Refrigerator

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly to a refrigerator containing a cooling accumulation.

Background Art

Λ conventional refrigerator designed to cool in the refrigerator also during stop of operation of a compressor for refrigeration cycle is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-open Publication 63-217174. The constitution of this conventional refrigerator is shown in Fig. 5 through Fig. 8. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of an insulating device for compos¬ ing the refrigerator, Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the refrigerator incorporating the insulating device shown in Fig. 5, Fig. 7 is a sectional view along A-A of Fig. 6, and Fig. 8 is a specific gravity characteristic diagram of water. In Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, the refrigerator comprises a box main body 105 of refrigerator, a freezing compartment 113, a refrigerating compartment 114, a freezing compartment door 106, a refrigerating compartment door 107, a partition wall 108, an evaporator 109, ablower 110, a partition board 111, a fan guard

112, rack holders 113a of freezing compartment, and rack holders 114a of refrigerating compartment. An insulating device 101 is disposed so as to be drawn in and out on the rack holders 113a of the freezing compartment 113. In Fig. 5, the insulating device 101 includes an upper container 101a, a lower container 101b, a peripheral flange 101c at the junction of the upper container 101a and lower container 101b, and container bases lOle. The inside of the insulating device 101 is filled with a cooling accumulation lOld. The upper container 101a forms a recessed central flat portion lOlf, and the entire central flat portion lOlf is pressed and formed like a bowl. As the cooling accumulation lOld, a material not to be frozen in the freezing compartment is used. A bowl-shaped tray 102 for containing food is placed on the central flat portion lOlf of the upper container 101a. Tray bases 102a are formed in the bottom of the tray 102. The recess (dent) of the central flat portion lOlf of the insulating device 101 is filled with water 104. The water 104 is used for increasing the heat transfer quantity between the central flat portion lOlf and tray 102. The specific gravity characteristic diagram of water is shown in Fig. 8. Food 103 is contained in the tray 102.

In such constitution, when freezing quickly the food 103 by using the insulating device 101, the flange 101c of the insulating device 101 is placed on the rack holders 113a of the

refrigerating compartment 113, and the cooling accumulation lOld charged in the freezing compartment 113 is lowered in temperature. The food 103 is placed on the insulating device 101 lowered in temperature. Thus, the food 103 is frozen quickly.

By injecting water 104 between the insulating device 101 and tray 102, the tray 102 can be cooled from outside through the cooled water 104. Therefore, the food 103 in the tray 102 is cooled efficiently. That is, the water 104 contacting with the insulating device 101 is cooled, and the tray 102 is cooled by the cooled water 104.

In such conventional constitution, however, since the tray 102 is shaped like bowl, it was difficult to take out the food. Moreover, when the door 106 is opened or the tray 102 is drawn out, the insulating device 101 may drop out of the rack holders 113f.

The invention solve the problems of the prior art, and presents a refrigerator having various effects including excellent cold reserve capacity, prevention of risk of dropping of rack, excellent controllability of rack, and prevention of sharp rise of temperature in freezing compartment in case of power failure.

Disclosure of the Invention The refrigerator of the invention comprises a box body

for storing food in low temperature state, cooling means for cooling the inside of the box body, a rail unit placed inside of the box body, a rack having a hollow portion, being disposed slidably along the rail unit, and a cooling accumulation placed in the hollow portion of the rack. The rack has a first fitt¬ ing portion in a desired position thereof, the rail portion has a second fitting portion at a position fitting with the first fitting portion, the first fitting portion is fitted with the second fitting portion when the rack is placed on the rail unit, and the rack is fixed to the rail unit by this fitting. In this constitution, the low temperature reserving capacity of food is superior, drop rack or other risk is prevented, the controllability of rack is excellent, and sudden rise of temperature inside of the box body in the event of power failure or cut-off of power supply to the refrigerator can be prevented. Still more, when taking out the food, if the rack is drawn out forward, dropping of rack can be prevented.

In the constitution, preferably, the rail unit is placed at a lateral side to the opening of the box body, a support unit is formed in an inner part of the inside of the box body, the support unit is formed at a position so that the inner part of the rack may contact with the inner part of the box body when the rack is placed*on the rail unit, and the rack is supported by the rail unit and the support unit. In this constitution, the hollow rack filled with cooling accumulation

is fixed to the rail unit stably and securely.

In the constitution, preferably, a cold air duct for blowing a cold air generated by the cooling means into the box body is formed in an inner part of the inside of the box body, the inner part of the rack forms a slope for generating convection of the cold air from the cold air duct, and the cold air released from the cold air duct flows in convection within the box body through the slope of the rack. In this constitu¬ tion, cold air flows in convection beneath the rack, and frost- ing in the lower part of the rack can be prevented.

In the constitution, preferably, the rack has an injec¬ tion port for filling the hollow portion with the cooling accumulation. In this constitution, a good-looking rack can be presented without impeding sliding of the rack. In the constitution, preferably, a guide portion for the ease of filling when filling with the cooling accumulation is formed inside of the hollow portion of the rack, and the guide is shaped to have a slope becoming narrower in the direction of the injection port. In this constitution, the flowability is enhanced when injecting the cooling accumulation of high viscosity, and the filling time can be shortened.

In the constitution, preferably, a vegetable compart¬ ment for storing vegetable is placed in the box body, and the rack is placed at a position for covering the vegetable compartment. In this constitution, temperature rise of food in

the vegetable compartment can be prevented in the event of power failure.

In the constitution, preferably, the rack is formed of a plastic material. In this constitution, the rack of a complicated shape can be manufactured easily, so that an inexpensive refrigerator can be presented.

In the constitution, preferably, the box body has a freezing compartment in its box body, and the rail unit and the rack are placed inside of the freezing compartment. In this constitution, the freezing capacity of food is superior, dropping of rack or other risk is prevented, the controllability of the rack is excellent, and sudden rise of temperature in the freezing compartment in the event of power failure can be prevented. Moreover, when taking out the food, if the rack is drawn out, dropping of the rack can be prevented. In the constitution, preferably, the box body has a refrigerating compartment in its box body, and the rail and the rack are placed inside of the refrigerating compartment. In this constitution, the refrigerating capacity of food is superior, dropping of rack or other risk is prevented, the controllability of the rack is excellent, and sudden rise of temperature in the refrigerating compartment in the event of power failure can be prevented. Moreover, when taking out the food, if the rack is drawn out, dropping of the rack can be prevented.

In the constitution, preferably, the box body has a freezing compartment and refrigerating compartment in its box body, the rail unit and the rack are placed inside of the freezing compartment, a second rail unit is further placed inside of the refrigerating compartment, the second rail unit has a third fitting portion in the same shape as the second fitting portion, the rack can be placed by moving to the second rail, and the first fitting portion is fitted and fixed in the third fitting portion when the rack is placed in the second rail. In this constitution, the freezing capacity of food is superior, dropping of rack or other risk is prevented, the controllability of the rack is excellent, and when taking out the food, if the rack is drawn out, dropping of the rack can be prevented. Moreover, in the event of power failure, the rack containing the cooling accumulation in the freezing compartment can be moved and placed in the refrigerating compartment, so that sudden rise of temperature in the refrigerating compart¬ ment can be prevented.

In the constitution, preferably, the box body has a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment in its box body, the refrigerating compartment has a vegetable compartment for storing vegetables, the rail unit and the rack are placed inside of the freezing compartment, a second rail unit is placed at position for covering the vegetable compart- ment inside of the refrigerating compartment, the second rail

unit has a third fitting portion in the same shape as the second fitting portion, the rack can be placed by moving to the rail, and the first fitting portion is fitted and fixed in the third fitting portion when the rack is placed on the second rail to cover the vegetable compartment. In this constitution, the freezing capacity of food is superior, dropping of rack or other risk is prevented, the controllability of the rack is excellent, and when taking out the food, if the rack is drawn out, dropping of the rack can be prevented. Moreover, in the event of power failure, the rack containing the cooling accumulation in the freezing compartment can be moved and placed at a position for covering the vegetable compartment, so that sudden rise of temperature in the vegetable compartment can be prevented. In the constitution, preferably, further comprising a third rail unit placed in the inside of the box body, a second rack having a second hollow portion, being placed slidably along the third rail unit, and a second cooling accumulation placed in the second hollow portion of the second rack. The second rack has a fourth fitting portion, the third rail unit has a fifth fitting portion at a position fitting with the first fitting por ">n, the fourth fitting portion is fitted with the fifth fitiing portion when the second rack is placed in the third rail unit, and the second rack is fixed to the third rail unit by this fitting. In this constitution, since

plural racks filled with cooling accumulation are placed in the box body, the effect for preventing sudden rise of temperature in the box in the event of power failure is much greater.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of essential parts of a refrigerator showing an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a refrigerator showing an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view of a refrigerator showingan embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a rack showing an embodimentof the invention.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of an insulating device of a conventional refrigerator.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a refrigera¬ tor incorporating the insulating device shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a sectional view along A-A of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a specific gravity characteristic diagram of water showing a prior art.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Embodiments of refrigerator of the invention are described below. A perspective view of essential parts of a refrigerator showing an embodiment of the invention is given in

Fig. 1. A sectional view of the refrigerator shown in Fig. 1 is given in Fig. 2. A magnified sectional view of the portion for composing the cooling accumulation of an embodiment accord¬ ing to the invention is shown in Fig. 3. A perspective view of an embodiment of the rack according to the invention is shown in Fig. 4.

Embodiment 1

In Fig. 1 through Fig. 4, the refrigerator comprises a freezing compartment 13, and a refrigerating compartment 14 placed at the lower side of the freezing compartment 13. The freezing compartment 13 and refrigerating compartment 14 are composed in a box body 5. A door 6 of the freezing compartment is provided at the front side of the freezing compartment 13. A door 7 of the refrigerating compartment is provided at the front side of the refrigerating compartment 14. A partition board 11 is placed at the inner side of the freezing compart¬ ment 13, and at the inner side of this partition board 11, an evaporator 9 and a blower 10 are installed as cooling means. A fan guard 12 is disposed at the front side of the blower 10. A dust 23 for blowing out cold air is formed in the fan guard 12. An inner box 15 is placed in the freezing compartment 13. This inner box 15 may be also placed at the inner side of the box body 5. At desired right and left positions of the inner box 15, a pair of rails 16 are installed. A hollow rack 17 is placed slidably along the rail unit 16. That is, the hollow

rack 17 is placed slidably above or beneath the rail unit 16. Or, the hollow rack 17 is placed slidably between the rails 16. A cooling accumulation 18 is filling the hollow portion of the hollow rack 17. A first fitting portion 19 of a protruding shape is formed at a desired position of the hollow rack 17. A second fitting portion 20 of a dent shape is formed at a desired position of the rail unit 16. The first fitting portion 19 and second fitting portion 20 have shapes to be fitted with each other. By mutual fitting of the first fitting portion 19 and second fitting portion 20, the rack 17 is fixed in the rail unit 16. Food is put on the hollow rack 17.

Alternatively, the hollow rack 17 filled with the cooling accumulation 18 and the rail unit 16 may be also disposed at plural positions in the freezing compartment 13. The first fitting portion 19 and second fitting portion 20 may be also disposed at plural positions in the rack 17 and rail unit 16. The first fitting portion 19 may have a dent shape and the second fitting portion 20 may have a protruding shape. Preferably, the second fitting portion 20 is placed near the center of the rail unit 16.

In the embodiment, the temperature of the freezing compartment can be set at about -20°C. Accordingly, as the cooling accumulation, a material having a melting temperature of -10°C to -20°C is used. For example, using a cooling

accumulation having a melting temperature of -11°C, it is used in a state cooled to -20°C in the freezing compartment. As such cooling accumulation, for example, a mixture containing principal ingredients of aqueous solution, natural high polymer (polysaccharides) as gelating agent, paraoxy benzoic acid or 2-brom-2-nitropropane-l,3-diol as preservative, and inorganic acid as freezing mixture may be used as the cooling accumulation.

In this constitution, the food is directly put on the hollow rack 17 filled with the cooling accumulation 18, so that freezing may be maintained efficiently. Moreover, since the first fitting portion 19 of the hollow rack 17 and the second fitting portion 20 of the rail unit 16 are mutually fitted and fixed, when the door 6 is opened, or when the stored food is taken out from the rack 17, the hollow rack 17 is prevented from being dropped out of the rail unit 16. Still more, in the event of power failure, sudden rise of temperature in the freezing compartment can be prevented. Embodiment 2 In the refrigerator explained in embodiment 1, furthermore, an inner box 35 is provided in the refrigerating compartment 14, and a pair of second rails 36 having the same shape as the rails 16 are formed at specified right and left positions of the inner box 35. At a specified position of this second rail unit 36, a third fitting portion 40 having the same

shape as the second fitting portion 20 isformed. In this embodiment, the second rail unit 36 is placed at the upper side of a vegetable container 22 as vegetable storing means disposed in the refrigerating compartment 14. The hollow rack 17 containing the cooling accumulation 18 placed in the freez ^¬ ing compartment 13 can be moved and placed on this second rail unit 36.

In this constitution, in the event of power failure, the hollow rack 17 filled with the cooling accumulation 18 placed in the freezing compartment 13 can be moved to the second rail unit 36 of the refrigerating compartment 14. By moving and placing the hollow rack 17 filled with the cooling accumulation 18 into the refrigerating compartment 14, sudden rise of temperature in the refrigerating compartment 14 can be prevented. In particularly, it is preferred to move and place the hollow rack 17 filled with the cooling accumulation 18 at a position for covering the vegetable container 22, and in this constitution, therefore, sudden rise of temperature in the vegetable container can be prevented. The vegetable container 22 may be also composed as a vegetable compartment.

In this constitution, meanwhile, other hollow rack filled with cooling accumulation may be preliminarily placed in the refrigerating compartment 14 or on the vegetable container. In the event of power failure, the rack placed in the freezing compartment may be replaced with other rack placed in the

refrigerating compartment. Or, an ordinary rack not containing cooling accumulation may be preliminarily installed in the refrigerating compartment. In this case, in the event of power failure, the rack containing the cooling accumulation placed in the freezing compartment and the rack not containing cooling accumulation placed in the refrigerating compartment may be replaced.

Embodiment 3

In the refrigerator explained in embodiment 2, a support unit 21 of a protruding shape is formed at a position for supporting the rear portion of the hollow rack 17, at the inner side of the inner box 35 of the refrigerating compartment 14. In this constitution, the rack 17 can be securely moved from the freezing compartment 13 and placed in the refrigerat- ing compartment 14. Such support unit 21 may be also formed in the inner part of the freezing compartment 13. In this constitution, the rack can be securely and stably fixed in the freezing compartment. Embodiment 4 As shown in Fig. 3, in the lower surface of the inner part of the hollow rack 17, a slope 24 having an inclination to be smaller in thickness gradually toward the inner part is formed. More preferably, a duct 23 for blowing out the cold air formed in the fan duct 12 is located at position confront- ing the slope 24 of this hollow rack 17. In this constitution,

the cold air can efficiently flow into the lower part of the rack 17, and deposit of frost on the lower surface of the rack 17 is prevented, and it is possible to remove the depositing frost by sublimation. Embodiment 5

As shown in Fig. 4, an injection port 25 for injecting the cooling accumulation is formed in the inner part of the hollow rack 17. In this constitution, the injection port 25 does not contact with the inner box or impede the sliding performance of the rack 17, and so that the rack of excellent looking or appearance may be obtained. Embodiment 6

As shown in Fig. 4, in the hollow portion of the hollow rack 17, a guide 26 having an inclination so as to be smaller 1 in the width in the direction of the injection port 25 side is placed. More preferably, plural guides 26 are formed. In this constitution, when injecting the cooling accumulation of high viscosity into the hollow portion of the hollow rack 17, it is possible to improve the flowability of the cooling accumulation, and the filling work of the cooling accumulation having high viscosity may be easier. Moreover, preferably, the upper surface and lower surface of the guide 26 may contact or join the hollow inner surface of the rack 17. In this constitution, the mechanical strength of the rack 17 is enhanced.

Embodiment 7

In the foregoing embodiments 1 to 6, preferably, the hollow rack 17 is formed of a plastic material. In this constitution, it is easy to manufacture the rack 17 of complicated shape, and the rack having a specified shape can be fabricated at low cost. It is more preferable to use such as plastic material that the inside of the hollow portion may be visible. In this constitution, the state of the cooling accumulation 18 charged in the hollow rack 17 can be observed, so that the degree of accumulation of cooling can be known. In the invention, the cooling accumulation is not particularly limited, but a material suited to the desired freezing temperature or refrigerating temperature may be used. In order to keep the freezing capacity or refrigerating capacity, it is preferred to use the cooling accumulation in a state cooled to a temperature lower than the melting temperature by about -5°C or to about -15°C. Therefore, when the temperature in the freezing compartment is desired to be about -20°C, it is preferred to use the cooling accumulation having a melting temperature of about -5°C to about -15°C.

For example, as the cooling accumulation, an aqueous solution containing gelating agent, preservative, freezing mixture, expansion preventive in freezing, and others is used. As the cooling accumulation, a material not to be frozen in the freez- ing compartment may be also used, but in this case the cold

insulating effect corresponding to the melting latent heat is slightly impaired. Other examples of cooling accumulation include chemical materials containing polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polyalkylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol and others. Or, mixture of these chemical materials with water or alcohol may be used. A mixture of hydrophilic polymer or water absorbing polymer and water may be used. Yet, mixture of these materials and inorganic material may be used. The components for composing such cooling accumulations are preferred to be substances having no adverse effects on the human body.

Industrial Applicability

The refrigerator of the invention can store the food by putting directly on the hollow rack containing cooling accumulation, so that the food can be frozen and stored efficiently. It is also possible to prevent dropping of the rack filled with the cooling accumulation. Moreover, in the event of power failure, sudden rise of temperature of the food and in the freezing compartment can be prevented.

In the event of power failure, still more, the rack containing the cooling accumulation can be moved from the freezing compartment and placed in the refrigerating compart ^¬ ment, so that the temperature rise time of the food in the vegetable container can be extended.

Moreover, as the cold air blown out from the duct for blowing out the cold air is controlled by the slope in the hollow rack, the frost in the lower part of the hollow rack is removed by sublimation, and frosting of the hollow rack can be prevented.

Since the injection port is provided near the rear part of the hollow rack, when the hollow rack slides on the rail unit, the injection port does not contact with the inner box, so that a good-looking hollow rack can be presented. Furthermore, having a guide toward the injection port side in the hollow portion of the hollow rack, the flowability is enhanced when injecting the cooling accumulation into the hollow rack, and the injection time of the cooling accumulation is shortened, and therefore the rack containing the cooling accumulation can be presented at a lower cost.