Shielding device and refrigerator comprising same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10228180-B2
Application number	US-201615015805-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 4, 2016
Priority date	Sep 24, 2013
Publication date	Mar 12, 2019
Grant date	Mar 12, 2019

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a shielding device for closing a path through which air circulates in a refrigerator and a refrigerator having shielding device. The shielding device includes a forced draft fan cover having a threaded hole formed with a threaded slot; and a drive shaft formed with a thread being screwed with the threaded slot and extended to pass through the threaded hole, where an air duct that allows the air flows from the inside of the forced draft fan cover to the outside is provided between the drive shaft and the forced draft fan cover.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A shielding device, used for dosing a path through which air circulates in a refrigerator, comprising:
a forced draft fan cover having a quadrilateral primary surface portion and four side surface portions longitudinally extending from a periphery of the quadrilateral primary surface portion, a threaded hole formed by penetrating a vicinity of a center of the quadrilateral primary surface portion, a thick portion being an annular thickened part formed with a peripheral part of the threaded hole, a threaded slot formed by recessing a side surface of the quadrilateral primary surface portion facing the threaded hole into a helical shape, and an interrupt portion formed by partially removing the thick portion at an end of the threaded slot; and
a drive shaft formed with a thread being screwed with the threaded slot and extended to pass through the threaded hole;
wherein an air duct that allows the air flows from an inside, of the forced draft fan cover to an outside of the forced draft fan cover is provided between the drive shaft and the forced draft fan cover.

2. The shielding device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a guide post slidably extending to pass through the forced draft fan cover.

3. The shielding device according to claim 1 , wherein
a notch portion is formed by removing one part of the forced draft fan cover which faces the threaded hole; and
the notch portion constitutes one part of the air duct.

4. The shielding device according to claim 3 , further comprising:
a support portion abutting against the notch portion when the forced draft fan cover closes a channel so as to close the air duct.

5. The shielding device according to claim 1 , wherein
a side surface of the thread of the drive shaft is in a tilted shape, and a radial outer side portion of the tilted shape is at a distance from the threaded slot of the forced draft fan cover, wherein the distance is greater than an inner side portion; and
the air duct is formed between the side surface of the thread of the drive shaft and the threaded slot of the forced draft fan cover.

6. The shielding device according to claim 5 , further comprising:
a guide post slidably extending to pass through the forced draft fan cover.

7. The shielding device according to claim 5 , wherein
a notch portion is formed by removing one part of the forced draft fan cover which faces the threaded hole; and
the notch portion constitutes one part of the air duct.

8. The shielding device according to claim 7 , further comprising:
a support portion abutting against the notch portion when the forced draft fan cover closes a channel, so as to close the air duct.

9. A refrigerator, comprising;
a shielding device comprising;
a forced draft fan cover having a quadrilateral primary surface portion and four side surface portions longitudinally extending from a periphery of the quadrilateral primary surface portion, a threaded hole formed by penetrating a vicinity of a center of the quadrilateral primary surface portion, a thick portion being an annular thickened part formed with a peripheral part of the threaded hole, a threaded slot formed by recessing a side surface of the quadrilateral primary surface portion facing the threaded hole into a helical shape, and an interrupt portion formed by partially removing the thick portion at an end of the threaded slot; and
a drive shaft formed with a thread being screwed with the threaded slot and extended to pass through the threaded hole;
wherein an air duct that allows the air flows from an inside of the forced draft fan cover to an outside of the forced draft fan cover is provided between the drive shaft and the forced draft fan cover.

Assignees

• Haier Asia Int Co Ltd
• Qingdao Haier Joint Stock Co Ltd

Inventors

• Oyu Hideki
• Kuratani Toshiharu
• Tateno Takaya
• Yamaguchi Tatsuhiko

Classifications

• F25D21/06

  Removing frost (defrosting cycles F25B47/02) · CPC title

• F25D17/045 Primary

  Air flow control arrangements · CPC title

• F25D17/08

  using ducts · CPC title

• F25D17/065

  with compartments at different temperatures · CPC title

• F25D17/067

  Evaporator fan units · CPC title