Refrigerator

Abstract

It is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator which is able to improve the efficiency of the refrigerating cycle while avoiding causing the structure of the refrigerator to be complicated, and avoiding a cost increase. Refrigerator 30 includes a refrigerating cycle device 20 having a compressor 1 , a radiator 2 connected to a discharge side of the compressor 1 , a first expansion valve 31 connected to an exit side of the radiator 2 , a gas-liquid separator 33 for separating a refrigerant, which is in a mixed gas-liquid state by being decompressed by the first expansion valve 31 , into a gas refrigerant and a liquid refrigerant, a heat absorber 14 into which the liquid refrigerant discharged from the gas-liquid separator 33 flows, and a refrigerant pipe 6 D for delivering the gas refrigerant discharged from the gas-liquid separator 33 into the middle pressure portion of the compressor 1 ; an outer case 40 ; an inner case 39 ; and a heat insulating material. The gas-liquid separator 33 is arranged in the heat insulating material 47.

1 . A refrigerator, comprising; 
 a refrigerating cycle device including 
 a compressor having a middle pressure portion,  
 a radiator connected to a discharge side of the compressor,  
 first decompression means connected to an exit side of the radiator,  
 gas-liquid separation means for separating a refrigerant, which is in a mixed gas-liquid state by being decompressed by the first decompression means, into a gas refrigerant and a liquid refrigerant,  
 second decompression means into which the liquid refrigerant discharged from the gas-liquid separation means flows,  
 a heat absorber into which the refrigerant discharged from the second decompression means flows, and  
 a refrigerant pipe for delivering the gas refrigerant discharged from the gas-liquid separation means to the middle pressure portion;  
   an outer case;    an inner case; and    a heat insulating material for filling a gap between the outer case and the inner case;    wherein the gas-liquid separation means is arranged in the heat insulating material.    
   
   
       2 . A refrigerator, comprising; 
 a refrigerating cycle device, including 
 a compressor having a middle pressure portion,  
 a radiator connected to a discharge side of the compressor,  
 first decompression means connected to an exit side of the radiator,  
 gas-liquid separation means for separating a refrigerant, which is in a mixed gas-liquid state by being decompressed by the first decompression means, into a gas refrigerant and a liquid refrigerant,  
 second decompression means into which the liquid refrigerant discharged from the gas-liquid separation means flows,  
 a heat absorber into which the refrigerant discharged from the second decompression means flows, and  
 a refrigerant pipe for delivering the gas refrigerant discharged from the gas-liquid separation means to the middle pressure portion;  
   an outer case;    an inner case; and    a storage box filled with a heat insulating material;    wherein the gas-liquid separation means is housed in the storage box.    
   
   
       3 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1  or  2 , further comprising a refrigerating compartment, and a freezing compartment in which the temperature is maintained lower than the temperature of the refrigerating compartment, and wherein the gas-liquid separation means is placed closer to the refrigerating compartment than to the freezing compartment.  
   
   
       4 . The refrigerator according to any one of  claims 1  to  3 , further comprising a heat exchanger arranged to be capable of conducting heat exchange between the refrigerant which is between the discharge side of the compressor and the first decompression means, and the refrigerant which is between an exit side of the heat absorber and a suction port of the compressor.  
   
   
       5 . The refrigerator according to any one of  claims 1  to  4 , further comprising: 
 a first heat exchanger arranged to be capable of conducting heat exchange between the liquid refrigerant which is separated by the gas-liquid separation means before entering the second decompression means, and the refrigerant which is between the exit side of the heat absorber and the suction port of the compressor, and/or    a second heat exchanger which is capable of conducting heat exchange between the refrigerant which is between the discharge side of the compressor and the first decompression means, and the gas refrigerant which is separated by the gas-liquid separation means before being delivered into the middle pressure portion of the compressor.    
   
   
       6 . A refrigerator, comprising: 
 a refrigerating cycle device including 
 a compressor,  
 a radiator connected to a discharge side of the compressor,  
 decompression means connected to an exit side of the radiator, and  
 a heat absorber into which the liquid refrigerant discharged from the decompression means flows, and which is filled with a carbon dioxide refrigerant;  
   an outer case;    an inner case; and    a heat insulating material for filling a gap between the outer case and the inner case; 
 wherein a high pressure refrigerant pipe extending from the radiator is embedded in the heat insulating material.  
   
   
   
       7 . The refrigerator according to  claim 6 , wherein: a second heat insulating material which has lower thermal conductivity than the heat insulating material is provided in the heat insulating material arranged in a back of the refrigerator; and 
 the high pressure refrigerant pipe is placed outside a side edge of the second heat insulating material.