Technical Field
[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a refrigerator.
Background Art
[0002] For example, interior volumes of household refrigerators have recently had an increasing
tendency. The increase in the interior volume has been tried to be realized by reducing
a thickness of peripheral wall of a heat insulation box which is a refrigerator body,
but not by increasing the size of the insulation box. In this case, a sufficient insulation
performance needs to be ensured even when the peripheral wall is rendered thinner.
For this purpose, a vacuum insulation panel is used in addition to filling the peripheral
wall of the insulation box with foam insulation.
[0003] The vacuum insulation panel comprises a core material made by forming, for example,
glass wool as a flock of fine glass fiber into a mat shape, by putting the core material
into a gas barrier container made of a laminate film comprising aluminum foil and
synthetic resin, and by evacuating an interior of the gas barrier container and closing
an opening. As a result, the vacuum insulation panel maintains the container interior
in an evacuated state. The vacuum insulation panel has a low heat conductivity, in
other words, high insulation properties even though thin. Accordingly, the use of
the vacuum insulation panel can allow the peripheral wall of the insulation box to
have high heat insulation properties.
Prior Art Document
Patent Document
[0004]
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 2728318
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-H06-147744
Summary of the Invention
Problem to be overcome by the Invention
[0005] A refrigerating cycle of the refrigerator necessitates a number of pipes and tubes
including a condenser pipe, a capillary tube and a suction pipe. The capillary tube
connects between the condenser pipe and an evaporator or a cooler, and the suction
pipe connects between the evaporator and a compressor. The capillary tube and the
suction pipe are routed in a storage space or an interior of the insulation box since
the evaporator is disposed in the storage space. This reduces a substantial interior
volume of the storage space, resulting in a reduction in a storage volume for food
or the like.
[0006] Therefore, an object is to provide a refrigerator which can suppress the narrowing
of the storage space of the insulation box by piping.
Means for Overcoming the Problem
[0007] According to one embodiment, a refrigerator includes an insulation box constructed
by providing an insulation panel between an outer box and an inner box. The insulation
box has in an inside thereof a storage space surrounded by a ceiling wall, a bottom
wall, a left sidewall, a right sidewall and a rear wall. The insulation box is provided
with piping located outside the storage space.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0008]
FIG. 1 is a partial transverse section of an insulation box according to one embodiment;
FIG. 2 is a side view of the insulation box;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the insulation box as viewed from the front;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the insulation box as viewed from the rear;
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the insulation box; and
FIGS. 6A and 6B are an exploded perspective view of the vacuum insulation panel and
a sectional view of the vacuum insulation panel, respectively.
FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing a second embodiment;
FIG. 8 is a partial longitudinal section of the insulation box according to a third
embodiment;
FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 4, showing a fourth embodiment; and
FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 1.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
[0009] Several embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. A refrigerator
has a side where doors are located, and the side is referred to as "front" and a right
side as viewed from the front is referred to as "right."
First Embodiment
[0010] A first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. FIGS. 3 and
4 illustrate a heat insulation box 1 constituting a refrigerator body. The insulation
box 1 includes an outer box 2, an inner box 3 and a vacuum insulation panel 4 serving
as an insulation panel and provided between the outer and inner boxes 2 and 3. The
insulation box 1 is generally formed into the shape of a vertically long box or a
rectangular parallelepiped having an open front. The insulation box 1 has an interior
serving as a storage space 2.
[0011] A ceiling wall 1a, a bottom wall 1b, a left sidewall 1c, a right sidewall 1d and
a rear wall 1e are separately manufactured as a peripheral wall as shown in FIG. 5.
The insulation box 1 is constructed by combining the walls or insulation walls 1a
to 1e. In this case, each one of the bottom wall 1b, the left sidewall 1c, the right
sidewall 1d and the rear wall 1e is formed into a rectangular flat plate shape. The
ceiling wall 1a has a rear part which is lower than the other part thereof, so that
the ceiling wall 1a is formed into a stepped shape. As a result, a component chamber
6 is formed in the upper rear of the insulation box 1 when the walls 1a to 1e are
combined together to be constructed into the insulation box 1. A compressor constituting
the refrigerating cycle (not shown) and the like are disposed in the component chamber
6.
[0012] The construction of the walls 1a to 1e will now be described. The walls 1a to 1e
are provided with respective vacuum insulation panels 4 to provide an insulation performance.
The vacuum insulation panel 4 includes a core material 7 and a gas barrier container
8 as shown in FIG. 6A. The core material 7 is made by forming, for example, glass
wool as a flock of fine glass fiber into a mat shape. The gas barrier container 8
is made of a laminate film comprising aluminum foil and synthetic resin. The core
material 7 is put into the gas barrier container 8, and an interior of the gas barrier
container 8 is evacuated and an opening is closed. As a result, the vacuum insulation
panel 4 maintains the interior of the gas barrier container 8 in an evacuated state.
[0013] Each of the walls 1a to 1e is constructed by interposing the vacuum insulation panel
4 between an outer shell 9 made of a metal such as steel plate and an inner shell
10 made of plastic, for example, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. The vacuum insulation
panel 4 is fixed to at least either one of the outer shell 9 and the inner shell 10
by an adhesive agent or the like. Although each wall is shown as a flat plate in FIGS.
6A and 6B, the ceiling wall 1a is formed into a stepped shape.
[0014] The inner shell 10 has smaller vertical and horizontal dimensions than the outer
shell 9 in each of the walls 1a to 1e. Further, the vacuum insulation panel 4 has
smaller vertical and horizontal dimensions than the inner shell 10. Accordingly, four
sides or ends of the vacuum insulation panel 4 do not reach four sides or ends of
the outer shell 9, being located inside the four sides of the outer shell 9. Further,
predetermined sides of the outer shell 9 of each one of the walls 1a to 1e have respective
connecting pieces 11 bent at a right angle. The connecting pieces 11 formed on the
predetermined sides of each one of the walls 1a to 1e are used to connect the outer
shells 9 of the adjacent walls by screws or the like.
[0015] When the walls 1a to 1e are combined together, the outer shell 9 of the walls 1a
to 1e constitutes the outer box 2, and the inner shell 10 of the walls 1a to 1e constitutes
the inner box 3. As a result, the insulation box 1 having a lower heat conductivity,
namely, a higher insulation performance than the urethane foam is constructed between
the outer and inner boxes 2 and 3.
[0016] FIG. 1 is a transverse section of a right rear corner of the insulation box 1, showing
a connection between the right sidewall 1d and the rear wall 1e. In order that the
vacuum insulation panel 4, the outer shell 9 and the inner shell 10 constituting the
right sidewall 1d may be distinguished from the vacuum insulation panel 4, the outer
shell 9 and the inner shell 10 constituting the rear wall 1e, suffix "d" is added
to the vacuum insulation panel 4, the outer shell 9 and the inner shell 10 of the
right sidewall 1d. Suffix "e" is added to the vacuum insulation panel 4, the outer
shell 9 and the inner shell 10 of the rear wall 1e.
[0017] No connecting piece 11 is provided on a right end of the outer shell 9e of the rear
wall 1e although the connecting piece 11 is provided on the rear end of the outer
shell 9d of the right sidewall 1d. The connecting piece 11 of the outer shell 9d of
the right sidewall 1d is abutted on an inner surface of a right end of the outer shell
7d of the rear wall 1d. Further, a right end of the inner shell 10 of the rear wall
1e is abutted on a rear end surface of the inner shell 10d of the right sidewall 1d.
The connecting piece 11 of the right sidewall 1d and the right end of the outer shell
9e of the rear wall 1e are fastened to each other by a screw (not shown). The right
end of the inner shell 10e of the rear wall 1e and the inner shell 10d of the right
sidewall 1d are sealed and connected together by a sealing agent and a corner member
having a triangular section.
[0018] Three horizontal frames 12, 13 and 14 are mounted on the front of the insulation
box 1 so as to partition the front in the up-down direction. A vertical frame 15 is
mounted between the middle horizontal frame 13 and the lower horizontal frame 14 of
the insulation box 1. Although not shown, insulation walls or partition plates are
provided in the rear of the horizontal frames 12 to 14 and in the rear of the vertical
frame 15. The storage space 5 is partitioned by the insulation walls and the partition
plates into a refrigerating compartment 5a, a vegetable compartment 5b, an ice-making
compartment 5c, a mode changeable compartment 5d and a freezing compartment 5e. The
ice-making compartment 5c and the mode changeable compartment 5d are juxtaposed to
each other.
[0019] The refrigerator is provided with two evaporators for refrigeration and freezing,
as coolers. The refrigerating evaporator is disposed in a cooling compartment formed
in a rear interior of the refrigerating compartment 5a. The freezing evaporator is
disposed in a cooling compartment formed in a rear interior of the freezing compartment
5e. Cold air cooled by the refrigerating evaporator is supplied by a fan into the
refrigerating compartment 5a and the vegetable compartment 5b. As a result, atmospheres
in the refrigerating compartment 5a and the vegetable compartment 5b are cooled to
a refrigeration temperature. Cold air cooled by the freezing evaporator is supplied
by a fan into the ice-making compartment 5c, the mode changeable compartment 5d and
the freezing compartment 5e. As a result, atmospheres in the ice-making compartment
5c, the mode changeable compartment 5d and the freezing compartment 5e are cooled
to a freezing temperature.
[0020] A condenser pipe 16 is mounted on the insulation box 1 to liquefy the refrigerant
compressed by the compressor. The condenser pipe 16 is mounted on an inner surface
of the outer shell 9 of all or a part of the walls 1a to 1e of the insulation box
1 or surfaces located at the vacuum insulation panel 4 side. The condenser pipe 16
is configured to release condensation heat with the outer shell 9 serving as a radiator
plate. A part of the condenser pipe 16 is mounted on backsides of a peripheral edge
of the front opening of the insulation box 1, the horizontal frames 12, 13 and 14
and the vertical frame 15. The condenser pipe 16 warms the peripheral edge of the
front opening of the insulation box 1, the horizontal frames 12, 13 and 14 and the
vertical frame 15, thereby suppressing dew condensation.
[0021] The refrigerant condensed by the condenser pipe 16 is supplied via the refrigerating
and freezing capillary tubes 17 to the refrigerating and freezing evaporators. The
refrigerant evaporated by the evaporators is drawn via the suction pipes 18 and 19
to the compressor. The capillary tubes 17 and the suction pipes 18 and 19 are provided
outside the storage space 5 relative to the insulation box 1. In the embodiment, the
capillary tubes 17 and the suction pipes 18 and 19 are provided in the walls 1a to
1e of the insulation box 1, for example, an interior of a right rear corner of the
insulation box 1, which is a connection of the right sidewall 1d and the rear wall
1e, more specifically, the corner interior of the insulation box 1 where ends of the
right sidewall 1d and the rear wall 1d intersect with each other.
[0022] The positions of the capillary tubes 17 and the suction pipes 18 and 19 will be described
in relation to the vacuum insulation panels 4d and 4e. The capillary tubes 17 and
the suction pipes 18 and 19 are disposed on an extension of or outside the rear end
of the vacuum insulation panel 4d of the right sidewall 1d and inside the end of the
outer box 2, that is, the outer shell 9d of the right sidewall 1d, and outside an
extension of the right end of the vacuum insulation panel 4e of the rear wall 1e and
inside the end of the outer box 2, that is, the connecting piece 11 of the right sidewall
1d. In this case, the rear end of vacuum insulation panel 4d where the capillary tubes
17 and the suction pipes 18 and 19 are disposed will be referred to as "end at pipe
disposition side. " The right end of the vacuum insulation panel 4e where the capillary
tubes 17 and the suction pipes 18 and 19 are disposed will be also referred to as
"end at pipe disposition side."
[0023] The rear end of the vacuum insulation panel 4d of the right sidewall 1d is located
inside the connecting piece 11 which is an end of the right sidewall 1d, that is,
a rear end of the outer shell 9d, being spaced form the connecting piece 11. Further,
the right end of the vacuum insulation panel 4e of the rear wall 1e is located inside
the end of the rear wall 1e, that is, the right end of the outer shell 9e, being spaced
form the end. As a result, a space is defined between both vacuum insulation panels
4d and 4e, and the capillary tubes 17 and the suction pipes 18 and 19 are disposed
in the space.
[0024] In this case, for example, a rigid rectangular bar-shaped insulator 20 made of expandable
plastic is enclosed in the corner of the right rear side of the insulation box 1.
The two suction pipes 18 and 19 are inserted into a groove 20a formed in the bar-shaped
insulator 20, together with the capillary tubes 17. For example, a spongy insulation
material 21 is provided between the bar-shaped insulator 20 and the right end of the
vacuum insulation panel 4e. Accordingly, the suction pipes 18 and 19 and the capillary
tubes 17 are insulated by the bar-shaped insulator 20 and the spongy insulation material
21.
[0025] The inner shell 10d of the right sidewall 1d extends over the inner shell 10e of
the rear wall 1e in the rear of the inner shell 10e. Accordingly, a space defined
in the rear of the vacuum insulation panel 4d in the right sidewall 1d is partially
separated from a space defined in the right of the vacuum insulation panel 4e in the
rear wall 1e. The capillary tubes 17 and the suction pipes 18 and 19 put in the bar-shaped
insulator 20 are disposed in the space defined in the rear of the vacuum insulation
panel 4d in the right sidewall 1d.
[0026] The bar-shaped insulator 20 is formed to have the rectangular section sized such
that the bar-shaped insulator 20 fills a space between the rear end of the vacuum
insulation panel 4d of the right sidewall 1d and the connecting piece 11 of the outer
shell 9d. Further, the bar-shaped insulator 20 has a vertical dimension is set to
a length from a lower end of the right sidewall 1d to the rear lower part of the ceiling
wall 1a.
[0027] The suction pipes 18 and 19 and the capillary tubes 17 are assembled to be disposed
in the corner at the right rear side of the insulation box 1 in the following manner.
The following assembling manner is a mere example and should not be restrictive. Firstly,
the capillary tubes 17 and the suction pipes 18 and 19 are inserted into the groove
20a of the bar-shaped insulator 20, so as to be unitized or integrated with the bar-shaped
insulator 20. In this case, the capillary tubes 17 and the suction pipes 18 and 19
may be secured to the bar-shaped insulator 20 by an adhesive agent in order to be
integrated with the bar-shaped insulator 20 more strongly. Upper ends of the capillary
tubes 17 and the suction pipes 18 and 19 are then caused to protrude upward from an
upper end of the bar-shaped insulator 20 by a predetermined length as shown in FIG.
2. Subsequently, lower ends of the capillary tubes 17 and the suction pipes 18 and
19 are caused to protrude laterally from a middle part of the bar-shaped insulator
20 by a predetermined length according to the location of the evaporator in the insulation
box 1.
[0028] Next, the unitized bar-shaped insulator 20 is bonded to an inner surface of the outer
shell 9d of the right sidewall 1d so as to contact with the connecting piece 11 located
at the rear end thereof. Subsequently, the vacuum insulation panel 4d is bonded to
the inner surface of the outer shell 9d while the rear end of the vacuum insulation
panel 4d is in contact with the bar-shaped insulator 20. The inner shell 10d is then
bonded to the vacuum insulation panel 4. In this case, the suction pipes 18 and 19
and the capillary tubes 17 extending from the lower end of the bar-shaped insulator
20 are caused to further protrude to the storage space side through a cutout formed
in the inner shell 10d.
[0029] The right sidewall 1d and the rear wall 1e are coupled together, and the capillary
tubes 17 and the suction pipes 18 and 19 integrated with the bar-shaped insulator
20 are put into the right rear corner of the insulation box 1. Subsequently, when
the ceiling wall 1a is combined with the right sidewall 1d and rear wall 1e, the capillary
tubes 17 and the suction pipes 18 and 19 protruding upward from the upper end of the
bar-shaped insulator 20, that is, the upper end of the right sidewall 1d are drawn
into the component chamber 6 through a through hole (not shown) formed in the ceiling
wall 1a.
[0030] The capillary tubes 17 drawn into the component chamber 6 are connected to a termination
of the condenser pipe 16 via a three-way valve disposed in the component chamber 6.
The suction pipes 18 and 19 are connected via joints to an inlet of the compressor.
Refrigerant discharged from the compressor is supplied through the condenser pipe
16 to the refrigerating or freezing evaporator by the operation of the three-way valve.
The refrigerant evaporated by either evaporator is suctioned via the suction pipe
18 or 19 into the compressor.
[0031] As understood from the foregoing, the capillary tubes 17 and the suction pipes 18
and 19 all serving as piping are disposed outside the storage space 5. Accordingly,
differing from the case where the piping is disposed in the storage space 5, narrowing
the storage space 5 by the piping can be suppressed. As a result, the storage space
5 can be used for food storage more widely.
[0032] Further, the low-temperature refrigerant flows through the suction pipes 18 and 19.
However, since the capillary tubes 17 and the suction pipes 18 and 19 are covered
by the insulator 20 and the insulation material 21, occurrence of dew condensation
can be suppressed.
[0033] Further, since the capillary tubes 17, the suction pipes 18 and 19 and the foam insulator
20 are unitized, the capillary tubes 17, the suction pipes 18 and 19 and the foam
insulator 20 can be handled more easily in the assembly or the like. Moreover, since
the foam insulator 20 has a predetermined rigidity, the foam insulator 20 is easier
to handle as compared with the case where the foam insulation is soft. Consequently,
the capillary tubes 17 and the suction pipes 18 and 19 can be put into the groove
20a more easily.
[0034] Further, the insulation box 1 is constructed by combining a plurality of walls 1a
to 1e. Accordingly, the capillary tubes 17 and the suction pipes 18 and 19 can be
put into the connection, namely, the corner of the right sidewall 1d and the rear
wall 1e. This is particularly advantageous when each of the right and left walls 1s
and 1d has a thickness of not more than 35 mm. In the embodiment, the vacuum insulation
panel 4 has a thickness set to about 20 mm. A total thickness of the outer shell 9
and the inner shell 10 is set to about 1.5 mm. In this case, a total thickness of
the vacuum insulation panel 4, the outer shell 9 and the inner shell 10 becomes 21.
5 mm. Thus, the thickness of each of the right and left walls 1c and 1d is not more
than 25 mm which value is further advantageous.
Second Embodiment
[0035] FIG. 7 illustrates a second embodiment. The second embodiment differs from the first
embodiment in the arrangement of the capillary tubes 17 and the suction pipes 18 and
19. More specifically, in the second embodiment, the groove 20a of the bar-shaped
insulator 20 with the rectangular section is formed on a diagonal line extending from
the corner of the inner box 3 to the corner of the outer box 2. A plurality of pipes
or tubes, in this case, two capillary tubes 17 and two suction pipes 18 and 19 are
arranged in the groove 20a.
[0036] Thus, the suction pipes 18 and 19 having larger diameters than the capillary tubes
17 are arranged on the diagonal line in the corner of the insulation box 1, with the
result that the suction pipes 18 and 19 can be enclosed in the corner of the insulation
box 1 even when the suction pipes 18 and 19 have respective larger diameters than
the thickness of the vacuum insulation panel 4.
Third Embodiment
[0037] FIG. 8 illustrates a third embodiment. In the first embodiment, the suction pipes
18 and 19 are disposed in the corner where two walls intersect. On the other hand,
in the third embodiment, the suction pipes 18 and 19 are disposed in an end of one
of the walls, for example, in the front end interior of the bottom wall 1b.
[0038] More specifically, the connecting piece 11 of the bottom wall 1b is formed by upwardly
bending a front end of the outer shell 9b serving as a front end of the outer box
2. The vacuum insulation panel 4b of the bottom wall 1b has a front end which does
not reach the front end of the outer box 2 and is spaced rearward from the connecting
piece 11. A bar-shaped insulator 22 is provided between the connecting piece 11 and
the front end of the vacuum insulation panel 4. The bar-shaped insulator 22 is formed
with a groove 22a. The suction pipes 18 and 19 are inserted into the groove 22a of
the bar-shaped insulator 22 together with the capillary tubes 17.
Fourth Embodiment
[0039] FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a fourth embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, the capillary
tubes 17 and the suction pipes 18 and 19 are disposed outside the storage space 5,
more specifically, outside the outer box 2 of the insulation box 1.
[0040] More specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the covering member 23 is mounted outside
the right rear corner of the insulation box 1, for example. The covering member 23
has two sides 23a and 23b intersecting at a right angle, so that the covering member
23 has an L-shaped section. The sides 23a and 23b have respective distal ends bent
inward with the result that each of the sides 23a and 23b has a generally container-shaped
section.
[0041] Spaces inside the sides 23a and 23b are filled with foam insulation 24. The foam
insulation 24 inside the side 23b is formed with a groove 24a. The two suction pipes
18 and 19 and the capillary tubes 17 are enclosed in the groove 24a.
[0042] The side 23a of the covering member 23 has a plurality of recesses 25a formed intermittently
in the up-down direction. In the same manner, the side 23b of the covering member
23 has a plurality of recesses 25a formed intermittently in the up-down direction.
Self-tapping screws 26a are passed through the recesses 25a of the side 23a respectively.
The self-tapping screws 26a are then screwed into the outer shell 9d of the right
sidewall 1d. Further, self-tapping screws 26b are passed through the recesses 25b
of the side 23b respectively. The self-tapping screws 26b are then screwed through
through-holes (not shown) formed in the outer shell 9 of the rear wall 1e into the
connecting piece 11 of the outer shell 9 of the right sidewall 1d. Thus, the covering
member 23 is thus fixed to the outside of the right ear corner of the insulation box
1.
Other Embodiments
[0043] While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented
by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other
forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the
embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the
invention. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such
forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.
[0044] For example, the insulation wall may be constructed by filling a space between the
inner and outer shells with the vacuum insulation panel and foam insulation located
inside or outside the vacuum insulation panel.
[0045] The insulation box may be constructed by combining a box-shaped outer box and a box-shaped
inner box. In this case, the vacuum insulation panel is attached to an inner surface
of the outer box or an outer surface of the inner box before combining the outer and
inner boxes, whereby the vacuum insulation panel is provided between the outer and
inner boxes.
[0046] When the piping is provided inside the walls 1a to 1e, the piping may be provided
in a space between the right end of the vacuum insulation panel 4e of the rear wall
1e and the inner shell 10d of the right sidewall 1d as well as the corner inside constituting
the connection of two walls, for example, as shown in FIG. 1.
[0047] The bar-shaped insulators 20 and 22 may be soft spongy insulators.
[0048] The piping should not be limited to the capillary tubes and the suction pipes.
1. A refrigerator comprising an insulation box constructed by providing an insulation
panel between an outer box and an inner box,
wherein the insulation box has in an inside thereof a storage space surrounded by
a ceiling wall, a bottom wall, a left sidewall, a right sidewall and a rear wall;
and
wherein the insulation box is provided with piping located outside the storage space.
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the insulation box is constructed by
combining a plurality of insulation walls in which the insulation panel is provided
between an outer shell constituting the outer box and an inner shell constituting
the inner box.
3. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the piping is provided inside
an insulator.
4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the insulator inside which the piping
is provided has a predetermined rigidity.
5. The refrigerator according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the piping and the insulator inside
which the piping is provided are unitized, and the piping has an end protruding out
of the insulator.
6. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the piping is provided
in an end of at least one of the insulation walls including the ceiling wall, the
bottom wall, the left sidewall, the right sidewall and the rear wall inside the insulation
wall.
7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the insulation wall inside which the
piping is provided has an end located at the piping side of the insulation panel;
wherein the end of the insulation wall is located inside relative to an end of the
outer box, not reaching the end of the outer box; and
wherein the piping is located outside relative to the end of the insulation panel
and inside relative to the end of the outer box.
8. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the piping is disposed inside a corner
of the insulation box, in which corner ends of two walls adjacent to each other intersect,
the two walls being included in the ceiling wall, the bottom wall, the left sidewall,
the right sidewall and the rear wall; and
wherein the two walls have respective ends located at the piping side of the insulation
panel, the ends of the two walls being located inside relative to an end of the outer
box, being spaced from the end of the outer box; and
wherein the piping is located between the insulation panels of the two walls.
9. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein the piping includes a plurality of
pipes and/or tubes; and
wherein the pipes and/or tubes are arranged diagonally between a corner of the outer
box and a corner of the inner box.
10. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the piping is provided
outside the outer box.
11. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein the piping is enclosed inside a covering
member together with the insulator, the covering member being mounted on an outer
side of the outer box.