U.S. patent application number 11/967715 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-03 for refrigerator.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG Electronics Inc.. Invention is credited to Sang-Jun LEE.
Application Number | 20080156010 11/967715 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39582031 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080156010 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LEE; Sang-Jun |
July 3, 2008 |
REFRIGERATOR
Abstract
The present invention provides a refrigerator including a
passage through which cool air flows from a freezing chamber to a
refrigerating chamber, a passage opening and closing member for
wholly or partially opening and closing the passage, a driving unit
for driving the passage opening and closing member so that the
passage opening and closing member can open and close the passage,
and a control unit for comparing a set temperature of the
refrigerating chamber with a measured temperature of the
refrigerating chamber, and controlling an operation of the driving
unit according to a comparison result. According to the
refrigerator of the present invention, as the passage for supplying
the cool air from the freezing chamber to the refrigerating chamber
is wholly or partially openable and closable, the actual
temperature of the refrigerating chamber can be precisely
controlled into the preset temperature. Therefore, stored articles
can be freshly maintained to improve users' satisfaction.
Inventors: |
LEE; Sang-Jun; (Jinhae-Shi,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Assignee: |
LG Electronics Inc.
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
39582031 |
Appl. No.: |
11/967715 |
Filed: |
December 31, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/186 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 2700/12 20130101;
F25D 17/065 20130101; F25D 2400/40 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/186 |
International
Class: |
F25D 17/04 20060101
F25D017/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 2, 2007 |
KR |
10-2007-0000322 |
Jan 3, 2007 |
KR |
10-2007-0000773 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator, comprising: a plurality of opening and closing
plates rotatably installed on a passage through which cool air
flowing from a freezing chamber to a refrigerating chamber passes,
for wholly or partially opening and closing the passage; a driving
unit for driving the opening and closing plates to regulate an
opening and closing degree of the passage; and a control unit for
comparing a set temperature of the refrigerating chamber with a
measured temperature of the refrigerating chamber, and controlling
an operation of the driving unit according to a comparison
result.
2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the passage comprises at
least one partitioning portion installed to contact the edges of
the opening and closing plates when the opening and closing plates
are closed.
3. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the driving unit is a
plurality of step motors connected to each hinge shaft of the
opening and closing plates, for rotating the opening and closing
plates in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.
4. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the control unit controls
the operation of the driving unit so that an open area of the
passage can be widened to increase the flow rate of the cool air,
as the measured temperature of the refrigerating chamber becomes
higher than the set temperature of the refrigerating chamber.
5. A refrigerator, comprising: an opening and closing blade
slidably installed on a passage through which cool air flowing from
a freezing chamber to a refrigerating chamber passes, for wholly or
partially opening and closing the passage; a driving unit for
driving the opening and closing blade to regulate an opening and
closing degree of the passage; and a control unit for comparing a
set temperature of the refrigerating chamber with a measured
temperature of the refrigerating chamber, and controlling an
operation of the driving unit according to a comparison result.
6. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein two or more opening and
closing blades are formed to be interlocked at a sectional center
of the passage and to slidably move between the sectional center
and the circumference of the passage.
7. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the control unit controls
the operation of the driving unit so that an open area of the
passage can be widened to increase the flow rate of the cool air,
as the measured temperature of the refrigerating chamber becomes
higher than the set temperature of the refrigerating chamber.
8. A refrigerator comprising: a passage through which cool air
flows from a freezing chamber to a refrigerating chamber; a passage
opening and closing member for wholly or partially opening and
closing the passage; a driving unit for driving the passage opening
and closing member so that the passage opening and closing member
can open and close the passage; and a control unit for comparing a
set temperature of the refrigerating chamber with a measured
temperature of the refrigerating chamber, and controlling an
operation of the driving unit according to a comparison result.
9. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the passage opening and
closing member is a plurality of dampers that independently
operate.
10. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the passage opening and
closing member comprises a circular opening portion, and a
plurality of opening and closing blades arranged along the
circumference of the opening portion.
11. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the opening and closing
blades slide in a radius direction of the opening portion.
12. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the plurality of opening
and closing blades of the passage opening and closing member
comprise a rotating blade and a fixed blade, the rotating blade
being rotated in a circumferential direction to open some portion
of the opening portion.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator wherein cool
air flows from a freezing chamber to a refrigerating chamber, and
more particularly, to a refrigerator wherein a flow rate of cool
air flowing from a freezing chamber to a refrigerating chamber can
be precisely regulated.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating one example of a conventional
refrigerator.
[0003] The conventional refrigerator will be described with
reference to FIG. 1. The conventional refrigerator includes a
refrigerator main body 1 in which a freezing chamber F and a
refrigerating chamber R are formed on both sides, and a freezing
chamber door (not shown) and a refrigerating chamber door (not
shown) installed on the refrigerator main body 1 to be openable and
closable, respectively. An insulating material is foam-molded
inside of walls of the refrigerator main body 1 and of the
doors.
[0004] The freezing chamber F and the refrigerating chamber R are
separated by a partition wall 2. Shelves 3 are provided in the
freezing chamber F and the refrigerating chamber R so that a user
can put articles thereon. Meanwhile, baskets (not shown) are
provided on the freezing chamber door and the refrigerating chamber
door so that the user can keep articles therein.
[0005] Here, a compressor (not shown), a condenser (not shown), a
capillary tube or an electronic expansion valve (not shown) and an
evaporator 4 are built in an inner wall of the refrigerator main
body 1. The evaporator 4 is installed on a passage A in the inner
wall contacting the freezing chamber F, a defrosting heater 5 is
provided below the evaporator 4 for defrosting the evaporator 4,
and a cool air circulation fan 6 is provided over the evaporator 4
to blow heat-exchanged cool air from the evaporator 4.
[0006] A plurality of cool air supply holes 7 are formed in the
inner wall contacting the freezing chamber F and the refrigerating
chamber R to supply the cool air heat-exchanged with the evaporator
4, and a damper assembly 10 is formed in the partition wall 2 to
supply the cool air from the freezing chamber F to the
refrigerating chamber R.
[0007] Accordingly, when the compressor operates, refrigerant is
circulated along the compressor, the condenser, the capillary tube
or the electronic expansion valve and the evaporator 4. And when
the cool air circulation fan 6 operates, the cool air
heat-exchanged with the evaporator 4 is forcibly blown and supplied
to the freezing chamber F and the refrigerating chamber R. The cool
air circulated in the freezing chamber F with a relatively low
temperature is supplied to the refrigerating chamber R with a
relatively high temperature through the damper assembly 10
installed on the passage between the freezing chamber F and the
refrigerating chamber R, thereby controlling a temperature inside
the refrigerator.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the damper assembly of the
conventional refrigerator. The damper assembly 10 applied to the
conventional refrigerator will be explained with reference to FIG.
2. The damper assembly 10 includes a damper 12 for opening and
closing an opening portion 11 communicating with the passage, and a
motor 13 for rotating a hinge shaft of the damper 12 to open and
close the passage.
[0009] Here, the motor 13 enables the damper 12 to open and close
the opening portion 11, thereby controlling supply/interception of
the cool air from the freezing chamber F to the refrigerating
chamber R. The motor 13 is connected to a control unit (not shown)
for controlling an operation of the refrigerator through an
electric wire 14, and controlled by the control unit.
[0010] However, in the conventional refrigerator, as the damper is
opened and closed on the passage for supplying the cool air from
the freezing chamber to the refrigerating chamber, the whole
passage is subsequently opened and closed. It is thus difficult to
precisely control a temperature of the refrigerating chamber and
thus to freshly keep articles stored therein.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0011] An object of the present invention is to provide a
refrigerator wherein a flow rate of cool air flowing from a
freezing chamber to a refrigerating chamber is regulated to
precisely control a temperature of the refrigerating chamber.
[0012] Particularly, an object of the present invention is to
provide a refrigerator wherein a portion for regulating a flow rate
of cool air supplied to a refrigerating chamber can be partially
opened and closed.
[0013] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a refrigerator, including: a plurality of opening and
closing plates rotatably installed on a passage through which cool
air flowing from a freezing chamber to a refrigerating chamber
passes, for wholly or partially opening and closing the passage; a
driving unit for driving the opening and closing plates to regulate
an opening and closing degree of the passage; and a control unit
for comparing a set temperature of the refrigerating chamber with a
measured temperature of the refrigerating chamber, and controlling
an operation of the driving unit according to a comparison
result.
[0014] In addition, the passage includes one or more partitioning
portions installed to contact the edges of the opening and closing
plates when the opening and closing plates are closed.
[0015] Moreover, the driving unit is a plurality of step motors
connected to each hinge shaft of the opening and closing plates,
for rotating the opening and closing plates in a clockwise and
counterclockwise direction.
[0016] Further, the control unit controls the operation of the
driving unit so that an open area of the passage can be widened to
increase the flow rate of the cool air, as the measured temperature
of the refrigerating chamber becomes higher than the set
temperature of the refrigerating chamber.
[0017] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a refrigerator, including: an opening and closing blade
slidably installed on a passage through which cool air flowing from
a freezing chamber to a refrigerating chamber passes, for wholly or
partially opening and closing the passage; a driving unit for
driving the opening and closing blade to regulate an opening and
closing degree of the passage; and a control unit for comparing a
set temperature of the refrigerating chamber with a measured
temperature of the refrigerating chamber, and controlling an
operation of the driving unit according to a comparison result.
[0018] In addition, two or more opening and closing blades are
formed to be interlocked at a sectional center of the passage and
to slidably move between the sectional center and the circumference
of the passage.
[0019] Moreover, the control unit controls the operation of the
driving unit so that an open area of the passage can be widened to
increase the flow rate of the cool air, as the measured temperature
of the refrigerating chamber becomes higher than the set
temperature of the refrigerating chamber.
[0020] According to a further aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a refrigerator, including: a passage through
which cool air flows from a freezing chamber to a refrigerating
chamber; a passage opening and closing member for wholly or
partially opening and closing the passage; a driving unit for
driving the passage opening and closing member so that the passage
opening and closing member can open and close the passage; and a
control unit for comparing a set temperature of the refrigerating
chamber with a measured temperature of the refrigerating chamber,
and controlling an operation of the driving unit according to a
comparison result.
[0021] In addition, the passage opening and closing member is a
plurality of dampers that independently operate.
[0022] Moreover, the passage opening and closing member includes a
circular opening portion, and a plurality of opening and closing
blades arranged along the circumference of the opening portion.
[0023] Further, the opening and closing blades slide in a radius
direction of the opening portion.
[0024] Furthermore, the plurality of opening and closing blades of
the passage opening and closing member include a rotating blade and
a fixed blade, the rotating blade being rotated in a
circumferential direction to open some portion of the opening
portion.
ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS
[0025] According to a refrigerator of the present invention, as a
passage for supplying cool air from a freezing chamber to a
refrigerating chamber is wholly or partially openable and closable,
an actual temperature of the refrigerating chamber can be precisely
controlled into a preset temperature. Therefore, stored articles
can be freshly maintained to improve users' satisfaction.
[0026] In addition, according to a refrigerator of the present
invention, although a plurality of opening and closing blades
opened and closed in a sliding direction are installed on a section
of a passage through which cool air flows from a freezing chamber
to a refrigerating chamber, the opening and closing blades are
opened and closed by one motor. As a result, an installation space
and a production cost can be considerably reduced due to decrease
of the component number.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] The present invention will become better understood with
reference to the accompanying drawings which are given only by way
of illustration and thus are not limitative of the present
invention, wherein:
[0028] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating one example of a conventional
refrigerator;
[0029] FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a damper assembly of the
conventional refrigerator;
[0030] FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a damper assembly of a
refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0031] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a cool air flow rate
control apparatus of the refrigerator according to the first
embodiment of the present invention;
[0032] FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a damper assembly of a
refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present
invention;
[0033] FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a cool air flow rate
control apparatus of the refrigerator according to the second
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0034] FIGS. 7 and 8 are views illustrating operating states of the
damper assembly of FIG. 5.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0035] FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a damper assembly of a
refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present
invention and FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a cool air
flow rate control apparatus of the refrigerator according to the
first embodiment of the present invention.
[0036] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a damper assembly 50 of the
refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present
invention includes a mounting portion 51 mounted on a passage
through which cool air flows from a freezing chamber F to a
refrigerating chamber R, a plurality of opening and closing plates
52a, 52b and 52c hinge-connected to the mounting portion 51, for
wholly or partially opening and closing the passage, and a
plurality of step motors 53a, 53b and 53c for controlling
operations of the opening and closing plates 52a, 52b and 52c. The
damper assembly 50 can regulate a flow rate of cool air supplied
from the freezing chamber F to the refrigerating chamber R.
[0037] In addition, electric wires 54a, 54b and 54c connected to
the step motors 53a, 53b and 53c respectively are connected to a
control unit 55 for controlling an operation of the refrigerator,
so that an operation of the damper assembly 50 is controlled by the
control unit 55. The control unit 55 controls the operation of the
damper assembly 50 in consideration of a set temperature inputted
through a button portion 56 provided on a door, and a measured
temperature measured by a temperature sensor 57 mounted in the
freezing chamber F or the refrigerating chamber R.
[0038] The damper assembly 50 will be described in more detail.
Three opening portions 51a, 51b and 51c communicating with the
passage are defined in the mounting portion 51 side by side. Two
partitioning portions B1 and B2 are provided between the opening
portions 51a, 51b and 51c to partition off the passage. Three
opening and closing plates 52a, 52b and 52c are connected to three
step motors 53a, 53b and 53c through different hinge shafts so as
to open and close the opening portions 51a, 51b and 51c,
respectively.
[0039] In order to precisely regulate the flow rate of the cool
air, it is possible to subdivide the passage and additionally
install the opening and closing plates 52a, 52b and 52c and the
step motors 53a, 53b and 53c for opening and closing the subdivided
passages. It is determined in consideration of the number and
operating relation of the components.
[0040] Here, in the mounting portion 51, guide ribs protrude from
the edges of the opening portions 51a, 51b and 51c, and the
partitioning portions B1 and B2 protrude at the same height as that
of the guide ribs. A thick cloth or the like is provided on
surfaces of the opening and closing plates 52a, 52b and 52c which
contact the guide ribs of the opening portions 51a, 51b and 51c and
the partitioning portions B1 and B2. In a state where the opening
and closing plates 52a, 52b and 52c are closed, they contact the
guide ribs of the opening portions 51a, 51b and 51c and the
partitioning portions B1 and B2, thereby efficiently intercepting
the flow of the cool air.
[0041] Moreover, when the opening and closing plates 52a, 52b and
52c are rotated in a cool air flowing direction, the opening
portions 51a, 51b and 51c are blocked, and when the opening and
closing plates 52a, 52b and 52c are rotated in an opposite
direction, the opening portions 51a, 51b and 51c are opened. When
the opening and closing plates 52a, 52b and 52c are opened, they
are placed to be horizontal to the cool air flowing direction. On
the contrary, when the opening and closing plates 52a, 52b and 52c
are closed, they are placed to be vertical to the cool air flowing
direction.
[0042] Even if the opening and closing plates 52a, 52b and 52c are
rotated around the hinge shafts in a forward or backward direction,
respectively, the step motors 53a, 53b and 53c individually
maintain an opening and closing angle of the opening and closing
plates 52a, 52b and 52c at 90.degree., and thus regulate the flow
rate of the cool air flowing from the freezing chamber F to the
refrigerating chamber R. Operations of the step motors 53a, 53b and
53c are individually controlled by the control unit 55.
[0043] Here, if a measured temperature T of the refrigerating
chamber R measured by the temperature sensor 57 provided on the
side of the refrigerating chamber R is higher than a set
temperature To of the refrigerating chamber R pre-inputted through
the button portion 56 (T>To), the control unit 55 controls the
operations of the step motors 53a, 53b and 53c to open the opening
and closing plates 52a, 52b and 52c. As a temperature difference
.DELTA.T between the measured temperature T of the refrigerating
chamber R and the set temperature To of the refrigerating chamber R
increases, more opening and closing plates 52a, 52b and 52c are
opened to open more opening portions 51a, 51b and 51c, thereby
increasing the flow rate of the cool air flowing from the freezing
chamber F to the refrigerating chamber R.
[0044] On the contrary, if the measured temperature T of the
refrigerating chamber R is equal to or lower than the set
temperature To of the refrigerating chamber R (T.ltoreq.To), the
control unit 55 controls the operations of the step motors 53a, 53b
and 53c to close the opening and closing plates 52a, 52b and 52c.
As a result, the cool air is not supplied from the freezing chamber
F to the refrigerating chamber R.
[0045] FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a damper assembly of a
refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present
invention, FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a cool air flow
rate control apparatus of the refrigerator according to the second
embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 7 and 8 are views
illustrating operating states of the damper assembly of FIG. 5.
[0046] A damper assembly 50 of the refrigerator according to the
second embodiment of the present invention will be described with
reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. The damper assembly 50 includes a
mounting portion 51 mounted on a passage through which cool air
flows from a freezing chamber F to a refrigerating chamber R, a
plurality of opening and closing blades 52 formed to slidably move
on the mounting portion 51, for wholly or partially opening and
closing the passage, and a motor 53 for controlling operations of
the opening and closing blades 52. The damper assembly 50 can
regulate a flow rate of cool air supplied from the freezing chamber
F to the refrigerating chamber R.
[0047] In addition, an electric wire 54 connected to the motor 53
is connected to a control unit 55 for controlling an operation of
the refrigerator, so that an operation of the damper assembly 50 is
controlled by the control unit 55. The control unit 55 controls the
operation of the damper assembly 50 in consideration of a set
temperature inputted through a button portion 56 provided on a
door, and a measured temperature measured by a temperature sensor
57 mounted in the freezing chamber F or the refrigerating chamber
R.
[0048] The damper assembly 50 will be described in more detail. An
opening portion 51h communicating with the passage is defined in
the mounting portion 51, and a groove (not shown) for storing the
opening and closing blades 52 is defined in an inside surface of
the opening portion 51h of the mounting portion 51.
[0049] Here, the opening portion 51h of the mounting portion 51 is
placed to be horizontal to a cool air flowing direction.
[0050] The opening and closing blades 52 are installed to slidably
move from the circumference to the center of the opening portion
51h of the mounting portion 51. Like a diaphragm of a camera, when
the opening and closing blades 52 are driven by the motor 53, they
are operated to slidably move on the opening portion 51h of the
mounting portion 51.
[0051] For example, the opening and closing blades 52 are formed as
arc-shaped plates, and arranged in a circumferential direction to
overlap each other in some sections. Circumferential portions of
the opening and closing blades 52 are engaged with each other by
gear teeth. Only the gear teeth connected to one opening and
closing blade 52 are connected to the motor 53. As the motor 53
operates, the whole opening and closing blades 52 cooperate with
each other.
[0052] For another example, the opening and closing blades 52 can
be composed of a pair of plates, and installed to slidably move
from the counter portions to the center of the opening portion 51h
of the mounting portion 51.
[0053] In a state where the opening and closing blades 52 are
closed, they are placed to be vertical to the cool air flowing
direction.
[0054] Meanwhile, the motor 53 is connected to the gear teeth
connected to one of the opening and closing blades 52, and rotated
in a forward or backward direction to open and close the opening
and closing blades 52.
[0055] Here, the opening and closing of the opening and closing
blades 52 are determined according to a rotation direction of the
motor 53. The larger a rotation angle is, the more the opening and
closing blades 52 open and close the opening portion 51h of the
mounting portion 51.
[0056] Particularly, if a measured temperature T of the
refrigerating chamber R measured by the temperature sensor 57
provided on the side of the refrigerating chamber R is higher than
a set temperature To of the refrigerating chamber R pre-inputted
through the button portion 56 (T>To), the control unit 55
controls the operations of the motor 53 to open the opening and
closing blades 52. As a temperature difference .DELTA.T between the
measured temperature T of the refrigerating chamber R and the set
temperature To of the refrigerating chamber R increases, the
control unit 55 increases the flow rate of the cool air supplied
from the freezing chamber F to the refrigerating chamber R.
[0057] That is, if the temperature difference .DELTA.T between the
measured temperature T of the refrigerating chamber R and the set
temperature To of the refrigerating chamber R is relatively small,
as shown in FIG. 7, the motor 53 is operated within a small
rotation angle range to partially open the opening portion 51h of
the mounting portion 51, thereby supplying a small flow rate of
cool air from the freezing chamber F to the refrigerating chamber
R. On the contrary, if the temperature difference .DELTA.T between
the measured temperature T of the refrigerating chamber R and the
set temperature To of the refrigerating chamber R is relatively
large, as shown in FIG. 8, the motor 53 is operated within a large
rotation angle range to wholly open the opening portion 51h of the
mounting portion 51, thereby supplying a large flow rate of cool
air from the freezing chamber F to the refrigerating chamber R.
[0058] On the other hand, if the measured temperature T of the
refrigerating chamber R is equal to or lower than the set
temperature To of the refrigerating chamber R (T.ltoreq.To), the
control unit 55 controls the operation of the motor 53 to close the
opening and closing blades 52. As a result, the cool air is not
supplied from the freezing chamber F to the refrigerating chamber
R.
[0059] In addition, as another example of the present invention,
the opening and closing blades 52 can be composed of a rotating
blade and a fixed blade. The motor 53 drives the rotating blade.
According to a command of the control unit 55, the rotating blade
can be rotated at a predetermined angle by the motor 53. In this
configuration, the rotating blade overlaps the fixed blade as much
as the angle rotated by the motor 53, and opens the opening portion
51h as much as the rotated angle. As the rotation angle of the
rotating blade is regulated to control an opening and closing
degree of the opening portion 51h, it is possible to regulate an
amount of cool air supplied from the freezing chamber F to a
refrigerating chamber R.
[0060] The present invention has been described in detail with
reference to the preferred embodiments and the attached drawings.
However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to these
embodiments and drawings, but is defined by the appended
claims.
* * * * *