JP7837430B2 - refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a refrigerator equipped with a structure for collecting and evaporating condensed water.

Conventionally, some refrigerators have an air passage for sending cold air to the refrigerator compartment formed within an air passage guide, and this air passage guide is attached to the back of the refrigerator compartment, which is formed by an inner box. In these refrigerators, during assembly, a sealing material is adhered to the back of the air passage guide, and the air passage guide is attached to the back of the refrigerator compartment via the sealing material, thereby creating a tight seal between the air passage guide and the inner box and integrating them to provide insulation on the back side of the refrigerator.

In such refrigerators, the gap between the back of the airflow guide and the back of the refrigerator compartment is sealed with a sealant. However, due to irregularities in the sealant, the back of the airflow guide, and the inner box that occur during manufacturing, the gap between the back of the airflow guide and the back of the refrigerator compartment may not be completely sealed, resulting in a partial gap between the inner box and the sealant. When such a gap occurs, the insulation performance of the back of the airflow guide decreases, and condensation is likely to occur in the gap due to the temperature difference between the cold air at the refrigeration temperature range flowing through the gap and the cold air flowing through the airflow guide. This condensed water, if it remains in the refrigerator compartment, can cause mold growth, posing a hygiene problem for the refrigerator compartment.

Therefore, conventionally, in order to address such condensation, there are refrigerators equipped with a structure that collects and evaporates condensation water (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In Patent Document 1, a dew tray with a storage section is placed below a condensation plate made of aluminum or the like, and a heater is placed below the dew tray. Dew adhering to the condensation plate is stored in the storage section of the dew tray, and the dew stored in the storage section is evaporated by passing electricity through the heater.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 3-89379

Patent Document 1 describes a structure in which condensation water is collected and evaporated using a condensation plate, a dew tray, and a heater. However, this structure has the problem of having a large number of parts and increasing costs.

This disclosure was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a refrigerator with a structure that collects and evaporates condensed water with fewer parts than conventional models, thereby reducing costs.

The refrigerator according to this disclosure comprises a refrigerator body having a storage space for storing items to be cooled, and a cooling chamber formed on the rear side of the storage space and generating cold air; a partition provided inside the refrigerator body that divides the storage space into a plurality of storage chambers; and an air passage guide installed on the rear side of a first storage chamber formed above the partition and controlled to a refrigeration temperature zone, communicating with an internal air passage formed inside the partition, and having an internal air passage formed inside for sending cold air from the cooling chamber into the first storage chamber; the upper surface of the partition is provided with a water channel for receiving condensation water generated on the surface of the air passage guide, a water reservoir connected to the water channel and having a lower bottom surface than the water channel for storing the condensation water, and a return air passage inlet through which cold air from the first storage chamber passes when returning to the cooling chamber, the water reservoir being arranged adjacent to the return air passage inlet.

According to this disclosure, the upper surface of the partition is provided with a water channel to receive condensation water formed on the surface of the air passage guide, a water reservoir connected to the water channel with a lower bottom surface than the water channel for storing condensation water, and a return air passage inlet through which the cold air in the first storage chamber passes when returning to the cooling chamber. The water reservoir is positioned adjacent to the return air passage inlet. Therefore, when the cold air circulating in the first storage chamber flows to the return air passage inlet, the water vapor from the condensation water stored in the water reservoir is recovered by the cold air passing over the water reservoir. Thus, the condensation water in the water reservoir can be evaporated using the cold air in the first storage chamber. In other words, since the structure for collecting and evaporating condensation water is composed of a water channel and a water reservoir provided on the upper surface of the partition, the number of parts is reduced compared to conventional designs, and costs can be reduced.

This is a front view of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1. Figure 1 shows a view of the A-A cross-section of the refrigerator in the direction of the arrow. Figure 2 is an enlarged view showing the refrigerator compartment and its surroundings. Figure 2 is a magnified view of region C of the refrigerator shown. This is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the refrigerator compartment and its surroundings within the refrigerator body of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1. This is a front view showing the refrigerator compartment and its surroundings within the refrigerator body of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1. Figure 6 shows the Y-Y cross-section of the refrigerator as viewed in the direction of the arrow. Figure 2 shows a view of the B-B cross-section of the refrigerator shown in the arrow direction. Figure 8 is a perspective view showing a magnified view of the water reservoir section and its surroundings in the refrigerator compartment partition. Figure 8 shows the E-E cross-section of the refrigerator as viewed in the direction of the arrow. Figure 6 shows a view of the Z-Z cross-section of the refrigerator, as seen in the direction of the arrow. This is a side view showing an enlarged view of the shelves, water storage area, and surrounding area from the diagram shown in Figure 10. This is a plan view of a cross-section of a refrigerator according to Embodiment 2. This is a side view of the longitudinal cross-section of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 2.

The following description of a refrigerator according to an embodiment will be based on the drawings. However, the embodiments described below do not limit this disclosure. Also, the size relationships of the components in the following drawings may differ from those of the actual components. Furthermore, in the following description, terms indicating direction (e.g., "up," "down," "right," "left," "front," "back," etc.) will be used as appropriate to facilitate understanding, but these terms are for illustrative purposes only and do not limit this disclosure. Unless otherwise specified, these directional terms refer to the direction when the refrigerator is viewed from the front. Also, in each figure, components with the same reference numerals are the same or equivalent components, and this is common throughout the specification.

Embodiment 1.
Figure 1 is a front view showing the refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 1. Figure 2 is a view of the A-A cross section of the refrigerator 100 shown in Figure 1, as seen in the direction of the arrow. Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the refrigerator compartment 2 and its surroundings from the view shown in Figure 2. Figure 4 is an enlarged view of area C of the refrigerator 100 shown in Figure 2. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the refrigerator compartment 2 and its surroundings from the refrigerator body 1 of the refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 1. Figure 6 is a front view showing the refrigerator compartment 2 and its surroundings from the refrigerator body 1 of the refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 1. Figure 7 is a view of the Y-Y cross section of the refrigerator 100 shown in Figure 6, as seen in the direction of the arrow. Note that the cross sections in Figures 5 and 6 are cross sections perpendicular to the depth direction of the refrigerator 100, to the right of the water storage section 58 (towards the viewer in the drawing). The refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 1 will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 1 comprises a refrigerator body 1 which is a roughly rectangular box shape consisting of an outer casing 51 that constitutes the outer shell, an inner casing 50 provided inside the outer casing 51, and an insulating material 52 filled between the outer casing 51 and the inner casing 50. The outer casing 51 is made of, for example, steel. The inner casing 50 is made of, for example, thin-walled and rigid ABS resin. The insulating material 52 is, for example, rigid polyurethane foam.

Furthermore, a storage space 1c is formed inside the refrigerator body 1. The storage space 1c is provided with multiple horizontally extending partition members, which divide the storage space 1c into multiple storage compartments. The storage compartments are spaces where items to be cooled, such as food, are stored, and consist of a first storage compartment, the refrigerator compartment 2; an ice-making compartment 3; a first switching compartment, the switching compartment 4; a vegetable compartment 5; and a freezer compartment 6. The multiple partition members consist of a refrigerator compartment partition 16 that separates the refrigerator compartment 2 from the ice-making compartment 3 and the switching compartment 4, forming the bottom surface 2c of the refrigerator compartment 2; a first partition 17 that separates the ice-making compartment 3 and the switching compartment 4 from the vegetable compartment 5; and a second partition 18 that separates the vegetable compartment 5 from the freezer compartment 6. The front surface 1a of the refrigerator body 1 is covered by multiple doors that open and close each of the storage compartments. The doors consist of a left refrigerator door 10, a right refrigerator door 11, an ice maker door 12, a convertible door 13, a vegetable door 14, and a freezer door 15. In addition, door open/close detectors 19a to 19d are provided inside the refrigerator body 1 to detect when each door is opened or closed.

(Refrigerator compartment 2)
Refrigerator compartment 2 is located at the top of the multiple storage compartments and cools and stores food and other items. Refrigerator compartment 2 is maintained at a refrigerated temperature range, for example, approximately 3°C, by a temperature control unit (not shown). Food storage shelves (not shown) are installed horizontally within Refrigerator compartment 2. Food and other items are placed on these shelves and refrigerated. In front of Refrigerator compartment 2 are the left door 10 and the right door 11. The left door 10 and the right door 11 are double doors that open and close Refrigerator compartment 2, supported by hinges (not shown) on the refrigerator body 1. The left door 10 or the right door 11 is also provided with a setting control unit (not shown) for the user to operate the temperature settings in the storage compartment.

(Refrigerator compartment switching room 41)
Below the refrigerator compartment 2, a second switching compartment, the refrigerator compartment switching compartment 41 (chilled compartment), is formed. The refrigerator compartment switching compartment 41 is formed by partitioning the area below the refrigerator compartment 2 and is separated from the refrigerator compartment 2 by shelves 76 and storage containers 75. The storage containers 75 are made of polystyrene, for example. The refrigerator compartment switching compartment 41 is maintained by a temperature control unit at a temperature range selected from, for example, a freezing temperature range of approximately -18°C, a soft freezing temperature range of -10°C to -4°C, or a chilled temperature range of -3 to 3°C. The temperature of the refrigerator compartment switching compartment 41 is controlled by opening and closing a refrigerator compartment switching compartment airflow controller (not shown), which will be described later, or by heating with a heating device 70.

(Ice-making room 3)
The ice-making compartment 3 is located below the refrigerator compartment 2 and produces and stores ice. The ice-making compartment 3 is maintained at a freezing temperature, for example, approximately -18°C, by a temperature control unit. An ice-making compartment door 12 is located at the front of the ice-making compartment 3. The ice-making compartment door 12 is a pull-out door that opens and closes the ice-making compartment 3.

(Switching room 4)
The switching chamber 4 is located to the side of the ice-making chamber 3. The switching chamber 4 is maintained by a temperature control unit at a temperature range selected from, for example, a freezing temperature range of approximately -18°C or a soft freezing temperature range of approximately -7°C. The soft freezing temperature range can be any temperature between -10°C and -4°C. A switching chamber door 13 is located in front of the switching chamber 4. The switching chamber door 13 is a retractable door that opens and closes the switching chamber 4.

(Vegetable compartment 5)
The vegetable compartment 5 is located below the ice-making compartment 3 and the switching compartment 4, and is mainly used for storing vegetables. The vegetable compartment 5 is maintained at a refrigerated temperature range, for example, about 6°C, by a temperature control unit. In addition to temperature, humidity may also be controlled in the vegetable compartment 5. A vegetable compartment door 14 is located in front of the vegetable compartment 5. The vegetable compartment door 14 is a pull-out door that opens and closes the vegetable compartment 5.

(Freezer compartment 6)
The freezer compartment 6 is located below the vegetable compartment 5 and is used for freezing and storing food items. The freezer compartment 6 is maintained at a freezing temperature range, for example, approximately -18°C, by a temperature control unit. A freezer door 15 is located at the front of the freezer compartment 6. The freezer door 15 is a pull-out door that opens and closes the freezer compartment 6.

The number and arrangement of each storage room described above are merely examples and are not limited to such numbers and arrangements.

(Cooling room 20)
Inside the refrigerator body 1, a cooling chamber 20 and an air passage are formed on the rear side 1b of the storage space 1c. The cooling chamber 20 is the space in which the cooler 21 and the blower fan 22 are located. The air passage is the space through which the cold air generated by the cooler 21 and blown by the blower fan 22 passes.

(Temperature adjustment part)
The temperature control unit is a device that adjusts the temperature of the storage compartment. The temperature control unit includes a compressor 39, a condenser (not shown), an expansion unit (not shown), a cooler 21, a blower fan 22, and an airflow controller. The compressor 39, condenser, and expansion unit are located in a machine room 38 inside the refrigerator body 1, at the bottom of the rear 1b side. The compressor 39 draws in low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant, compresses the drawn-in refrigerant to a high-temperature and high-pressure state, and discharges it. The condenser exchanges heat between the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant and air. The expansion unit is a pressure reducing valve or expansion valve that reduces the pressure of the refrigerant and causes it to expand. The cooler 21 is located upstream of the air passage and acts as an evaporator, exchanging heat between the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant and air, generating cold air. The blower fan 22 blows the cold air generated by the cooler 21 into the storage space 1c. The airflow controller is, for example, a damper, and by adjusting its opening, it controls the amount of cold air sent to the storage space 1c. The airflow controller consists of a refrigerator compartment airflow controller 23, an ice-making compartment airflow controller (not shown), and a switching compartment airflow controller (not shown). The refrigerator compartment airflow controller 23 is installed in the refrigerator compartment airflow passage 26, which is the airflow passage for the refrigerator compartment 2. The ice-making compartment airflow controller (not shown) is installed in the ice-making compartment airflow passage (not shown), which is the airflow passage for the ice-making compartment 3. The switching compartment airflow controller (not shown) is installed in the switching compartment airflow passage (not shown), which is the airflow passage for the switching compartment 4.

Here, we will explain the operation of the temperature control unit. When the refrigerator 100 is in operation, the refrigerant drawn into the compressor 39 is compressed by the compressor 39 and discharged in a high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous state. The high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged from the compressor 39 flows into the condenser. The refrigerant that flows into the condenser exchanges heat with the air and condenses, becoming liquefied. The liquid refrigerant flows into the expansion section, where it is depressurized and expanded to become a low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous two-phase refrigerant. The gaseous two-phase refrigerant flows into the cooler 21, which acts as an evaporator. The refrigerant that flows into the cooler 21 exchanges heat with the air and evaporates, becoming gaseous. At this time, the cooled air cools the inside of the refrigerator body 1. After that, the evaporated low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous refrigerant is drawn into the compressor 39.

Furthermore, the cold air generated by the cooler 21 forms a flow due to the rotation of the blower fan 22 located above the cooler 21. The cold air then passes through the refrigerator compartment airflow regulator 23, the ice maker compartment airflow regulator (not shown), and the switching compartment airflow regulator (not shown), and is then blown out through the refrigerator compartment airflow passage 26, the ice maker compartment airflow passage (not shown), and the switching compartment airflow passage (not shown) to the outlets, which are openings provided in each storage compartment. Cold air is also blown into the vegetable compartment 5 from the vegetable compartment airflow passage (not shown). Cold air is also blown into the freezer compartment 6 from the freezer compartment airflow passage 30 via the freezer compartment outlet 31.

A fan grill 32 is provided between the ice-making compartment 3, the switching compartment 4, and the vegetable compartment 5, and the back surface 1b of the refrigerator body 1. The fan grill 32 has internal air ducts for the refrigerator compartment 26, the ice-making compartment (not shown), the switching compartment (not shown), and the freezer compartment 30.

As shown in Figure 3, the refrigerator compartment 2 has an opening on its front surface 2a, and the upper surface 16a of the refrigerator compartment partition 16 forms the bottom surface 2c of the refrigerator compartment 2. A mounting portion 62 is provided behind the upper surface 16a of the refrigerator compartment partition 16. An air passage guide 35 is attached to the mounting portion 62 with screws or the like. The air passage guide 35 is also attached to the back surface 2b of the refrigerator compartment 2, which is formed by the inner box 50, with screws or the like. As shown in Figure 4, a third refrigerator compartment air outlet 26c for sending cold air to the refrigerator compartment 2, and a refrigerator compartment switching compartment air outlet 42 (see Figure 8, described later) for sending cold air to the refrigerator compartment switching compartment 41 are formed inside the air passage guide 35.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, a plurality of refrigerator compartment outlets 36 are formed on the front side of the airflow guide 35. The refrigerator compartment outlets 36 communicate with the third refrigerator compartment airflow passage 26c and are openings that blow the cold air flowing through the third refrigerator compartment airflow passage 26c into the refrigerator compartment 2. In addition, a refrigerator compartment switching compartment outlet 60 is formed on the front side of the airflow guide 35. The refrigerator compartment switching compartment outlet 60 communicates with the refrigerator compartment switching compartment airflow passage 42 and is an opening that blows the cold air flowing through the refrigerator compartment switching compartment airflow passage 42 into the refrigerator compartment switching compartment 41 (chilled compartment) located below the refrigerator compartment 2.

In the refrigerator compartment 2, cold air passes through a third refrigerator compartment air outlet 26c located inside the airflow guide 35, and is blown into the refrigerator compartment 2 from multiple refrigerator compartment outlets 36 formed on the front side of the airflow guide 35, as shown by the arrows in Figure 7. The cold air that has been blown out from the multiple refrigerator compartment outlets 36 and circulated inside the refrigerator compartment 2 returns to the cooling compartment 20 through a refrigerator compartment return air outlet 66 (see Figure 8, described later) located in the refrigerator compartment partition 16. In the refrigerator compartment switching compartment 41, cold air passes through a refrigerator compartment switching compartment air outlet 42 located inside the airflow guide 35, and is blown into the refrigerator compartment switching compartment 41 from a refrigerator compartment switching compartment outlet 60 formed on the front side of the airflow guide 35, as shown by the arrows in Figure 7. The cold air blown out from the refrigerator compartment switching chamber outlet 60 and circulating within the refrigerator compartment switching chamber 41 returns to the cooling chamber 20 through the refrigerator compartment return air passage inlet 66 (see Figure 8, described later) provided in the refrigerator compartment partition 16. In the following, the refrigerator compartment return air passage inlet 66 will also be referred to as the return air passage inlet.

As shown in Figure 2, a refrigerator temperature sensor 43 is provided inside the refrigerator compartment 2 to detect the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 2. The refrigerator temperature sensor 43 is, for example, a thermistor. As shown in Figure 4, a refrigerator airflow regulator 23 is provided inside the third refrigerator compartment air outlet 26c, which can adjust the amount of cold air flowing in. As shown in Figure 2, a refrigerator compartment switching compartment temperature sensor 46 is provided inside the refrigerator compartment switching compartment 41 to detect the temperature of the refrigerator compartment switching compartment 41. The refrigerator compartment switching compartment temperature sensor 46 is, for example, a thermistor. A refrigerator compartment switching compartment airflow regulator (not shown) is provided inside the refrigerator compartment switching compartment air outlet 42, which can adjust the amount of cold air flowing in.

(Control unit 48)
Inside the refrigerator body 1, a control unit 48 is provided at the upper part of the rear side 1b. Based on the temperature information detected by the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 43 and the refrigerator compartment switching compartment temperature sensor 46, the control unit 48 controls the opening and closing of the refrigerator compartment airflow controller 23 and the refrigerator compartment switching compartment airflow controller (not shown).

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, a sealing material 55 is attached to the back surface 35a of the airflow guide 35. The airflow guide 35 is then screwed to the refrigerator compartment partition 16 and the inner box 50 (back surface 2b of the refrigerator compartment 2) by pressing the sealing material 55 against the inner box 50 that forms the back surface 2b of the refrigerator compartment 2. The sealing material 55 is provided to cover the back projection 57a of the upper outer casing 56a that constitutes the upper part of the outer casing 56 of the refrigerator compartment partition 16, and the lower side of the back surface 35a of the airflow guide 35, thereby sealing the space between the airflow guide 35 and the inner box 50. In addition, separate sealing materials 59 are provided between the refrigerator compartment partition 16 and the airflow guide 35, and between the refrigerator compartment partition 16 and the fan grill 32, respectively, to suppress cold air leakage from each airflow.

As shown in Figure 4, the refrigerator compartment airflow passage 26 is composed of a first refrigerator compartment airflow passage 26a formed within the fan grill 32, a second refrigerator compartment airflow passage 26b formed within the refrigerator compartment partition 16, and a third refrigerator compartment airflow passage 26c formed within the airflow guide 35. In the following description, the second refrigerator compartment airflow passage 26b will also be referred to as the partition airflow passage, and the third refrigerator compartment airflow passage 26c will also be referred to as the guide airflow passage.

The refrigerator compartment partition 16 is filled with expanded polystyrene 54a and expanded polyurethane 54b (see Figure 10, described later) as insulation material. The outer casing 56 of the refrigerator compartment partition 16 is made of resin. A water channel 53 is formed in the upper part of the upper outer casing 56a that constitutes the outer casing 56 of the refrigerator compartment partition 16. This water channel 53 is formed by the upper part of the upper outer casing 56a being recessed downwards and is located below the back surface 35a of the airflow guide 35 and the sealing material 55. The water channel 53 is also provided on the upper surface 16a of the refrigerator compartment partition 16, along the back surface 35a of the airflow guide 35. As shown in Figure 5, a water reservoir 58 is provided on the upper surface 16a of the refrigerator compartment partition 16 to the right of the airflow guide 35. The bottom surface 53a of the water channel 53 is an inclined surface that slopes toward the water reservoir 58. Furthermore, the bottom surface of the water storage section 58 is lower than the bottom surface 53a of the water channel 53.

As shown in Figure 4, the rear projection 57a is located behind the waterway 53 and acts as a guide to direct condensation water generated between the back surface 35a of the airflow guide 35 and the sealing material 55 into the waterway 53. The rear projection 57a also constitutes a part of the back surface 57 of the refrigerator compartment partition 16 and is located on the back side of the upper outer casing 56a, with a part of the back surface 57 protruding upward. The lower part of the sealing material 55 is located between the rear projection 57a and the back surface 35a of the airflow guide 35, and the portion of the sealing material 55 above the upper end of the rear projection 57a is located between the inner box 50 (back surface 2b of the refrigerator compartment 2) and the back surface 35a of the airflow guide 35.

In the refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 1, the space between the inner box 50 and the back surface 35a of the airflow guide 35 is sealed with a sealing material 55. However, due to irregularities in the sealing material 55, the back surface 35a of the airflow guide 35, and the inner box 50 (back surface 2b of the refrigerator compartment 2) that occur during manufacturing, the space between the inner box 50 and the back surface 35a of the airflow guide 35 is not completely sealed, and a gap D (see enlarged view in Figure 4) may be partially formed between the inner box 50 and the sealing material 55. When such a gap D is formed, the thermal insulation on the back surface 35a side of the airflow guide 35 decreases, and condensation is likely to occur in the gap D due to the temperature difference between the cold air at the refrigeration temperature range flowing through the gap D during normal use of the refrigerator 100 and the cold air flowing through the third refrigerator compartment airflow passage 26c and the refrigerator compartment switching airflow passage 42. The condensation water generated by this type of condensation, if it remains in the refrigerator compartment 2, can cause mold growth, posing a hygiene problem for the refrigerator compartment 2. Therefore, in Embodiment 1, a water channel 53 for receiving the condensation water is formed on the upper surface 16a of the refrigerator compartment partition 16 below the sealing material 55. In this way, the condensation water flows between the inner box 50 and the back surface 35a of the air passage guide 35 in the direction of the arrow in Figure 4, travels along the back projection 57a, and falls into the water channel 53. The bottom surface 53a of the water channel 53 has an inclined surface that slopes toward the water storage section 58, and the bottom surface of the water storage section 58 is lower than the bottom surface 53a of the water channel 53. Therefore, the condensation water that falls into the water channel 53 flows easily into the water storage section 58 and is easily stored in the water storage section 58.

Figure 8 is a view of the refrigerator 100 shown in Figure 2, specifically the B-B cross-section, as seen in the direction of the arrow. Figure 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the water reservoir 58 and its surroundings in the refrigerator compartment partition 16 shown in Figure 8. Figure 10 is a view of the refrigerator 100 shown in Figure 8, specifically the E-E cross-section, as seen in the direction of the arrow. Figure 11 is a view of the refrigerator 100 shown in Figure 6, specifically the Z-Z cross-section, as seen in the direction of the arrow. Figure 12 is an enlarged side view of the shelf 76 and the water reservoir 58 and their surroundings in the diagram shown in Figure 10. Note that in Figures 8 and 9, the outer casing 51, insulation material 52, and airflow guide 35 are omitted.

As shown in Figures 8 and 9, a mounting portion 62 is provided on the rear side of the upper surface 16a of the refrigerator compartment partition 16, with a portion of it protruding upward. The mounting portion 62 is the part to which the air passage guide 35 is attached to the refrigerator compartment partition 16. The dashed line X1 shown in Figure 8 is the area to which the air passage guide 35 is attached, and the area inside the dashed line X1 corresponds to the mounting portion 62.

The mounting section 62 has an opening 63 inside, and within this opening 63 are the second refrigerator compartment air outlet 26b and the refrigerator compartment switching compartment air outlet 42. The second refrigerator compartment air outlet 26b and the refrigerator compartment switching compartment air outlet 42 are formed by passing the expanded polystyrene 54a, which is filled inside the refrigerator compartment partition 16, through from top to bottom.

To the left of the mounting portion 62, adjacent to the mounting portion 62, are provided a wiring storage portion 64 and a wiring retaining portion 65. The wiring storage portion 64 is a portion formed by recessing downwards a part of the rear side of the upper surface 16a of the refrigerator compartment partition 16, and houses multiple wires. The multiple wires include a wire whose one end is connected to an electronic circuit board (not shown) and the other end is connected to a heating device 70, and a wire whose one end is connected to an electronic circuit board and the other end is connected to a refrigerator compartment airflow regulator 23 that adjusts the airflow of the second refrigerator compartment airflow passage 26b within the airflow guide 35. The wiring retaining portion 65 is a member that houses the multiple wires within the wiring storage portion 64 so that they do not derail to the front side of the refrigerator compartment 2, and is a member that covers the multiple wires from above so that they are not visible to the user.

On the rear side of the mounting portion 62, a water channel 53 is formed, extending to the left and right adjacent to the mounting portion 62. This water channel 53 is provided on the upper surface 16a of the refrigerator compartment partition 16 so as to overlap, at least, with the left and right ends of the third refrigerator compartment air outlet 26c formed inside the air outlet guide 35, and the left and right ends of the refrigerator compartment switching compartment air outlet 42, when viewed from the front. Therefore, the water channel 53 can collect condensation water generated between the inner box 50 (rear 2b of the refrigerator compartment 2) and the rear 35a of the air outlet guide 35 without leakage. Furthermore, the water channel 53 is provided to the right end of the mounting portion 62, and extends further from there to connect to the water storage portion 58 adjacent to the right side of the mounting portion 62. With this structure, the condensation water generated between the inner box 50 (back 2b of the refrigerator compartment 2) and the back 35a of the air passage guide 35 due to the temperature difference between the cold air passing through the air passage guide 35 and the cold air in the refrigerator compartment 2 can be collected in the water passage 53 and then flowed into the water storage section 58 for storage.

To the right of the water reservoir 58, which is located adjacent to the right side of the mounting section 62, the refrigerator compartment return air passage inlet 66 is provided adjacent to the water reservoir 58. In other words, the water reservoir 58 is located between the mounting section 62 and the refrigerator compartment return air passage inlet 66 in the left-right direction. By providing the water reservoir 58 adjacent to the refrigerator compartment return air passage inlet 66 in this way, when the cold air circulating in the refrigerator compartment 2 flows to the refrigerator compartment return air passage inlet 66, the water vapor from the condensation in the water reservoir 58 is recovered by the cold air passing over the water reservoir 58, and the water vapor recovered by the cold air eventually returns to the cooling chamber 20 together with the cold air. Therefore, the condensation can be evaporated using the cold air in the refrigerator compartment 2. Furthermore, although the water storage unit 58 is located adjacent to the cold air return air duct inlet (refrigerator room return air duct inlet 66), the cold air flowing through the return air duct inlet is at a higher temperature than the cold air flowing through the outlet. Therefore, compared to the case where the water storage unit 58 is located adjacent to the cold air outlet, condensation water evaporates more easily, thus accelerating the evaporation speed.

Furthermore, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, an opening 76a is formed in the shelf 76 that vertically partitions the refrigerator compartment 2 and the refrigerator compartment switching compartment 41. This opening 76a is formed above the water storage section 58, and the cold air circulating within the refrigerator compartment 2 flows in the direction of the arrow in Figure 12, passing through this opening 76a and flowing to the refrigerator compartment return air passage inlet 66. In other words, when the cold air circulating within the refrigerator compartment 2 flows to the refrigerator compartment return air passage inlet 66, it easily passes over the water storage section 58 formed below the opening 76a, making it easier to recover water vapor from condensation in the water storage section 58 by the cold air passing over it. Therefore, the evaporation speed can be further increased by utilizing the cold air inside the refrigerator compartment 2.

As shown in Figure 8, a first wall portion 67 is provided on the front side of the water storage portion 58, projecting upward from the upper surface 16a of the refrigerator compartment partition 16. A second wall portion 68 is also provided between the water storage portion 58 and the refrigerator compartment return air duct inlet 66, projecting upward from the upper surface 16a of the refrigerator compartment partition 16. The water storage portion 58 is enclosed by the first wall portion 67, the second wall portion 68, and the side surface 62a of the mounting portion 62. The second wall portion 68 acts as a weir to prevent condensation water stored in the water storage portion 58 from leaking into the refrigerator compartment return air duct inlet 66. Furthermore, the height (vertical width) of the first wall portion 67 is lower than that of the second wall portion 68. In this way, by setting the heights of the first wall 67 and the second wall 68, if the water generated by condensation overflows from the water storage section 58 because it cannot be stored in it, the condensed water will flow to the front of the water storage section 58 through the first wall 67, which is lower than the second wall 68. As a result, it is possible to suppress the flow of condensed water to the refrigerator return air passage inlet 66, thereby suppressing poor cooling due to frost formation caused by condensation in the refrigerator return air passage, the transfer of odors to other storage rooms via condensation, and the pouring of condensed water onto the compressor 39 and other components in the machine room 38.

In Embodiment 1, the water reservoir 58 is positioned to the right of the mounting portion 62, but this is not the only option. The water reservoir 58 may be positioned to either the right or left of the mounting portion 62. The direction of the inclination of the water channel 53 is determined by the position of the water reservoir 58, and can be downward to the right or downward to the left. Furthermore, since the water reservoir 58 is formed behind the storage container 75 located inside the refrigerator compartment 2, next to the mounting portion 62, the water reservoir 58 is hidden behind the storage container 75 and is difficult for the user to see, making it difficult for the user to see the condensation.

A heating device 70 is provided inside the refrigerator compartment partition 16, and the heating device 70 comprises a metal part 71 and a heating wire 72. The dashed line X2 shown in Figure 8 represents the metal part 71 provided inside the refrigerator compartment partition 16. The metal part 71 is attached to the back side of the upper surface 16a of the refrigerator compartment partition 16 and fixed inside the refrigerator compartment partition 16. The metal part 71 is, for example, a plate-shaped aluminum material. The dashed line X3 shown in Figure 8 represents the heating wire 72 provided inside the refrigerator compartment partition 16. The heating wire 72 is electrically connected to an electronic circuit board (not shown), and is supplied with power from the electronic circuit board to generate heat, which then heats the metal part 71. The heating wire 72 is provided so as to meander inside the metal part 71, in contact with it. The heating device 70 is a heater that regulates the temperature to prevent freezing of food stored in the refrigerator compartment switching compartment 41 located inside the refrigerator compartment 2. In Embodiment 1, the heating of the heating device 70 by applying electricity to release the supercooled state of the food is used to warm the refrigerator partition 16 in which the water reservoir 58 is formed, and is used to indirectly heat and evaporate the condensed water.

As shown in Figure 8, projections 73 are provided on the left and right sides of the upper surface 16a of the refrigerator compartment partition 16, extending upward from the upper surface 16a. These left and right projections 73 extend in the front-to-back direction. The left and right projections 73 are members that support the bottom surface of the storage container 75, and the storage container 75 is moved in and out of the refrigerator compartment 2 by sliding on the projections 73. The inside of the storage container 75 corresponds to the refrigerator compartment switching chamber 41.

On the inside of the front portion 16b of the refrigerator compartment partition 16, door open/close detectors 19a to 19d are provided to detect the opening and closing of the left refrigerator compartment door 10, the right refrigerator compartment door 11, the ice maker door 12, and the switchable compartment door 13. When viewing the refrigerator 100 from the front, the door open/close detectors 19a to 19d are installed within the refrigerator compartment partition 16 such that they overlap with the left refrigerator compartment door 10, the right refrigerator compartment door 11, the ice maker door 12, and the switchable compartment door 13 when each door is closed. The door open/close detectors 19a to 19d are, for example, reed switches that detect whether each door is open or closed. Each door is provided with a magnet (not shown) in a position opposite to the door open/close detectors 19a to 19d.

In Embodiment 1, the control unit 48 uses door open/close detectors 19a to 19d to set a period of time when the refrigerator 100 is not in use. During this period of non-use, the user has few opportunities to use the refrigerator 100, and the opportunities for the left refrigerator door 10 and the right refrigerator door 11 to be opened and closed are few. Therefore, the supercooled state of food stored in the refrigerator compartment 41 is not easily released by temperature changes caused by the opening and closing of the left refrigerator door 10 and the right refrigerator door 11. Accordingly, the control unit 48 controls the food stored in the refrigerator compartment 41 to be in a supercooled state and to maintain it so that the food does not freeze.

During periods of non-use, the temperature inside the refrigerator's switching compartment 41 drops to a supercooled temperature. After the supercooling period has elapsed, the control unit 48 sets the target temperature of the refrigerator's switching compartment 41 to the normal temperature and turns on the heating device 70 to raise the temperature of the refrigerator's switching compartment 41. The control unit 48 repeats this procedure at regular intervals. The control unit 48 learns the periods when the door is opened and closed infrequently and performs the temperature-raising process of the refrigerator's switching compartment 41 during periods when infrequent door opening and closing is expected.

When the heating device 70 is turned ON, that is, during the heating process, the rotation speed of the blower fan 22 is reduced, and the opening of the refrigerator compartment airflow controller 23 and the refrigerator compartment switching compartment airflow controller is closed more than during normal operation, reducing the amount of cold air directed toward the refrigerator compartment 2. In this way, even when the heating device 70 is turned ON, the heating of the cold air circulating inside the refrigerator 100 is suppressed, and the effects of temperature rise are minimized. Note that when the heating device 70 is ON, the compressor 39 is stopped.

As shown in Figure 10, the outer casing 56 of the refrigerator compartment partition 16 is composed of an upper outer casing 56a that constitutes the upper part of the outer casing 56 and a lower outer casing 56b that constitutes the lower part of the outer casing 56. Furthermore, inside the outer casing 56 of the refrigerator compartment partition 16, that is, between the upper outer casing 56a and the lower outer casing 56b, there is a space where expanded polystyrene 54a, which is an insulating material, is provided and a space where expanded polyurethane foam 54b, which is an insulating material, is filled, and a partition wall portion 74 is provided between these spaces. The partition wall portion 74 separates the space where expanded polystyrene 54a is filled from the space where expanded polystyrene 54a is filled from the space where expanded polyurethane foam 54b is filled, so that pressure is not applied to the expanded polystyrene 54a when the expanded polyurethane foam 54b is filled. Inside the outer casing 56 of the refrigerator compartment partition 16, expanded polyurethane foam 54b is filled in the space in front of the partition wall portion 74, and expanded polystyrene 54a is filled in the space behind the partition wall portion 74.

As shown in Figure 8, the rear side of the refrigerator compartment partition 16 is provided with a second refrigerator compartment air outlet 26b, a refrigerator compartment switching air outlet 42, and a refrigerator compartment return air outlet inlet 66. Therefore, when filling with foamed urethane 54b, there is a risk that the second refrigerator compartment air outlet 26b, the refrigerator compartment switching air outlet 42, and the refrigerator compartment return air outlet inlet 66 may deform due to the pressure during foaming of the foamed urethane 54b. In addition, since a wiring storage section 64 is provided at the rear side of the refrigerator compartment partition 16, the shape becomes complex, and it is difficult to hold down the outer casing 56 with a jig around the wiring storage section 64. Therefore, in the space inside the outer casing 56 of the refrigerator compartment partition 16, expanded polystyrene 54a is provided at the rear side where the air outlet and wiring storage section 64 are located, and foamed urethane 54b with high thermal insulation performance is filled at the front side. By configuring the refrigerator compartment partition 16 in this way, in the area where the expanded polystyrene 54a is provided on the outer casing 56 of the refrigerator compartment partition 16, deformation of the second refrigerator compartment air outlet 26b, the refrigerator compartment switching compartment air outlet 42, and the refrigerator compartment return air outlet 66 is suppressed without the need to restrain the upper outer casing 56a and the lower outer casing 56b with a jig. Furthermore, since a jig is not required in this area, the degree of freedom in the structure of the upper outer casing 56a and the lower outer casing 56b is increased, and the cost associated with processing the jig is reduced. In other words, the expanded polystyrene 54a is provided around the air passage in the space inside the outer casing 56 of the refrigerator compartment partition 16.

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 10, the heating device 70, which includes a metal part 71 and a heating element 72, is installed in the space filled with foamed urethane 54b within the refrigerator compartment partition 16. In Figure 10, the cross-sections of the metal part 71 and the heating element 72 can be seen within the cross-section of the foamed urethane 54b. In Embodiment 1, in order to obtain the effects described above, expanded polystyrene 54a is provided in a part of the space inside the outer casing 56, but the entire space inside the outer casing 56 may be filled with foamed urethane 54b.

As described above, a first wall 67, which is lower than the second wall 68, is provided in front of the water storage section 58. Therefore, if the water generated by condensation overflows from the water storage section 58, the condensed water flows to the front of the water storage section 58 through the first wall 67. As a result, it is possible to suppress the flow of condensed water to the refrigerator return air duct inlet 66, thereby suppressing poor cooling due to frost formation caused by condensation, odor transfer to other storage rooms via condensation, and condensed water from coming into contact with the compressor 39, etc., in the machine room 38. Furthermore, the condensed water that flows to the front of the water storage section 58 is indirectly warmed by the heat from the heating device 70 located in front of the water storage section 58 within the refrigerator partition 16, that is, the heating device 70 located below the condensed water that has flowed to the front of the water storage section 58. Therefore, the evaporation speed of the condensed water can be increased.

As shown in Figure 8, the partition wall 74 is provided at the boundary between the wiring storage section 64, the mounting section 62, and the water storage section 58, and the bottom surface 2c of the refrigerator compartment 2 in which the storage container 75 is housed. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 10, the partition wall 74 is provided linearly from left to right inside the outer casing 56 of the refrigerator compartment partition 16, along the first wall section 67 of the water storage section 58. By providing the partition wall 74 in this way, the shaping of the expanded polystyrene 54a becomes easier, and the areas below the wiring storage section 64, the mounting section 62, and the water storage section 58 can be insulated with a single piece of expanded polystyrene 54a.

As described above, in Embodiment 1, a water channel 53 is formed in the upper part of the upper outer casing 56a that constitutes the outer casing 56 of the refrigerator compartment partition 16. This water channel 53 is formed by the upper part of the upper outer casing 56a being recessed downwards, and is formed below the back surface 35a of the air passage guide 35 and the sealing material 55. In addition, a water storage section 58 is provided on the upper surface 16a of the refrigerator compartment partition 16 to the right of the air passage guide 35. Furthermore, the bottom surface 53a of the water channel 53 is an inclined surface that slopes toward the water storage section 58. Also, the bottom surface of the water storage section 58 is lower than the bottom surface 53a of the water channel 53. Furthermore, the water channel 53 and the water storage section 58 are provided adjacent to the mounting section 62. By doing so, the distance over which the water channel 53 needs to be routed can be reduced compared to a configuration in which the water channel 53 is routed all the way to the refrigerator compartment return air passage inlet 66. Furthermore, since the water reservoir 58 is located in the refrigerator compartment 2, the distance required for draining condensation water is shortened. In addition, because the water channel 53 and the water reservoir 58 are provided on the upper surface 16a of the refrigerator compartment partition 16, the number of parts is reduced, and the costs associated with the manufacturing process can be suppressed.

The bottom surface of the water reservoir 58 may be flat, or it may be sloped so that it becomes lower as it approaches the front. However, if it is sloped so that it becomes lower as it approaches the front, the condensed water is guided toward the heating device 70, which can speed up the evaporation rate of the condensed water.

Furthermore, since the heating device 70 is provided on the front side of the water storage section 58 within the refrigerator compartment partition 16, the bottom surface of the water storage section 58 is indirectly heated by the heat of the heating device 70 through the outer casing 56 of the refrigerator compartment partition 16, thereby accelerating the evaporation speed of condensed water.

Furthermore, a first wall 67 is provided on the front side of the water storage section 58, and a second wall 68 is provided between the water storage section 58 and the refrigerator room return air duct inlet 66. The height (vertical width) of the first wall 67 is lower than that of the second wall 68. In this way, if the water generated by condensation overflows from the water storage section 58, the condensed water flows through the first wall 67 to the front side of the water storage section 58. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the flow of condensed water to the refrigerator room return air duct inlet 66, thereby suppressing poor cooling due to frost formation caused by condensation in the refrigerator room return air duct, odor transfer to other storage rooms via condensation, and condensed water from coming into contact with the compressor 39, etc., in the machine room 38. The condensed water that flows to the front of the water storage section 58 is then indirectly heated via the outer casing 56 of the refrigerator compartment partition 16 by the heat from the heating device 70 located in front of the water storage section 58 within the refrigerator compartment partition 16, that is, the heating device 70 located below the condensed water that flows to the front of the water storage section 58. This allows the evaporation speed of the condensed water to be increased.

As described above, the refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 1 comprises a refrigerator body 1 having a storage space 1c for storing items to be cooled, and a cooling chamber 20 formed on the rear side 1b of the storage space 1c and generating cold air; a partition provided inside the refrigerator body 1 that divides the storage space 1c into a plurality of storage chambers; and an air passage guide 35 installed on the rear side of the first storage chamber, which is formed above the partition and controlled to a refrigeration temperature zone, communicating with an internal air passage formed inside the partition, and having an internal air passage formed inside for sending cold air from the cooling chamber 20 into the first storage chamber. The upper surface of the partition is provided with a water channel 53 for receiving condensation water generated on the surface of the air passage guide 35, a water storage section 58 connected to the water channel 53 and having a lower bottom surface than the water channel 53 for storing condensation water, and a return air passage inlet through which the cold air in the first storage chamber passes when returning to the cooling chamber 20. The water storage section 58 is arranged adjacent to the return air passage inlet.

According to the refrigerator 100 of Embodiment 1, the upper surface of the partition is provided with a water channel 53 for receiving condensation water generated on the surface of the air passage guide 35, a water storage section 58 connected to the water channel 53 and having a lower bottom surface than the water channel 53 for storing condensation water, and a return air passage inlet through which the cold air in the first storage chamber passes when returning to the cooling chamber 20. The water storage section 58 is positioned adjacent to the return air passage inlet. Therefore, when the cold air circulating in the first storage chamber flows to the return air passage inlet, the water vapor from the condensation water stored in the water storage section 58 is recovered by the cold air passing over the water storage section 58. Thus, the condensation water in the water storage section 58 can be evaporated using the cold air in the first storage chamber. In other words, since the structure for collecting and evaporating condensation water is composed of the water channel 53 and water storage section 58 provided on the upper surface of the partition, the number of parts is reduced compared to conventional designs, and costs can be reduced. Furthermore, although the water storage unit 58 is located adjacent to the cold air return duct inlet, the cold air flowing through the return duct inlet is at a higher temperature than the cold air flowing through the outlet. Therefore, compared to the case where the water storage unit 58 is located adjacent to the cold air outlet, the condensed water evaporates more easily, thus accelerating the evaporation speed.

Furthermore, in the refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 1, the bottom surface 53a of the water channel 53 has an inclined surface that slopes downward toward the water storage section 58.

According to the refrigerator 100 of Embodiment 1, condensation water that falls into the water channel 53 can be easily made to flow into the water storage section 58 and easily stored in the water storage section 58.

Furthermore, in the refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 1, a sealing material 55 is provided between the back surface of the first storage chamber and the back surface 35a of the airflow guide 35.

According to the refrigerator 100 of Embodiment 1, the space between the back of the first storage chamber and the back of the air passage guide 35a can be sealed with a sealing material 55, thereby suppressing condensation.

Furthermore, in the refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 1, the water channel 53 is provided on the upper surface of the partition, along the back surface 35a of the airflow guide 35, and is provided so as to overlap at least the left and right ends of the airflow within the partition and the left and right ends of the airflow within the guide when the refrigerator body 1 is viewed from the front.

According to the refrigerator 100 of Embodiment 1, condensation water generated between the back of the first storage compartment and the back surface 35a of the airflow guide 35 can be collected without leakage.

Furthermore, the refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 1 is equipped with a heating device 70 located in front of the water storage section 58 inside the partition.

According to the refrigerator 100 of Embodiment 1, the bottom surface of the water storage section 58 is indirectly heated by the heat of the heating device 70 through the outer casing of the partition, thereby accelerating the evaporation speed of condensed water.

Furthermore, in the refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 1, the upper surface of the partition is provided with a first wall portion 67 located between the water storage portion 58 and the heating device 70 and projecting upward, and a second wall portion 68 located between the water storage portion 58 and the return air passage inlet and projecting upward, with the first wall portion 67 being lower than the second wall portion 68.

According to the refrigerator 100 of Embodiment 1, if the water generated by condensation overflows from the water storage section 58, the condensed water flows to the front of the water storage section 58 through the first wall section 67. As a result, it is possible to suppress the flow of condensed water to the return air passage inlet, thereby suppressing poor cooling due to frost formation caused by condensation, odor transfer to other storage compartments via condensation, and condensed water from coming into contact with the compressor 39, etc., in the machine room 38. Furthermore, the condensed water that flows to the front of the water storage section 58 is indirectly warmed by the heat of the heating device 70 located inside the partition on the front of the water storage section 58, that is, the heating device 70 located below the condensed water that has flowed to the front of the water storage section 58. Therefore, the evaporation speed of the condensed water can be increased.

Furthermore, in the refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 1, a shelf 76 is provided that divides the first storage chamber vertically, and the shelf 76 has an opening 76a above the water storage section 58 through which the cold air in the first storage chamber passes when returning to the cooling chamber 20.

According to the refrigerator 100 of Embodiment 1, the cold air circulating in the first storage chamber flows through an opening 76a formed above the water storage section 58 to the return air passage inlet. In other words, as the cold air circulating in the first storage chamber flows to the return air passage inlet, it easily passes over the water storage section 58 formed below the opening 76a, making it easier to recover water vapor from condensation in the water storage section 58 by the cold air passing over it. Therefore, the evaporation speed can be further increased by utilizing the cold air in the first storage chamber.

Embodiment 2.
The following describes Embodiment 2, but the explanation will be omitted for parts that overlap with Embodiment 1, and the same reference numerals will be used for parts that are the same as or corresponding to those in Embodiment 1.

Figure 13 is a plan view of the cross-section of the refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 2. Figure 14 is a side view of the longitudinal section of the refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 2. Note that Figure 13 is a view of the cross-section at the same position as the B-B section in Figure 2, as seen in the direction of the arrow. Also, Figure 14 is a view of the cross-section at the same position as the E-E section in Figure 8, as seen in the direction of the arrow.

Embodiment 2 differs from Embodiment 1 in the following three respects. First, within the outer casing 56 of the refrigerator compartment partition 16, there is no partition wall at the boundary between the water storage section 58 and the bottom surface 2c of the refrigerator compartment 2 in which the storage container 75 is housed, that is, on the front side of the water storage section 58. Second, a heating device 70, that is, a metal part 71 and a heating element 72, is provided not only on the front side of the water storage section 58 but also on the bottom side. Third, the space below the water storage section 58 is filled with foamed urethane 54b.

Regarding the first point, in the refrigerator compartment partition 16 according to Embodiment 2, in order to arrange the heating device 70 below the water storage section 58 inside the outer casing 56, the partition wall is divided into two parts, a first partition wall 79 and a second partition wall 80, as shown in Figure 13, and no partition wall is provided on the front side of the water storage section 58. The first partition wall 79 has an L-shape that is bent along the side surface 62a of the mounting section 62, as shown by the dashed line X4 in Figure 13. The second partition wall 80 has an L-shape that is bent along the second wall 68, as shown by the dashed line X5 in Figure 13. Regarding the second point, in the refrigerator compartment partition 16 according to Embodiment 2, there is no partition wall inside the outer casing 56 on the front side of the water storage section 58, and a part of the heating device 70, that is, a part of the metal part 71 and a part of the heating wire 72, extends from the front side of the water storage section 58 to below the water storage section 58. Regarding the third point, in the refrigerator compartment partition 16 according to Embodiment 2, since there is no partition wall inside the outer casing 56 on the front side of the water storage section 58, the area below the water storage section 58 is filled with foamed urethane 54b instead of expanded polystyrene 54a.

In Embodiment 2, a portion of the heating device 70 is modified so that, in a plan view, at least a portion of the heating device 70 overlaps with the water storage section 58, and the heating device 70 is installed inside the refrigerator compartment partition 16. Therefore, the bottom surface of the water storage section 58 is indirectly heated by the heat of the heating device 70 not only from the front of the water storage section 58 but also from below the water storage section 58 via the outer casing 56 of the refrigerator compartment partition 16, thus accelerating the evaporation of condensation water compared to Embodiment 1. Furthermore, even if the water storage section 58 and the heating device 70 partially overlap, expanded polystyrene 54a is provided as an insulating material between the second refrigerator compartment air outlet 26b and the heating device 70. Therefore, the thermal influence of the heating device 70 on the cold air flowing through the refrigerator compartment air outlet 26 can be suppressed.

In the refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 2, the heating device 70 is provided such that, when viewed from above, at least a portion of it overlaps with the water storage section 58.

According to the refrigerator 100 of Embodiment 2, the bottom surface of the water storage section 58 is indirectly heated by the heat of the heating device 70 not only from the front of the water storage section 58 but also from below the water storage section 58 via the outer casing 56 of the refrigerator compartment partition 16, thus accelerating the evaporation of condensed water compared to Embodiment 1.

1 Refrigerator body, 1a Front, 1b Back, 1c Storage space, 2 Refrigerator compartment, 2a Front, 2b Back, 2c Bottom, 3 Ice maker compartment, 4 Convertible compartment, 5 Vegetable compartment, 6 Freezer compartment, 10 Left door of refrigerator compartment, 11 Right door of refrigerator compartment, 12 Ice maker compartment door, 13 Convertible compartment door, 14 Vegetable compartment door, 15 Freezer compartment door, 16 Refrigerator compartment partition, 16a Top, 16b Front, 17 First partition, 18 Second partition, 19a Door open/close detector, 19b Door open/close detector, 19c Door open/close detector, 19d Door open/close detector, 20 Cooling compartment, 21 Cooler, 22 Blower fan, 23 Refrigerator compartment airflow regulator, 26 Refrigerator compartment airflow path, 26a First refrigerator compartment airflow path, 26b 26c Second refrigerator compartment air outlet, 30 Third refrigerator compartment air outlet, 31 Freezer compartment air outlet, 32 Freezer compartment outlet, 35 Fan grill, 35a Air outlet guide, 35a Rear view, 36 Refrigerator compartment outlet, 38 Machine room, 39 Compressor, 41 Refrigerator compartment switching room, 42 Refrigerator compartment switching room air outlet, 43 Refrigerator compartment temperature sensor, 46 Refrigerator compartment switching room temperature sensor, 48 Control unit, 50 Inner box, 51 Outer box, 52 Insulation material, 53 Water channel, 53a Bottom, 54a Expanded polystyrene, 54b Expanded polyurethane, 55 Sealing material, 56 Outer enclosure, 56a Upper outer enclosure, 56b Lower outer enclosure, 57 Rear view, 57a Rear projection, 58 Water reservoir, 59 Sealing material, 60 Refrigerator compartment switching compartment air outlet, 62 mounting part, 62a side, 63 opening, 64 wiring storage part, 65 wiring retainer part, 66 refrigerator compartment return air passage inlet, 67 first wall part, 68 second wall part, 70 heating device, 71 metal part, 72 heating element, 73 protrusion, 74 partition wall part, 75 storage container, 76 shelf, 76a opening, 79 first partition wall part, 80 second partition wall part, 100 refrigerator.

Claims (8)

A refrigerator body having a storage space in which items to be cooled are stored, and a cooling chamber formed on the rear side of the storage space to generate cold air,
A partition is provided inside the refrigerator body, which divides the storage space into multiple storage compartments,
The air passage guide is installed at the rear of the first storage chamber, which is formed above the partition and controlled to a refrigerated temperature zone, and communicates with an internal air passage formed inside the partition, and has an internal air passage formed inside for sending cold air from the cooling chamber into the first storage chamber.
On the upper surface of the aforementioned partition,
A water channel for receiving condensation water formed on the surface of the aforementioned airflow guide,
It is connected to the aforementioned waterway, has a lower bottom than the aforementioned waterway, and has a reservoir for storing the condensed water,
A return air passage inlet is provided through which the cold air in the first storage chamber passes when it returns to the cooling chamber.
The water storage unit is a refrigerator located adjacent to the return air passage inlet. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the bottom surface of the waterway has an inclined surface that slopes downward toward the water storage section. A sealing material is provided between the back of the first storage chamber and the back of the air passage guide, as described in claim 1 or 2. The aforementioned waterway
The upper surface of the partition is provided along the back surface of the air passage guide,
The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein, when viewed from the front of the refrigerator body, it is provided so as to overlap at least the left and right ends of the air passage inside the partition and the left and right ends of the air passage inside the guide. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2 , further comprising a heating device located in front of the water storage section within the partition. On the upper surface of the aforementioned partition,
A first wall portion is located between the water storage section and the heating device and protrudes upward,
A second wall portion is provided, located between the water storage section and the return air passage inlet, and protruding upward.
The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the first wall portion is lower than the second wall portion. The heating device is
The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein, when viewed from above, the refrigerator body is provided such that it overlaps with at least a portion of the water storage section. The first storage chamber is provided with shelves that divide it vertically,
The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the shelf has an opening above the water storage section through which the cold air in the first storage chamber passes when it returns to the cooling chamber.