U.S. patent application number 11/410839 was filed with the patent office on 2007-05-17 for refrigerator having independent sterilization duct.
This patent application is currently assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Hye Ryung Kim, Kyung Hoon Kim, Jun Hyoun Kwon, Rae Eun Park.
Application Number | 20070107452 11/410839 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37726869 |
Filed Date | 2007-05-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070107452 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim; Kyung Hoon ; et
al. |
May 17, 2007 |
Refrigerator having independent sterilization duct
Abstract
A refrigerator includes a chilled air duct and a sterilizer duct
independently installed in the vertical direction to uniformly emit
active hydrogen and negative ions for sterilization and
deodorization into an entire space of a compartment. The sterilizer
duct is vertically installed in the compartment in parallel
relation to the chilled air duct and an MPI generator for the
sterilization and deodorization is installed in an end thereof. In
the first embodiment of the present invention, the sterilizer duct
is coupled with a blower duct in which a blower fan for blowing air
into the sterilizer duct, and the blower duct may be coupled with a
rotation duct connected to a driving motor installed in a housing.
In the second embodiment, the sterilizer duct and the chilled air
duct have a single entrance and two exits and may be coupled with
respective exits of a distribution duct in which a damper is
installed.
Inventors: |
Kim; Kyung Hoon;
(Gyeonggi-Do, KR) ; Park; Rae Eun; (Gyeonggi-Do,
KR) ; Kwon; Jun Hyoun; (Seoul, KR) ; Kim; Hye
Ryung; (Gyeonggi-Do, 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: |
37726869 |
Appl. No.: |
11/410839 |
Filed: |
April 26, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/264 ;
62/78 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 17/065 20130101;
F25D 2400/06 20130101; F25D 2317/067 20130101; F25D 2317/0681
20130101; F25D 17/042 20130101; F25D 2317/0415 20130101; F25D
17/045 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
062/264 ;
062/078 |
International
Class: |
F24F 3/16 20060101
F24F003/16; F25D 23/00 20060101 F25D023/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 17, 2005 |
KR |
10-2005-0110217 |
Nov 17, 2005 |
KR |
10-2005-0110218 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator comprising: at least one compartment; a chilled
air duct for supplying chilled air to the compartment; a sterilizer
duct installed in the compartment independent from the chilled air
duct; and an ion generator for supplying sterilizing air through
the sterilizer duct to the compartment.
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising: a
cooling fan for blowing the chilled air to the chilled air duct;
and a blower fan for blowing air in the compartment to the
sterilizer duct, wherein a plurality of chilled air discharge ports
and sterilized air discharge ports are respectively formed in the
chilled air duct and the sterilizer duct at regular intervals.
3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the chilled air
duct is disposed at the central region of the rear side of the
compartment, and the sterilizer duct is disposed at a corner of the
rear side of the compartment.
4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the ion generator
is made of a micro plasma ion (MPI) generator for generating
negative ions and active hydrogen, and is disposed in the
sterilizer duct.
5. The refrigerator according to claim 2, further comprising: a
blower duct, coupled with the sterilizer duct, in which the blower
fan is installed; a rotation duct coupled with the blower duct; and
a driving motor for rotating the rotation duct, wherein the
sterilizer duct is installed to rotate together with the blower
duct
6. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the driving motor
is installed in a housing fixed to a rear wall of the compartment,
and a rotation shaft of the driving motor is coupled with a hub
provided in the center of the rotation duct to rotate the rotation
duct.
7. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the blower fan is
coupled with a fan motor fixed in a hub provided at the center of
the blower duct to rotate.
8. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the sterilizer
duct, the blower duct, and the rotation duct have a cylindrical
shape and rotate.
9. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein an insertion
protrusion and an insertion recess are formed in the end rims of
the blower duct, and insertion protrusions and insertion recesses
are formed in respective ends of the blower duct and the rotation
duct such that the insertion protrusion of the sterilizer duct is
inserted into the insertion recess of the blower duct and the
insertion protrusion of the blower duct is inserted into the
insertion recess of the rotation duct for the convenient separation
from and coupling with each other.
10. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the inner
surface of the sterilizer duct is coated with anti-electrification
material.
11. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein the
anti-electrification material comprises polyethylene.
12. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a
distribution duct installed between the sterilizer duct and the
chilled air duct to communicate and block the chilled air duct to
and from the sterilizer duct, wherein the ion generator is
installed in the sterilizer duct or the distribution duct.
13. The refrigerator according to claim 12, wherein the sterilizer
duct includes a plurality of sterilized air discharge ports formed
at regular intervals such that negative ions generated by the ion
generator are uniformly distributed into the entire space of the
compartment through the respective sterilized air discharge
ports.
14. The refrigerator according to claim 13, wherein the ion
generator is made of a micro plasma ion (MPI) generator for
generating active hydrogen and the negative ions.
15. The refrigerator according to claim 13, wherein the
distribution duct has first and second exits, and a cooling fan
disposed in an entrance of the distribution duct; the sterilizer
duct and the chilled air duct are respectively connected to the
first and second exits of the distribution duct such that chilled
air blown by the cooling fan flows the sterilizer duct and the
chilled air duct through the distribution duct.
16. The refrigerator according to claim 15, further comprising a
damper installed between the first and second exits within the
distribution duct to open and close the first and second exits.
17. The refrigerator according to claim 15, wherein the damper is
driven by a driving motor to adjust an opening degree of the first
and second exits.
18. The refrigerator according to claim 15, wherein the ion
generator is disposed at the side of the first exit connected to
the sterilizer duct within the distribution duct.
19. The refrigerator according to claim 15, further comprising a
chilled air supply duct connected to the entrance of the
distribution duct, wherein a plurality of introducing holes for
introducing air in the compartment is formed in the front side of
the chilled air supply duct, and an evaporator is installed in the
chilled air supply duct together with the cooling fan.
20. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the ion
generator comprises: a ceramic plate serving as a positive ion
generator; and a needle-shaped electrode serving as a negative ion
generator.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application Nos. 2005-110217 and 2005-110218, both filed on Nov.
17, 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, and more
particularly, to a refrigerator in which a sterilization duct is
arranged independently from a chilled air duct for distributing
chilled air into compartments to sterilize and deodorize so that
the compartments can be maintained clean.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Generally, a refrigerator is structured to maintain
compartments such as a freezer compartment and a refrigerator
compartment at suitable temperatures for accommodating foods so
that the foods accommodated in the compartments can be kept fresh
for a long time. In this refrigerator, vegetables, meat, fish, and
various raw and cooked foods are accommodated.
[0006] Thus, unless the compartments are cleaned periodically, the
compartments become impregnated with odors emitted from various
foods and mold, bacteria, and viruses propagate in the compartments
so that the compartments can be considered unhealthy and unpleasant
for a user.
[0007] In order to remove bacteria, viruses, and odors, there is
proposed a refrigerator in which a sterilizer and a deodorizer are
installed in the compartments, for example, Japanese Laid-Open
Patent Publication No. 6-82151.
[0008] The sterilizer and the deodorizer of the conventional
refrigerator includes a cover having an inlet for suctioning air
from the compartments and a discharge port for discharging the
suctioned air to the compartments again, a high voltage generator
and an ozone generating electrode, which are installed in the
cover, an ion generating electrode, and a blower fan such that air
introduced into the cover is sterilized and deodorized in the cover
by ozone gas and is emitted into the compartments again so that the
air circulating within the compartments becomes clean.
[0009] However, since the sterilizer and the deodorizer of the
conventional refrigerator are disposed between shelves and the
sterilized and deodorized air is discharged into their vicinity,
the sterilized and deodorized air does not propagate into the space
of the compartments uniformly so that the sterilizing and
deodorizing effect is deteriorated.
[0010] Moreover, since the sterilizer and the deodorizer of the
conventional refrigerator sterilizes and deodorizes air only
therein, the sterilizer and the deodorizer of the conventional
refrigerator cannot effectively sterilize and deodorize air in the
compartments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention has been made in view of the
above-mentioned problems, and an aspect of the invention is to
provide a refrigerator in which a sterilizer duct is disposed in
the vertical direction independent from a chilled air duct to
discharge air containing active hydrogen and negative ions
uniformly into compartments through a sterilizer duct.
[0012] It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a
refrigerator in which an ion generator for generating active
hydrogen and sterilizing ions is installed near an end of a
sterilizer duct to improve the sterilizing and deodorizing
effect.
[0013] It is a still another aspect of the present invention to
provide a refrigerator in which a sterilizer duct is installed to
rotate such that air passing through the sterilizer duct can be
discharged into compartments in multiple directions.
[0014] It is a still another aspect of the present invention to
provide a refrigerator capable of conveniently adjusting quantity
and rate of air passing through a sterilizer duct.
[0015] In accordance with one aspect, the present invention
provides a refrigerator including at least one compartment, a
chilled air duct for supplying chilled air to the compartment, a
sterilizer duct installed in the compartment independent from the
chilled air duct, and an ion generator for supplying sterilizing
air through the sterilizer duct to the compartment.
[0016] The refrigerator further includes a cooling fan for blowing
the chilled air to the chilled air duct, and a blower fan for
blowing air in the compartment to the sterilizer duct, wherein a
plurality of chilled air discharge ports and sterilized air
discharge ports are respectively formed in the chilled air duct and
the sterilizer duct at regular intervals.
[0017] The chilled air duct may be disposed at the central region
of the rear side of the compartment, and the sterilizer duct may be
disposed at a corner of the rear side of the compartment.
[0018] The ion generator may be made of a micro plasma ion
generator (MPI) for generating negative ions and active hydrogen,
and may be disposed in the sterilizer duct.
[0019] The refrigerator further includes a blower duct, coupled
with the sterilizer duct, in which the blower fan is installed, a
rotation duct coupled with the blower duct, and a driving motor for
rotating the rotation duct, wherein the sterilizer duct is
installed to rotate together with the blower duct.
[0020] The driving motor is installed in a housing fixed to a rear
wall of the compartment, and a rotation shaft of the driving motor
is coupled with a hub provided in the center of the rotation duct
to rotate the rotation duct.
[0021] The blower fan is coupled with a fan motor fixed in a hub
provided at the center of the blower duct to rotate.
[0022] The sterilizer duct, the blower duct, and the rotation duct
may have a cylindrical shape and rotate.
[0023] An insertion protrusion and an insertion recess may be
formed in the end rims of the blower duct, and insertion
protrusions and insertion recesses may be formed in respective ends
of the blower duct and the rotation duct such that the insertion
protrusion of the sterilizer duct is inserted into the insertion
recess of the blower duct and the insertion protrusion of the
blower duct is inserted into the insertion recess of the rotation
duct for the convenient separation from and coupling with each
other.
[0024] The inner surface of the sterilizer duct is coated with
anti-electrification material, such as polyethylene.
[0025] The refrigerator further includes a distribution duct
installed between the sterilizer duct and the chilled air duct to
communicate and block the chilled air duct to and from the
sterilizer duct, wherein the ion generator is installed in the
sterilizer duct or the distribution duct.
[0026] The distribution duct may have first and second exits, and a
cooling fan disposed in an entrance of the distribution duct. The
sterilizer duct and the chilled air duct are respectively connected
to the first and second exits of the distribution duct such that
chilled air blown by the cooling fan flows the sterilizer duct and
the chilled air duct through the distribution duct.
[0027] The refrigerator further includes a damper installed between
the first and second exits within the distribution duct to open and
close the first and second exits. The damper is driven by a driving
motor to adjust an opening degree of the first and second
exits.
[0028] The ion generator may be disposed at the side of the first
exit connected to the sterilizer duct within the distribution
duct.
[0029] The refrigerator further includes a chilled air supply duct
connected to the entrance of the distribution duct, wherein a
plurality of introducing holes for introducing air in the
compartment is formed in the front side of the chilled air supply
duct, and an evaporator is installed in the chilled air supply duct
together with the cooling fan.
[0030] 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.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention
will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the
following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings in which:
[0032] FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a refrigerator, in which
a sterilizer duct for sterilizing and deodorizing air in
compartments is disposed in a refrigerator compartment parallel to
a chilled air duct according to a first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0033] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a
structure of the sterilizer duct according to the first embodiment
of the present invention for enabling the sterilizer duct to
rotate;
[0034] FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the structure of the
sterilizer duct in FIG. 2;
[0035] FIGS. 4 to 6 are views illustrating directional change of a
discharge port of the sterilizer duct according to the first
embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 4 shows the
direction of the discharge port is changed such that air containing
sterilizing ions is emitted toward a wall of a compartment, FIG. 5
shows the direction of the discharge port is changed such that air
containing sterilizing ions is discharged toward the central region
of the compartment, and FIG. 6 shows the direction of the discharge
port is changed such that air containing sterilizing ions is
discharged toward a rear wall of the compartment; and
[0036] FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG.
1 and shows the air discharged from the sterilizer duct according
to the first embodiment of the present invention distributed into
the compartments;
[0037] FIG. 8 is a front view illustrating a refrigerator, in which
a sterilizer duct for sterilizing and deodorizing air in
compartments is disposed in a refrigerator compartment parallel to
a chilled air duct according to a second embodiment of the present
invention;
[0038] FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the
sterilizer duct in FIG. 8 and shows that chilled air is distributed
into the sterilizer duct and the chilled air duct through a
distribution duct in which a damper and an ion generator are
installed;
[0039] FIGS. 10 to 12 are views illustrating operation of the
damper installed in the distribution duct according to the second
embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 10 shows that
the damper installed in the distribution duct closes the chilled
air duct completely and opens the sterilizer duct fully such that
all the chilled air discharged from a cooling fan is supplied into
the sterilizer duct, FIG. 11 shows that the damper opens the
chilled air duct fully and closes the sterilizer duct completely
such that all the chilled air is supplied into the chilled air
duct, and FIG. 12 shows that the damper opens the chilled air duct
fully and partially opens the sterilizer duct such that some of the
chilled air is supplied into the sterilizer duct; and
[0040] FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along the line B-B in FIG.
8 and shows the chilled air containing active hydrogen and
sterilizing ions, generated by the ion generator, is uniformly
distributed into the compartments through the sterilizer duct.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0041] 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.
[0042] FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a refrigerator, in which
a sterilizer duct for sterilizing and deodorizing air in
compartments is disposed in a refrigerator compartment parallel to
a chilled air duct according to a first embodiment of the present
invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator according to the
first embodiment of the present invention has an open-front
box-shaped cabinet 1 having a space for accommodating foods, a
partition 2 for partitioning the cabinet 1 into two compartments 3
and 4, and two doors 5 and 6 hinged to the front side of the
cabinet 1 to open and close the compartments 3 and 4.
[0043] Generally, the two compartments 3 and 4 serve as a freezer
compartment 3 for accommodating foods under 0 (zero) degrees
centigrade (preferably, 16 degrees centigrade below zero to 21
degrees centigrade below zero) and as a refrigerator compartment 4
for accommodating foods above zero degrees centigrade (preferably,
3 degrees centigrade to 5 degrees centigrade), thus, hereinafter
the compartment 3 is referred to as the freezer compartment 3 and
the compartment 4 is referred to as the refrigerator compartment
4.
[0044] In order to arrange various foods accommodated in the
freezer compartment 3 and the refrigerator compartment 4
effectively, the freezer compartment 3 and the refrigerator
compartment 4 have shelves 7 and accommodating boxes 8 (See FIG.
7).
[0045] In the rear side of the refrigerator compartment 4, a
chilled air duct 10 is disposed in the vertical direction to
distribute the chilled air into the oval space of the refrigerator
compartment 4 uniformly, and a sterilizer duct 60 is disposed in
the vertical direction independently from the chilled air duct 10
to discharge the sterilized and deodorized air and a great deal of
active hydrogen and negative ions into the refrigerator.
[0046] In the rear side of the refrigerator compartment 4, a blower
fan 17 and an evaporator 18 communicate with the chilled air duct
10 to supply the chilled air into the chilled air duct 10 (See FIG.
7), and in the chilled air duct 10 and the sterilizer duct 60, a
plurality of chilled air discharge ports 11 and sterilized air
discharge ports 61 are arranged at regular intervals.
[0047] The chilled air duct 10 is disposed at the central region of
the refrigerator compartment 4, and the sterilizer duct 60
installed independently from the chilled air duct 10 is disposed at
a corner of the refrigerator compartment 4, thereby supplying the
chilled air and the sterilized and deodorized air into the
refrigerator compartment 4, respectively.
[0048] Alternatively, the chilled air duct 10 and the sterilizer
duct 60 may be disposed at each corner of the rear side of the
refrigerator compartment 4, or the chilled air duct 10 may be
disposed at a corner and the sterilizer duct 60 may be disposed at
the central region.
[0049] The sterilizer duct 60 is installed to rotate in the
refrigerator compartment 4 to sterilize and deodorize air in the
refrigerator compartment 4 rapidly and effectively. Hereinafter, a
structure in which the sterilizer duct 60 is installed to rotate in
the refrigerator compartment 4 is described with reference to FIGS.
2 to 6.
[0050] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a
structure of the sterilizer duct according to the first embodiment
of the present invention for enabling the sterilizer duct to
rotate, and FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the structure of
the sterilizer duct in FIG. 2.
[0051] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the refrigerator according to the
first preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a
blower duct 70 for circulating air in the refrigerator compartment
4, a rotation duct 80 for rotating the sterilizer duct 60 forward
and backward such that the air passed through the sterilizer duct
60 is distributed into the refrigerator compartment 4 uniformly,
and a housing 90 for rotatably supporting the rotation duct 80.
[0052] The sterilizer duct 60, in which a plurality of sterilized
air discharge ports 61 is formed, has a cylindrical shape having an
opened lower side and a closed upper side, and includes an ion
generator 40 installed in the vicinity of the opened lower side to
discharge a great deal of active hydrogen and negative ions into
the refrigerator compartment 4 through the sterilizer duct 60.
[0053] Generally, the sterilizer duct 60 is made of expanded
polystyrene having a surface resistivity higher than 10.sup.12
.OMEGA./sq and causes an electrification phenomenon with the ions
emitted from the ion generator 40, thereby annihilating the ions
and decreasing the quantity of emitted ions. In order to remove the
electrification of the ions, the inner surfaces of the sterilizer
duct 60 are coated with polyethylene, an anti-electrification
material.
[0054] The ion generator 40 is a micro plasma ion (MPI) generator
designed to generate only hydrogen ions (H.sup.+) by a plasma
discharge under atmospheric pressure. The MPI generator generates
electrons around the MPI generator to generate active hydrogen
(hydrogen atoms) and the active hydrogen reacts with ambient active
oxygen to neutralize harmful active oxygen, to annihilate source
bacteria by being absorbed in cells of source bacteria such as
viruses and mold, and to be able to sterilize without discharging
unhealthy positive ions in the air.
[0055] The ion generator 40 implemented by the MPI generator
includes a ceramic plate 41 serving as a positive ion generator and
a needle-shaped electrode 42 serving as a negative ion generator.
When a positive high voltage is applied to the ceramic plate 41,
water (H.sub.2O) in the air is ionized due to the plasma discharge
so that hydrogen ions (H.sup.+) are generated, and when a negative
high voltage is applied to the needle-shaped electrode 42, positive
ions are accumulated around the needle-shaped electrode 42 due to
the plasma discharge and a great deal of electrons are emitted from
the needle-shaped electrode 42 to the air.
[0056] Since a great deal of the electrons emitted to air are very
unstable, the electrons are captured by oxygen molecules (O.sub.2)
to generate super-oxide anions (O.sup.2-) so that the needle-shaped
electrode 42 generates electrons and the super-oxide anions.
[0057] When the needle-shaped electrode 42 discharges the
electrons, the electrons are generated from the ceramic plate 41
and are combined with hydrogen ions passing near the needle-shaped
electrode 42 to generate hydrogen atoms (or active hydrogen). As
such, the hydrogen ions generated from the ceramic plate 41 are
combined with the electrons emitted from the needle-shaped
electrode 42 to form hydrogen atoms, thus emitted elements finally
become hydrogen atoms and super-oxide anions.
[0058] The hydrogen atoms and the super-oxide anions are mixed with
air passing through the sterilizer duct 60 and finally discharged
into the refrigerator compartment 4 so that bacteria and viruses
are sterilized and source bacteria of mold are removed and the air
is thereby deodorized.
[0059] The blower duct 70 has a cylindrical shape having the same
diameter as that of the sterilizer duct 60 and opened ends to
circulate air in the refrigerator compartment 4 through the
sterilizer duct 60 and is coupled with the sterilizer duct 60, and
includes a blower fan 75 installed therein.
[0060] In order to install the blower fan 75 in the blower duct 70,
at the center of the blower duct 70, a hub 73 connected to a
plurality of ribs 74 extended from the inner circumference of the
blower duct 70 is provided, and a fan motor 76 is installed in the
hub 73 so that the blower fan 75 is coupled with the fan motor
76.
[0061] Thus, the fan motor 76 is coupled with the hub 73 of the
blower duct 70, a rotation shaft 77 of the fan motor 76 is inserted
into a shaft hole 75a formed at the center of the blower fan 75 so
that the blower fan 70 is installed in the blower duct 70, whereby
air in the refrigerator compartment 4 can be supplied into the
sterilizer duct 60 through the blower duct 70.
[0062] The rotation duct 80 is provided with a hub 83 connected to
a plurality of ribs 84 extended from the inner circumference of the
blower duct 80 at the center thereof, and the hub 83 is formed with
a shaft hole 83a such that the rotation duct 80 is allowed to be
connected to a driving motor 91 described later.
[0063] Like the blower duct 70, the rotation duct 80 has a
cylindrical shape having the same diameter as that of the blower
duct 70 and is coupled with the blower duct 70 coupled with the
sterilizer duct 60. To this end, in the lower rims of the
sterilizer duct 60 and the blower duct 70, insertion protrusions 62
and 72 are formed respectively, and in the upper rims thereof,
insertion recesses 71 and 81 are formed respectively.
[0064] The housing 90 fixed to the rear wall of the refrigerator
compartment 4 includes the driving motor 91 for rotating the
rotation duct 80. The driving motor 91 includes a rotation shaft 92
upwardly protruded and inserted into the shaft hole 83a formed in
the hub 83 of the rotation duct 80. The housing 90 may be coupled
with the rear wall of the refrigerator compartment 4 by screws or
other ways.
[0065] Thus, as shown in FIG. 3, the rotation shaft 92 of the
driving motor 91 is inserted into the shaft hole 83a of the
rotation duct 80 such that the rotation duct 80 is installed to
rotate in the housing 90, the insertion protrusion 72 of the blower
duct 70 is inserted into the insertion recess 81 of the rotation
duct 80, the insertion protrusion 62 of the sterilizer duct 60 is
inserted into the insertion recess 71 of the blower duct 70 such
that the sterilizer duct 60 is coupled with the blower duct 70, so
that the sterilizer duct 60, the blower duct 80, and the rotation
duct 80 are rotatably supported by the housing 90.
[0066] The sterilizer duct 60, the blower duct 70, and the rotation
duct 80 are separated from each other easily and quickly.
[0067] FIGS. 4 to 6 are views illustrating directional change of a
discharge port of the sterilizer duct according to the first
embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 shows the air
discharged from the sterilizer duct according to the first
embodiment of the present invention is distributed into an oval
space in the compartments.
[0068] As shown in FIG. 4, when an ion detector installed in the
refrigerator compartment 4 and a contaminant detector (not shown)
determine that a great deal of active hydrogen and ion is required
for sterilization and deodorization of the refrigerator compartment
4, the ion generator 40 is driven simultaneously with driving the
fan motor 76 to rotate the blower fan 75 such that air in the
refrigerator compartment 4 is introduced into the blower duct 70
through the lower side of the rotation duct 80 by the blower fan 75
so that the introduced air flows through the sterilizer duct 60 and
is mixed with a great deal of the active hydrogen and negative ions
emitted from the ion generator 40.
[0069] The sterilized and deodorized air by being mixed with the
active hydrogen and negative ions flows upward in the sterilizer
duct 60, and is distributed uniformly toward a side wall of the
refrigerator compartment 4 in the vertical direction through the
respective sterilized air discharge ports 61, so that as shown in
FIG. 7, the sterilized and deodorized air sterilizes and deodorizes
the whole refrigerator compartment 4 rapidly.
[0070] In order to concentrate the active hydrogen and the negative
ions to the central region of the refrigerator compartment 4, the
driving motor 91 is driven to rotate the rotation shaft 92 at a
predetermined angle counterclockwise, then, as shown in FIG. 5, the
rotation duct 80 coupled with the driving motor 91 and the blower
duct 70 and the sterilizer duct 60 coupled with the rotation duct
80 rotate together so that the sterilized air discharge ports 61 of
the sterilizer duct 60 are disposed toward the central region of
the refrigerator compartment 4.
[0071] Moreover, in order to concentrate the active hydrogen and
the negative ions to the rear wall of the refrigerator compartment
4, the driving motor 91 is further driven to rotate the rotation
shaft 92 at a predetermined angle counterclockwise, then, as shown
in FIG. 6, the rotation duct 80, the blower duct 70, and the
sterilizer duct 60 rotate together so that the sterilized air
discharge ports 61 of the sterilizer duct 60 are disposed toward
the rear wall of the refrigerator compartment 4.
[0072] When the driving motor 91 is driven to continuously rotate
the rotation shaft 92 of the driving motor 91 clockwise and
counterclockwise within a predetermined angular range, air
containing a great deal of the active hydrogen and the negative
ions can be distributed into the whole space of the refrigerator
compartment 4 through the sterilizer duct 60 more rapidly.
[0073] When the ion detector and the contaminant detector determine
that air in the refrigerator compartment 4 is sterilized and
deodorized to some degree, the rotation speed of the blower fan 75
is reduced so that the quantity and rate of airflow passing through
the sterilizer duct 60 can be reduced.
[0074] After a predetermined time has lapsed, when it is determined
that the sterilization and the deodorization of air in the
refrigerator compartment 4 is completed, the ion generator 40, the
fan motor 76, and the driving motor 71 are stopped to prevent
further sterilization and deodorization by the sterilizer duct
60.
[0075] Although in the first embodiment of the present invention
the sterilizer duct, the blower duct, and the rotation duct have
circular cross-sections, but the shapes are not limited to this,
and may have a polygonal shape.
[0076] Next, a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the
present invention will be described in detail with reference to
FIGS. 8 to 13. Hereinafter, in the refrigerator according to this
embodiment, identical numerals are assigned to the similar
components of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of
the present invention, and thus the detailed description will be
omitted.
[0077] FIG. 8 is a front view illustrating a refrigerator, in which
a sterilizer duct for sterilizing the refrigerator compartment and
deodorizing air in compartments is disposed in the refrigerator
compartment parallel to a chilled air duct according to the second
embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, in the
rear side of the refrigerator compartment 4 of the refrigerator
according to the second preferred embodiment of the present
invention, are disposed, a chilled air duct 10 installed in the
vertical direction such that the chilled air is uniformly
distributed into the refrigerator compartment 4, and a sterilizer
duct 20 installed parallel to the chilled air duct 10 in the
vertical direction to discharge sterilized and deodorized air and
to emit a great deal of active hydrogen and negative ion to the
whole space of the refrigerator compartment 4.
[0078] Moreover, in the rear side of the refrigerator compartment 4
are disposed a distribution duct 30 connected to the sides
(depicted as the lower sides in FIG. 8) of the chilled air duct 10
and the sterilizer duct 20, and a chilled air supply duct 15
connected to the distribution duct 30 and provided with a cooling
fan 17 and an evaporator 18 installed therein.
[0079] In the front sides of the chilled air duct 10 and the
sterilizer duct 10 is formed, a plurality of chilled air discharge
ports 11 and sterilized air discharge ports 21 arranged at regular
intervals, and in the front side of the chilled air supply duct 15
is formed, a plurality of air introducing holes 16 for introducing
air in the refrigerator compartment 4 into the chilled air supply
duct 15 (See FIG. 13).
[0080] Inside the distribution duct 30 are installed a damper 50
for adjusting the chilled air blown by the cooling fan 17 passing
through the chilled air duct 10 and the sterilizer duct 20, and an
ion generator 40 for emitting a great deal of active hydrogen and
negative ions into the refrigerator compartment 4 through the
sterilizer duct 20.
[0081] Like the sterilizer duct 60 according to the first
embodiment of the present invention, the sterilizer duct 20
according to the second embodiment of the present invention is made
of expanded polystyrene having surface resistivity higher than
10.sup.12 .OMEGA./sq and the inner surfaces of the sterilizer duct
20 are coated with polyethylene, an anti-electrification
material.
[0082] Thus, when the cooling fan 17 is driven, air introduced into
the chilled air duct 15 is chilled through the evaporator 18, flows
to the chilled air duct 10 and/or the sterilizer duct 20 through
the distribution duct 30, is discharged from the chilled air
discharge ports 11 and the sterilized air discharge ports 21, and
then is distributed into the refrigerator compartment 4.
[0083] FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the
sterilizer duct in FIG. 8 and shows that chilled air is distributed
into the sterilizer duct and the chilled air duct through the
distribution duct in which the damper and an ion generator are
installed. As shown in FIG. 9, the distribution duct 30 has an
approximately Y-shaped structure coupled with a cover plate 30a and
having an entrance 31 and first and second exits 32 and 33,
respectively formed in ends thereof.
[0084] The chilled air duct 15 is inserted into and coupled with
the entrance 31, the sterilizer duct 20 is inserted into and
coupled with the first exit 32, and the chilled air duct 10 is
inserted into and coupled with the second exit 33. Thus, the
chilled air blown from the chilled air supply duct 15 to the
distribution duct 30 is distributed into the chilled air duct 10
and the sterilizer duct 20.
[0085] Between the first and second exits 32 and 33 in the
distribution duct 30, the damper 50 is installed to selectively
open the first and second exits 32 and 33. The damper 50 is made of
a plate of the same size as cross-sections of the first and second
exits 32 and 33, has an end connected to a driving motor 51 and an
opposite end hinged to the cover plate 30a of the distribution duct
30 to be rotated by the driving motor 51 so as to control the
opening degree of the first and second exits 32 and 33.
[0086] The ion generator 40 is disposed at a side of the first exit
connected to the sterilizer duct 20 within the distribution duct 30
such that the sterilized and deodorized air and a great deal of
active hydrogen and negative ions are distributed to the sterilizer
duct 20. Naturally, the ion generator 40 may be installed in the
entrance of the sterilizer duct 20.
[0087] As described in the first embodiment, the ion generator 40
implemented by the MPI generator includes a ceramic plate 41
serving as a positive ion generator and a needle-shaped electrode
42 serving as a negative ion generator. Hydrogen atoms and
super-oxide anions generated by the interaction between the ceramic
plate 41 and the needle-shaped electrode 42 flow from the first
exit 32 to the sterilizer duct 20 to sterilize bacteria and viruses
contained in air and to remove source bacteria of mold.
[0088] The damper 50 controls the quantity and flow rate of the
chilled air sent to the sterilizer duct 20 to adjust opening degree
of the first exit 32 of the distribution duct 30 such that the
quantity of the active hydrogen and ions generated by the ion
generator 40, more precisely the quantity of super-oxide anions is
optimized, and it will be described hereafter with reference to
FIGS. 10 to 12.
[0089] As shown in FIG. 10, when the ion detector installed in the
refrigerator compartment 4 and the contaminant detector (not shown)
determine that there is a great deal of active hydrogen and ions
required for the purpose of sterilization and deodorization of the
refrigerator 4, the damper 50 activates the driving motor 51 to
close the second exit 33 connected to the chilled air duct 10
completely and to fully open the first exit 32 connected to the
sterilizer duct 20.
[0090] In this status, the cooling fan 17 and the ion generator 50
are activated, all the chilled air sent from the chilled air supply
duct 15 to the distribution duct 30 flows through the sterilizer
duct 20 so that a great deal of active hydrogen and ions are
emitted to the chilled air in a short time, resulting in
sterilizing and deodorizing the chilled air. Further, as shown in
FIG. 13, the chilled air containing a great deal of active hydrogen
and ions goes out of the sterilized air discharge port 21 of the
sterilizer duct 20 and is uniformly distributed into an entire
space of the refrigerator 4, resulting in rapidly sterilizing and
deodorizing the refrigerator 4.
[0091] As shown in FIG. 11, the ion detector and the contaminant
detector determine that the sterilization and deodorization of air
in the refrigerator 4 is completed, the damper 50 drives the
driving motor 51 to fully open the second exit 33 connected to the
chilled air duct 10 and to close the first exit 32 connected to the
sterilizer duct 20 completely, and stops the ion generator 40 to
send chilled air without negative ions and active hydrogen to the
chilled air duct 10.
[0092] Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 12, when the damper 50 opens the
chilled air duct 10 fully and the sterilizer duct 20 partially to
control the opening degree of the second exit 32, the flow rate of
the chilled air flowing through the sterilizer duct 20 is very fast
so that the chilled air containing the active hydrogen and negative
ions rapidly flows out of the sterilizer duct 20, thus to more
effectively prevent the electrification phenomenon of the negative
ions in the sterilizer duct 20 and to send the chilled air
containing the active hydrogen and negative ions far away from the
refrigerator 4.
[0093] As described above, the refrigerator of the present
invention includes the sterilizer duct disposed in the vertical
direction in the refrigerator compartment independent from the
chilled air duct to emit active hydrogen and negative ions into the
entire space of the refrigerator compartment uniformly through the
sterilizer duct so that the entire space of the refrigerator
compartment can be effectively sterilized and deodorized.
[0094] Moreover, in the refrigerator according to the present
invention, since the sterilizer duct is installed to rotate such
that the flow direction and flow rate of air passing through the
sterilizer duct are conveniently controlled, the emission amount,
the emission rate, and the emission direction of the active
hydrogen and negative ions can be optimized.
[0095] Further, since the damper is installed in the distribution
duct connected to the sterilizer duct to conveniently control the
quantity and flow rate of air passing through the sterilizer duct,
the emission amount and the emission rate of the active hydrogen
and negative ions, and the operation time of the ion generator can
be optimized, thus the power consumption is also reduced.
[0096] 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 this embodiment without
departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the
scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents, and
that various may be made with reference to the embodiments of the
present invention.
* * * * *