JPH0331985B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a method for promoting freezing when air cooled by a main cooler provided in a cooling chamber is circulated to a freezing chamber by a blower to cool the chamber.

(b) Conventional technology Conventionally, for example, in refrigerators,
As shown in Publication No. 43425, a mounting stand 13 is provided in the freezer compartment 7, a bimetal thermostat 16 is provided on the stand 13, and while the temperature sensed by this thermostat 16 is high, the internal temperature controller 17 is turned on. Regardless, by continuing to operate the electric compressor 18 and the blower 12, ice can be made quickly on the stand 13.

(c) Problems to be Solved by the Invention According to this configuration, since cooling is performed by blowing cold air, there is a limit to the improvement in the freezing promotion effect.
Therefore, it is conceivable to provide an auxiliary cooler in the freezer compartment and flow a refrigerant thereto, thereby cooling the articles thereon by direct cooling from the auxiliary cooler and cold air from the blower.

The promotion of freezing by the auxiliary cooler can also be controlled by temperature from start to finish. However, if the freezing promotion is configured to start when the temperature rises when the article is placed on the auxiliary cooler and end when the temperature decreases, the end temperature can be controlled depending on which temperature is detected. becomes difficult. That is, depending on the placement position of the food, the temperature at the temperature detection location may drop before the food freezes, and the quick freezing may end.

The present invention has been made to solve this problem.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention circulates air cooled by a main cooler installed in the cooling chamber into the freezing chamber using a blower, and also circulates air cooled by a main cooler installed in the cooling chamber into the freezing chamber, and an auxiliary cooler installed in the freezing chamber and a refrigerant that cools the main cooler. A flow path control device that controls whether the flow flows to both the cooler and the auxiliary cooler or to one of the main coolers, and a timer device that operates when the temperature of the auxiliary cooler exceeds a predetermined upper limit temperature are provided. When the temperature of the auxiliary cooler has not risen to the predetermined upper limit temperature, the flow path control device is set so that the refrigerant does not flow to the auxiliary cooler but flows to the main cooler, and the temperature of the auxiliary cooler reaches the predetermined upper limit temperature. The flow path control device is configured to control the flow path control device so that the refrigerant flows to both coolers until a certain period of time set by a timer device has elapsed from when the temperature rises above the above level.

(e) Effect According to the present invention, when the temperature rises when food etc. is placed, the auxiliary cooler automatically starts promoting freezing, and at the same time, the timer device operates to end the promoting freezing after a certain period of time has elapsed. be able to.

(F) Embodiment Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 1 to 3.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a refrigerator main body, and the inside of the refrigerator is divided by a partition wall 2 into a freezing compartment 3 kept at a freezing temperature and a refrigerator compartment 4 kept at a temperature higher than the freezing point. Reference numeral 5 denotes a bottom wall of the freezing chamber provided above the partition wall 2 while maintaining a space therebetween, and a cooling chamber 6 formed between the partition wall 2 and the bottom wall 5.
A main cooler 7 is installed inside. 8 is a blower driven by an electric motor 8A to circulate the air cooled by the main cooler 7 between the freezer compartment 3 and the refrigerator compartment 4; cold air is sent to the freezer compartment 3 from the front of the fan 8; The cold air flowing through the duct 9 is sent out and circulates inside the refrigerator as shown by the arrow. 10
is a thermal damper device that opens and closes the cold air discharge port portion of the duct 9 to the refrigerator compartment 4 so as to control the amount of circulating cold air to the refrigerator compartment 4 according to the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 4. 11 is an electric compressor, 12 is a condenser, and 13 is an auxiliary cooler arranged in the form of a shelf so that articles are placed in a portion where the air discharged into the freezer compartment 3 flows well. The auxiliary cooler 13 is provided in the freezing promotion area in the freezer compartment 3, and may simply be provided horizontally in the form of a shelf. Alternatively, a freezing promotion chamber 26 is formed with a partition wall at a position that receives all of the ice cubes, and the auxiliary cooler 3 is arranged at the bottom of this chamber so that an ice tray or the like can be placed, so that both the wall of the freezing promotion chamber and the auxiliary cooler are placed. Alternatively, cold air circulation holes may be provided on either side to improve the circulation of cold air. If the opening/closing door 19 is provided at the front opening of the freezing promotion chamber, the flow of cold air impinging on the front door of the freezing chamber can be restricted, and leakage of cold air from the gasket portion at the periphery of the front door can be reduced. 14
is a solenoid valve serving as a refrigerant flow path control device, and operates to control whether refrigerant flowing from one inlet flows to one or the other of two outlets. 1
5, 16 are capillary tubes, 17 is a refrigerant reservoir, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,
16 and 17 constitute a refrigeration system. The flow path control device 14 also controls the control input (refrigeration acceleration) of the control port so that the refrigerant flowing from one input port flows to one of the two output ports to the other output port. A known fluid control element called a so-called pure fluid element that performs switching control based on commands may also be used. 18 is a temperature detection circuit having a temperature sensing section 20 that detects the temperature of the auxiliary cooler 13; 21 is a timer device; the temperature detection circuit 18;
It is a counter that counts reference pulses based on the output from the counter, and the set time can be configured to be variable from the outside. 22 is a control circuit for the relay 23; 24
is a temperature control circuit that controls the cooling operation of the refrigeration system, and uses a temperature sensing element to detect either the temperature inside the freezing compartment 3, the temperature of the circulating cold air sent to the freezing compartment 3, or the temperature of the main cooler 7. 25 activates the control circuit 26 that controls the relay 27 to start and stop the electric compressor 11. 29 is a defrosting timer circuit and electric compressor 11
When the operating time has been calculated and the predetermined amount has been calculated, the bistable circuit 30 is switched to one stable state and the relay 3 is activated.
1 is excited. The bistable circuit 30 is the main cooler 7
When the temperature rises to a predetermined value due to the defrosting operation, the temperature sensing element 32 senses the temperature and enters another stable state. 33 is a defrosting heater of the main cooler 7.

In the above configuration, switches 23A and 31A are open during normal cooling operation conditions. Therefore, when the temperature sensing element 25 senses a predetermined upper limit temperature by the operation of the temperature control circuit 24, the control circuit 26 is activated, the relay 27 is energized, the switch 27A is closed, and the electric motor 8A of the electric compressor 11 and the blower 8 is activated. is operated, and when the temperature sensing element 25 senses a predetermined lower limit temperature, the control circuit 26 is deactivated, the relay 27 is de-energized, and the switch 27A is opened.By repeating this operation, the inside of the freezer compartment 3 is kept at a predetermined temperature. maintained within a temperature range of The defrosting timer circuit 29 integrates the operating time of the electric compressor 11. In order to perform this integration, it is possible to connect the output of the temperature control circuit 24 or the output of the control circuit 26 to perform the adjustment operation when these circuits are in an output state that causes the electric compressor 11 to operate. can. When the predetermined settlement is reached, the bistable circuit 30 turns on the relay 31.
The switch 31A is closed and the electric heater 33 is energized. At the same time, the output of the bistable circuit 30 resets the timer circuit 29 and forcibly keeps the control circuit 26 inactive regardless of the output of the temperature control circuit 24, and the switch 27 of the relay 27 remains open. . Main cooler 7
As defrosting progresses and the temperature of the main cooler reaches, for example, 8°C, the temperature sensing element 32 senses the temperature and the bistable circuit 30 enters another stable state, causing the relay 31 to become de-energized and its switch 31A to open. The heater 33 is de-energized, and the constraint output to the control circuit 26 is also eliminated, so the control circuit 26 operates the relay 27 in accordance with the output of the temperature control circuit 24 and returns to perform cooling operation and stop operation. Timer circuit 2
9 also performs an integration operation from the beginning.

In the normal cooling operating conditions described above, the refrigerant does not flow to the auxiliary cooler 13 but flows through the capillary tube 16 to the main cooler 7. In this case, the cool air from the blower 8 circulates into the freezing chamber 3 and the freezing promotion chamber 28, so that the temperature inside the freezing promotion chamber 28 is also maintained at a temperature suitable for storing frozen foods.

Next, in the normal cooling operation state based on the operation of the temperature control circuit 24, when an ice tray or food for the purpose of freezing is placed on the auxiliary cooler 13, the temperature of the auxiliary cooler 13 rises. The temperature sensing part 20
When the temperature is detected and exceeds a predetermined upper limit setting temperature, the temperature detection circuit 18 generates an output, and this output starts the timer device 21, and the bistable operation control circuit 22 enters a stable state, and the relay 23 is energized. When the switch 23A is closed, the solenoid valve 14 as a flow path control device is energized, and the refrigerant that has exited the condenser 12 is energized through the capillary tube 15 and the solenoid valve 14 as a flow path control device, and the refrigerant is transferred to the condenser. The refrigerant that exits the capillary tube 15 and the flow path control device 1
4. Form a flow path that flows through the auxiliary cooler 13 and the main cooler 7. On the other hand, the output of the control circuit 22 is input to the bistable circuit 30, and if the defrosting operation is in progress, the excitation circuit of the relay 31 is turned off so that the defrosting operation is stopped.
It acts as a signal to excite the relay 27 to the control circuit 26, and is input as a signal to operate the relay 27, thereby achieving an operation of forcibly operating the electric compressor 11 and the blower 8 regardless of the output of the temperature control circuit 24. . That is, the cooling is promoted by flowing the refrigerant into the auxiliary cooler 13 and the main cooler 7. This accelerated freezing state continues for a period of time set in the timer device 21 (for example, 60 minutes). That is, the timer device 21
operates for a predetermined time, the output is generated, the bistable circuit 22 switches to another stable state, the relay 23 becomes de-energized, the switch 23A opens, the solenoid valve 14 becomes de-energized, and the bistable circuit 30 The forced signal to the control circuit 26 also disappears, and the normal cooling operation state based on the operation of the temperature control circuit 24 is established. If the acceleration of freezing is started during the defrosting operation as described above, the defrosting operation will be started again when the timer device 21 has elapsed.

Since substantially no refrigerant flows into the auxiliary cooler 13 during normal cooling operation, if frost adheres to the auxiliary cooler 13 in the accelerated freezing state, this frost will sublimate. Therefore, by this sublimation defrosting, the cooling effect of the auxiliary cooler 13 in the next accelerated freezing state can be effectively exhibited.

Instead of directly using the output of the temperature detection circuit 18, the signal for activating and deactivating the control circuit 22 may be made to use an output for a certain period of time from when the timer device 21 is started.

In the above embodiment, the main cooler 7 is placed between the freezing compartment 3 and the refrigerator compartment 4, but the configuration is such that a cooling compartment is formed at the back of the freezing compartment 3 and the main cooler 7 is housed therein. You may.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the refrigerant circuit of the present invention, and the difference from FIG. 2 is that the flow path resistance of the capillary tube 15 is larger than that of the capillary tube 16, and that the refrigerant flow path control device is shown in FIG. The solenoid valve 14 is opened when the temperature of the auxiliary cooler 13 is below a predetermined lower limit temperature, and the solenoid valve 14 is opened when the temperature of the auxiliary cooler 13 is not substantially higher than the upper limit temperature.
4 is closed and the water flows from the auxiliary cooler 13 to the main cooler 7, resulting in a state of accelerated freezing.

FIG. 5 shows yet another embodiment of the present invention, in which the resistance of the capillary tube 16' is greater than the resistance of the capillary tube 15' and the solenoid valve 14' is closed during normal cooling chamber operation. Since the refrigerant does not flow to the auxiliary cooler 13 and the temperature of the auxiliary cooler 13 falls below the upper limit temperature in the accelerated freezing state, the solenoid valve 14' opens and the refrigerant flows from the auxiliary cooler 13 to the main cooler 7. The initial objective is achieved by closing the electromagnetic valve 14 when the temperature of the auxiliary cooler 13 falls below the lower limit temperature.

As is clear from the embodiments of the present invention, in the accelerated freezing state, the refrigerant flows from the auxiliary cooler 13 to the main cooler 7, so a sufficient amount of refrigerant flows to the auxiliary cooler 13 and the cooling by the auxiliary cooler 13 is carried out. Valid and without,
The liquid refrigerant that cannot be completely cooled down in the auxiliary cooler 13 can be evaporated in the main cooler 7, which is effective in promoting freezing. Therefore, the auxiliary cooler 13 can be made smaller than the main cooler 7, and the auxiliary cooler 13 may have refrigerant pipes arranged on the back side of a metal plate such as an aluminum plate, and a refrigerant passage between the two metal plates. The cooler may have cold air circulation holes formed at appropriate locations.

The gist of the present invention does not change even if it is applied to a so-called freezer provided with only a freezing chamber.

(G) Effects of the Invention As described above, when an ice tray or food is placed on the auxiliary cooler provided in the freezer compartment and the temperature of the auxiliary cooler rises, the refrigerant is automatically transferred to the auxiliary cooler. The ice cube tray and food are cooled by heat conduction from the auxiliary cooler and are also cooled by the air cooled by the main cooler, which accelerates freezing. achieved. When the promotion of freezing progresses and the predetermined time set by the timer device has elapsed, the refrigerant is substantially prevented from flowing to the auxiliary cooler, so that after the promotion of freezing is completed, the refrigerant can be frozen and stored in the air cooled by the main cooler.

In particular, since the promotion of freezing is terminated using a timer device, more stable promotion of freezing can be achieved than when it is based on temperature.

Note that if the setting time of the timer device can be arbitrarily selected depending on the type of thing to be accelerated, economical operation can be achieved.

Further, in the present invention, frost in the auxiliary cooler can be sublimated during normal cooling operation, so that the cooling function of the auxiliary cooler can be effectively exhibited. In addition, if the time of the timer device that controls the freezing acceleration state is controlled so that no frost adheres to the auxiliary cooler or the amount of frost that adheres to the auxiliary cooler is small, and the purpose of refrigeration acceleration is achieved, the auxiliary cooling can be carried out. This is desirable in terms of the functionality of the vessel.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Each figure shows an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
The figure shows a refrigerant circuit diagram, FIG. 3 shows an electric circuit diagram, and FIGS. 4 and 5 show other embodiments of the refrigerant circuit. 3...Freezer compartment, 7...Main cooler, 13...Auxiliary cooler, 14...Flow path control device, 18...Temperature detection device, 21...Timer device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 In a device in which air cooled by a main cooler installed in the cooling chamber is circulated into the freezing chamber using a blower, an auxiliary cooler installed in the freezing chamber and refrigerant flow to both the main cooler and the auxiliary cooler. and a timer device that operates when the temperature of the auxiliary cooler reaches or exceeds a predetermined upper limit temperature. In a state where the refrigerant has not risen to a predetermined upper limit temperature, the flow path control device is set so that the refrigerant does not flow to the auxiliary cooler but flows to the main cooler, and the temperature of the auxiliary cooler becomes equal to or higher than the predetermined upper limit temperature. A method for promoting freezing in a freezing chamber, comprising controlling the flow path control device so that the refrigerant flows into both the coolers until a certain period of time set by the timer device elapses from when the refrigerant rises.