U.S. patent application number 11/409052 was filed with the patent office on 2007-07-12 for refrigerator.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Chang Nyeun Kim, Hye Ryung Kim, Kyung Hoon Kim, Rae Eun Park.
Application Number | 20070157646 11/409052 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37969945 |
Filed Date | 2007-07-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070157646 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim; Hye Ryung ; et
al. |
July 12, 2007 |
Refrigerator
Abstract
A refrigerator is disclosed wherein an ion generator is arranged
in a cold air duct which supplies cold air to a storage
compartment, and a desired portion of the cold air duct is treated
for anti-static. The ions from the ion generator are used for the
purpose of sterilization and deodorization and are effectively
discharged into the storage compartment. The anti-static-treatment
of the cold air duct prevents the ions generated from the ion
generator from being lost due to static in the cold air duct. The
anti-static treatment is carried out by coating polyethylene on a
portion of the cold air duct. The cold air duct includes a
plurality of uniformly spaced cold air outlets, whereby the ions
generated from the ion generator are uniformly distributed into the
overall portion of the storage compartment through the cold air
outlets.
Inventors: |
Kim; Hye Ryung;
(Gyeonggi-Do, KR) ; Park; Rae Eun; (Gyeonggi-Do,
KR) ; Kim; Chang Nyeun; (Gyeonggi-Do, KR) ;
Kim; Kyung Hoon; (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: |
37969945 |
Appl. No.: |
11/409052 |
Filed: |
April 24, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/187 ; 422/121;
62/78 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 2317/067 20130101;
F25D 2317/0415 20130101; F25D 17/042 20130101; F25D 2317/041
20130101; F25D 17/062 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
062/187 ;
422/121; 062/078 |
International
Class: |
F24F 3/16 20060101
F24F003/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 10, 2006 |
KR |
10-2006-0002917 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator, comprising: at least one storage compartment; a
cold air duct inside the storage compartment; a cooling fan to
discharge cold air into the cold air duct; and an ion generator to
generate ions disposed in the cold air duct, wherein the ions are
discharged into the storage compartment via the cold air duct.
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the cold air duct
includes an anti-static-treated portion to prevent the ions
generated from the ion generator from being lost due to static of
the cold air duct by the ions.
3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the
anti-static-treated portion of the cold air duct extends from a
point where a flow velocity of the cold air in the cold air duct is
reduced from an initial velocity at a cold air inlet of the cold
air duct by 25% or more to a cold air outlet of the cold air
duct.
4. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the anti-static
treatment is defined by coating the cold air duct with a material
having a surface resistance of 10.sup.5 .OMEGA./sq or less on the
portion of the cold air duct.
5. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the anti-static
treatment is defined by coating polyethylene on the portion of the
cold air duct.
6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the cold air duct
includes a plurality of uniformly spaced cold air outlets, and the
ions generated from the ion generator are uniformly distributed
into the overall portion of the storage compartment through the
cold air outlets.
7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein: the cooling fan
is arranged at a lower portion of the storage compartment; and the
ion generator is arranged at a lower end of the cold air duct.
8. A refrigerator, comprising: at least one storage compartment; a
cold air duct inside the storage compartment; and an ion generator
to generate ions disposed in the cold air duct, wherein the ions
are discharged into the storage compartment via the cold air duct
to sterilize and deodorize air in the storage compartment.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application No. P2006-2917, filed on Jan. 10, 2006 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 invention relates to a refrigerator, and, more
particularly to a refrigerator wherein an ion generator is arranged
in a cold air duct which supplies cold air to a storage compartment
of the refrigerator, and a desired portion of the cold air duct is
treated for anti-static so that ions for sterilization and
deodorization can be effectively discharged into the storage
compartment.
[0004] Ions are atoms that have either gained or lost an electron
and bear a charge of energy. Negative ions ("ions") have an extra
electron and their negative ion energy attracts airborne dust and
particles. A high concentration of ions attracts and can remove
unwanted airborne dust and particles.
[0005] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0006] Generally, refrigerators are configured to maintain a
storage compartment thereof such as a freezing compartment or a
refrigerating compartment at an appropriate temperature for storage
of food, and thus, to maintain the food stored in the storage
compartment in a fresh state for a prolonged period of time. In
such a refrigerator, uncooked vegetables, fruit, meat, fish, and
diverse food ingredients and cooked food products may be stored. If
the storage compartment is not periodically cleaned, the smell
emitted from the stored food permeates the storage compartment.
Furthermore, mold, bacteria, viruses, etc. may grow in the storage
compartment and not only cause a sanitation problem, but are also
being unpleasant to the user.
[0007] In order to solve such problems, a refrigerator has been
proposed with a sterilizer and a deodorizer are arranged in a
storage compartment, to remove bacteria and smell. An example of
such a refrigerator is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open
Publication No. Heisei 6-82151.
[0008] The disclosed conventional refrigerator includes a
sterilizing and deodorizing device, which includes a cover provided
with an air inlet and an air outlet, to suck air from a storage
compartment, and to discharge the sucked air into the storage
compartment, a high-voltage generator, an ozone-generating
electrode assembly, an ion-generating electrode assembly, and a
blowing fan. In this refrigerator, air introduced into the interior
of the cover is sterilized and deodorized by ozone in the cover,
and is then discharged into the storage compartment. Thus, the
circulating air in the storage compartment is cleaned.
[0009] However, the sterilizing and deodorizing device used in the
conventional refrigerator is arranged between shelves in the
storage compartment, so that air sterilized and deodorized by the
device is discharged into the storage compartment only near the
region between the shelves. For this reason, there is a problem
with the sterilized and deodorized air that is locally distributed
in the storage compartment and not spread throughout the entire
area of the storage compartment, thus the entire are is not
sterilized or deodorized.
[0010] Furthermore, the sterilizing and deodorizing device used in
the conventional refrigerator cannot sterilize and deodorize air
present in the storage compartment because the device is only
capable of cleaning the air that passes directly through the device
by the use of ozone. For this reason, it is impossible to sterilize
and deodorize all of the air present in the storage compartment
unless the air passes through the sterilizing and deodorizing
device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Accordingly, it is an aspect of the invention to provide a
refrigerator wherein an ion generator is arranged in a cold air
duct, which supplies cold air to a storage compartment of the
refrigerator, such that ions generated from the ion generator, can
be uniformly discharged into the overall portion of the storage
compartment through the cold air duct.
[0012] It is another aspect of the invention is to provide a
refrigerator wherein a desired portion of a cold air duct, in which
an ion generator is arranged, is treated for anti-static such that
ions generated from the ion generator can be effectively
transferred to a storage compartment for the refrigerator through
the cold air duct.
[0013] 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.
[0014] The foregoing and/or other aspects are achieved by a
refrigerator including: at least one storage compartment; a cold
air duct which is arranged in the storage compartment; a cooling
fan, which discharges cold air into the cold air duct; and an ion
generator, which generates ions, and is arranged in the cold air
duct such that the ions are discharged into the storage compartment
via the cold air duct.
[0015] The cold air duct may include an anti-static-treated portion
to prevent the ions generated from the ion generator from being
lost due to static electricity in the cold air duct.
[0016] The anti-static-treated portion of the cold air duct may
extend from a point where a flow velocity of the cold air in the
cold air duct is reduced from an initial velocity at a cold air
inlet of the cold air duct by 25% or more to a cold air outlet of
the cold air duct.
[0017] The anti-static treatment may be carried out by coating a
material having a surface resistance of 10.sup.5 .OMEGA./sq or less
on the portion of the cold air duct.
[0018] The anti-static treatment may be carried out by coating
polyethylene on the portion of the cold air duct.
[0019] The cold air duct may include a plurality of uniformly
spaced cold air outlets, whereby the ions generated from the ion
generator may be uniformly distributed into the overall portion of
the storage compartment through the cold air outlets.
[0020] The cooling fan may be arranged at a lower portion of the
storage compartment, whereas the ion generator may be arranged at a
lower end of the cold air duct.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The above objects, and other features and advantages of the
invention will become more apparent after reading the following
detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings,
in which:
[0022] FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator according to the
invention wherein an ion generator is arranged in a cold air duct
such that ions for sterilization and deodorization are discharged
into a storage compartment through the cold air duct;
[0023] FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the cold
air duct shown in FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line
III-III of FIG. 1;
[0025] FIG. 4 is a table representing flow velocities of cold air
respectively measured at various points of the cold air duct where
the ion generator is arranged; and
[0026] FIG. 5 is a table representing a variation in the amount of
discharged ions passing through the cold air duct, depending on the
size of the area of the cooling duct, which was subjected to an
anti-static treatment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0027] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of
the 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 invention by referring to the figures.
[0028] Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described
in detail with reference to the annexed drawings.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator according to the
invention includes a cabinet 1 which has a box structure open at a
front side thereof, to define a food storage space, and a partition
wall 2 which extends longitudinally in the interior of the cabinet
1, to divide the food storage space of the cabinet 1 into two
storage compartments 3 and 4. The refrigerator also includes two
doors, 5 and 6, which are hinged and coupled to the front side of
the cabinet 1, to open or close the storage compartments 3 and 4,
respectively.
[0030] Typically, the storage compartments 3 and 4 are used as a
freezing compartment for storing food at a temperature of not more
than 0.degree. C. (appropriately, between -16.degree. C. and
-21.degree. C.), and a refrigerating compartment for storing food
at a temperature of more than 0.degree. C. (appropriately, between
3.degree. C. and 5.degree. C.), respectively. Hereinafter, the
storage compartment 3 will be referred to as a freezing
compartment, and the storage compartment 4 will be referred to as a
refrigerating compartment.
[0031] In order to effectively store a variety of food in the
freezing compartment 3 and refrigerating compartment 4, a plurality
of shelves 7 and storage boxes 8 are disposed in each of the
freezing compartment 3 and refrigerating compartment 4. The shelves
7 and storage boxes 8 disposed in the refrigerating compartment 4
will be described with reference to FIG. 3.
[0032] A cold air duct 20 is mounted to a rear side of the
refrigerating compartment 4. A plurality of cold air outlets 21 are
provided at the cold air duct 20 such that the cold air outlets 21
are uniformly spaced apart from one another in a vertical
direction, in order to uniformly distribute cold air into the
overall space of the refrigerating compartment 4. An evaporator 10
and a cooling fan 11 are also arranged at the rear side of the
refrigerating compartment 4, in order to supply cold air into the
cold air duct 20.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 2, the evaporator 10 and cooling fan 11 are
arranged at a lower portion of the cold air duct 20, to cause cold
air to flow upwardly from the lower portion of the cold air duct
20. At the lower portion of the cold air duct 20, an ion generator
30 is also arranged which generates a large amount of ions to be
discharged into the refrigerating compartment 4, so as to kill
various bacteria, or to remove airborne dust, and particles present
in the air of the refrigerating compartment 4, and to deodorize the
refrigerating compartment 4.
[0034] The ion generator 30 is configured to generate a large
amount of ions using the discharge of plasma, in order to kill
various bacteria present in the air and to deodorize.
[0035] Accordingly, when the cooling fan 11 operates, air is
introduced into the cold air duct 20, and is cooled while passing
around the evaporator 10. The cold air is mixed with a large amount
of ions generated from the ion generator 30, and is then
distributed into the overall portion of the refrigerating
compartment 4 through the cold air outlets 21.
[0036] Meanwhile, the cold air duct 20 is made of acrylonitrile
butadiene styrene (ABS) copolymer having a surface resistivity of
10.sup.14 .OMEGA./sq or more. For this reason, the cold air duct 20
may be electrified by the ions generated from the ion generator 30,
so that the ions may disappear before emerging from the cold air
duct 20. As a result, the amount of discharged ions is reduced.
[0037] In order to prevent the amount of discharged ions from being
reduced due to the static produced by the ions, an anti-static
material may be coated over the inner surface of the cold air duct
20. Alternatively, the same effect may be obtained by increasing
the flow velocity of the cold air passing through the cold air duct
20.
[0038] However, when an anti-static material having a low surface
resistivity is coated over the entire inner surface of the cold air
duct 20, the costs and time for the anti-static treatment for
increase. On the other hand, where the flow velocity of the cold
air passing through the cold air duct 20 is increased, the costs
are increased due to a corresponding change in the configuration of
the cooling fan 11, and the increased use of electric power.
[0039] To this end, the invention provides a scheme to prevent the
amount of discharged ions from being reduced due to static
occurring at the cold air duct 20 without incurring the
above-described problems. This will be described with reference to
FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0040] FIG. 4 shows a table representing flow velocities of cold
air respectively measured at various points of the cold air duct
where the ion generator is arranged. FIG. 5 shows a table
representing a variation in the amount of discharged ions passing
through the cold air duct, depending on the size of the area of the
cooling duct, which was subjected to an anti-static treatment.
[0041] As shown in FIG. 4, three cold air ducts 20 were prepared
which have lengths of 500 mm, 750 mm, and 1,000 mm, respectively.
An ion generator 30 was then arranged at each cold air duct 20.
Each cold air duct 20 is longitudinally divided into four equal
portions, to define five points including an inlet and outlet of
the cold air duct 20. The flow velocity of the cold air flowing
through each cold air duct 20 was then measured at the five points,
respectively.
[0042] In order to maintain the flow velocity of the cold air
flowing through each cold air duct 20 in accordance with operation
of the cooling fan 11 arranged in the refrigerator within a desired
range at the inlet of the cold air duct 20, namely, the point 1,
the initial velocity of the cold air was set to 2.4 m/s in the case
of the cold air duct having a length of 500 mm, and to 4.1 m/s in
the cases of the cold air ducts respectively having lengths of 750
mm and 1,000 mm. The results of velocity measurement obtained at
respective points for each cold air duct are described in the Table
of FIG. 4.
[0043] FIG. 5 shows the results of an experiment for measuring the
amount of ions discharged from each cold air duct when the cold air
duct was made of ABS copolymer having a surface resistivity of
10.sup.14 .OMEGA./sq or more and coated with an anti-static
material having a surface resistivity of 10.sup.5 .OMEGA./sq or
less, such as polyethylene (PE), on the inner surface of the cold
air duct in one or more regions selected from a region A between
the points 1 and 2, a region B between the points 2 and 3, a region
C between the points 3 and 4, and a region D between the points 4
and 5. Referring to FIG. 5, when the anti-static material is coated
in a region from a point where the velocity of the cold air duct is
reduced by 25% or more from the initial velocity of the cold air at
the inlet of the cold air duct to the outlet of the cold air duct
from which the cold air is outwardly discharged, the ions are
generated from the ion generator 30 and discharged from the cold
air duct without loss, together with the cold air, and thus, fill
the storage compartments.
[0044] As shown in the Table of FIG. 5, in Example 2 where the
anti-static treatment is carried out only for the regions A and B
where the flow velocity of the cold air is high and is not carried
out for the regions C and D where the flow velocity of the cold air
is low, the ions generated from the ion generator 30 cannot be
discharged from the cold air duct because they disappear completely
in the cold air duct. On the other hand, in Example 3, the
anti-static treatment is carried out only for the regions A to C of
each cold air duct and is not carried out for the region D, a small
quantity of ions is discharged only in the case of the cold air
duct which has a length of 1,000 mm.
[0045] Meanwhile in Example 4 where the anti-static treatment is
carried out for all regions A to D, or in Example 5 where the
treatment is carried out for the regions B to D excluding region A,
a large quantity of ions can be discharged from each of the three
cold air ducts without loss.
[0046] In Example 6, the anti-static treatment is not carried out
for the regions A and B, but is carried out for the regions C and
D, a sufficient quantity of ions are discharged from the cold air
ducts which have lengths of 500 mm and 750 mm, respectively. In
this case, however, a slightly insufficient quantity of ions is
discharged from the cold air duct, which has a length of 1,000
mm.
[0047] In Example 7 when the anti-static treatment is carried out
only for the region D and not carried out for the regions A to C, a
sufficient quantity of ions can be discharged from the cold air
duct which has a length of 500 mm. However, no ions are discharged
from the cold air ducts, which have lengths of 750 mm and 1,000 mm,
respectively.
[0048] On the other hand, when no anti-static treatment is carried
out in any region, the three cold air ducts do not discharge any
ions.
[0049] As apparent from the results of the experiment, it is
possible to discharge a sufficient quantity of ions by performing
the anti-static treatment only for the region D in the case of the
cold air duct having a length of 500 mm, by performing the
anti-static treatment for the regions C and D in the case of the
cold air duct having a length of 750 mm, and by performing the
anti-static treatment for the regions B to D, except for the region
A, in the case of the cold air duct having a length of 1,000
mm.
[0050] Referring to the Table of FIG. 4, it can be seen that the
anti-static treatment is associated with a velocity reduction
region where the flow velocity of cold air in the cold air duct
having a length of 500 mm is reduced by about 25% or more from an
initial velocity of 2.4 m/s to a velocity of 1.8 m/s. The flow
velocity of cold air in the cold air duct having a length of 750 mm
or a length of 1,000 mm is reduced from an initial velocity of 4.1
m/s by about 25% or more to a velocity of 3.08 m/s.
[0051] Therefore, when the anti-static treatment is carried out in
a portion of the cold air duct extending from a point where the
flow velocity of cold air in the cold air duct is reduced by about
25% or more to the outlet of the cold air duct, irrespective of the
length of the cold air duct, the ions generated from the ion
generator can be discharged from the cold air duct without
loss.
[0052] This principle will be described in detail hereinafter. When
the cold air duct, in which the ion generator is arranged, is made
of a material having a high surface resistivity, such as ABS
copolymer, static generated by ions from the ion generator occurs
significantly at the inner surface of the cold air duct due to
friction. Furthermore, when the flow velocity of cold air in the
cold air duct is reduced, the mobility of the ions is decreased,
and the time for which the ions are in contact with the inner
surface of the cold air duct is increased. As a result, the static
by the ions is increased. Accordingly, in the region of the cold
air duct where the flow velocity of cold air is reduced from an
initial velocity by 25% or more is subjected to an anti-static
treatment, the ions can be outwardly discharged without
disappearing even when the flow velocity of the ions is reduced
because static by the ions does not occur at the inner surface of
the cold air duct.
[0053] Although the invention has been described in conjunction
with an embodiment of a scheme for preventing static from occurring
in a cold air duct installed in a refrigerator, the invention may
also be applied to other duct systems installed with ion
generators, to prevent static from occurring in the duct
systems.
[0054] As apparent from the above description, the refrigerator
according to the invention includes an ion generator arranged at an
inlet of a cold air duct having a plurality of cold air outlets
such that a large amount of ions generated from the ion generator
are uniformly discharged into the overall space of a storage
compartment in the refrigerator. Accordingly, the refrigerator of
the invention has an effect capable of sterilizing the storage
compartment, and thus, storing food in a fresh state.
[0055] Also, the cold air duct included in the refrigerator
according to the invention has an anti-static-treated structure
only in a region where static by ions may easily occur.
Accordingly, it is unnecessary to change the configuration of a
cooling fan used in the refrigerator, or to treat the overall
portion of the cold air duct for anti-static, in order to prevent
static from occurring in the cold air duct. Thus, it is possible to
reduce the costs and time needed to discharge of a sufficient
amount of ions through the cold air duct.
[0056] Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have
been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art
will appreciate that various modifications, additions and
substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and
spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying
claims.
* * * * *