Refrigerator

Abstract

 The present invention relates to a refrigerator. The refrigerator (1) includes: a cabinet (2) having a storage compartment (20); a door (3) used to enclose the storage compartment (20); a drawer (72) located inside the storage compartment (20), a gap (G) being provided in the vertical direction between a front wall (751) of the drawer (72) and a top wall (24) of the storage compartment (20); and a cold air outlet (61), the cold air outlet (61) being located between the drawer (72) and the top wall (24) in the vertical direction. According to recommendations of the present invention, the refrigerator includes a cold airair blocking portion (8) located between the cold air outlet (61) and the door (3), and the cold airair blocking portion (8) at least partially covers the gap (G) in a front-rear direction. Therefore, a temperature difference between inside and outside of the door can be reduced without energy consumption to lower the possibility of condensation on the door appear.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator.

Related Art

[0002] In case of high ambient temperature and humidity, condensation may occur in some areas of a refrigerator. A known solution is to raise the temperature of these areas by using a heat source. For example, in a typical solution, an electrical heating component is disposed in areas where condensation occurs easily or a thermal tube in a refrigeration cycle of a refrigerator is arranged in these areas. In addition, Chinese Utility Model CN202582004U discloses that a thermal guiding piece is used as a thermal bridge to connect a high-temperature area and a low-temperature area, thereby lowering the possibility that condensation occurs in the low-temperature area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator which is advantageous for preventing dew.

[0004] The foregoing object may be achieved through features in the independent claims. Preferable embodiments of the present invention are subject matters of the accompanying drawings, specification, and dependent claims.

[0005] An aspect of the present invention relates to a refrigerator, which includes: a cabinet having a storage compartment; a door for closing the storage compartment; and a cold air flow path located inside the storage compartment and disposed along a wall of the storage compartment; characterized in that the wall has a cold air blocking portion located in front of the cold air flow path to block cold air from flowing towards the door.

[0006] We discover that when a refrigerator has a forced air cyclic system, if cold air that flows out of an evaporator compartment flows through areas where dew occurs easily, dew occurs more easily in these areas. Therefore, according to the present invention, cold air flowing towards a door is blocked to change a flow direction of the cold air, temperature difference between inside and outside of a corresponding side portion (for example, an upper side portion or left and right side portions) of a door which portion is adjacent to the cold air flow path and may have dew problems, may be decreased., this is advantageous for preventing temperature of the side portion (for example, an outer surface thereof) of the door being decreased to an extent that condensation occurs easily , and this can be achieved without increasing energy consumption of the refrigerator.

[0007] In a possible embodiment, the refrigerator may have a drawer located inside the storage compartment, and the cold air flow path is located between the wall and drawer.

[0008] In an alternate embodiment, the refrigerator may include an air channel cover plate, the cold air flow path is located between the air channel cover plate and the wall, and the cold air blocking portion is located in front of the air channel cover plate. Preferably, the refrigerator includes a drawer located inside the storage compartment, and the cold air blocking portion is located between the drawer located inside the storage compartment and the door in a front-rear direction, that is, the cold air blocking portion is located in front of the drawer.

[0009] In a possible embodiment, the wall may be a top wall of the storage compartment. This, in one aspect, is good for cold air, which is flowed out of m the cold air flow path disposed along the top wall, to flow downwards to make the temperature inside the storage compartment more balanced, and in another aspect, it is advantageous for reducing possibility that dew occurs on atop portion of the door.

[0010] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a refrigerator, which includes: a cabinet having a storage compartment; a door for closing the storage compartment; a drawer located inside the storage compartment, a gap being provided in the vertical direction between a front wall of the drawer and a top wall of the storage compartment; and a cold air outlet located between the drawer and the top wall in the vertical direction; characterized by comprising, a cold air blocking portion located between the cold air outlet and the door , and the cold air blocking portion at least partially covers the gap in a front-rear direction.

[0011] By reducing cold air that passes between the drawer and the top wall to flow to the door or adjacent area of the door the door, it may be avoided that the temperature of the door, especially the top portion of the door that is close to the top wall of the storage compartment in a longitudinal direction, decreases to such an extent that condensation may occur easily or a high output heat source has to be used to increase the temperature thereon resulting in loss of more energy.

[0012] The cold air blocking portion may also be disposed on other positions, for example, on the door or the drawer; however, in a preferable embodiment, the cold air blocking portion is provided on the top wall, which not only avoids impairment of appearance of the refrigerator because of clear exposure of the cold air blocking portion to a user, but also allows normal use of the drawer and the door that are often moved.

[0013] In a possible embodiment, the cold air blocking portion may be close to a front wall of the drawer, which not only improves efficiency of preventing cold air from flowing through the gap by the cold air blocking portion, but also further helps to reduce impacts on an air circulation system of the refrigerator by the cold air blocking portion.

[0014] In a possible embodiment, the cold air blocking portion may be located behind the front wall, so as to avoid clear exposure of the cold air blocking portion to the user and also avoid interference between the front wall of the drawer and the cold air blocking portion when the drawer is pulled. In addition, a gap required between the door and the drawer of the refrigerator in a front-rear direction is also not necessarily affected, that is, it is expectable not to change the structures of the door and drawer of the refrigerator to adapt to the cold air blocking portion.

[0015] In a possible embodiment, the cold air blocking portion may extend in a horizontal direction along an upper end of the front wall of the drawer. For example, the cold air blocking portion extends horizontally along most of the width of the front wall of the drawer, so as to enhance blocking efficiency of the cold air blocking portion.

[0016] In a possible embodiment, the cold air blocking portion and the front wall of the drawer overlap in a front-rear direction. The lower end of the cold air blocking portion is lower than an upper end surface of the front wall of the drawer, which therefore further helps to block cold air from blowing from the upper end of the drawer to the door of the refrigerator.

[0017] In a possible embodiment, two ends of the cold air blocking portion do not exceed a corresponding sidewall of the drawer in a horizontal direction. For example, the two ends of the cold air blocking portion may be close to an inside of the corresponding sidewall of the drawer or the cold air blocking portion and an inner surface of the sidewall of the drawer are flush. In such a manner, the height of the sidewall of the drawer may be not necessarily confined by the cold air blocking portion.

[0018] In a possible embodiment, a plurality of through holes may be provided on the front wall and/or a bottom wall of the drawer, and cold air turns downwards from the cold air blocking portion into the drawer and flows out the drawer via the through holes.

[0019] In a possible embodiment, the cold air blocking portion is formed by an elongate protrusion bar protruding from the top wall.

[0020] In a possible embodiment, the cold air blocking portion is a rod fabricated independently from the cabinet and is fastened to the cabinet through a fastening member. In an alternate embodiment, the cold air blocking portion may also include a part of an inner liner of the cabinet and is directly integrated on a wall of the cabinet.

[0021] In a possible embodiment, the door may include a handle groove located on a side portion of the door, and the cold air blocking portion and the handle groove overlap in a front-rear direction, so as to lower the possibility of condensation on a side portion having the handle groove.

[0022] The construction of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below for illustration only, and thus is not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:

As a part of the specification and for use of further understanding of the present invention, the specific implementation manners of the present invention are illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings in the following, which are used in combination with the specification to illustrate the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic partial sectional view of a refrigerator according to a preferable embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a cold air blocking portion according to a preferable embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] FIG. 1 is a schematic partial sectional view of a refrigerator 1 according to a preferable embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator 1 includes a cabinet 2 having at least one storage compartment 20 and a door 3 connected to the cabinet 2 for closing or open at least a part of the storage compartment 20.

[0025] A handle groove 31 is provided on an upper side portion of the door 3. In a front-rear direction, the thickness of a thermal insulating layer of an area where the handle groove 31 is provided is decreased. In this embodiment, the bottom of the handle groove 31 is located in a frame surrounding by a sealing gasket 32.

[0026] The cabinet 2 may include a box-shaped inner liner 21 for defining the storage compartment 20, an outer shell 22 surrounding the inner liner 21 and spaced apart from the inner liner 21 by a predetermined distance, and a thermal insulation layer 23 located between the inner liner 21 and the outer shell 22.

[0027] The storage compartment 20 is defined by an upper wall 24, a lower wall (not shown), a rear wall 26, and a pair of sidewalls (not shown) that are thermally insulating and have a front opening 201 opened or closed by the door 3.

[0028] An air channel assembly 6 is provided at a rear portion of the storage compartment 20 to divide a cooling compartment 202 at the rear portion of the storage compartment 20. An evaporator 4 and a fan 5 are provided inside the cooling compartment 202. In this embodiment, the fan 5 is located above the evaporator 4. The evaporator 4 may be a fin-type evaporator.

[0029] A storage area 203 of the storage compartment 20, that is, an area located in front of the air channel assembly 6 of the storage compartment 20, is provided with a plurality of withdrawable drawers 71, 72.

[0030] The first drawer 71 may be fastened to an inner side of the door 3 and is movable together with the door 3. The second drawer 72 is located above the first drawer 71.

[0031] An upper end of the second drawer 72 is open, and includes a bottom wall 74 and peripheral walls 75 extending upwards from edges of the bottom wall. An upper portion of the front wall 751 among the peripheral walls 75 may provide with a handle portion 77.

[0032] An upper end of the front wall 751 of the second drawer 72 is close to the upper wall 24 but is distanced by a gap G from the upper wall 24. When the second drawer 72 is retracted into the storage compartment 20, a front end of the second drawer 72 is close to the front opening 201 of the storage compartment 20.

[0033] The air channel assembly 6 has a plurality of cold air outlets 61, 62 that communicate the cooling compartment 202 with the storage area 203 to convey air cooled by the evaporator 4 into the storage area 203. In this embodiment, the cold air outlets 61, 62 are located at different heights. One or more cold air outlets may be distributed at different heights, respectively.

[0034] The first cold air outlet 61 is located at the upper portion of the storage compartment 20 and is close to the upper wall 24. A part of cold air that enters the storage area 203 via the first cold air outlet 61 may enter the second drawer 72. As indicated by the arrowed dotted-line, another part of cold air that flows out from the first cold air outlet 61 flows forwardly along the gap between the second drawer 72 and the upper wall 24, while a cold air flow path AP is formed between the second drawer 72 and the upper wall 24.

[0035] The refrigerator 1 includes a cold air blocking portion 8 that at least partially covers the gap G between the front portion of the second drawer 72 and the upper wall 24 in a front-rear direction (that is, in the depth direction of the storage compartment 20). The cold air blocking portion 8 located in front of the cold air flow path AP prevents at least a part of cold air from flowing through the gap G towards the door 3, thereby reducing temperature difference between inside and outside of the upper side portion of the door 3.

[0036] The cold air blocking portion 8 and the handle groove 31 overlap in a front-rear direction which may reduce cold air from flowing to a side portion, having the handle groove 31, of the door 3, so as to lower the probability of condensation in the handle groove 31.

[0037] The cold air blocking portion 8 is located on the upper wall 24, connected to the upper wall 24, and protrudes downwards. In this embodiment, the cold air blocking portion 8 has a shape of an elongate protrusion bar protruding from the upper wall 24, and is fabricated independently from the upper wall 24 and then fastened to the upper wall 24 through a fastening member.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 2, the cold air blocking portion 8 is an elongate rod that is hollow and has a rectangular section. In this embodiment, the cold air blocking portion 8 has a pair of fastening holes 81, and the cold air blocking portion 8 is fastened on the upper wall 24 by screws (not shown) passing through the fastening holes 81.

[0039] The cold air blocking portion 8 is close to the front wall 751 of the second drawer 72 and is located behind the front wall 751 of the second drawer 72. Two ends of the cold air blocking portion 8 do not exceed the corresponding sidewall 752 of the second drawer 72 horizontally.

[0040] The cold air blocking portion 8 extends along the handle portion 77 at the upper end of the front wall 751, enters the second drawer 72 in longitudinal direction, and overlaps with the front wall 751 of the second drawer 72 in a front-rear direction. Therefore, in an area provided with the cold air blocking portion 8, the gap G is completely covered.

[0041] A plurality of through holes 753 are provided on the front wall 751 and/or the bottom wall 74 of the second drawer 72. Cold air is blocked by the cold air blocking portion 8, flows into the second drawer 72, and then flows out the second drawer 72 via the through holes 753. Next, the cold air flows downwards to the first drawer 71. Similar through holes may also be provided on the front wall of the first drawer 71 to discharge the air.

[0042] Under the effect of the fan 5, air that has undergone heat exchange with articles inside the storage area 203 may be sucked into the cooling compartment 202 via an air inlet (not shown) located at the bottom of the storage compartment 20, be cooled by the evaporator 4, and enter the storage compartment 20 again via the cold air outlets 61, 62, so as to implement a forced circulation inside the storage compartment 20.

[0043] FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a refrigerator 1' according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the refrigerator 1' includes an L-shaped air channel cover plate 6' located inside a storage compartment 20', where a cold air flow path AP1 is formed between the air channel cover plate 6' and a rear wall 26' and an upper wall 24' of the storage compartment 20'. The cold air flow path AP1 includes at least one cold air outlet 61' located at the front end of the cold air flow path AP1. Along the upper wall 24', cold air flows from rear to front inside the cold air flow path AP1. A cold air blocking portion 8' is located in front of the air channel cover plate 6' to be located in front of the cold air outlet 61', and is close to a front opening 201'. Therefore, cold air that directly flows to a part of the door 3', which part is overlapped with cold air outlet 61' in the vertical direction, is significantly reduced, thereby reducing a temperature difference between inside and outside of a side portion, where dew usually trends to occur , of the door 3'. Air that has undergone heat exchange may return inside the cold air flow path AP1 via an inlet 63 located at the bottom of the storage compartment 20'.

[0044] The cold air blocking portion 8' is located in front of the drawer 72' to be located between the drawer 72' and the door 3'. A predetermined distance is kept between the cold air blocking portion 8' and the front wall of the drawer 72' to allow cold air to flow beyond the front of the drawer 72' and then flow downwards.

[0045] Various embodiments of single parts or components described in combination with FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 may be combined in any given manner to implement advantages of the present invention. In addition, the present invention is not limited to the shown embodiments, and generally measures other than those shown may also be adopted as long as these measures can also achieve the same effect.

List of Reference Numerals

[0046] 

1, 1'

Refrigerator

2

Cabinet

3, 3'

Door

4

Evaporator

5

Fan

6

Air channel assembly

6'

Air channel cover plate

8, 8'

Cold air blocking portion

20, 20'

Storage compartment

21

Box-shaped inner liner

22

Outer shell

23

Thermal insulating layer

24, 24'

Wall (Top wall)

26

Rear wall

31

Handle groove

32

Sealing gasket

61, 62

Cold air outlet

63

Inlet

71, 72

Drawer

74

Bottom wall

75

Peripheral wall

77

Handle portion

81

Fastening hole

201

Front opening

202

Cooling compartment

203

Storage area

751

Front wall

752

Sidewall

753

Through hole

AP, AP1

Cold air flow path

Claims

1. A refrigerator (1, 1'), comprising:

a cabinet (2) having a storage compartment (20, 20');

a door (3, 3') for closing the storage compartment (20, 20'); and

a cold air flow path (AP, AP1) located inside the storage compartment (20, 20') and disposed along a wall (24, 24') of the storage compartment (20, 20');

characterized in that the wall (24, 24') has a cold air air blocking portion (8, 8') located in front of the cold air flow path (AP, AP1) to block cold air from flowing towards the door (3,3').

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that a drawer (72) is located inside the storage compartment (20), and the cold air flow path (AP, AP1) is located between the wall (24) and the drawer (72).

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the wall (24) is a top wall of the storage compartment (20).

4. A refrigerator (1, 1'), comprising:

a cabinet (2) having a storage compartment (20, 20');

a door (3) for closing the storage compartment (20, 20');

a drawer (72) located inside the storage compartment (20), a gap (G) being provided in a vertical direction between a front wall (751) of the drawer (72) and a top wall (24) of the storage compartment (20); and

a cold air outlet (61) disposed cold air between the drawer (72) and the top wall (24) in the vertical direction;

characterized by comprising a cold air blocking portion (8) located between the cold air outlet (61) and the door (3), wherein the cold air blocking portion (8) at least partially covers the gap (G) in a front-rear direction.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, characterized in that the cold air blocking portion (8) is provided on the top wall (24).

6. The refrigerator according to claim 2, 4 or 5, characterized in that the cold air blocking portion (8) is close to the front wall (751) of the drawer (72).

7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, characterized in that the cold air blocking portion (8) is located behind the front wall (751).

8. The refrigerator according to claim 6, characterized in that the cold air blocking portion (8) extends horizontally along an upper end of the front wall (751) of the drawer (72).

9. The refrigerator according to claim 2, 4 or 5, characterized in that the cold air blocking portion (8) and the front wall (751) of the drawer (72) overlap in a front-rear direction.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 2, 4 or 5, characterized in that two ends of the cold air blocking portion (8) do not exceed a corresponding sidewall (752) of the drawer (72) in the horizontal direction.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 2, 4 or 5, characterized in that a plurality of through holes (753) are provided in the front wall (751) and/or a bottom wall (74) of the drawer (72), and cold air is blocked by the cold air blocking portion (8) to flow into the drawer, and flows out of the drawer (72) via the through holes (753).

12. The refrigerator according to claim 3 or 5, characterized in that the cold air blocking portion (8) is formed by an elongate protrusion bar protruding from the top wall (751).

13. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the cold air blocking portion (8) is a rod fabricated independently from the cabinet (2) and is fastened to the cabinet (2) through a fastening member.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized by comprising an air channel cover plate (6'), the cold air flow path (AP1) is located between the air channel cover plate (6') and the wall (24'), and the cold air blocking portion (8') is located in front of the air channel cover plate (6').

15. The refrigerator according to claim 14, characterized by comprising a drawer (72') located in the storage compartment (20'), and the cooled-air blocking portion (8') is located between the drawer (72') and the door (3') in a front-rear direction.

16. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the door (3) comprises a handle groove (31) located on a side portion of the door (3), and the cold air blocking portion (8) and the handle groove (31) overlap in a front-rear direction.

Drawing