U.S. patent application number 11/434278 was filed with the patent office on 2006-12-14 for refrigerator.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Byoung-jae Cho.
Application Number | 20060277934 11/434278 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37050541 |
Filed Date | 2006-12-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060277934 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cho; Byoung-jae |
December 14, 2006 |
Refrigerator
Abstract
A refrigerator which includes a discharge part having a drain
pipe to receive defrost water from an evaporator and to discharge
the defrost water, and a drain valve coupled with the drain pipe,
to discharge the defrost water and selectively permit or intercept
inflow of the external air. The drain valve includes a connection
part to connect the discharge part, a valve body having a defrost
water flowing hole communicating with the discharge part along a
moving direction of the defrost water, and an air flowing port
communicating with the defrost water flowing hole traversely to the
moving direction of the defrost water, a backflow preventing part
coupled with the valve body, to discharge the defrost water to the
outside and intercept flowing of external air, and an open/close
member having a passing hole communicating with the defrost water
flowing hole along the moving direction of the defrost water.
Inventors: |
Cho; Byoung-jae; (Gwangju
city, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STAAS & HALSEY LLP
SUITE 700
1201 NEW YORK AVENUE, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
37050541 |
Appl. No.: |
11/434278 |
Filed: |
May 16, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/285 ; 62/279;
62/440 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 2321/146 20130101;
F25D 21/14 20130101; F25D 17/047 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
062/285 ;
062/440; 062/279 |
International
Class: |
F25B 47/00 20060101
F25B047/00; F25D 21/14 20060101 F25D021/14; F25D 11/00 20060101
F25D011/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 11, 2005 |
KR |
10-2005-0050150 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator comprising a refrigerator body having at least
one storage compartment and an evaporator to generate cool air to
be supplied into the storage compartments, the refrigerator
comprising: a discharge part comprising a drain pipe to receive
defrost water from the evaporator and to discharge the defrost
water; and a drain valve coupled with a terminal of the drain pipe,
to discharge the defrost water and to selectively permit or to
intercept inflow of external air.
2. A refrigerator comprising a refrigerator body having at least
one storage compartment and an evaporator to generate cool air to
be supplied into the storage compartments, the refrigerator
comprising: a discharge part having a drain pipe to receive defrost
water from the evaporator and to discharge the defrost water; and a
drain valve coupled with a terminal of the drain pipe, to discharge
the defrost water and to selectively permit or to intercept inflow
of external air, wherein the drain valve comprises: a connection
part to connect the discharge part to the drain valve, a valve body
having a defrost water flowing hole communicating with the
discharge part along a moving direction of the defrost water, and
an air flowing port communicating with the defrost water flowing
hole traversely to a moving direction of the defrost water, which
is coupled with the connection part, a backflow preventing part
coupled with the valve body to thereby communicate, to discharge
the defrost water to an outside and to intercept flowing of the
external air, and an open/close member comprising a passing hole
communicating with the defrost water flowing hole along the moving
direction of the defrost water, provided inside the valve body so
as to be elevatable between the connection part and the backflow
preventing part.
3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the open/close
member comprises: a main body including the passing hole; and a
flange part formed on at least one terminal region of the main
body.
4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the valve body
further comprises a support part, the support part being engaged
with the flange part at a closed state wherein the open/close
member closes the air flowing port, to thereby support the
open/close member.
5. The refrigerator according to any claim 2, wherein the backflow
preventing part comprises a cut part, the cut part being opened by
a weight of the defrost water which flows into the backflow
preventing part.
6. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the backflow
preventing part is shaped with a funnel in section.
7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the air flowing
port penetrates along a circumferential direction of the valve body
so as to communicate with the defrost water flowing hole.
8. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the discharge
part comprises: a drain receiving part to receive the defrost water
from the evaporator, and comprising a drain port; and a drain pipe,
one side of which is connected with the discharge part and the
other side of which is connected to the drain valve, to thereby
guide the defrost water from the drain receiving part to the drain
valve.
9. A refrigerator comprising at least one storage compartment, a
refrigerator body having a component compartment to receive therein
a variety of components, at least one doors to open and close the
storage compartment, and an evaporator provided in a rear of the
storage compartment, to generate cool air to be supplied into the
storage compartment, comprising: a drain receiving part to collect
defrost water from the evaporator generated when the evaporator is
defrosted; a drain pipe to discharge the defrost water collected in
the drain receiving part to the component compartment; and a drain
valve coupled with a terminal of the drain pipe in a lengthwise
direction of the drain pipe, to selectively permit or to intercept
flowing of internal air of the component compartment perpendicular
to a discharge direction of the defrost water.
10. The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the drain valve
comprises: a connection part to connect the drain valve with the
drain pipe; a valve body coupled with the connection part, and
comprising a defrost water flowing hole communicating with the
drain pipe along a moving direction of the defrost water and an air
flowing port communicating with the defrost water flowing hole
perpendicular to the discharge direction of the defrost water; a
backflow preventing part coupled with the valve body to
communicate, to discharge the defrost water to an outside and to
intercept external air from flowing thereinto; and an open/close
member provided inside the valve body so as to be elevatable
between the connection part and the backflow preventing part, and
comprising a passing hole communicating with the defrost water
flowing hole along the discharge direction of the defrost
water.
11. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein the open/close
member comprises: a main body including the passing hole; and a
flange part formed on at least one terminal region of the main
body.
12. The refrigerator according to claim 11, Wherein the valve body
further comprises a support part, the support part being engaged
with the flange part when the open/close member closes the air
flowing port, to thereby support the open/close member.
13. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein the backflow
preventing part comprises a cut part, the cut part being opened by
a weight of the defrost water which flows into the backflow
preventing part.
14. A refrigerator comprising at least one storage compartment, a
refrigerator body having a component compartment to receive therein
a variety of components, at least one door to open and close the
storage compartment, and an evaporator provided in a rear of the
storage compartment, to generate cool air to be supplied into the
storage compartment, comprising: a drain pipe to discharge the
defrost water collected in the drain receiving part to the
component compartment; and a drain valve provided in a terminal of
the drain pipe, and comprising: an air flowing port to flow air
transversely to a discharge direction of the defrost water, an
open/close member elevatably provided, to thereby open and close
the air flowing port, and to pass the defrost water when the air
flowing port is closed, and a backflow preventing part disposed in
the lower side of the open/close member, to discharge the defrost
water due to the self weight thereof, and intercept inflow of
external air.
15. The refrigerator according to claim 14, wherein the open/close
member comprises: a main body comprising a passing hole through
which the defrost water passes; and a flange part formed on at
least one terminal region of the main body.
16. The refrigerator according to claim 15, wherein the drain valve
further comprises: a valve body elevatably accommodating the
open/close member, and including the air flowing port along a
circumferential direction thereof, and a defrost water flowing hole
communicating with the passing hole internally along the discharge
direction of the defrost water so that the defrost water can pass
therethrough.
17. The refrigerator according to claim 14, wherein the backflow
preventing part comprises a cut part, the cut part being opened by
a weight of the defrost water which flows into the backflow
preventing part.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2005-0050150, filed on Jun. 11, 2005, in the
Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a refrigerator. More
particularly, to a refrigerator with a simplified structure capable
of preventing external air from flowing in a storage chamber when
pressure of the storage chamber and external pressure are well
balanced, and simultaneously discharging defrost water to the
outside, and also easily opening a door by flowing external air in
the storage chamber when pressure of the storage chamber changes as
a result of opening and closing the door.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Generally a conventional refrigerator includes a
refrigerating compartment, a refrigerator body having a component
compartment to receive therein several devices such as a compressor
and a condenser, and a door to open and close an opening of the
refrigerating compartment.
[0006] An evaporator to generate cool air, a defrost heater to
remove frost deposited on the evaporator, and a drain receiving
unit to receive defrost water from the evaporator, generated by
defrosting it are provided in the refrigerator body. The defrost
water received in the drain receiving unit is discharged to a water
collecting tray provided in the component compartment through a
discharge pipe.
[0007] In this conventional refrigerator, since external air whose
temperature is higher than air inside the refrigerating compartment
flows into an inside of the refrigerating compartment as the door
is open and then closed, the air inside the refrigerating
compartment is contracted because of a temperature difference
between the internal air of the refrigerating compartment and the
external air flowing into the refrigerating compartment, and the
internal air of the refrigerating compartment is pushed to the
evaporator side whereby a cooling fan to lower the enhanced
temperature of the refrigerating compartment is driven. Thus, the
door is not smoothly opened because of a change in pressure of the
refrigerating compartment. In order to solve this problem, there
has been proposed a device to remove negative pressure.
[0008] As an example of this negative pressure removing device,
Korean Patent Application No. 1997-0067582 discloses a pressure
removing device including an auxiliary absorbing pipe provided in
one side of a discharge hose, through which external air is
absorbed, and a valve body on which an open/close part is mounted,
coupled with an end of the auxiliary absorbing pipe, to thereby
open and close an air absorbing port.
[0009] When the door is opened, the air absorbing port is opened by
the open/close part, through which external air flows into a
refrigerating compartment, and thus, the door is smoothly opened
since a difference external pressure and internal pressure of the
refrigerating compartment is settled. In addition, after air flows
into the refrigerator, the open/close part again closes the air
absorbing port to thereby prevent external air from flowing into
inside the refrigerator.
[0010] However, in this conventional negative pressure removing
device, the valve body to flow external air and a discharge hose
through which defrost water passes should be separately
manufactured and assembled, thereby making it uneasy to manufacture
them and troublesome to assemble.
[0011] Further, the valve body to flow external air has a
complicated structure in that it includes an open/close part to
confine flowing of air, a fixed part to fix the open/close part, a
coupling hole corresponding to the fixed part, a recess part formed
inside the open/close part, a valve cover, a fixed projection, an
engaging boss corresponding to the fixed projection, and a fixed
recess into which the fixed part is inserted, thereby causing the
number of components to increase and making it uneasy to
manufacture it.
[0012] Since the valve body having a complicated structure as
described above is mounted projectedly on one side of the discharge
hose, and thus, an external appearance thereof is not slim, and it
occupies a large space for installation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to
provide a refrigerator capable of preventing external air from
flowing into inside a storage chamber when pressure of the storage
chamber and external pressure are well balanced, and simultaneously
discharging defrost water to the outside, and easily opening a door
by flowing external air into an inside the storage chamber when
pressure of the storage chamber changes as a result of opening and
closing the door.
[0014] Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will
be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part,
will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by
practice of the invention.
[0015] These and/or other aspects of the present invention are
achieved by providing a refrigerator including a refrigerator body
having at least one storage compartment and an evaporator to
generate cool air to be supplied into the storage compartment, the
refrigerator including a discharge part comprising a drain pipe to
receive defrost water from the evaporator and to discharge the
defrost water, and a drain valve coupled with a terminal of the
drain pipe, to discharge the defrost water and selectively permit
or intercept inflow of the external air.
[0016] It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a
refrigerator including a refrigerator body having at least one
storage compartment and an evaporator to generate cool air to be
supplied into the storage compartment, the refrigerator including a
discharge part including a drain pipe to receive defrost water from
the evaporator and to discharge the defrost water, and a drain
valve coupled with a terminal of the drain pipe, to discharge the
defrost water and to selectively permit or intercept inflow of the
external air. The drain valve includes a connection part to connect
the discharge part, a valve body having a defrost water flowing
hole communicating with the discharge part along a moving direction
of the defrost water, and an air flowing port communicating with
the defrost water flowing hole traversely to the moving direction
of the defrost water, which is coupled with the connection part, a
backflow preventing part coupled with the valve body to thereby
communicate, to discharge the defrost water to the outside and
intercept flowing of external air, and an open/close member having
a passing hole communicating with the defrost water flowing hole
along the moving direction of the defrost water, provided inside
the valve body so as to be elevatable between the connection part
and the backflow preventing part.
[0017] The open/close member includes a main body having the
passing hole formed therein, and a flange part formed on at least
one terminal region of the main body.
[0018] The vale body includes a support part, the support part
being engaged with the flange part at a closed state wherein the
open/close member closes the air flowing port, to thereby support
the open/close member.
[0019] The backflow preventing part includes a cut part, wherein
the cut part being opened by the weight of the defrost water flown
into the backflow preventing part.
[0020] The backflow preventing part is shaped with a funnel in
section.
[0021] The air flowing port penetrates along a circumferential
direction of the valve body so as to communicate with the defrost
water flowing hole.
[0022] The discharge part includes a drain receiving part to
receive the defrost water from the evaporator, and including a
drain port, and a drain pipe, one side of which is connected with
the discharge part and the other side of which is connected withthe
drain valve, to thereby guide the defrost water from the drain
receiving part to the drain valve.
[0023] It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide
a refrigerator including at least one storage compartment, a
refrigerator body having a component compartment to receive therein
a variety of components, at least one door to open and close the
storage compartment, and an evaporator provided in the rear of the
storage compartment, to generate cool air to be supplied into the
storage compartments, the refrigerator including a drain receiving
part to collect defrost water from the evaporator generated when
the evaporator is defrosted, a drain pipe to discharge the defrost
water collected in the drain receiving part to the component
compartment, and a drain valve coupled with a terminal of the drain
pipe in a lengthwise direction of the drain pipe, to selectively
permit or intercept flowing of internal air of the component
compartment perpendicular to a discharge direction of the defrost
water.
[0024] The drain valve includes a connection part connected with
the drain pipe, a valve body coupled with the connection part, and
including a defrost water flowing hole communicating with the drain
pipe along a moving direction of the defrost water and an air
flowing port communicating with the defrost water flowing hole
perpendicular to the discharge direction of the defrost water, a
backflow preventing part coupled with the valve body to
communicate, and to discharge the defrost water to an outside and
to intercept external air from flowing thereinto, and an open/close
member provided inside the valve body so as to be elevatable
between the connection part and the backflow preventing part, and
including a passing hole communicating with the defrost water
flowing hole along the discharge direction of the defrost
water.
[0025] The open/close member includes a main body including the
passing hole therein, and a flange part formed on at least one
terminal region of the main body.
[0026] The valve body including a support part, the support part
being engaged with the flange part when the open/close member
closes the air flowing port, to thereby support the open/close
member.
[0027] The backflow preventing part including a cut part, the cut
part being opened by a weight of the defrost water flown into the
backflow preventing part.
[0028] It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide
a refrigerator including at least one storage compartment, a
refrigerator body having a component compartment to receive therein
a variety of components, at least one door to open and close the
storage compartment, and an evaporator provided in the rear of the
storage compartment, to generate cool air to be supplied into the
storage compartments, the refrigerator including a drain pipe to
discharge the defrost water collected in the drain receiving part
to the component compartment, and a drain valve provided in a
terminal of the drain pipe, including an air flowing port to flow
air transversely to a discharge direction of the defrost water, an
open/close member elevatably provided to thereby open and close the
air flowing port, and to pass the defrost water when the air
flowing port is closed, and a backflow preventing part disposed in
a lower side of the open/close member, to discharge the defrost
water due to a weight thereof, and to intercept inflow of external
air.
[0029] The open/close member includes a main body having a passing
hole through which the defrost water passes, and a flange part
formed on at least one terminal region of the main body.
[0030] The drain valve further includes a valve body elevatably
accommodating the open/close member, and including the air flowing
port along a circumferential direction thereof, and a defrost water
flowing hole communicating with the passing hole internally along
the discharge direction of the defrost water so that the defrost
water can pass.
[0031] The backflow preventing part including a cut part, the cut
part being opened by a weight of the defrost water flown into the
backflow preventing part.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] These and/or other aspects and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from
the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings of which:
[0033] FIG. 1 illustrates a door-open state of a refrigerator
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an installation region of a
drain valve according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0035] FIG. 3 illustrates a connection part and an open/close
member of the drain valve of FIG. 2 disassembled from a valve
body;
[0036] FIG. 4 illustrates a state that the open/close member of the
drain valve of FIG. 2 closes an air flow port;
[0037] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of FIG. 4;
[0038] FIG. 6 illustrates a state that the elevated open/close
member of the drain valve of FIG. 2 opens an air flow port; and
[0039] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0040] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of
the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the
like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below to
explain the present invention by referring to the figures.
[0041] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a refrigerator according to the
present invention comprises storage compartments 3a and 3b to
provide a refrigerating compartment 3a and a freezing compartment
3b by partitioning them vertically with a partition 2, a
refrigerator body 1 having a component compartment to receive
therein a variety of components, and doors 7a and 7b to open and
close the refrigerating compartment 3a and the freezing compartment
3b, respectively.
[0042] In a rear of each of the refrigerating and freezing
compartments 3a and 3b is provided an evaporator 9 to generate cool
air. Cool air generated by the evaporator 9 flows into the
refrigerating and freezing compartments 3a and 3b through a cool
air discharge port 4a formed by penetrating a rear plane of each of
the refrigerating and freezing compartments 3a and 3b, and frost
deposited on the evaporator 9 is removed by a defrost heater (not
shown). In FIGS. 1 and 2, an evaporator 9 and a cool air discharge
port 4a are shown, but each evaporator 9 is positioned in the
respective rear sides of the refrigerating compartment 3a and the
freezing compartment 3b, and each cool air discharge port is formed
on the refrigerating compartment 3a and the freezing compartment 3b
respectively.
[0043] As shown in FIG. 2, discharge parts 21, 22 and 23 are
provided below the evaporator 9, the discharge parts 21, 22 and 23
receiving defrost water generated from the evaporator 9 when a
defrost heater (not shown) operates, and discharging it toward a
water collecting tray 6 provided in the component compartment
5.
[0044] The discharge parts 21, 22 and 23 receive the defrost water
from the evaporator 9, and each comprises a drain receiving part 22
formed with the discharge port 21, and a drain pipe 23 connected
with the discharge port 21, to discharge the defrost water received
in the drain receiving part 22 toward the water collecting tray
6.
[0045] A terminal of the drain pipe 23 is combined with a drain
valve 30 to discharge the defrost water moving downward along the
drain pipe 23, and flow air into and to intercept flowing of the
air into the storage compartments.
[0046] As shown in FIG. 3, the drain valve 30 comprises a
connection part 31 connected with the drain pipe 23, a valve body
35 coupled with the connection part 31, and comprising an air
flowing port 33, a backflow preventing part 37 coupled with the
valve body 35 to communicate with each other, to discharge the
defrost water to the outside and intercept flowing of external air,
and an open/close member 40 elevatably provided within the valve
body 35, to open and close the air flowing port 33.
[0047] The connection part 31 comprises a central region vertically
penetrating it, to thereby have a hollow pipe-shaped inner part.
Accordingly, a part of the drain pipe 23 may be accommodated in the
connection part 31 so as to communicate with an inner space of the
valve body 35.
[0048] The valve body 35 is internally formed with a defrost water
flowing hole 32 (shown in FIG. 5) penetrating in a vertical
direction along which the defrost water moves, to thereby
communicate with the drain pipe 23. Along a circumferential
direction of the valve body 35 is formed an air flowing port 33
penetrating laterally, to thereby communicate with the defrost
water flowing hole 32. Thus, the defrost water having passed
through the drain pipe 23 flows into the defrost water flowing hole
32, and external air laterally flow into the air flowing port
33.
[0049] The open/close member 40 is elevatably installed within the
valve body 35 so that it is movable between a close position to
close the air flowing port 33 (see FIG. 5) and an open position to
open the air flowing port 33 (see FIG. 7), between the connection
part 31 and the backflow preventing part 37.
[0050] Before the external air whose temperature is relatively
higher than the internal temperature of the storage compartments 3a
and 3b after the doors 7a and 7b are opened and closed, flows into
the storage compartments 3a and 3b, whereby the pressures of the
storage compartments 3a and 3b change, the open/close member 40
remains at a closed state to close the air flowing port 33 (see
FIGS. 5 and 6) so as to block external air from being flown into
the inside of the drain valve 30.
[0051] When opening and then closing the doors 7a and 7b, air of
the storage compartments 3a and 3b is contracted because the
external air flows into the inside of the storage chambers 3a and
3b. This causes a change in pressures of the storage compartments
3a and 3b and the open/close member 40 closing the air flowing port
33 moves upwardly as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. According to
this, external air flows into the open air flowing port 33, and the
flown external air passes through a passing hole 42 to be described
later and the defrost water flowing hole 32 and is flown into the
storage compartments by way of the drain hoses.
[0052] This open/close member 30 comprises a main body 41 formed
with a passing hole 42 penetrating in the vertical direction along
which the defrost water moves, and flange parts 43 formed on both
end regions of the main body 41.
[0053] The defrost water flowing into the defrost water flowing
hole 32 of the valve body 35 passes through the passing hole 42,
and the external air flowing into the air flowing port 33 passes
through the air flowing port 33 which is open.
[0054] The pair of flanges 43 is engaged with a support part 34
formed inside the valve body 35, at the close position (see FIG. 5)
of the open/close member 40, to thereby support the close position
of the open/close member 40 (see FIG. 5).
[0055] The backflow preventing part 37 is shaped with a funnel
having a diameter which gradually narrows from up to down, coupled
with a lower side of the valve body 35. Hence, the backflow
preventing part 37 is formed of rubber, for example. However, the
material of the backflow preventing part is not limited hereto, and
may vary as necessary.
[0056] The backflow preventing part 37 communicates with the valve
body 35 and the open/close member 40 through a upper opening
thereof, and thus, the defrost water having passed through the
defrost water flowing hole 32 of the valve body 35 and the passing
hole 42 of the open/close member 40 is flown.
[0057] The lower end region of the backflow preventing part 37
comprises a cut part 36 to discharge the defrost water. According
to this, the defrost water flown into the backflow preventing part
37 moves downward and is discharged to the water collecting tray 6
through the cut part 36.
[0058] The cut part 36 is opened by a weight of the defrost water
collected in the lower end region of the backflow preventing part
37, and is then closed when the defrost water is discharged from
the backflow preventing part 37 through the open cut part 36,
whereby external air does not flow into the inside of the backflow
preventing part 37 through the cut part 36.
[0059] Hereinafter, operations of the open/close member 40 of the
drain valve 30 due to a change in pressure of the storage
compartment generated after the doors are opened and closed will be
described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7.
[0060] As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the open/close member 40
closes the air flowing port 33 of the valve body 35. Here, as the
flange part 43 of the open/close member 40 is engaged with the
support part 34 of the valve body 35, the open/close member 40
maintains the close position to close the air flowing port 33 of
the valve body 35, and the passing hole 42 of the open/close member
40 communicates with the drain pipe 23, the defrost water flowing
hole 32 and the backflow preventing part 37.
[0061] According to this, the defrost water generated as a result
of defrosting the evaporator 9 first drops to the drain receiving
part 22 and moves downward along the drain pipe 23 through the
discharge port 21. The defrost water moving along the drain pipe 23
is discharged to the water collecting tray 6 through the drain
valve 30. Here, the defrost water flown into the drain valve 30
from the drain pipe 23 passes through the defrost water flowing
hole 32 of the valve body 35 and the passing hole 42 of the
open/close member 40 and drops to the lower region of the backflow
preventing part 37. At this time, since the cut part 36 of the
backflow preventing part 37 is opened by the weight of the defrost
water, the defrost water is discharged to the water collecting tray
6 through the open cut part 36. The cut part 36 which was opened by
the weight of the defrost water is again closed after the defrost
water has been discharged, and thus, air does not flow into the
inside of the drain valve 30 through the cut part 36.
[0062] When a user opens the doors 7a and 7b and closes them again,
external air flows into the refrigerating and freezing compartments
3a and 3b. At this time, the air in the refrigerating and freezing
compartments 3a and 3b is contracted, thereby causing a change in
pressure of the storage compartments 3a and 3b. Due to this change,
the open/close member 40 of the drain valve 30 moves upward as
illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. The air flowing port 33 of the valve
body 35 is opened by upward movement of the open/close member 40
that has closed the air flowing port 33, and external air flows
inside the valve body 35 through the air flowing port 33. The air
which flows inside the valve body 35 flows into the drain pipe 23
through the passing hole 42 and the defrost water flowing hole 32
of the open/close member 40. The air flown into the drain pipe 23
continuously moves upward and flows inside the refrigerating and
freezing compartments 3a and 3b, thereby settling the change in
pressure of the storage compartments 3a and 3b. Thus, the doors 7a
and 7b can be easily opened with a little force. After the change
in pressure of the storage compartments 3a and 3b is settled as air
flows into the refrigerating and freezing compartments 3a and 3b,
the open/close chamber 40 of the drain valve 30 moves downward by
its self weight and is then restored to the closed position as
illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0063] The open/close member 40 having the passing hole 42 to flow
air into and to intercept flowing of the air into the refrigerating
and freezing compartments 3a and 3b and to pass the defrost water
is elevatably provided inside the valve body 35 of the drain valve
30. According to this, the drain valve 30 performing two functions
of discharging the defrost water and flowing air into the
refrigerating and freezing compartments 3a and 3b with a simplified
structure is provided.
[0064] Further, since the drain valve 30 externally appears slim,
it can be easily installed even at a narrow space. Also, since
inner diameters of the passing hole 42 and the drain pipe 23 are
substantially similar, external air can be promptly flown into the
drain pipe 23.
[0065] As described above, according to the present invention, the
flowing of external air into the storage compartments can be
prevented and at the same time the defrost water can be discharged
to the outside through the drain valve with a simplified structure
when the internal pressure of the storage chambers and external
pressure are well balanced. Even when a change occurs in the
pressure of the storage compartments generated as the doors are
opened and closed, external air can be flown inside the storage
compartments so as to facilitate opening of the doors.
[0066] Although a few embodiments of the present invention have
been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled
in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without
departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the
scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.
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