Patent Publication Number: US-2023160624-A1

Title: Air-cooled refrigerator and air duct shielding device thereof

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to the field of freezing and refrigerating technologies, and in particular to, an air-cooled refrigerator and an air duct shielding device thereof. 
     BACKGROUND 
     An air-cooled refrigerator may keep food fresh, prolong a storage time of the food and improve food safety, and thus is a necessary household appliance. 
     A freshness keeping performance of the air-cooled refrigerator largely depends on air flow circulation in a storage chamber of the air-cooled refrigerator and a temperature difference among all parts in the refrigerator. The more reasonable the air flow circulation in the refrigerator is, and the smaller the temperature difference is, the better the freshness keeping performance of the refrigerator is. A key component for determining whether the air flow circulation in the refrigerator is reasonable is an air duct, and the air duct controls an air direction and a flow of the refrigerator and directly determines refrigerating and freshness-keeping effects of the refrigerator. 
       FIG.  1    is a schematic overall diagram of a traditional air duct shielding device;  FIG.  2    is a schematic exploded diagram of the air duct shielding device of  FIG.  1   . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2   , the traditional air duct shielding device  10  includes a driving base  1 , an air duct shielding disc  3 , a fan bearing  4 , a fan base  5  and a fan  6 , which are arranged in sequence; the driving base  1  is provided with a driving unit  2  which drives the air duct shielding disc  3  to rotate in a circumferential direction, such that a shielding sheet  31  on the air duct shielding disc  3  is rotated out of an accommodating space  52  of an escaping portion  51  on the fan base  5 , and an air outlet  53  on the fan base  5  is partially or completely closed; or, such that the shielding sheet  31  on the air duct shielding disc  3  is rotated into the accommodating space  52  of the escaping portion  51  on the fan base  5 , and the air outlet  53  on the fan base  5  is partially or completely opened. 
     In the air duct shielding device  10 , an area of the shielding sheet  31  of the air duct shielding disc  3  is consistent with an area of the air outlet  53  of the fan base  5 , and a ratio of an area of the air outlet  53  to a lateral area of the air duct shielding device  10  is unable to be higher than 50%, which limits an air supply capacity of the fan  6 . 
     SUMMARY 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a new air duct shielding device, which solves a problem that an air supply capacity of a fan is limited due to a small area proportion of an air outlet in a traditional air duct shielding device, and achieves effects of increasing an area of the air outlet, increasing an air supply quantity and improving a refrigerating capacity of a refrigerator. 
     In order to achieve one of the above-mentioned objects, an embodiment of the present invention provides an air duct shielding device suitable for an air-cooled refrigerator, the air duct shielding device including: a fan base having a plurality of air outlets; a first adjusting part having a rotary disc portion and a plurality of first shielding sheets arranged at intervals, the first adjusting part being configured to controllably rotate around an axis of the rotary disc portion; and a second adjusting part provided between the first adjusting part and the fan base, the second adjusting part having a plurality of second shielding sheets arranged at intervals; wherein when the first adjusting part rotates around the axis of the rotary disc portion, the second adjusting part is driven to rotate, such that the first shielding sheet and/or the second shielding sheet completely shield(s), partially shield(s) or completely expose(s) each air outlet, thereby adjusting an air outlet area of each of the plural air outlets. 
     As an optional technical solution, the fan base includes an escaping portion, the escaping portion has a receiving cavity, and when each air outlet is completely exposed, each first shielding sheet and each second shielding sheet are overlapped with each other and received in the receiving cavity. 
     As an optional technical solution, the escaping portion has a U-shaped bent structure protruding from an outer edge of a circular base plate of the fan base in a direction apart from the second adjusting part. 
     As an optional technical solution, a limiting groove is provided in the outer edge of the circular base plate of the fan base, and the limiting groove is configured as an inwards concave arc-shaped groove formed in the outer edge of the circular base plate. 
     As an optional technical solution, the limiting groove is located between two adjacent escaping portions. 
     As an optional technical solution, the second adjusting part includes a second annular disc, the second annular disc includes a third side surface and a fourth side surface which are opposite to each other, the third side surface is adjacent to the fan base, the third side surface is provided with a limiting block, and the limiting groove is fitted with the limiting block to limit a rotation angle of the second adjusting part. 
     As an optional technical solution, the first adjusting part includes a first annular disc, the second annular disc includes a first side surface and a second side surface which are opposite to each other, the first side surface is adjacent to the second adjusting part, and a sliding groove is provided in the first side surface; the third side surface is also provided with a sliding block; the sliding block is inserted into the sliding groove, and the sliding groove may slide along the sliding block and push the sliding block, such that the second adjusting part rotates by a certain angle, and then, the plural second shielding sheets shield the plural air outlets or expose the plural air outlets. 
     As an optional technical solution, the rotary disc portion is provided on the second side surface, and the rotary disc portion is a gear structure. 
     As an optional technical solution, the air duct shielding device further includes a driving base and a driving unit, the driving unit is provided on one side of the driving base, the driving unit is connected with a driving gear, the driving gear meshes with the rotary disc portion, and the driving gear drives the gear structure, such that the first adjusting part rotates by a certain angle, and then, the plurality of first shielding sheets shield the plurality of air outlets or expose the plurality of air outlets. 
     The present invention further provides an air-cooled refrigerator, in which the air duct shielding device as mentioned above is mounted. 
     Compared with a prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects. 
     Two or more shielding sheets move relatively to be overlapped or extended, so as to completely expose, partially shield or completely shield the air outlet, such that the proportion of the area of the air outlet on the fan base to a lateral area of the fan base is increased, and an area of the escaping portion (air duct blind region) of the fan base is reduced, thus effectively improving the air supply capacity of the fan, and improving the refrigerating capacity of the air-cooled refrigerator. 
     In addition, the first adjusting part and the second adjusting part are provided with the sliding groove and the sliding block which interact with each other, thus ensuring that the first shielding sheet and the second shielding sheet may relatively move to present positions; the limiting block of the second adjusting part and the limiting groove of the fan base interact with each other, thus avoiding that the second shielding sheet of the second adjusting part rotates excessively due to inertia after reaching the present position. 
     Thirdly, a number of rotations of a driving motor is controlled by a program, and then, the movement positions of the first adjusting part and the second adjusting part are controlled, so as to change a size of the air outlet and achieve a variable air supply function. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic overall diagram of a traditional air duct shielding device. 
         FIG.  2    is a schematic exploded diagram of the air duct shielding device of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    is a schematic diagram in which an air outlet of an air duct shielding device according to the present invention is opened completely. 
         FIG.  4    is a schematic exploded diagram of the air duct shielding device of  FIG.  3   . 
         FIG.  5    is a schematic diagram in which the air outlet of the air duct shielding device of  FIG.  3    is closed partially. 
         FIG.  6    is a schematic diagram in which the air outlet of the air duct shielding device of  FIG.  3    is closed completely. 
         FIG.  7    is a schematic diagram of a fan base of  FIG.  3   . 
         FIGS.  8 A and  8 B  are schematic diagrams of a first adjusting part of  FIG.  3    from different perspectives. 
         FIGS.  9 A and  9 B  are schematic diagrams of a second adjusting part of  FIG.  3    from different perspectives. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail in conjunction with specific embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, these embodiments have no limitations on the present invention, and any transformations of structure, method, or function made by persons skilled in the art according to these embodiments fall within the protection scope of the present invention. 
       FIG.  3    is a schematic diagram in which an air outlet of an air duct shielding device according to the present invention is opened completely;  FIG.  4    is a schematic exploded diagram of the air duct shielding device of  FIG.  3   . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  3  and  4   , the air duct shielding device  100  includes a driving base  101 , a first adjusting part  103 , a second adjusting part  104 , a fan base  106 , and a fan  107 , which are assembled in sequence; a driving unit  102  is provided on the driving base 101 ; the fan  107  is mounted in the fan base  106 , the fan base  106  and the fan  107  are connected by a bearing  105 , the bearing  105  is located in a center of the fan base  106 , and the fan blades of the fan  107  rotate around the bearing  105 . 
       FIG.  7    is a schematic diagram of a fan base of  FIG.  3   . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  4  and  7   , a circular base plate of the fan base  106  is provided with a plurality of escaping portions  1061  arranged at intervals, each escaping portion  1061  has a receiving cavity  1062 , and an air outlet  1064  of the fan base  106  is defined at a gap between any adjacent escaping portions  1061 . 
     In the present embodiment, the escaping portion  1061  has a U-shaped bent structure protruding upwards from an edge of the circular base plate of the fan base  106  (protruding in a direction apart from the second adjusting part), and an interior of the U-shaped bent structure corresponds to the receiving cavity  1062 . 
     A limiting groove  1063  is provided in an outer edge of the circular base plate of the fan base  106 , and the limiting groove  1063  is configured as, for example, an arc-shaped groove formed after the outer edge of the circular base plate is recessed. The limiting groove  1063  is located between any two adjacent escaping portions  1061 . In a preferred embodiment, the limiting groove  1063  may be located in a middle of a portion between two adjacent escaping portions  1061 . 
     In addition, the fan base  106  is further provided with an accommodating portion  1065 , and the accommodating portion  1065  is configured to accommodate the driving unit  102  provided at an edge of the driving base  101 . 
       FIGS.  8 A and  8 B  are schematic diagrams of the first adjusting part of  FIG.  3    from different perspectives. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  4 ,  8 A and  8 B , the first adjusting part  103  has a rotary disc portion  1032  and a plurality of first shielding sheets  1031  arranged at intervals, and the first adjusting part  103  is configured to controllably rotate around an axis of the rotary disc portion  1032 . The plural first shielding sheets  1031  arranged at intervals and the rotary disc portion  1032  are located on two opposite sides of the first adjusting part  103  respectively. 
     Specifically, the first adjusting part  103  includes a first annular disc and the plurality of first shielding sheets  1031  arranged at intervals and protruding from an outer edge of the first annular disc, and a first gap  1034  is formed between any adjacent first shielding sheets  1031 . When the air outlet  1064  of the air duct shielding device  100  is fully opened, the first gap  1034  coincides with the air outlet  1064 . The first shielding sheet  1031  is configured as an arc-shaped sheet extending along an arc of the first annular disc. The first shielding sheet  1031  extends towards the second adjusting part  104 . 
     The first annular disc includes a first side surface  1035  and a second side surfaces  1036  which are opposite to each other, the first side surface  1035  is adjacent to the second adjusting part  104 , and the second side surface  1036  is adjacent to the driving base  101 ; the second side surface  1036  has the rotary disc portion  1032 , and the rotary disc portion  1032  has a gear structure formed on the second side surface  1036 , for example. When the first adjusting part  103  and the driving base  101  are assembled, the gear structure meshes with a driving gear  1021  on the driving base  101 , the driving gear  1021  is connected with the driving unit  102 , and for example, the driving unit  102  is configured as a driving motor  102 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  8 A , the first side surface  1035  is further provided with a sliding groove  1033 , and the sliding groove  1033  is fitted with a sliding block  1042  (shown in  FIG.  9 B ) of the second adjusting part  104 . When the driving gear  1021  rotates, the rotary disc portion  1032  meshing with the driving gear  1021  rotates, the rotary disc portion  1032  drives the first adjusting part  103  to rotate, and then, an end portion of the sliding groove  1033  on the first adjusting part  103  pushes the sliding block  1042  embedded in the sliding groove  1033 , such that the second adjusting part  104  rotates with the rotation of the first adjusting part  103 . 
     Furthermore, an axis of the rotary disc portion  1032  coincides with a circle center of the first annular disc. 
       FIGS.  9 A and  9 B  are schematic diagrams of the second adjusting part of  FIG.  3    from different perspectives. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  4 ,  9 A and  9 B , the second adjusting part  104  is interposed between the first adjusting part  103  and the fan base  106 . 
     Specifically, the second adjusting part  104  includes a second annular disc and a plurality of second shielding sheets  1041  arranged at intervals and protruding from an outer edge of the second annular disc, and a second gap  1044  is formed between any adjacent second shielding sheets  1041 . When the air outlet  1064  of the air duct shielding device  100  is fully opened, the second gap  1044  coincides with the air outlet  1064  and the first gap  1034 . The second shielding sheet  1041  is configured as an arc-shaped sheet extending along an arc of the second annular disc. The second shielding sheet  1041  extends towards the fan base  106 . 
     As may be seen from  FIG.  3   , when the air outlet  1064  of the air duct shielding device  100  is fully opened, each second shielding sheet  1041  and each first shielding sheet  1031  are located in the receiving cavity  1062  of the escaping portion  1061 , and the first shielding sheet  1031  and the second shielding sheet  1041  in each receiving cavity  1062  are overlapped completely. Preferably, the second shielding sheet  1041  is located inside the first shielding sheet  1031 ; that is, the second shielding sheet  1041  is closer to the circle center of the fan base  106 . 
     In other embodiments of the present invention, the first shielding sheet and the second shielding sheet in each receiving cavity may also be partially overlapped, but an end portion of the first shielding sheet and an end portion of the second shielding sheet are required not to extend out of openings for the shielding sheets to rotate in or out in both sides of the escaping portion. 
     The second annular disc includes a third side surface  1045  and a fourth side surface  1046  which are opposite to each other, the third side surface  1045  is adjacent to the fan base  106 , and the fourth side surface  1046  is adjacent to the first side surface  1035  of the first adjusting part  103 . The third side surface  1045  includes a limiting block  1043 ; the sliding block  1042  is provided on the fourth side surface  1046 ; the limiting block  1043  is fitted with the limiting groove  1063  in the fan base  106 ; the sliding block  1042  is fitted with the sliding groove  1033  in the first adjusting part  103 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, the sliding block  1042  is inserted into the sliding groove  1033 , and a length of the sliding groove  1033  is greater than a length of the sliding block  1042 . After the sliding groove  1033  slides by a certain distance relative to the sliding block  1042 , a groove wall at one end of the sliding groove  1033  may contact and push the sliding block  1042 , such that the sliding block  1042  rotates with the sliding groove  1033 , and each first shielding sheet  1031  of the first adjusting part  103  and each second shielding sheet  1041  of the second adjusting part  104  may sequentially extend from the opening in one side of the receiving cavity  1062  of the escaping portion  1061  of the fan base  106 , so as to completely or partially shield the plurality of air outlets  1064  in the fan base  106 . 
       FIG.  5    is a schematic diagram in which the air outlet of the air duct shielding device of  FIG.  3    is closed partially;  FIG.  6    is a schematic diagram in which the air outlet of the air duct shielding device of  FIG.  3    is closed completely. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  3 ,  4 ,  5  and  6   , the driving gear  1021  rotates to drive the rotary disc portion  1032  on the second side surface  1036  of the first adjusting part  103  to rotate, the sliding groove  1033  on the first side surface  1035  of the first adjusting part  103  rotates along the sliding block  1042  on the fourth side surface  1046  of the second adjusting part  104 , and at this point, each first shielding sheet  1031  extends from the corresponding receiving cavity  1062  to shield part of the air outlet  1064 . 
     When the first adjusting part  103  rotates by an angle, one end of the sliding groove  1033  contacts and pushes the sliding block  1042 ; when the first adjusting part  103  is driven to rotate continuously, the second adjusting part  104  rotates with the rotation of the first adjusting part  103 , and each second shielding sheet  1041  on the second adjusting part  104  extends from the receiving cavity  1062  of each escaping portion  1061  of the fan base  106 , so as to partially or completely shield each air outlet  1064  on the fan base  106 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  6   , when the first shielding sheet  1031  and the second shielding sheet  1041  cooperate to completely shield the air outlet  1064  on the fan base  106 , the limiting block  1043  on the third side surface  1045  of the second adjusting part  104  is stopped by the limiting groove  1063  on the fan base  106 , so as to effectively avoid that the second adjusting part  104  rotates excessively due to inertia, resulting in air leakage caused by an incomplete shielding phenomenon of the air outlet  1064 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  6   , when the air outlet  1064  is completely shielded, a rear end of the first shielding sheet  1031  is overlapped with a rear end of the second shielding sheet  1041 , so as to prevent the air leakage caused by the incomplete shielding phenomenon of the air outlet  1064 . In the present invention, an end of the first shielding sheet  1031  first extending out of the receiving cavity  1062  when the first adjusting part  103  rotates serves as a front end, and a later extending end serves as a rear end; an end of the second shielding sheet  1041  first extending out of the receiving cavity  1062  when the second adjusting part  104  rotates serves as a front end, and a later extending end serves as a rear end; but the present invention is not limited thereto. 
     As shown in  FIG.  3   , when the air outlet  1064  is required to be opened, the driving unit  102  rotates the driving gear  1021  in a reverse direction, such that the first adjusting part  103  rotates in a reverse direction, the sliding groove  1033  slides in a reverse direction along the sliding block  1042 , the first shielding sheet  1031  slides towards the outside of the second shielding sheet  1041 , and the air outlet  1046  is opened partially. When a groove wall at an opposite end of the sliding groove  1033  contacts and pushes the sliding groove  1042 , the first adjusting part  103  continuously rotates in the reverse direction, and then, the second adjusting part  104  rotates in the reverse direction with the first adjusting part  103 , and the first shielding sheet  1031  and the second shielding sheet  1041  move together towards the receiving cavity  1062  of the escaping portion  1061  of the fan base  106 . When the first shielding sheet  1031  and the second shielding sheet  1041  are overlapped with each other and stopped in the receiving cavity  1062 , the air outlet  1046  is opened completely. 
     Similarly, the limiting block  1043  on the third side surface  1045  of the second adjusting part  104  abuts against the other end of the limiting groove  1063  on the fan base  106 , so as to avoid that the second adjusting part  104  rotates excessively due to inertia, and the second shielding sheet  1041  rotates out of the opening on the other side of the receiving cavity  1062  to shield the air outlet, thereby affecting an air supply quantity. 
     In other words, the limiting block  1043  slides in the limiting groove  1063  and is stopped by the limiting groove  1063 , which may mean that the limiting groove  1063  is configured to limit a rotation angle of the second adjusting part  104 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  5   , in the air duct shielding device  100 , the driving unit  102  (for example, a driving motor) on the driving base  101  may also be controlled to perform a certain number of rotations by a set program of a computer control board in the air-cooled refrigerator, and the driving gear  1021  drives the rotary disc portion  1032 , such that the first adjusting part  103  rotates to a present position, and the first shielding sheet  1031  extends out of the receiving cavity  1062 ; meanwhile, the first adjusting part  103  acts on the sliding block  1042  of the second adjusting part  104  through the sliding groove  1033 , so as to drive the second shielding sheet of the second adjusting part  104  to rotate to a present position, such that the air outlet  1064  is opened partially to achieve a variable air supply function of the fan  107 . 
     In the present invention, in the air duct shielding device  100 , the first shielding sheet  1031  and the second shielding sheet  1041  on the first adjusting part  103  and the second adjusting part  104  cooperate to completely open, partially shield or completely shield the air outlet  1064  on the fan base  106 . 
     Compared with a traditional structure that a single shielding sheet is provided at the air outlet, in the present invention, the structure that two shielding sheets (the first shielding sheet  1031  and the second shielding sheet  1041 ) may be overlapped and extended is adopted, such that the proportion of the area of the plurality of air outlets  1064  to the lateral area of the fan base  106  is increased to 66.7%, and the area of the escaping portion  106  (air duct blind region) of the fan base is reduced, thus effectively improving an air supply capacity of the fan, and improving a refrigerating capacity of the air-cooled refrigerator. 
     In addition, after the first shielding sheet  1031  and the second shielding sheet  1041  are extended, the air outlet is shielded, and the fan  107  stops air supply; after overlapped, the first shielding sheet  1031  and the second shielding sheet  1041  are received in the escaping portion  106  (air duct blind region) of the fan base  106 , and the fan  107  starts to supply air; under a condition that a volume and a rotating speed of the fan are not changed, the air supply quantity is increased, and a refrigeration effect of the air-cooled refrigerator is improved. 
     Certainly, in other embodiments of the present invention, by continuously adding a plurality of adjusting parts, three or more shielding sheets move relatively to completely shield, partially shield or completely expose the air outlet on the fan base, so as to further reduce the area of the escaping portion (air duct blind region) on the fan base, further increase the area proportion of the air outlet, increase the air supply quantity of the fan, and improve the refrigeration effect of the air-cooled refrigerator. 
     The present invention further provides an air-cooled refrigerator, in which the above-mentioned air duct shielding device  100  is mounted. 
     In summary, the air duct shielding device and the air-cooled refrigerator having the same according to the present invention have the following beneficial effects. 
     Two or more shielding sheets move relatively to be overlapped or extended, so as to completely expose, partially shield or completely shield the air outlet, such that the proportion of the area of the air outlet on the fan base to a lateral area of the fan base is increased, and an area of the escaping portion (air duct blind region) of the fan base is reduced, thus effectively improving the air supply capacity of the fan, and improving the refrigerating capacity of the air-cooled refrigerator. 
     In addition, the first adjusting part and the second adjusting part are provided with the sliding groove and the sliding block which interact with each other, thus ensuring that the first shielding sheet and the second shielding sheet may relatively move to present positions; the limiting block of the second adjusting part and the limiting groove of the fan base interact with each other, thus avoiding that the second shielding sheet of the second adjusting part rotates excessively due to inertia after reaching the present position. 
     Thirdly, a number of rotations of a driving motor is controlled by a program, and then, the movement positions of the first adjusting part and the second adjusting part are controlled, so as to change a size of the air outlet and achieve a variable air supply function. 
     It should be understood that although the present specification is described based on embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. Such a narration way of the present specification is only for the sake of clarity. Those skilled in the art should take the present specification as an entirety. The technical solutions in the respective embodiments may be combined properly to form other embodiments which may be understood by those skilled in the art. 
     A series of the detailed descriptions set forth above is merely specific description of feasible embodiments of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the protection scope of the present invention. Equivalent embodiments or modifications made within the spirit of the present invention shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.