JPH0331988B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (a) Industrial application field The present invention relates to a refrigeration system that supplies air cooled by a main cooler to a freezer compartment using a blower, and particularly relates to a refrigeration system that cools the freezer compartment by supplying air cooled by a main cooler to the freezer compartment. This relates to a device equipped with an auxiliary cooler.

(b) Prior Art Conventionally, in this type of refrigeration apparatus, especially in a refrigerator, an ice-making evaporator 12 is installed in the freezing compartment 6 in addition to the main evaporator 11, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 45-27703, which precedes the present application. Direct cooling from ice making evaporator 12 and main evaporator 11
The structure is such that ice can be made quickly using cold air from the machine.

(c) Problem to be solved by the invention In the configuration as disclosed in the above publication, the refrigerant is always in both evaporators 1 and 1.
1 and 12, energy loss occurs if rapid ice making is not required. Therefore, it may be possible to configure the refrigerant to flow through the evaporator 12 for a predetermined period only when necessary, but water freezes quickly when the heat load inside the refrigerator is low, such as when the ambient temperature of the refrigerator is low. During the remaining time, unnecessary refrigerant flows into the evaporator 12, which also results in energy loss.

The present invention aims to solve this problem.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention provides a system in which air cooled by a main cooler 7 provided in a cooling chamber 6 is circulated to a freezing chamber 5 by a blower 8. A flow path control device 12 that includes an auxiliary cooler 11 and controls whether or not the refrigerant flows through the auxiliary cooler 11;
A temperature control circuit 15 detects the temperature or the temperature of the main cooler 7 and controls the operation of the electric compressor 9 of the refrigeration cycle, and a timer is set to forcibly operate the electric compressor 9 for a desired time and the refrigerant is transferred to the auxiliary cooler. 11, a quenching timer device 23 that generates a quenching signal that operates the flow path control device 12, and a quenching stop device that substantially invalidates the quenching signal from the quenching timer device 23 by operating a switch 34. It is.

(e) Effect According to the present invention, the cold air cooled by the main cooler 7 is blown into the freezer compartment 5, and the auxiliary cooler 11 is arranged in the freezer compartment 5, and the flow path control device 12 controls the refrigerant. It controls whether or not it flows into the auxiliary cooler 11.

The quenching timer device 23 has a set timer time,
The electric compressor 9 is forced into operation, and a quenching signal is issued to control the flow path control device 12 so that the refrigerant flows into the auxiliary cooler 11. By flowing the refrigerant through the auxiliary cooler 11, food items placed on the auxiliary cooler 11 are strongly cooled directly from the auxiliary cooler 11 and are rapidly frozen.

On the other hand, the timer time of the quenching timer device 23 is determined by the user depending on the amount of heat load on the food to be frozen, but if other heat loads are small, the food will freeze more quickly. Sometimes it gets put away.
Therefore, this quenching signal can be disabled by operating the quenching stop switch 34, so that quenching can be interrupted at any time, thereby preventing unnecessary quenching operations thereafter and saving energy.

(F) Embodiment Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. Reference numeral 1 denotes, for example, a two-temperature type refrigerator body, the interior of which is divided by a partition wall 2 into a freezing compartment 3 kept at a freezing temperature and a refrigerating compartment 4 kept at a temperature higher than the freezing point. Reference numeral 5 denotes a bottom wall of a freezing chamber 3 provided above the partition wall 2 with a distance therebetween, and a main cooler 7 is installed in a cooling chamber 6 formed between the partition wall 2 and the bottom wall 5. 8 is an electric blower that circulates the air cooled by the main cooler 7 to the freezer compartment 3 and the refrigerator compartment 4, and the cold air is circulated as shown by the arrow in FIG. 9 is an electric compressor, 10 is a condenser, and 11 is a blower 8 in the freezer compartment 3.
4a is a damper thermostat that adjusts the amount of cold air according to the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 4.

In FIG. 2, 12 is a refrigerant flow path control device represented by a three-way valve, and 13 and 14 are cavity tubes, which constitute a refrigeration cycle in which refrigerant circulates. The refrigerant flow path control device 12 may be a three-way solenoid valve having one inlet and two outlets, and has a control port so that the refrigerant flowing from one input port flows to one of two output ports. A known pure fluid element that switches between the two using a control input may also be used.

Next, the electric circuit diagrams shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 will be explained.
15 senses either the temperature inside the freezer compartment 3, the temperature of the cold air sent to the freezer compartment 3, or the temperature of the main cooler 7. For example, when the temperature rises, the electrical resistance value decreases, and when the temperature drops, the resistance value increases. At a predetermined high temperature, the output from the output terminal 15a switches to a high potential (hereinafter referred to as "H"), and when the temperature reaches a predetermined low temperature, the output from the output terminal 15a switches to a low potential (hereinafter referred to as "L"). ) is the temperature control circuit. Reference numeral 17 is a defrost timer device composed of, for example, a semiconductor electronic timer, which has an oscillator and an integration counter inside, integrates the operating time of the electric compressor 9, and outputs the output terminal 1 when a predetermined integration time ends.
A defrost signal is generated from 7a. 17b is a reset terminal, and when "H" is input here, the integration of the defrosting timer device 17 is reset, and when the terminal 17c becomes "L", the integration is temporarily stopped. 18,1
9 constitutes a differential circuit. 20 is a defrosting control circuit, and when a defrosting signal from the defrosting timer device 17 is input to a terminal 20a via a diode 21, an output terminal 20b switches from "L" to "H". Reference numeral 22 denotes a thermistor similar to that described above, which senses when the temperature of the main cooler 7 rises and reaches a predetermined defrosting end temperature, and the output terminal 20b switches from "H" to "L". Reference numeral 23 denotes a quenching timer device, which is composed of, for example, a semiconductor electronic timer, has an oscillator and an integration counter inside, and outputs from the output terminal 2 for a predetermined period of time from the time when "H" is input to the reset terminal 23a and reset.
3b becomes "H". The oscillation period of this rapid cooling timer device 23 is determined by a variable resistor 24, resistors 26, 25, and a capacitor 27. Therefore, by appropriately changing the variable resistor 24, the timer time of the rapid cooling timer device 23 can be set to a desired time. Output terminal 23 of rapid cooling timer device 23
b becomes one input of the NOR gate 29 via the inverter 28. Here, an inverter outputs "L" when the input is "H", and outputs "H" when the input is "L", and a NOR gate is a device that outputs "H" when at least one of the inputs is "H". outputs "L",
When all inputs are "L", "H" is output. 30 is a rapid cooling start switch consisting of an instant return type switch, which is connected to a specified DC power supply (Vcc).
One end is connected to the reset terminal 23a of the quenching timer circuit 23 through a differential circuit composed of 31 and 32, and the other end is connected to the reset terminal 23a of the quenching timer circuit 23.
is connected to one input terminal of the The output of the flip-flop 33 becomes one input of the NOR gate 29, and the other input terminal of the flip-flop 33 is connected to the power supply (Vcc), and one terminal of a self-reset type rapid cooling stop switch 34 is connected to the power supply (Vcc). It is connected via a differentiator circuit. The output terminal 15a of the temperature control circuit 15 becomes one input of a NOR gate 37, and the output of the NOR gate 37 becomes one input of a NOR gate 39 via a resistor 38. The output terminal 20b of the defrosting control circuit 20 is NOR
It becomes the other input of the gate 39 and is connected to the reset terminal 17b of the defrost timer device 17.
Moreover, the defrosting heater 4 of the main cooler 7 is connected to the output terminal 20b.
A relay coil 42a of a relay switch 42 that triggers the gate of a triac 41, which is a bidirectional three-terminal thyristor that controls the energization of 0, is connected. Note that 43 is a protection diode and 44 is a resistor. Further, a defrost display light emitting diode 46 is connected to the output terminal 20b via a resistor 45. The terminal 17c of the defrost timer device 17 is connected to the diode 47.
and 48, one side is connected to the output terminal 15a of the temperature control circuit 15, and the other side is connected to the output side of an inverter 49, which is connected to the output side of the NOR gate 29.
The output of NOR gate 29 becomes one input of NOR gate 38. For example, the emitter of the transistor 51 is connected to the base of a PNP type transistor 51 via the output resistor 50 of the inverter 49.
Connected to the output of NOR gate 39. The output of NOR gate 39 is also connected via resistor 52 to e.g.
Input to the base of NPN type transistor 53,
A relay coil 55a of a relay switch 55 that triggers the gate of a triax 54 that controls energization of the electric compressor 9 is connected to the collector of the transistor 53.
are connected, 56 is a diode, and 57 is a resistor. The collector of the transistor 51 is grounded via a resistor 58 on the one hand, and connected to the base of, for example, an NPN type transistor 60 via a resistor 59 on the other hand, and the collector of the transistor 60 controls energization of the flow path control device 12. A relay coil 61a of a relay switch 61 is connected in parallel with a diode 62. These transistors 51 and 60 constitute a PNPN switch. Here, the flow path control device 12 allows the refrigerant to flow through the main cooler 7 when not energized, and flows between the auxiliary cooler 11 and the main cooler 7 when energized.
It operates so that it flows in both directions. The output of NOR gate 29 is also connected via resistor 63 to the base of transistor 64, which base is also connected to resistor 63.
5 to the output terminal 20b of the defrosting control circuit 20, and the collector of the transistor 64 has a resistor 6.
A light emitting diode 67 for displaying rapid cooling is connected through the terminal 6, and the emitter is connected to the output terminal 20 of the defrosting control circuit 20.
connected to b. The light emitting diode 67 and the defrosting display light emitting diode 46 are provided at a position where the user can easily see them, such as on the front of the refrigerator main body 1. 68 is a compressor protection timer device and inputs NOR to input terminal 68a.
The output of the gate 39 is input, and the terminal 68a
For example, 3 from the time when changes from "H" to "L"
The minute output terminal 68b becomes "H". This output terminal 68b is connected via a diode 69 to an input terminal of a NOR gate 39 into which the output of the NOR gate 37 is input.

Next, the operation will be explained. First, quenching start switch 3
0 is not closed and rapid freezing is not performed, the output terminal 23b of the rapid cooling timer device 23 is "L", so the output of the inverter 28 is "H". On the other hand, since the output of the flip-flop 33 is also "H", the output of the NOR gate 29 is "L" and the output of the inverter 49 is "H". Therefore, the transistor 64 does not operate and the light emitting diode 67 does not emit light. Further, since the transistor 51 is non-conductive, the transistor 60 is also non-conductive, and the flow path control device 12 is not energized and the refrigerant is flowing to the main cooler 7. In this state, the temperature control circuit 15 outputs "H" at the predetermined upper limit temperature sensed by the thermistor 16, and the output of the NOR gate 37 is "L". The output is "L", so the output of the NOR gate 39 becomes "H", the transistor 53 becomes conductive and the relay switch 55 closes, triggering the triac 54, and the electric compressor 9 is operated to perform cooling operation. . When this cooling operation progresses and the inside of the freezer compartment 3 is cooled to a predetermined temperature, the thermistor 16 senses this, the output terminal 15a becomes "L", and the output of the NOR gate 37 becomes "H", and the NOR gate 39
The output becomes "L", the transistor 53 becomes inactive, the relay switch 55 opens, the triax 54 becomes non-conductive, and the electric compressor 9 stops.
When the electric compressor 9 is stopped, the temperature control circuit 15
Since the output terminal 15a of the defrost timer device 17 is “L”, the defrost timer device 17 has stopped integrating.
7 performs integration only while the electric compressor 9 is operating. When this integration is completed, the output terminal 17a of the defrost timer device 17 becomes "H" and a defrost signal is generated, the output terminal 20b of the defrost control circuit 20 becomes "H", and the output of the NOR gate 39 becomes "H". The transistor 53 becomes "L", and as a result, the electric compressor 9 stops, and on the other hand, the relay coil 42a is energized, the relay switch 42 is closed, the triat 41 is triggered, and the defrosting heater 40 is energized. When defrosting is started, the light emitting diode 46 lights up. When this defrosting operation progresses and defrosting is completed and the main cooler 7 rises to a predetermined defrosting end temperature, the thermistor 22 senses this and the output of the defrosting control circuit 20 becomes "L", and the relay When the coil 42 is no longer energized, the defrosting heater 40 is no longer energized and defrosting is completed. At the same time, NOR gate 39
Since one of the inputs becomes "L", the electric compressor 9 becomes operational again.

Next, if an ice cube tray filled with water or food is to be rapidly frozen on the auxiliary cooler 11, those items are placed on the auxiliary cooler 11 and the rapid cooling start switch 30 is closed. Then, "H" is input to the reset terminal 23a of the quenching timer device 23, so that its output terminal 23b becomes "H" and integration is started. At the same time, the output of the inverter 28 becomes "L", and the output of the flip-flop 33 also becomes "L", so the output of the NOR gate 29 becomes "H".
At this time, since defrosting is not in progress, the output of the defrosting control circuit 20 is also "L", so the light emitting diode 67 lights up. Further, since the output of the NOR gate 37 also becomes "L", the output of the NOR gate 39 becomes "H", the transistor 53 becomes conductive, and as a result, the electric compressor 9 is forced to operate. On the other hand, since the output of the inverter 49 becomes "L", the transistor 51 becomes conductive and the transistor 60 also becomes conductive, and the flow path control device 12 is energized, and the refrigerant flows to the auxiliary cooler 11 and the main cooler 7, and the refrigerant flows to the auxiliary cooler 11. The above articles are rapidly frozen by direct cooling from the auxiliary cooler 11 and cold air from the main cooler 7. After that, when the rapid cooling timer device 23 completes the integration, the output terminal 23b becomes "L" and the output of the inverter 28 becomes "H", so the NOR
The output of the gate 29 is reversed to "L", the electric circuit and the refrigerant circuit return to their initial states, and the rapid cooling operation ends. Here, during the rapid cooling operation, the output of the inverter 49 is "L", so the defrost timer device 1
Since the terminal 17c of No. 7 becomes "L", the integration is suspended. Therefore, defrosting is not started during rapid cooling operation.

Next, if you want to interrupt the rapid cooling operation for some reason and return to the normal cooling state, close the rapid cooling stop switch 34 and the flip-flop 3
The output of the NOR gate 29 becomes "H", the output of the NOR gate 29 is reversed to "L", the rapid cooling operation is stopped, and the normal cooling operation state is restored.

Here, the compressor protection timer device 68 keeps the output terminal 68b at "H" for, for example, 3 minutes after the output of the NOR gate 39 switches from "H" to "L" and the electric compressor 9 stops operating. The output of the NOR gate 39 is forced to "L" and the electric compressor 9
This prevents damage to the electric compressor 9 due to an overload phenomenon upon restart.

(G) Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention rapidly freezes food, etc. placed on the auxiliary cooler by flowing a refrigerant through the auxiliary cooler installed in the freezing chamber, and powerfully cooling food, etc. placed on the auxiliary cooler by direct cooling from the auxiliary cooler. can be achieved. Furthermore, by setting an arbitrary timer time in the quick freezing operation, it is possible to secure the time necessary for freezing depending on the heat load of the article, and reliable quick freezing can be performed. Also, if you want to return to normal operation for some reason during quick freezing operation, you can forcibly interrupt the quick freezing operation by operating a switch, which may cause unnecessary rapid cooling operation and energy loss. Inconveniences can be prevented.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Each figure shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which Figure 1 is a schematic side sectional view of a refrigerator, Figure 2 is a refrigerant circuit diagram,
3 and 4 are electrical circuit diagrams. 7...Main cooler, 11...Auxiliary cooler, 12...
...Flow path control device, 23...Quick cooling timer device, 33
...Flip-flop, 34...Quick cooling stop switch.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In the case where the air cooled by the main cooler installed in the cooling room is circulated to the freezing room by a blower,
an auxiliary cooler provided in the freezing chamber; a flow path control device that controls whether or not refrigerant flows to the auxiliary cooler; and a flow path control device that detects the temperature of the freezing chamber or the temperature of the main cooler to control the refrigeration cycle. A temperature control circuit that controls the operation of the electric compressor and a timer are set to forcibly operate the electric compressor for a desired period of time and generate a quenching signal that operates the flow path control device so that refrigerant flows to the auxiliary cooler. A refrigeration system comprising a quenching timer device and a quenching stop device that substantially invalidates the quenching signal from the quenching timer device by operating a switch.