状態で、冷蔵室下部温度センサ４９の検知した温度ｔ２と冷蔵室温度センサ４１が検知した温度ｔ１の差ｔ２－ｔ１が所定の値Δｔを上回った場合（ｔ２－ｔ１＞Δｔ）に第二送風モードを使用し、それ以外の場合は第一送風モードを使用する。このために必要な判定及び送風モードの制御は、制御装置７０Ａが行う。 When the first refrigerator compartment damper 151 is open, the second airflow mode is used when the difference t2 - t1 between the temperature t2 detected by the refrigerator compartment lower temperature sensor 49 and the temperature t1 detected by the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 41 exceeds a predetermined value Δt (t2 - t1 > Δt), and the first airflow mode is used otherwise. The necessary judgments and control of the airflow mode are performed by the control device 70A.

すなわち本実施例の冷蔵庫１は、冷蔵室２に配置された冷蔵室温度センサ４１と、冷蔵室温度センサ４１よりも下方で冷蔵室２に配置された冷蔵室下部温度センサ４９と、を備え、冷蔵室温度センサ４１が検知した温度ｔ１と冷蔵室下部温度センサ４９の検知した温度ｔ２との差（ｔ２－ｔ１）が所定の温度差Δｔを上回り、且つ、冷蔵室下部温度センサ４９の検知した温度ｔ２が、冷蔵室温度センサ４１が検知した温度よりも高い場合に、第二送風モードによる冷却を行う。 That is, the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment is equipped with a refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 41 arranged in the refrigerator compartment 2, and a lower refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 49 arranged in the refrigerator compartment 2 below the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 41, and performs cooling in the second fan mode when the difference (t2-t1) between the temperature t1 detected by the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 41 and the temperature t2 detected by the lower refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 49 exceeds a predetermined temperature difference Δt, and the temperature t2 detected by the lower refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 49 is higher than the temperature detected by the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 41.

このような構成によれば、冷蔵室温度の偏りを検知することができ、この偏りに応じて送風モードを切り替えることが可能になり、温度偏りの小さい冷蔵庫を提供することができる。 This configuration makes it possible to detect deviations in the refrigerator room temperature and switch the airflow mode depending on the deviations, providing a refrigerator with minimal temperature deviations.

［実施例４］
次に、図１６を用いて第四実施形態（実施例４）について説明する。 [Example 4]
Next, a fourth embodiment (Example 4) will be described with reference to FIG.

図１６は、本発明の第四実施例に係る冷蔵庫の縦断面図である。尚、実施例１、実施例２又は実施例３と同様の構成については実施例１、実施例２又は実施例３と同様の符号を付し、重複する説明を省略する。 Figure 16 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a refrigerator according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same components as those in the first, second, or third embodiment are given the same reference numerals as those in the first, second, or third embodiment, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

本実施例の冷蔵庫１は、冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５近傍に冷蔵室第一戻り口温度センサ４７が設けられ、冷凍室戻り口１０５近傍に冷凍室戻り口温度センサ４５が設けられている。これらのセンサ４７、４５により、冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５及び冷凍室戻り口１０５近傍の温度を検知し、逆流Ｓ１及び逆流Ｓ２を検知することができる。 In the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment, a refrigerator compartment first return port temperature sensor 47 is provided near the refrigerator compartment first return port 115, and a freezer compartment return port temperature sensor 45 is provided near the freezer compartment return port 105. These sensors 47, 45 detect the temperatures near the refrigerator compartment first return port 115 and the freezer compartment return port 105, and can detect backflows S1 and S2.

これにより、着霜等により冷蔵庫運転中に各風路の抵抗が変化した場合においても、冷凍室ファン9a及び冷蔵室ファン9bの回転数を逆流が発生しない範囲で制御することが可能になる。 As a result, even if the resistance of each air duct changes during operation of the refrigerator due to frost or other reasons, it is possible to control the rotation speed of the freezer compartment fan 9a and the refrigerator compartment fan 9b within a range that does not cause backflow.

本実施例では、冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１が開放状態で、冷凍室戻り口温度センサ４５の検知する温度が所定の温度より高くなった場合、逆流Ｓ１が発生しているものと判定として、冷凍室ファン９ａの回転数を増加させる。この判定及び回転数の制御は、制御装置７０Ａが行う。 In this embodiment, when the first refrigerator damper 151 is open and the temperature detected by the freezer return port temperature sensor 45 becomes higher than a predetermined temperature, it is determined that backflow S1 is occurring and the rotation speed of the freezer fan 9a is increased. This determination and the control of the rotation speed are performed by the control device 70A.

すなわち本実施例の冷蔵庫１は、冷凍室戻り口１０５の近傍に冷凍室戻り口温度センサ４５を備え、制御装置７０Ａは、冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１が開状態で、且つ、冷凍室戻り口温度センサ４５の検知温度が所定値よりも高くなった場合に、冷凍室ファン９ａの回転数を増加させる。 In other words, the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment is equipped with a freezer compartment return port temperature sensor 45 near the freezer compartment return port 105, and the control device 70A increases the rotation speed of the freezer compartment fan 9a when the refrigerator compartment first damper 151 is open and the detected temperature of the freezer compartment return port temperature sensor 45 is higher than a predetermined value.

このような構成によれば、冷凍室ファン９ａの吐出側が比較的高圧になり、逆流Ｓ１を軽減もしくは防止することができる。 With this configuration, the discharge side of the freezer compartment fan 9a becomes relatively high pressure, reducing or preventing backflow S1.

また、冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１が開放状態で、冷蔵室第一戻り口温度センサ４７の検知する温度が所定の温度より低くなった場合、逆流Ｓ２が発生していると判定する。第一送風モードによる冷却時に、逆流Ｓ２が発生したと判定した場合は冷蔵室ファン９ｂの回転数を増加させる。この判定及び回転数の制御は、制御装置７０Ａが行う。 In addition, when the first refrigerator damper 151 is open and the temperature detected by the first refrigerator return port temperature sensor 47 falls below a predetermined temperature, it is determined that a backflow S2 is occurring. When cooling in the first airflow mode, if it is determined that a backflow S2 is occurring, the rotation speed of the refrigerator fan 9b is increased. This determination and the control of the rotation speed are performed by the control device 70A.

すなわち本実施例の冷蔵庫１は、冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５の近傍に冷蔵室第一戻り口温度センサ４７を備え、制御装置７０Ａは、冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１が開状態で、且つ、冷蔵室第一戻り口温度センサ４７の検知温度が所定値より低くなった場合に、冷蔵室ファン９ｂの回転数を増加させる。 That is, the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment is equipped with a first refrigerator return port temperature sensor 47 near the first refrigerator return port 115, and the control device 70A increases the rotation speed of the refrigerator fan 9b when the first refrigerator damper 151 is open and the detected temperature of the first refrigerator return port temperature sensor 47 is lower than a predetermined value.

このような構成によれば、冷蔵室ファン９ｂの吐出側である冷蔵室２内の圧力が比較的高圧となり、第一送風モードにおける逆流Ｓ２を軽減もしくは防止することができる。 With this configuration, the pressure inside the refrigerator compartment 2, which is the discharge side of the refrigerator compartment fan 9b, becomes relatively high, and backflow S2 in the first air blowing mode can be reduced or prevented.

ここで、上述した各実施例の冷蔵庫１で用いられる制御装置７０Ａについて、図１７を参照して説明する。図１７では、実施例１乃至実施例４に共通して使用できるように、温度センサについて、実施例１乃至実施例４で用いられる全ての温度センサを記載している。各実施例において、用いられない温度センサは図１７の構成から省略することができる。 The control device 70A used in the refrigerator 1 of each of the above-mentioned embodiments will now be described with reference to FIG. 17. In FIG. 17, all temperature sensors used in embodiments 1 to 4 are shown so that they can be commonly used in all of the embodiments. Temperature sensors that are not used in each embodiment can be omitted from the configuration in FIG. 17.

図１７は、本発明に係る冷蔵庫１で用いられる制御装置７０Ａの構成を示すブロック図である。ここで、冷蔵庫１の制御装置７０Ａについて、図１０を用いて説明する。 Figure 17 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control device 70A used in the refrigerator 1 according to the present invention. Here, the control device 70A of the refrigerator 1 will be described with reference to Figure 10.

冷蔵庫１の背面下部の機械室３９には、制御装置７０Ａ（図２参照）が配設される。制御装置７０Ａは、ＣＰＵ７１、ＲＯＭやＲＡＭ等のメモリ７２、タイマー７３、入力インターフェース７４及び出力インターフェース７５を含むインターフェース回路等を搭載した制御基板を有する。制御装置７０Ａの制御基板は、外気温度センサ３７、外気湿度センサ３８、冷蔵室温度センサ４１、冷凍室温度センサ４３、野菜室温度センサ４４、冷却器温度センサ４０、冷蔵室第一戻り口温度センサ４７、冷凍室戻り口温度センサ４５、及び冷蔵室下部温度センサ４９等と電気配線７６で接続されている。制御装置７０Ａでは、各センサの出力値や操作部２６の設定、メモリ７２のＲＯＭに予め記録されたプログラム等を基に、圧縮機２４や冷凍室ファン９ａ、９ｂのＯＮ／ＯＦＦや回転速度制御を行うほか、冷蔵室第二ダンパ１５１、冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５２及び野菜室ダンパ１６０の開閉制御や、除霜ヒータ２１の制御を行っている。このために、除霜ヒータ２１、圧縮機２４、冷凍室ファン９ａ、９ｂ、野菜室ダンパ１６０、冷蔵室第二ダンパ１５１及び冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５２は、電気配線７７で制御装置７０Ａに接続されている。 A control device 70A (see FIG. 2) is disposed in the machine room 39 at the bottom of the rear of the refrigerator 1. The control device 70A has a control board on which a CPU 71, memory 72 such as ROM and RAM, a timer 73, and an interface circuit including an input interface 74 and an output interface 75 are mounted. The control board of the control device 70A is connected by electrical wiring 76 to the outside air temperature sensor 37, the outside air humidity sensor 38, the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 41, the freezer compartment temperature sensor 43, the vegetable compartment temperature sensor 44, the cooler temperature sensor 40, the refrigerator compartment first return port temperature sensor 47, the freezer compartment return port temperature sensor 45, and the refrigerator compartment lower temperature sensor 49. The control device 70A controls the ON/OFF and rotation speed of the compressor 24 and freezer fans 9a and 9b based on the output values of each sensor, the settings of the operation unit 26, and programs pre-recorded in the ROM of the memory 72, as well as controls the opening and closing of the second refrigerator damper 151, the first refrigerator damper 152, and the vegetable damper 160, and controls the defrost heater 21. For this reason, the defrost heater 21, the compressor 24, the freezer fans 9a and 9b, the vegetable damper 160, the second refrigerator damper 151, and the first refrigerator damper 152 are connected to the control device 70A by electrical wiring 77.

図８で説明した冷気の流れの制御は、冷凍室ファン９ａ、冷蔵室ファン９ｂ、冷蔵室第一ダンパ１５１、冷蔵室第二ダンパ１５２、及び野菜室ダンパ１６０を制御装置７０Ａで制御することにより実行される。また制御装置７０Ａは、冷凍室ファン９ａ、冷蔵室ファン９ｂ、除霜ヒータ２１及び圧縮機２４の駆動時間を、タイマー７３を参照して制御することができる。なお、駆動時間を計測する手段はタイマー７３に限定されない。 The control of the flow of cold air described in FIG. 8 is performed by controlling the freezer compartment fan 9a, the refrigerator compartment fan 9b, the first refrigerator compartment damper 151, the second refrigerator compartment damper 152, and the vegetable compartment damper 160 with the control device 70A. The control device 70A can also control the drive times of the freezer compartment fan 9a, the refrigerator compartment fan 9b, the defrost heater 21, and the compressor 24 by referring to the timer 73. Note that the means for measuring the drive time is not limited to the timer 73.

上述した各実施例によれば、冷蔵室第一戻り口１１５から冷蔵室２への冷気の流れを抑制し、冷蔵室上部が十分に冷えない、あるいは、冷蔵室下部が過度に冷えるといった不具合の発生を抑える冷蔵庫１を提供することができる。 According to each of the above-mentioned embodiments, it is possible to provide a refrigerator 1 that suppresses the flow of cold air from the first return port 115 of the refrigerator compartment to the refrigerator compartment 2, thereby suppressing the occurrence of problems such as the upper part of the refrigerator compartment not being sufficiently cooled or the lower part of the refrigerator compartment being excessively cooled.

以上の実施形態は本発明を分かりやすく説明するために詳細に記載したものであり、必ずしも説明した全ての構成を備えるものに限定されない。また、各実施形態の構成の一部を、他の実施形態の構成に置き換えることも可能である。また、ある実施形態の構成に他の実施形態の構成を適宜に加えることも可能である。本実施形態の構成の一部について、他の構成の追加・削除・置換をすることも可能である。また、前記した機構や構成は説明上必要と考えられるものを示しており、製品上必ずしも全ての機構や構成を示しているとは限らない。 The above embodiments have been described in detail to clearly explain the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to those having all of the configurations described. In addition, it is also possible to replace part of the configuration of each embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment. It is also possible to add the configuration of another embodiment to the configuration of one embodiment as appropriate. It is also possible to add, delete, or replace part of the configuration of this embodiment with other configurations. In addition, the mechanisms and configurations described above are those that are considered necessary for explanation, and do not necessarily represent all mechanisms and configurations in the product.

１…冷蔵庫、２…冷蔵室、３…製氷室、４…上段冷凍室、５…下段冷凍室、６…野菜室、８…冷却器室、９ａ…冷凍室ファン、９ｂ…冷蔵室ファン、１０…断熱箱体、１０ａ…外箱、１０ｂ…内箱、１４…冷却器、２４…圧縮機、２５…真空断熱材、２７、２８…断熱仕切壁、２９、３０…仕切部、３９…機械室、４１…冷蔵室温度センサ、４３…冷凍室温度センサ、４４…野菜室温度センサ、４５…冷凍室戻り口温度センサ、４７…冷蔵室第一戻り口温度センサ、４９…冷蔵室下部温度センサ、１００…冷凍室風路、１０４…冷凍室戻り風路、１０５…冷凍室戻り口、１１０…冷蔵室第一風路、１１１…冷蔵室吐出し口、１１５…冷蔵室第一戻り口、１２０…冷蔵室第二風路、１３０…冷蔵室戻り風路、１３１…冷蔵室第二戻り口、１５１…冷蔵室第一ダンパ、１５２…冷蔵室第二ダンパ、１６０…野菜室ダンパ、２００…伝熱面。 1...refrigerator, 2...refrigerating compartment, 3...ice-making compartment, 4...upper freezer compartment, 5...lower freezer compartment, 6...vegetable compartment, 8...cooler compartment, 9a...freezer compartment fan, 9b...refrigerating compartment fan, 10...insulating box body, 10a...outer box, 10b...inner box, 14...cooler, 24...compressor, 25...vacuum insulation material, 27, 28...insulating partition wall, 29, 30...partition, 39...machine compartment, 41...refrigerating compartment temperature sensor, 43...freezer compartment temperature sensor, 44...vegetable compartment temperature sensor, 45...freezer compartment return port temperature temperature sensor, 47...refrigerator compartment first return port temperature sensor, 49...refrigerator compartment lower part temperature sensor, 100...freezer compartment air duct, 104...freezer compartment return air duct, 105...freezer compartment return port, 110...refrigerator compartment first air duct, 111...refrigerator compartment exhaust port, 115...refrigerator compartment first return port, 120...refrigerator compartment second air duct, 130...refrigerator compartment return air duct, 131...refrigerator compartment second return port, 151...refrigerator compartment first damper, 152...refrigerator compartment second damper, 160...vegetable compartment damper, 200...heat transfer surface.

Claims

A refrigerator and a freezer as storage rooms;
A cooler chamber in which a cooler is housed;
a freezer compartment fan for blowing cold air that has exchanged heat with the cooler in the cooler compartment;
A first refrigeration chamber air duct used for circulating cold air in the refrigeration chamber;
a first damper for controlling flow of cold air from the cooling chamber to the first air passage for the refrigerator chamber;
A refrigerator compartment fan that circulates cold air in the refrigerator compartment;
a control device for controlling the freezer compartment fan, the refrigerator compartment first damper, and the refrigerator compartment fan;
A refrigerator compartment temperature sensor disposed in the refrigerator compartment; and a refrigerator compartment lower part temperature sensor disposed in the refrigerator compartment below the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor.
Equipped with
The first refrigeration chamber air passage has a first refrigeration chamber return port that takes in cold air inside the refrigeration chamber and a first refrigeration chamber outlet port that blows the cold air into the refrigeration chamber, and is configured to communicate with a blowing area of the freezer chamber fan via the first refrigeration chamber damper,
The first refrigeration chamber return port is located on the first refrigeration chamber damper side with respect to the refrigeration chamber outlet port,
The refrigerator compartment fan is disposed in the refrigerator compartment first air duct so that the cold air inside the refrigerator compartment circulates through the refrigerator compartment, the refrigerator compartment first return port, the refrigerator compartment first air duct, and the refrigerator compartment outlet port in this order;
the control device controls the refrigerator compartment fan to a drive state when the refrigerator compartment first damper is in an open state , and prevents a backflow of cold air that has exchanged heat with the cooler in the cooler chamber and passed through the refrigerator compartment first damper from flowing from the refrigerator compartment first air duct to the refrigerator compartment via the refrigerator compartment first return port;
The control device further includes a first air blowing mode and a second air blowing mode.
In the first air blowing mode, when the refrigerator compartment first damper is in an open state, the freezer compartment fan is driven together with the refrigerator compartment fan, and the cold air that has exchanged heat with the cooler in the cooler compartment is blown from the refrigerator compartment first damper to the refrigerator compartment first air duct, blown out from the refrigerator compartment outlet into the refrigerator compartment, and then blown out from the refrigerator compartment first return port into the refrigerator compartment first air duct, and then blown out again from the refrigerator compartment outlet into the refrigerator compartment to circulate the cold air.
In the second air blowing mode, when the first damper of the refrigerator compartment is in an open state, the cold air that has exchanged heat with the cooler in the cooler compartment is blown into the refrigerator compartment from the refrigerator compartment outlet and the first return port of the refrigerator compartment,
When a difference between the temperature detected by the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor and the temperature detected by the lower refrigerator compartment temperature sensor exceeds a predetermined temperature difference and the temperature detected by the lower refrigerator compartment temperature sensor is higher than the temperature detected by the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor, cooling is performed in the second air blowing mode;
The refrigerator sets a cooling time in the first air blowing mode to be longer than a cooling time in the second air blowing mode .

A refrigerator and a freezer as storage rooms;
A cooler chamber in which a cooler is housed;
a freezer compartment fan for blowing cold air that has exchanged heat with the cooler in the cooler compartment;
A first refrigeration chamber air duct used for circulating cold air in the refrigeration chamber;
a first damper for controlling flow of cold air from the cooling chamber to the first air passage for the refrigerator chamber;
A refrigerator compartment fan that circulates cold air in the refrigerator compartment;
a control device for controlling the freezer compartment fan, the refrigerator compartment first damper, and the refrigerator compartment fan;
Equipped with
The first refrigeration chamber air passage has a first refrigeration chamber return port that takes in cold air inside the refrigeration chamber and a first refrigeration chamber outlet port that blows the cold air into the refrigeration chamber, and is configured to communicate with a blowing area of the freezer chamber fan via the first refrigeration chamber damper,
The first return port of the refrigerator compartment has a structure in which a flow path cross-sectional area decreases from the inside of the refrigerator compartment toward the first air duct of the refrigerator compartment, and is located on the side of the first damper of the refrigerator compartment with respect to the outlet of the refrigerator compartment,
The refrigerator compartment fan is disposed in the refrigerator compartment first air duct so that the cold air inside the refrigerator compartment circulates through the refrigerator compartment, the refrigerator compartment first return port, the refrigerator compartment first air duct, and the refrigerator compartment outlet port in this order;
The control device controls the refrigerator compartment fan to a drive state when the refrigerator compartment first damper is in an open state .

A refrigerator and a freezer as storage rooms;
A cooler chamber in which a cooler is housed;
a freezer compartment fan for blowing cold air that has exchanged heat with the cooler in the cooler compartment;
A first refrigeration chamber air duct used for circulating cold air in the refrigeration chamber;
a first damper for controlling flow of cold air from the cooling chamber to the first air passage for the refrigerator chamber;
A refrigerator compartment fan that circulates cold air in the refrigerator compartment;
a control device for controlling the freezer compartment fan, the refrigerator compartment first damper, and the refrigerator compartment fan;
a second air duct for a refrigerator compartment that is provided as an air duct independent of the first air duct for a refrigerator compartment and that circulates cold air that has exchanged heat with the cooler in the cooler compartment;
a second damper for adjusting the amount of cold air flowing into the second air duct;
Equipped with
The first refrigeration chamber air passage has a first refrigeration chamber return port that takes in cold air inside the refrigeration chamber and a first refrigeration chamber outlet port that blows the cold air into the refrigeration chamber, and is configured to communicate with a blowing area of the freezer chamber fan via the first refrigeration chamber damper,
The first refrigeration chamber return port is located on the first refrigeration chamber damper side with respect to the refrigeration chamber outlet port,
The refrigerator compartment fan is disposed in the refrigerator compartment first air duct so that the cold air inside the refrigerator compartment circulates through the refrigerator compartment, the refrigerator compartment first return port, the refrigerator compartment first air duct, and the refrigerator compartment outlet port in this order;
The control device controls the refrigerator compartment fan to a drive state when the refrigerator compartment first damper is in an open state .

In the refrigerator according to claim 2 or 3 ,
The control device drives the refrigerator compartment fan when the refrigerator compartment first damper is in an open state, thereby preventing backflow of cold air that has exchanged heat with the cooler in the cooler chamber and passed through the refrigerator compartment first damper from flowing from the refrigerator compartment first air duct to the refrigerator compartment via the refrigerator compartment first return port.

The refrigerator according to claim 4 ,
a freezer compartment air duct communicating with a blowing area of the freezer compartment fan and having a freezer compartment outlet for blowing out, into the freezer compartment, cold air that has exchanged heat with the cooler in the cooler chamber;
The refrigerator configured so that the refrigerating chamber first air duct communicates with the freezer chamber air duct via the refrigerating chamber first damper.

The refrigerator according to claim 5 ,
The freezing chamber includes a freezing chamber return port that serves as an outlet for cold air to return to the cooling chamber,
The freezer compartment air duct connects the discharge side of the cooling chamber and the freezer compartment outlet,
The control device opens the first damper in the refrigerator compartment and drives the freezer compartment fan to circulate the cold air that has exchanged heat with the cooler in the cooler compartment through the freezer compartment air duct, the freezer compartment outlet, the freezer compartment, the freezer compartment return outlet, and the cooler compartment, in that order.

In the refrigerator according to claim 4 ,
The refrigerator is provided with a first air blowing mode in which, when the refrigerator compartment first damper is in an open state, the freezer compartment fan is driven together with the refrigerator compartment fan, and the cold air that has exchanged heat with the cooler in the cooler compartment is blown from the refrigerator compartment first damper to the refrigerator compartment first air duct, blown out from the refrigerator compartment outlet into the refrigerator compartment, and then blown out from the refrigerator compartment first return port into the refrigerator compartment first air duct, and then blown out again from the refrigerator compartment outlet into the refrigerator compartment, thereby circulating the cold air.

The refrigerator according to claim 7 ,
The control device sets the rotation speeds of the freezer compartment fan and the refrigerator compartment fan so that the cold air that has exchanged heat with the cooler in the cooler chamber is blown from the refrigerator compartment first damper to the refrigerator compartment first air duct, blown out from the refrigerator compartment outlet into the refrigerator chamber, and then blown out from the refrigerator compartment first return port to the refrigerator compartment first air duct, and then blown out again from the refrigerator compartment outlet into the refrigerator chamber to circulate.

The refrigerator according to claim 7 ,
A second air blowing mode is provided in which, when the first damper of the refrigerator compartment is in an open state, the cold air that has exchanged heat with the cooler in the cooler compartment is blown into the refrigerator compartment from the refrigerator compartment outlet and the first return port of the refrigerator compartment,
The refrigerator sets the cooling time in the first air blowing mode to be longer than the cooling time in the second air blowing mode.

In the refrigerator according to claim 2 or 3 ,
a first air blowing mode in which, when the refrigerator compartment first damper is in an open state, the freezer compartment fan is driven together with the refrigerator compartment fan, and the cold air that has exchanged heat with the cooler in the cooler compartment is blown from the refrigerator compartment first damper to the refrigerator compartment first air duct, blown out from the refrigerator compartment outlet into the refrigerator compartment, and then blown out from the refrigerator compartment first return port into the refrigerator compartment first air duct, and then blown out again from the refrigerator compartment outlet into the refrigerator compartment to circulate the cold air;
a second air blowing mode in which, when the first damper of the refrigerator compartment is in an open state, the cold air that has exchanged heat with the cooler in the cooler compartment is blown into the refrigerator compartment from the refrigerator compartment outlet and the first return port of the refrigerator compartment;
A refrigerator compartment temperature sensor disposed in the refrigerator compartment;
a lower refrigerator compartment temperature sensor disposed in the refrigerator compartment below the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor;
The refrigerator performs cooling in the second fan mode when the difference between the temperature detected by the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor and the temperature detected by the lower refrigerator compartment temperature sensor exceeds a predetermined temperature difference and the temperature detected by the lower refrigerator compartment temperature sensor is higher than the temperature detected by the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor.

In the refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
The control device controls the freezer compartment fan and the refrigerator compartment fan such that the rotation speed of the refrigerator compartment fan increases as the rotation speed of the freezer compartment fan increases when the refrigerator compartment first damper is in an open state.

In the refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
The control device controls the refrigerator compartment fan and the freezer compartment fan such that the rotation speed of the freezer compartment fan increases as the rotation speed of the refrigerator compartment fan increases when the refrigerator compartment first damper is in an open state.

In the refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
A refrigerator first return port temperature sensor is provided in the vicinity of the refrigerator first return port,
The control device increases the rotation speed of the refrigerator compartment fan when the refrigerator compartment first damper is in an open state and the detected temperature of the refrigerator compartment first return port temperature sensor becomes lower than a predetermined value.

The refrigerator according to claim 6 ,
The control device sets the rotation speeds of the freezer compartment fan and the refrigerator compartment fan so that the cold air that has exchanged heat with the cooler in the cooler compartment is circulated in the following order: the freezer compartment air duct, the freezer compartment outlet, the freezer compartment, the freezer compartment return outlet, and the cooler compartment.

The refrigerator according to claim 6 ,
A freezer chamber return port temperature sensor is provided in the vicinity of the freezer chamber return port,
The control device increases the rotation speed of the freezer compartment fan when the refrigerator compartment first damper is in an open state and the temperature detected by the freezer compartment return port temperature sensor becomes higher than a predetermined value.