Vibration isolation apparatus for wine refrigerator

Disclosed is a vibration isolation apparatus for a wine refrigerator including a main body having a storage chamber and a mounting space, a base plate disposed at the mounting space of the main body with a predetermined interval from the main body, for forming the mechanical chamber with the mounting space, a compressor being installed on the top surface of the base plate, and an interval maintaining elastic support means coupled between the main body and the base plate, for maintaining a predetermined interval between the main body and the base plate, and elastically supporting the base plate. The vibration isolation apparatus for the wine refrigerator can store wines without deteriorating the special taste of the wines, by preventing the wine bottles stored in the wine refrigerator from being shaken in the operation of the wine refrigerator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a wine refrigerator, and more particularly to, a vibration isolation apparatus for a wine refrigerator which can prevent wine bottles stored in the wine refrigerator from being shaken in the operation of the wine refrigerator.

2. Description of the Background Art

In general, a refrigeration cycle system is mounted inside a refrigerator. An evaporator composing the refrigeration cycle system generates cool air. The cool air is circulated inside the refrigerator, for cooling the refrigerator.

Refrigerators can be classified into various shapes according to structural properties. Also, various types of refrigerators have been developed according to kinds of stored foods.

Recently, a cosmetics refrigerator and a wine refrigerator for storing cosmetics and wines in an optimum state have been developed.

Similarly to the general refrigerator, the wine refrigerator includes a main body having a storage chamber for storing wines, and a door mounted on one side of the main body, for opening or closing the storage chamber.

A refrigeration cycle system is formed in the main body. A compressor and a condenser of the refrigeration cycle system that generate vibration noise and heat are mounted on a mechanical chamber disposed at the lower portion of the main body.

FIG. 1is a perspective view illustrating disassembly of the mechanical chamber of the conventional wine refrigerator, andFIG. 2is a front-sectional view illustrating the mechanical chamber of the conventional wine refrigerator.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, in the mechanical chamber, a predetermined size of mounting space R is formed at a bottom rear portion of a main body100, a predetermined area of bottom plate110is fastened to the bottom surface of the main body100by using a plurality of screws, and a cover200for covering the rear portion of the mounting space R is coupled to the bottom rear surface of the main body100by using a plurality of screws210. The bottom plate110covers the bottom surface of the mounting space R of the main body100.

A compressor300is installed on the bottom plate110to be positioned inside the mechanical chamber, a control box400is mounted on the sidewall of the mechanical chamber, and a defrosted waterspout500is installed on the inside top surface of the mechanical chamber to be positioned over the compressor300. Water generated by frost molten in an evaporator (not shown) is collected in the defrosted waterspout500and evaporated.

The compressor300includes an airtight vessel310, and a plurality of mounting plates320coupled to the bottom surface of the airtight vessel310. A suction pipe330and a discharge pipe340for sucking and discharging refrigerants are connected respectively to the airtight vessel310. The suction pipe330is connected to the evaporator, and the discharge pipe340is connected to a condenser (not shown) composing the refrigeration cycle system.

The structure of installing the compressor300on the bottom plate110will now be explained.

Through holes321are formed on the mounting plates320of the compressor300, and through holes111corresponding to the through holes321of the mounting plates320are formed on the bottom plate110. Cylindrical rubber vibration isolators360having a predetermined length are positioned between the bottom plate110and the mounting plates320. Fixing bolts370are inserted into the through holes111of the bottom plate110, the rubber vibration isolators360and the through holes321of the mounting plates320, and nuts380are fastened to the fixing bolts370. Accordingly, the mounting plates320and the rubber vibration isolators360are fixedly coupled to the bottom plate110.

Two front legs120for supporting the main body100are coupled to the front edges of the bottom plate110mounted on the bottom surface of the main body100, and two rear legs130for supporting the main body100are coupled to the rear portion of the bottom plate110at predetermined intervals. The front legs120can control height, and the rear legs130that are rollers can easily transport the refrigerator. The front legs120and the rear legs130contact the bottom surface on which the refrigerator is put, for supporting the refrigerator.

Reference numerals350and220denote a dryer and air vent holes, respectively.

In the operation of the refrigerator, when the compressor300sucks, compresses and discharges refrigerants, vibration noise and heat are generated. The heat generated by the compressor300is emitted through the air vent holes220of the cover200. The vibration generated by the compressor300is slightly absorbed by the rubber vibration isolators360. However, since the rubber vibration isolators360are disposed to directly contact the mounting plates320of the compressor300and the bottom plate110, the vibration is transmitted to the bottom plate110through the rubber vibration isolators360. Because the bottom plate110is coupled to the main body100through the plurality of screws, the vibration transmitted to the bottom plate110is directly transmitted to the main body100. As a result, the bottom plate110and the main body100are vibrated, to cause vibration noise.

In general, wines are ripen in wine bottles. To preserve the special taste of the wines, the wines must be carefully handled and stored. Especially, temperature, sunlight, humidity, vibration and horizontality must be taken into consideration to handle and store wine bottles.

In the development procedure of the wine refrigerator, it is quite easy to control sunlight, humidity and horizontality but difficult to maintain an optimum temperature of the wine bottles and intercept vibration. Thus, researches have still been made on it.

In the case of the wine refrigerator described above, since the vibration generated by the mechanical chamber is transmitted to the main body100, the wine bottles stored in the storage chamber of the main body100are more or less shaken. Accordingly, the special taste of the wines is deteriorated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vibration isolation apparatus for a wine refrigerator which can prevent wine bottles stored in the wine refrigerator from being shaken in the operation of the wine refrigerator.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a vibration isolation apparatus for a wine refrigerator, including: a main body having a storage chamber and a mounting space; a base plate disposed at the lower portion of the mounting space of the main body with a predetermined interval from the main body, for forming the mechanical chamber with the mounting space, a compressor being installed on the top surface of the base plate; and an interval maintaining elastic support means coupled between the main body and the base plate, for maintaining a predetermined interval between the main body and the base plate, and elastically supporting the base plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 3is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lower portion of a wine refrigerator including a vibration isolation apparatus in accordance with the present invention. In the following description, same drawing reference numerals are used for the same elements even in different drawings.

As illustrated inFIG. 3, the vibration isolation apparatus for the wine refrigerator includes a main body100having a storage chamber (not shown) and a mounting space R, a base plate600disposed at the lower portion of the mounting space R of the main body100with a predetermined interval from the main body100, for forming the mechanical chamber with the mounting space R, a compressor300being installed on the top surface of the base plate300, and an interval maintaining elastic support means coupled between the main body100and the base plate600, for maintaining a predetermined interval between the main body100and the base plate600, and elastically supporting the base plate600.

The mounting space R of the main body100is formed in a predetermined size at the bottom rear portion of the main body100.

The base plate600is formed in a plate shape having a predetermined thickness. The shape of the base plate600is equivalent to the shape of the bottom section of the mounting space R of the main body100, and the size of the base plate600is smaller than that of the bottom section of the mounting space R. A plurality of through holes601are formed on both side ends of the base plate600.

The compressor300is mounted on the top surface of the base plate600. Elastic vibration isolation means for preventing vibration transmission by spring elasticity S are formed between the compressor300and the base plate600.

The base plate600is installed at the lower portion of the mounting space R of the main body100to be positioned on the bottom surface line of the main body100. Each side of the base plate600maintains a predetermined interval from the inner walls of the mounting space R.

The interval maintaining elastic support means includes fixing plates610coupled respectively to both side inner walls of the mounting space R of the main body100to be positioned at both end upper portions of the base plate600, first axial direction support members620movably inserted into the fixing plates610and the base plate600and supported by the fixing plates610, and springs S1disposed between the first axial direction support members620and the base plate600, for elastically supporting the base plate600.

Here, the fixing plates610are formed in a rectangular shape having a predetermined width and length. A plurality of through holes611are formed on the fixing plates610. The fixing plates610are coupled to both sidewalls of the mounting space R of the main body100. The length directions of the fixing plates610are positioned in the front/rear direction of the main body100. The fixing plates610are coupled to the sidewalls of the main body100in the vertical direction. The fixing plates610are positioned at a predetermined height from the bottom surface of the main body100.

The fixing plates610can be extended and protruded from the inner walls of the mounting space R of the main body100and incorporated with the main body100.

In addition, the fixing plates610can be coupled to both sidewalls of the main body100in twos, respectively. One through hole611is formed on each of the fixing plates610.

Each of the first axial direction support members620includes an axial unit621having a predetermined length, a hooking head unit622extended from one side end of the axial unit621with a predetermined area, and a support nut unit623coupled to the other side of the axial unit621.

In a state where the base plate600is positioned between the fixing plates610with a predetermined interval, the first axial direction support members620are inserted into the through holes601of the base plate600and the through holes611of the fixing plates610. The hooking head units622are supported by the top surfaces of the fixing plates610.

The springs S1are inserted onto the axial units621, and the support nut units623are coupled to the axial units621, for supporting the springs S1. The springs S1are compression springs. One sides of the springs S1contact the bottom surface of the base plate600, and the other sides of the springs S1are supported by the top surfaces of the support nut units623. On the other hand, washers624are preferably coupled between the support nut units623and the springs S1, for supporting the springs S1.

The base plate600is guided by the first axial direction support members620, and elastically supported by the springs S1at the same time. The springs S1slightly sag due to the load of the base plate600.

In the interval maintaining elastic support means, when vibration occurs on the base plate600, the base plate600is elastically supported by the springs S1and vibrated. Therefore, the vibration generated on the base plate600is absorbed by the springs S1, and thus not transmitted to the main body100.

FIG. 4is a cross-sectional view illustrating another example of the interval maintaining elastic support means. As depicted inFIG. 4, the interval maintaining elastic support means includes fixing plates610coupled respectively to both side inner walls of the mounting space R of the main body100to be positioned at both end lower portions of the base plate600, second axial direction support members630movably inserted into the fixing plates610and the base plate600and supported by the base plate600, and springs S2disposed between the base plate600and the fixing plates610, for elastically supporting the base plate600.

Here, the fixing plates610are formed in a rectangular shape having a predetermined width and length. A plurality of through holes611are formed on the fixing plates610. The fixing plates610are coupled to both sidewalls of the mounting space R of the main body100. The length directions of the fixing plates610are positioned in the front/rear direction of the main body100. The fixing plates610are coupled to the sidewalls of the main body100in the vertical direction. The bottom surfaces of the fixing plates610are positioned on the same plane surface with the bottom surface of the main body100.

Both side ends of the base plate600are partially curved so that the base plate600can be positioned over the fixing plates610. The curved parts of the base plate600are positioned over the fixing plates610with a predetermined interval from the fixing plates610.

The fixing plates610can be extended and protruded from the inner walls of the mounting space R of the main body100and incorporated with the main body100.

In addition, the fixing plates610can be coupled to both sidewalls of the main body100in twos, respectively. One through hole611is formed on each of the fixing plates610.

Each of the second axial direction support members630includes an axial unit631having a predetermined length, a hooking head unit632extended from one side end of the axial unit631with a predetermined area, and a support nut unit633coupled to the other side of the axial unit631.

In a state where the base plate600is positioned between the fixing plates610with a predetermined interval, the second axial direction support members630are inserted into the through holes601of the base plate600and the through holes611of the fixing plates610. The hooking head units632are supported by the top surfaces of the fixing plates610.

When the springs S2are inserted onto the axial units631, the springs S2are positioned between the base plate600and the fixing plates610. The springs S2are compression springs. One sides of the springs S2contact the bottom surface of the base plate600, and the other sides of the springs S2are supported by the top surfaces of the fixing plates610.

Preferably, rubber vibration isolators640for absorbing vibration are coupled between the base plate600and the second axial direction support members630, and rubber vibration isolators640for absorbing vibration are coupled between the fixing plates610and the second axial direction support members630.

Each of the rubber vibration isolators640includes a cylindrical unit641having a predetermined length, and flange units642extended from both ends of the cylindrical unit641in the horizontal direction.

One side rubber vibration isolators640are disposed between the inner circumferences of the through holes601of the base plate600and the outer circumferences of the axial units631of the second axial direction support members630. The springs S2and the hooking head units632are supported by both side flange units642of the rubber vibration isolators640.

The other side rubber vibration isolators640are disposed between the inner circumferences of the through holes611of the fixing plates610and the outer circumferences of the axial units631of the second axial direction support members630. The springs S2are supported by one side flange units642of the rubber vibration isolators640.

In the interval maintaining elastic support means, when vibration occurs on the base plate600, the base plate600is elastically supported by the springs S2and vibrated. Therefore, the vibration generated on the base plate600is absorbed by the springs S2, and thus not transmitted to the main body100.

Especially, the rubber vibration isolators640are coupled between the second axial direction support members630and the base plate600and between the second axial direction support members630and the fixing plates610, thereby efficiently absorbing vibration.

FIG. 5is a cross-sectional view illustrating yet another example of the interval maintaining elastic support means. As shown inFIG. 5, the interval maintaining elastic support means includes a plurality of springs S3for connecting the main body100and the base plate600. The springs S3are tension springs.

A plurality of hooked units140are formed on both side inner walls of the mounting space R of the main body100, and a plurality of hooked units602are formed at both side ends of the base plate600. The hooked units140of the main body100and the hooked units602of the base plate600are formed in the same number.

The tension springs S3are coupled to the hooked units140of the main body100and the hooked units602of the base plate600. That is, one sides of the tension springs S3are hooked on the hooked units140of the main body100, and the other sides thereof are hooked on the hooked units602of the base plate600. The base plate600is hung in the mounting space R of the main body100by the tension springs S3.

Preferably, the hooked units140of the main body100, the hooked units602of the base plate600, and the tension springs S3are formed in fours.

In the interval maintaining elastic support means, when vibration occurs on the base plate600, the base plate600is elastically supported by the springs S3and vibrated. Therefore, the vibration generated on the base plate600is absorbed by the springs S3, and thus not transmitted to the main body100.

On the other hand, the elastic vibration isolation means are disposed in four parts between the compressor300and the base plate600. As illustrated inFIG. 6, the elastic vibration isolation means include third axial direction support members650inserted into the mounting plates320of the compressor300and the base plate600, springs S4inserted onto the third axial direction support members650to be positioned between the mounting plates320and the base plate600, and rubber gaskets660disposed between the mounting plates320and the springs S4and between the base plate600and the springs S4, for supporting the springs S4in the axial direction.

Four mounting plates320are coupled to the bottom surface of the airtight vessel310of the compressor300, and through holes321are formed on the mounting plates320, respectively. Through holes603are formed on the base plate600facing the through holes321of the mounting plates320.

Each of the third axial direction support members650includes an axial unit651having a predetermined length, a hooking head unit652extended from one side end of the axial unit651with a predetermined area, and a support nut unit653coupled to the other side of the axial unit651.

The axial units651of the third axial direction support members650are inserted into the through holes603of the base plate600and the through holes321of the mounting plates320, and the hooking head units652thereof are supported by the bottom surface of the base plate600. The springs S4are compression springs. When the springs S4are inserted onto the axial units651, the springs S4are positioned between the top surface of the base plate600and the bottom surfaces of the mounting plates320.

Through holes are formed in the rubber gaskets660, respectively. In a state where the rubber gaskets660are inserted onto the axial units651, the rubber gaskets660are positioned between the springs S4and the mounting plates320and between the springs S4and the base plate600.

Preferably, the rubber gaskets660are coupled between the support nut units653and the mounting plates320, and washers654are inserted between the support nut units653and the rubber gaskets660.

In the elastic vibration isolation means, when the compressor300compresses refrigerant, if vibration occurs, the mounting plates320of the compressor300are elastically supported by the rubber gaskets660and the springs S4and vibrated. Therefore, the vibration generated by the compressor300is absorbed by the springs S4, and thus rarely transmitted to the base plate600.

A defrosted waterspout500is installed on the inside top surface of the mounting space R of the main body100to be positioned over the compressor300, and a control box400is mounted on the sidewall of the mounting space R of the main body100.

A cover (not shown) is coupled to the rear surface of the main body100, for covering the mounting space R.

Front legs120and rear legs (not shown) are mounted on the front and rear edges of the bottom surface of the main body100. The rear legs can be mounted on the base plate100. The front legs120and the rear legs contact the bottom surface of the indoor space, for supporting the main body100.

Reference numerals310,330,340and350denote an airtight vessel, a suction pipe, a discharge pipe and a dryer, respectively.

The operational effects of the vibration isolation apparatus for the wine refrigerator in accordance with the present invention will now be described.

First, in a state where wine bottles are stored in the storage chamber of the wine refrigerator, the wine refrigerator is operated. As the wine refrigerator is operated, the evaporator of the refrigeration cycle system generates cool air. The storage chamber maintains an optimum temperature by the cool air. While the compressor300installed in the mechanical chamber sucks, compresses and discharges the refrigerants, vibration is generated.

The vibration generated by the compressor300is transmitted to the base plate600composing the bottom surface of the mechanical chamber. The vibration transmitted to the base plate600is absorbed by the interval maintaining elastic support means, and thus rarely transmitted to the main body100.

In the case that the elastic vibration isolation means are disposed between the compressor300and the base plate600, the vibration generated by the compressor300is absorbed by the elastic vibration isolation means and then transmitted to the base plate600. Accordingly, the vibration generated by the compressor300is rarely transmitted to the main body100.

On the other hand, when a blast fan for cooling the compressor300is installed in the mechanical chamber, if the blast fan is installed on the base plate600, the vibration generated by the blast fan is not transmitted to the main body100.

As discussed earlier, in accordance with the present invention, the vibration isolation apparatus for the wine refrigerator prevents the wine bottles stored in the storage chamber of the main body from being shaken, by preventing the vibration generated by the compressor mounted on the mechanical chamber from being transmitted to the main body in the operation of the wine refrigerator. As a result, the vibration isolation apparatus for the wine refrigerator can store wines without deteriorating the special taste of the wines.