(19)
(11) EP 1 793 186 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
13.06.2012 Bulletin 2012/24

(43) Date of publication A2:
06.06.2007 Bulletin 2007/23

(21) Application number: 07001116.8

(22) Date of filing: 13.03.2002
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
F25D 21/08(2006.01)
H05B 3/50(2006.01)
 H05B 3/44(2006.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30) Priority: 13.03.2001 JP 2001069976

(62) Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
02705107.7 / 1369650

(71) Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
Kadoma-shi Osaka 571-8501 (JP)

(72) Inventors:
  • Nakayama, Masahiro
    Otsu-shi Shiga 520-2141 (JP)
  • Kishinaka, Yuji
    Otsu-shi Shiga 520-2264 (JP)
  • Yamamoto, Kiyonori
    Otsu-shi Shiga 520-2111 (JP)
  • Yokoe, Akira
    Otsu-shi Shiga 520-2111 (JP)

(74) Representative: Holmes, Miles Keeton et al
Novagraaf International SA Chemin de l'Echo 3
1213 Onex
1213 Onex (CH)

   


(54) Refrigerator


(57) In a refrigerator employing a combustible refrigerant, a plurality of glass-tube heaters (19a,19b) for defrosting is disposed close to an evaporator (10) of a combustible-refrigerant-sealed refrigeration cycle. By controlling the application of an electric current or voltage to the glass-tube heater (19a,19b), the surface temperature of the heater can be kept below the ignition temperature of the combustible refrigerant. Furthermore, following structures are effective in decreasing the surface temperature of the heater (19) - i) making contact the glass-tube heater (115) to fins (108) of the evaporator, ii) forming the glass-tube heater (139) into a tube-in-tube structure and disposing a sealing member (142) at an end of the glass tube (140,141). Such structured refrigerator prevents the combustible refrigerant from catching fire even if defrosting is performed in an environment where leakage of the refrigerant occurs, and improves poor refrigeration due to residual frost.







Search report