JP7820078B2 - Drainage pipes for cooling devices and cooling devices - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to the field of cooling equipment, and more particularly to drainage pipes for cooling equipment and cooling equipment.

In refrigerators and upright freezers, the temperature inside the cooling compartment is low, so the air pressure is lower than the external atmospheric pressure, creating negative pressure inside the cooling compartment. This requires a lot of force to open the door. As refrigerator capacities increase, the difficulty of opening freezer compartment doors has become an issue in the industry. Currently, there are patents for installing auxiliary handles on the door, but this method has limited labor-saving benefits, is expensive, and takes up a lot of space.

The object of the present invention is to provide a drain pipe for a refrigerator and a refrigerator. A shield plate that can partially block the cavity of the drain pipe is placed inside the drain pipe, and water flows out through a drain hole between the shield plate and the inner wall of the drain pipe. When negative pressure occurs inside the refrigerator, the shield plate rises, expanding the flow area within the drain pipe and equalizing the air pressure inside and outside the housing. In addition, the drain pipe can be embedded in a foam layer, solving the problems of the auxiliary handles of existing technology, which have limited labor-saving effects and occupy a large amount of space.

To achieve one of the above-mentioned objects of the invention, one embodiment of the present invention provides a drain pipe for a cooling device. The drain pipe has an inner wall, a cavity surrounded by the inner wall, a water inlet at the upper end, and a drain outlet at the lower end. A shielding plate is provided within the drain pipe and pivotally connected to the drain pipe, and the shielding plate has a first position in which it partially blocks the cavity under the action of gravity, and a second position in which it is raised toward the water inlet of the drain pipe under the action of negative pressure. When the shielding plate is in the first position, a drain hole through which water flows is formed between the shielding plate and the inner wall.

As a further improvement to one embodiment of the present invention, the drain pipe has a water flow section and a ventilation section, the ventilation section being formed by protruding outward from the center of the water flow section, a water flow cavity being formed inside the water flow section, and a ventilation cavity being formed inside the ventilation section, with the water flow cavity and the ventilation cavity being connected to each other.

As a further improvement to one embodiment of the present invention, the shielding plate is connected to the drain pipe via a pivot shaft, the pivot shaft being located within the water flow cavity, and the end of the shielding plate remote from the pivot shaft being located within the ventilation cavity.

As a further improvement to one embodiment of the present invention, the ventilation section includes a main body and a cover section, and the cover section is provided with an inclined plate that is provided above the pivot shaft and inclined downward toward the drain hole, making it easier for water to flow out of the drain pipe through the drain hole.

As a further improvement to one embodiment of the present invention, a support plate is provided in the water flow section, the support plate is positioned at the end of the inclined plate closest to the drain hole, and the inclined plate rests on the support plate.

As a further improvement to one embodiment of the present invention, a protrusion is provided within the water flow section, the protrusion being positioned below the pivot shaft and biased toward the ventilation cavity, and the shielding plate contacting the protrusion.

As a further refinement of one embodiment of the present invention, the drain pipe includes a first drain pipe located at an upper end and a second drain pipe connected to a lower end of the first drain pipe, the water inlet is located at an end of the first drain pipe remote from the second drain pipe, the drain outlet is located at an end of the second drain pipe remote from the first drain pipe, and the second drain pipe is positioned at an angle to the horizontal plane, with the end of the second drain pipe facing the drain outlet being lower than the connecting end of the second drain pipe and the first drain pipe.

As a further improvement to one embodiment of the present invention, the shielding plate is connected to the top of the second drain pipe via a pivot shaft, and when no external force is applied, the shielding plate naturally hangs down due to gravity, forming the drain hole between the end of the shielding plate farther from the pivot shaft and the bottom of the second drain pipe.

As a further improvement to one embodiment of the present invention, the bottom of the second drain pipe is V-shaped, so that water collects at the apex of the V, preventing water from splashing after flowing out of the drain pipe.

One embodiment of the present invention further provides a cooling device, comprising an internal lining, a water tray, and a drain pipe, the drain pipe being the aforementioned drain pipe, the upper end of the drain pipe being connected to the internal lining, and the water tray being provided below the drain pipe.

One or more technical solutions provided by the present invention have at least the following technical effects or advantages:
The drain pipe provided by the present invention includes a shield plate pivotally connected to the drain pipe. The shield plate partially blocks the cavity of the drain pipe, forming a drain hole between the shield plate and the inner wall through which water can flow. Under normal drainage conditions, water flows from the water inlet through the drain hole and out of the drain pipe through the drain port. When the door of the cooling device needs to be opened, negative pressure is created inside the cooling chamber due to the low temperature. At the moment the door is opened, the shield plate rises due to the negative pressure, expanding the flow area within the drain pipe. Outside air enters through the drain port of the drain pipe and flows into the cooling chamber, balancing the air pressure. The present invention allows for easy door opening without the need for an additional air pressure balancing device or auxiliary handle, and the drain pipe can be embedded in the foam layer, occupying a small space.

FIG. 1 is a rear view of a cooling device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of the drain pipe of FIG. FIG. 3 is a side view of the drain pipe of FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. FIG. 6 is a structural diagram of the cover portion of FIG. FIG. 7 is a rear view of the cooling device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a structural diagram of the drain pipe of FIG. FIG. 9 is a side view of the drain pipe of FIG. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG.

10. Housing;
1. Drainage pipe;
11. Shielding plate;
111, pivot axis;
112, shielding plate body;
12. Water inlet;
13, drain;
14, drainage hole;
2. Water flow section;
21, water flow cavity;
22, protrusion;
3. Ventilation part;
31, ventilation cavity;
32. Main body;
33, cover part;
331, locking pawl;
332, inclined plate;
3321, first fixing hole;
34, support plate;
4. First drain pipe;
5. Second drain pipe;
51, second fixing hole;
6. Water tray

The present invention will be described in detail below based on the embodiments shown in the drawings. However, these embodiments do not limit the present invention, and structural, method, or functional modifications made by those skilled in the art based on these embodiments are also included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Terms expressing spatial relative positions, such as "top," "upper," "lower," and "belower," used herein are for convenience in describing the relationship of one element or feature to other elements or features shown in the figures. These terms expressing spatial relative positions are intended to encompass different orientations than those depicted during use or operation of the device. For example, if the device in the figures were inverted, elements described as being "below" or "lower" than other elements or features would then be positioned "above" the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term "lower" can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may also be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations), and the spatial descriptions used herein would be interpreted accordingly.

In addition, while terms such as "first" and "second" may be used in the text to describe various elements or structures, it should be understood that these descriptions should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish these descriptions from each other. For example, a first drain pipe could be called a second drain pipe, and similarly, a second drain pipe could be called a first drain pipe, without departing from the scope of protection of this application.

Example 1
This embodiment provides a drain pipe 1 for a cooling device. As shown in Figure 1, the cooling device includes a housing 10. An internal lining, a water tray 6, and the aforementioned drain pipe 1 are arranged in the housing 10. The upper end of the drain pipe 1 is connected to the internal lining, and the water tray 6 is installed below it. Therefore, the present invention also provides a cooling device having the aforementioned drain pipe 1.

As shown in Figures 2 to 5, the aforementioned drain pipe 1 has an inner wall, a cavity surrounded by the inner wall, a water inlet 12 located at the upper end, and a drain outlet 13 located at the lower end. A shielding plate 11 is disposed within the drain pipe 1 and is pivotally connected to the drain pipe 1. The shielding plate 11 has a first position in which it partially blocks the cavity under the action of gravity, and a second position in which it is raised toward the water inlet 12 of the drain pipe 1 under the action of negative pressure. When the shielding plate 11 is in the first position, a drainage hole 14 through which water flows is formed between the shielding plate 11 and the inner wall.

Specifically, the drain pipe 1 includes a water flow section 2 and a ventilation section 3. The ventilation section 3 protrudes outward from the center of the water flow section 2. A water flow cavity 21 is formed within the water flow section 2, and a ventilation cavity 31 is formed within the ventilation section 3, with the water flow cavity 21 and ventilation cavity 31 communicating with each other. The ventilation section 3 includes a main body 32 and a cover section 33. An opening is provided on one side of the main body 32, extending toward the water flow section 2. The cover section 33 is used to cover this opening, and is provided with multiple locking claws 331 that are used to engage and secure the main body 32. The main body 32 of the ventilation section 3 is molded integrally with the water flow section 2. The design of the cover section 33 facilitates installation of a shielding plate 11 inside the drain pipe 1 and allows for easy disassembly and replacement in the event of internal damage.

Furthermore, the cover portion 33 is provided with an inclined plate 332 within the cavity of the drain pipe 1. The inclined plate 332 extends from the cover portion 33 to the side of the drain pipe 1 away from the cover portion 33, penetrating the water flow cavity 21 and the ventilation cavity 31. First fixing holes 3321 are provided on both lower sides of the end of the inclined plate 332 near the drain hole 14. The shielding plate 11 includes an interconnected pivot shaft 111 and shielding plate body 112. Both ends of the pivot shaft 111 pass through the first fixing holes 3321, pivotally connecting the shielding plate 11 to the drain pipe 1. The inclined plate 332 is inclined downward toward the drain hole 14, so that water flowing in from the water inlet 12 is guided toward the drain hole 14 by the guiding action of the inclined plate 332 and flows out of the drain pipe through the drain port 13.

Furthermore, the end of the inclined plate 332 farthest from the drainage hole 14 extends upward into the ventilation cavity 31, preventing water flowing into the water flow cavity 21 from the water inlet 12 from flowing into the ventilation cavity 31.

Furthermore, the ventilation section 3 is provided with a support plate 34 that penetrates the ventilation cavity 31. The support plate 34 is positioned below the inclined plate 332 and is inclined at the same angle as the inclined plate 332. This allows the inclined plate 332 to rest on the support plate 34, preventing the inclined plate 332 from breaking at the connection with the cover section 33 inside the drain pipe 1 due to its own weight.

Furthermore, a protrusion 22 is provided on the water flow section 2. The protrusion 22 is positioned below the pivot shaft 111 and biased toward the ventilation cavity 31, and the shielding plate 11 comes into contact with the protrusion 22 under the action of gravity. By providing the protrusion 22, the end of the shielding plate body 112 farthest from the pivot shaft 111 approaches the bottom of the ventilation section 3, leaving a gap between it and the bottom of the ventilation section 3, allowing the small amount of water that flows into the ventilation cavity 31 to flow out through this gap.

Of course, it is also possible to omit the protrusions 22 and have the shielding plate 11 contact the bottom of the ventilation section 3 under the action of gravity. Even if a small amount of water flows into the ventilation cavity 31, the water can flow out when the shielding plate 11 is lifted.

In this embodiment, a shielding plate 11 is placed inside the drain pipe 1, which contacts the protrusion 22 under the action of gravity. The shielding plate 11 blocks most of the drain pipe 1, significantly preventing moisture in the air from entering the housing 10 and causing serious frost formation inside the housing 10. However, the shielding plate 11 leaves a drain hole 14 through which water can flow into the drain pipe 1, and a sloped plate 332 is placed above the shielding plate 11 to guide water. When the cooling device is off, condensed water is guided out of the drain hole 14 by the sloped plate 332. When the cooling device needs to be turned on, the shielding plate 11 is lifted by negative pressure, enlarging the gap, allowing outside air to rapidly enter the housing 10 through the drain hole 13, thereby equalizing the air pressure inside and outside the housing 10. The drain pipe 1 provided in this embodiment not only has a drainage function but also has the effect of equalizing air pressure differences. Furthermore, the drain pipe 1 can be embedded in a foam layer, eliminating the need to occupy a large space in the housing 10.

Example 2
This embodiment provides a drain pipe 1 for a cooling device. As shown in Figure 7, the cooling device includes a housing 10. An internal lining, a water tray 6, and the aforementioned drain pipe 1 are arranged in the housing 10. The upper end of the drain pipe 1 is connected to the internal lining, and the water tray 6 is installed below it. Therefore, the present invention also provides a cooling device having the aforementioned drain pipe 1.

As shown in Figures 7 to 9, the aforementioned drain pipe 1 has an inner wall, a cavity surrounded by the inner wall, a water inlet 12 located at the upper end, and a drain outlet 13 located at the lower end. A shielding plate 11 is disposed within the drain pipe 1 and is pivotally connected to the drain pipe 1. The shielding plate 11 has a first position in which it partially blocks the cavity under the action of gravity, and a second position in which it is raised toward the water inlet 12 of the drain pipe 1 under the action of negative pressure. When the shielding plate 11 is in the first position, a drainage hole 14 through which water flows is formed between the shielding plate 11 and the inner wall.

Specifically, the drain pipe 1 includes a first drain pipe 4 and a second drain pipe 5 that are interconnected. The bottom end of the first drain pipe 4 is connected to the top end of the second drain pipe 5. The water inlet 12 is located at the end of the first drain pipe 4 that is farther from the second drain pipe 5, and the drain outlet 13 is located at the end of the second drain pipe 5 that is farther from the first drain pipe 4. The second drain pipe 5 is positioned at an angle to the horizontal plane, with the end on the drain outlet 13 side being lower than the connection end between the second drain pipe 5 and the first drain pipe 4.

The shielding plate 11 includes a pivot shaft 111 and a shielding plate body 112 connected to each other. Second fixing holes 51 are formed on both sides of the upper part of the second drain pipe 5 on the drain outlet 13 side. The pivot shaft 111 passes through the second fixing holes 51 on both sides of the upper part of the second drain pipe 5. When no external force is applied, the shielding plate 11 naturally hangs down, forming the aforementioned drainage hole 14 between it and the bottom of the second drain pipe 5.

When the drain pipe 1 is in the first state, that is, when the drain pipe 1 is in a normal draining state, water enters the drain pipe 1 through the water inlet 12 at the top end of the first drain pipe 4, flows out of the drain pipe 1 through the drain outlet 13 at the bottom end of the second drain pipe 5, and flows into the water tray 6. By positioning the second drain pipe 5 at an angle to the horizontal, water can be smoothly discharged from the drain pipe 1, preventing it from accumulating within the drain pipe 1. At the same time, when the shielding plate 11 naturally hangs down due to gravity, a drainage hole 14 is formed between it and the inner wall of the drain pipe 1. When there is a large amount of water, the water pushes the shielding plate 11 open toward the drain outlet 13, enlarging the drainage hole 14 and facilitating drainage.

When the drain pipe 1 is in the second state, that is, at the moment the door is opened, the temperature inside the housing 10 is low, creating negative pressure inside the housing 10. When the door is opened, the shielding plate 11 is lifted toward the water inlet 12 by the force of the negative pressure, and outside air rapidly enters the drain pipe 1 through the drain outlet 13 and then into the housing 10, balancing the air pressure inside and outside the housing 10.

Furthermore, the bottom of the second drain pipe 5 is V-shaped. The V-shaped bottom allows water to collect at the apex of the V, and when it is finally discharged from the drain outlet 13, the water flows into the water tray 6 in a single stream, preventing the water in the drain pipe 1 from splashing in all directions as it flows into the water tray 6.

In this embodiment, a shielding plate 11 is placed inside the drain pipe 1, blocking most of the drain pipe 1 but leaving a drain hole 14 through which water can flow. When the cooling device is off, condensation can be discharged normally and moisture in the air is significantly prevented from entering the housing 10 through the drain pipe 1 and causing serious frost inside the housing 10. When the cooling device needs to be turned on, the shielding plate 11 is lifted by the negative pressure, enlarging the drain hole 14, allowing outside air to rapidly enter the housing 10 through the drain opening 13, thereby equalizing the air pressure inside and outside the housing 10. The drain pipe 1 provided in this embodiment not only has a drainage function but also has the effect of equalizing air pressure differences. Furthermore, the drain pipe 1 can be embedded in the foam layer, so it does not need to occupy a large space in the housing 10.

Note that while this specification is written based on embodiments, each embodiment does not necessarily include independent technical solutions, and this description method is merely for clarity. Those skilled in the art can view the specification as a whole and appropriately combine the technical solutions of each embodiment to form other embodiments that are understandable to those skilled in the art.

The above detailed description is merely a concrete description of possible embodiments of the present invention and does not limit the scope of protection of the present invention. All equivalent embodiments and modifications made within the scope of the present invention that do not deviate from the technical spirit of the present invention are intended to be included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims (6)

A drain pipe for a cooling device,
The drain pipe has an inner wall, a cavity surrounded by the inner wall, a water inlet located at an upper end, and a drain outlet located at a lower end,
a shielding plate provided within the drain pipe and pivotally connected to the drain pipe;
The shielding plate has a first position where it partially blocks the cavity under the action of gravity, and a second position where it rises toward the water inlet of the drain pipe under the action of negative pressure,
When the shielding plate is in the first position, a drain hole through which water flows is formed between the shielding plate and the inner wall ,
The drain pipe has a water flow section and a ventilation section,
The shielding plate is connected to the drain pipe via a pivot shaft;
The ventilation unit includes a main body and a cover unit,
The cover portion is provided with an inclined plate,
the inclined plate is provided above the pivot shaft and inclined downward toward the drain hole;
Water is easily discharged from the drain hole to the outside of the drain pipe.
Drain pipe for cooling equipment. The ventilation section is formed to protrude outward from the center of the water flow section,
A water flow cavity is formed inside the water flow section,
A ventilation cavity is formed inside the ventilation section,
The drain pipe for a cooling device according to claim 1 , wherein the water flow cavity and the ventilation cavity are in communication with each other. the pivot shaft is disposed within the water flow cavity;
The drain pipe for a cooling device according to claim 2 , wherein an end of the shielding plate remote from the pivot shaft is located within the ventilation cavity. A support plate is provided in the ventilation section,
the support plate is disposed at an end of the inclined plate that is close to the drain hole;
The drain pipe for a cooling device according to claim 3 , wherein the inclined plate is placed on the support plate. A protrusion is provided within the water flow section,
the protrusion is positioned below the pivot shaft and biased toward the ventilation cavity;
The drain pipe for a cooling device according to claim 3 , wherein the shielding plate contacts the protrusion. 1. A cooling device comprising:
Includes an internal lining, a water tray and a drain pipe.
The drain pipe is the drain pipe according to claim 1,
an upper end of the drain pipe connected to the inner lining;
The water tray is provided below the drain pipe.