U.S. patent application number 12/096562 was filed with the patent office on 2008-11-27 for ice-making device for refrigerator and refrigerator having the same.
Invention is credited to Byeong-Gyu Kang, Hyun-Gki Kim, Seon-Kyu Kim, Hang-Bok Lee, Kyung-Soo Park, Jong-Suk Yoon, Sang-Min Yu.
Application Number | 20080289355 12/096562 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38123057 |
Filed Date | 2008-11-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080289355 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kang; Byeong-Gyu ; et
al. |
November 27, 2008 |
Ice-Making Device for Refrigerator and Refrigerator Having the
Same
Abstract
The present invention relates to an ice-making device for a
refrigerator and a refrigerator having the same. The ice-making
device of the present invention comprises a water tank detachably
mounted to a rear surface of a refrigerator door, an ice-making
housing detachably mounted to the rear surface of the door below
the water tank and provided with a predetermined installation space
therein, an ice tray mounted into the installation space and
provided with an ice-making groove in which water supplied from the
water tank is frozen into ice, and an ice bank for storing ice made
in the ice tray, wherein the ice bank can be received in or
withdrawn from the installation space. According to the present
invention, there are advantages in that ice-making water can be
prevented from running down from the ice tray, ice made in the ice
tray can be prevented from being impregnated with odor of other
foods, the ice can be more easily withdrawn while the loss of cold
air is minimized, and the ice can be prevented from being
impregnated with odor of the other foods.
Inventors: |
Kang; Byeong-Gyu;
(Gyeongsangnam-do, KR) ; Lee; Hang-Bok; (Seongnam
City, KR) ; Park; Kyung-Soo; (Seoul City, KR)
; Yu; Sang-Min; (Seoul City, KR) ; Yoon;
Jong-Suk; (Gyeonggi-do, KR) ; Kim; Seon-Kyu;
(Seoul City, KR) ; Kim; Hyun-Gki; (Seoul City,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Family ID: |
38123057 |
Appl. No.: |
12/096562 |
Filed: |
December 5, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
December 5, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR2006/005211 |
371 Date: |
June 6, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/344 ; 312/404;
312/405; 62/425 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 23/04 20130101;
F25D 2400/06 20130101; F25C 2500/06 20130101; F25D 2323/122
20130101; F25C 1/24 20130101; F25C 2400/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/344 ; 62/425;
312/404; 312/405 |
International
Class: |
F25C 5/18 20060101
F25C005/18; F25D 3/00 20060101 F25D003/00; A47B 96/00 20060101
A47B096/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 6, 2005 |
KR |
10-2005-0118382 |
Dec 6, 2005 |
KR |
10-2005-0118384 |
Dec 6, 2005 |
KR |
10-2005-0118415 |
Claims
1. An ice-making device for a refrigerator, comprising: a water
tank detachably mounted to a rear surface of a refrigerator door;
an ice-making housing detachably mounted to the rear surface of the
door below the water tank and provided with a predetermined
installation space therein; an ice tray mounted into the
installation space and provided with an ice-making groove in which
water supplied from the water tank is frozen into ice; and an ice
bank for storing ice made in the ice tray, wherein the ice bank can
be received in or withdrawn from the installation space.
2. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water
tank is detachably mounted into a mounting space defined between a
bottom surface of any one of door baskets provided on the rear
surface of the door and a top surface of the ice-making
housing.
3. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water
tank is provided with a water storage space, a supply port through
which water is supplied into the water storage space, a discharge
port through which the water stored in the water storage space is
supplied to the ice tray, and a valve for selectively opening or
closing the discharge port.
4. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the
discharge port is formed at a position deviated from a region where
the water is supplied into the water storage space through the
supply port.
5. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the water
tank includes: a tank main body formed into a polyhedral shape with
an open top to form the water storage space therein and provided
with the discharge port at a bottom surface thereof; a tank cover
coupled to an upper portion of the tank main body to selectively
open or close the water storage space and provided with the supply
port at a predetermined position; and a supply port cover provided
on the tank cover to selectively open or close the supply port, and
at least a part of the water tank is formed of a transparent or
translucent material to visually check an amount of water stored in
the water storage space from the outside.
6. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 5, wherein a support
member is provided at an inner side of a sidewall of the tank main
body to support an outer periphery of the tank cover.
7. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 6, wherein a seating
recess in which the supply port cover is seated when the supply
port is closed by the cover and a packing groove covers the supply
port are formed on a top surface of the tank cover, a cutout which
communicates with the seating recess to allow a user's hand to be
inserted into the recess is formed at a position on the tank cover
to open the supply port cover which has covered the supply port,
and a contact protrusion brought into close contact with the supply
port and a packing protrusion fitted into the packing groove are
provided on a bottom surface of the supply port cover.
8. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the valve
includes: a valve bracket provided at an outer periphery of the
discharge port and formed with a supply port; a valve main body
installed to be vertically movable through the supply port of the
valve bracket to selectively open or close the supply port; a
packing ring provided between the valve bracket and the valve main
body to stop up a gap between the valve bracket and the valve main
body; and an elastic member for imparting an elastic force to the
valve main body in a direction in which the valve main body closes
the supply port of the valve bracket, and the valve main body is
actuated by an actuating protrusion provided on the top surface of
the ice-making housing to open the discharge port.
9. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water
tank is provided with a guide groove formed by depressing upward a
portion of a bottom surface of the water tank, the ice-making
housing is provided with a guide rib protruding upward from the top
surface of the ice-making housing, and the water tank can be guided
by allowing the guide rib to be inserted and slid in the guide
groove while the water tank is received in or withdrawn from the
mounting space.
10. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
ice-making housing comprises a first ice-making housing mounted
below the water tank and having an ice tray installed in an
installation space thereof, and a second ice-making housing mounted
below the first ice-making housing and having an ice bank installed
in an installation space thereof.
11. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 10, wherein a supply
port is provided at a top surface of the first ice-making housing
to supply water stored in the water tank into the ice tray.
12. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first
ice-making housing further comprises at least one cold air supply
port for supplying cold air into the installation space, a viewing
window for visually checking from the outside a process of making
ice in the ice-making groove, and a handle opening through which a
user's hand can pass to allow the water tank to be mounted or
withdrawn.
13. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 10, wherein support
shafts are provided at both lateral sides of the ice tray to
pivotally support the ice tray on the first ice-making housing, a
stopper is provided on an inner side of the first ice-making
housing and is located within a range of the ice tray pivoting
about the support shafts, a pivoting lever is provided on an outer
side of the first ice-making housing to allow the ice tray to be
pivoted, and the ice made in the ice-making groove is separated
from the ice-making groove and then stored in the ice bank by
actuating the pivoting lever to allow the ice tray to be caught to
the stopper and then twisted while the ice tray is pivoted.
14. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the
pivoting lever is provided on one side of the first ice-making
housing corresponding to a free end of the door.
15. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 13, further
comprising a tray cover mounted in the installation space of the
first ice-making housing to be vertically pivoted in cooperation
with the pivot motion of the ice tray and to selectively open or
close the ice-making groove.
16. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the tray
cover is made of a transparent or translucent material to allow a
user to visually check a process of making ice in the ice-making
groove.
17. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the tray
cover is provided with a supply port through which water supplied
from the water tank through the supply port of the first ice-making
housing can be supplied to the ice tray.
18. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the
supply port of the tray cover is formed at a position deviated from
a region where the water is supplied from the water storage space
through the supply port of the first ice-making housing.
19. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the tray
cover is further provided with a water guide surface downwardly
inclined toward the supply port of the tray cover to guide the
water into the supply port.
20. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 10, wherein an ice
transfer opening through which ice made in the ice tray is
transferred to the ice bank and a transfer guide surface which is
formed to be downwardly inclined toward the ice transfer opening to
guide the ice into the ice guide opening are provided on a top
surface of the second ice-making housing.
21. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the ice
bank is formed into a hexahedral shape with an open top and
provided with an ice storage space therein, and at least a portion
of the ice bank is made of a transparent or translucent material to
allow a user to visually check the ice stored in the ice storage
space from the outside.
22. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 21, further
comprising a guide means for allowing the ice bank to be received
in or withdrawn from the installation space of the second
ice-making housing through a home bar provided in the door.
23. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the home
bar includes: a home bar housing installed in the rear surface of
the door below the second ice-making housing and provided with a
predetermined storage space; an opening formed by cutting out a
portion of the door and communicating with the storage space and
the installation space of the second ice-making housing; and a home
bar door for selectively opening or closing the opening, and the
ice bank is received in or withdrawn from the installation space of
the second ice-making housing through the opening by means of the
guide means.
24. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the guide
means is a guide box for moving forward or rearward of the
installation space of the second ice-making housing in a state
where the ice bank is seated thereon.
25. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 24, wherein a support
rib is provided at a rear end of the guide box to be brought into
close contact with a rear side of the ice bank in a state where the
ice bank is seated on a top surface of a floor plate of the guide
box, and a support projection is provided at a front side of the
ice bank to be brought into close contact with a front end of the
guide box in a state where the ice bank is seated on the top
surface of the floor plate of the guide box.
26. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 24, wherein the floor
plate of the guide box can be slid in a forward and rearward
direction with respect to lateral sides of the guide box in a state
where the ice bank is seated thereon, and a catching groove and a
catching protrusion inserted in the catching groove are provided
respectively at a position on a bottom surface of the ice bank and
a corresponding position on the floor plate of the guide box.
27. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 24, wherein the guide
box which is received in the installation space of the second
ice-making housing in a state where the ice bank is seated thereon
is prevented from being inadvertently withdrawn from the
installation space of the second ice-making housing by means of a
locking means.
28. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the
locking means is composed of: a push latch provided on one side of
the guide box or the second ice-making housing brought into close
contact with the guide box; and a latch hook provided on the other
side of the guide box or the second ice-making housing brought into
close contact with the guide box and inserted selectively in the
push latch by pushing the guide box in a direction in which the ice
bank is received in the installation space of the second ice-making
housing.
29. An ice-making device for a refrigerator, comprising: a water
tank detachably mounted to a rear surface of a refrigerator door; a
first ice-making housing detachably mounted to the rear surface of
the door below the water tank and provided with a predetermined
installation space therein; an ice tray pivotally mounted into the
installation space of the first ice-making housing and provided
with an ice-making groove in which water supplied from the water
tank is frozen into ice; a tray cover mounted in the installation
space of the first ice-making housing to be vertically pivoted in
cooperation with a pivot motion of the ice tray and to selectively
open or close the ice-making groove; a second ice-making housing
detachably mounted to the rear surface of the door below the first
ice-making housing and provided with a predetermined installation
space therein; an ice bank for storing ice made in the ice tray;
and a guide box for moving forward or rearward of the installation
space of the second ice-making housing in a state where the ice
bank is seated thereon such that the ice bank can be received in or
withdrawn from the installation space of the second ice-making
housing through a home bar provided in the door, wherein the ice
bank and the guide box can be received in or withdrawn from the
installation space of the second ice-making housing.
30. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 29, wherein the water
tank is detachably mounted into a mounting space defined between a
bottom surface of any one of door baskets provided on the rear
surface of the door and a top surface of the first ice-making
housing.
31. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 29, wherein the water
tank includes: a tank main body formed into a polyhedral shape with
an open top to form a water storage space therein and provided with
a discharge port, through which water stored in the water storage
space is supplied to the ice bank, at a bottom surface thereof; a
valve coupled to the tank main body to selectively open or close
the discharge port; a tank cover coupled to an upper portion of the
tank main body to selectively open or close the water storage space
and provided with a supply port through which water is supplied
into the water storage space; and a supply port cover provided on
the tank cover to selectively open or close the supply port, and
the discharge port is formed at a position deviated from a region
where the water is supplied into the water storage space through
the supply port and at least a part of the water tank is made of a
transparent or translucent material to visually check an amount of
water stored in the water storage space from the outside.
32. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 31, wherein the valve
includes: a valve bracket provided at an outer periphery of the
discharge port and formed with a supply port; a valve main body
installed to be vertically movable through the supply port of the
water tank to selectively open or close the supply port; a packing
ring provided between the valve bracket and the valve main body to
stop up a gap between the valve bracket and the valve main body;
and an elastic member for imparting an elastic force to the valve
main body in a direction in which the valve main body closes the
supply port of the water tank, and the valve main body is actuated
by an actuating protrusion provided on the top surface of the first
ice-making housing to open the discharge port.
33. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 29, wherein a supply
port is provided at the top surface of the first ice-making housing
to supply the water stored in the water tank into the ice tray, an
ice transfer opening through which ice made in the ice tray is
transferred to the ice bank and a transfer guide surface which is
formed to be downwardly inclined toward the ice transfer opening to
guide the ice into the ice guide opening are provided on a top
surface of the second ice-making housing.
34. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 29, wherein ice made
in the ice-making groove is separated from the ice-making groove
and then stored in the ice bank by actuating a pivoting lever,
which is provided on an outer side of the first ice-making housing
corresponding to a free end of the door, and then allowing the ice
tray to be caught to and twisted by a stopper provided on an inner
side of the first ice-making housing when the ice tray is supported
on the stopper.
35. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 29, wherein the tray
cover is provided with a supply port formed at a position deviated
from a region where the water is supplied from the water tank to
the ice tray through the supply port of the first ice-making
housing, and a water guide surface downwardly inclined toward the
supply port of the tray cover to guide the water into the supply
port of the tray cover.
36. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 29, wherein the ice
bank is formed into a hexahedral shape with an open top and
provided with an ice storage space therein, and at least a portion
of the ice bank is made of a transparent or translucent material to
allow a user to visually check the ice stored in the ice storage
space from the outside.
37. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 29, wherein a floor
plate of the guide box can be slid in a forward and rearward
direction with respect to lateral sides of the guide box in a state
where the ice bank is seated thereon.
38. The ice-making device as claimed in claim 29, wherein a push
latch and a latch hook are provided respectively on the guide box
and the second ice-making housing brought into close contact with
the guide box such that the latch hook is selectively fastened to
the push latch by pushing the guide box in a direction in which the
ice bank is received in the installation space of the second
ice-making housing.
39. A refrigerator, comprising: a refrigerator main body provided
with a predetermined storage space; a refrigerator door for
selectively opening or closing the storage space; and an ice-making
device according to claim 1, which is mounted to a rear surface of
the door.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more
particularly, to an ice-making device for a refrigerator and a
refrigerator including the ice-making device.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Refrigerators are household appliances for keeping foods
refrigerated or frozen in order to store the foods in a fresh state
for a long time. The interior of the refrigerator is portioned into
freezing and refrigerating chambers, and an ice-making device is
provided in the freezing chamber.
[0003] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a refrigerator provided with a
conventional ice-making device, and FIG. 3 shows an ice-making
device installed in a refrigerator.
[0004] As shown in these figures, freezing and refrigerating
chambers 11 and 13 which are partitioned side by side are provided
within a main body 10 of a refrigerator. The main body 10 is
provided with a freezing chamber door 11a and a refrigerating
chamber door 13a in order to selectively open or close the freezing
and refrigerating chambers 11 and 13, respectively. The freezing
and refrigerating chamber doors 11a and 13a are hinged to opposite
lateral sides of the main body 10, respectively, such that the
doors can be pivoted in a forward direction.
[0005] Furthermore, home bars 15 and 17 are provided on the
freezing and refrigerating chamber doors 11a and 13a, respectively.
Food such as drinking water is stored in the home bars 15 and 17.
Each of the home bars 15 and 17 is composed of a home bar housing
15a or 17a and a home bar door 15b or 17b.
[0006] The home bar housings 15a and 17a are provided on rear
surfaces of the freezing and refrigerating chamber doors 11a and
13a, respectively. The home bar housings 15a and 17a are provided
with predetermined storage spaces, respectively, in which food such
as drinking water can be received.
[0007] Each of the home bar doors 15b and 17b functions to
selectively open or close an opening that is formed by cutting out
a portion of the freezing or refrigerating chamber door 11a or 13a
to correspond to the home bar housing 15a or 17a. Each of the home
bar doors 15b and 17b is installed to be vertically pivoted.
[0008] Referring to FIG. 2, an ice-making device 19 is installed at
a position in the freezing chamber 11. The ice-making device 19 is
an apparatus for making ice. The ice-making device 19 is
retractably installed within the freezing chamber 11. Further, as
shown in FIG. 3, the ice-making device 19 is composed of a support
frame 21 and a pair of ice trays 23.
[0009] The support frame 21 is formed into a rectangular shape. The
support frame 21 functions to rotatably support the ice trays 23.
That is, the ice trays 23 can be installed to be rotatable within
the support frame 21.
[0010] Each of the ice trays 23 is formed with a plurality of
ice-making grooves 23a. Support shafts 24 are provided at the
centers of front and rear surfaces of the ice trays 23,
respectively. The ice tray 23 is rotated clockwise or
counterclockwise about the support shaft 24 as viewed in FIG. 2. To
this end, the support shaft 24 is rotatably inserted into the rear
surface of the support frame 21.
[0011] A stopper 25 is installed at a certain position on the rear
surface of support frame 21 to the left side of the support shaft
24 as viewed in this figure. The stopper 25 protrudes from the rear
surface of the support frame 21 by a predetermined distance and is
positioned on a moving path of the ice tray 23. The ice tray 23
rotating about the support shaft 24 is twisted by the stopper
25.
[0012] A handle 26 is provided on a front surface of the support
frame 21 corresponding to the front of the ice tray 23. The handle
26 is a portion which a user grips to rotate the ice tray 23. A
pair of handles 26 are provided to be in harmony with the number of
ice trays 23.
[0013] Referring again to FIG. 2, an ice bank 27 is installed below
the ice-making device 19 within the freezing chamber 11. Ice made
in the ice-making device 19 is stored in the ice bank 27. The ice
bank 27 is also retractably installed within the freezing chamber
11.
[0014] The ice-making device configured as such is operated as
follows.
[0015] First, the ice-making groove 23a of the ice tray 23 is
filled with water. The freezing chamber door 11a is opened to open
the freezing chamber 11. Next, the ice-making device 19 is received
in a position in the freezing chamber 11. After the ice-making
device 19 is installed in such a way, the freezing chamber door 11a
is closed to close the freezing chamber 11.
[0016] In the meantime, if the water filled in the ice-making
grooves 23a is frozen after a certain period of time, the freezing
chamber door 11a is again opened to open the freezing chamber 11.
If the handle 26 is rotated clockwise as viewed in FIG. 2, the ice
tray 23 is also rotated in the same direction.
[0017] When the ice tray 23 is rotated by a predetermined angle, a
rear surface of ice tray 23 is caught to the stopper 25. Thus, the
ice tray 23 cannot be further rotated clockwise as viewed in FIG.
2. If the handle 26 is further rotated clockwise from such a state
as viewed in FIG. 2, the ice tray 23 is twisted. Therefore, ice
made in the ice-making grooves 23a is separated from the ice tray
23 and then stored in the ice bank 27.
[0018] However, the related art ice-making device for a
refrigerator has the following problems.
[0019] As described above, the ice tray 23 is received in the
freezing chamber 11 in a state where the ice-making grooves 23a are
filled with water. Therefore, there is a problem in that the water
filled in the ice-making grooves 23a runs down from the grooves
while the ice tray 23 is received in the freezing chamber 11.
[0020] Further, the water may be impregnated with odor from the
other foods stored in the freezing chamber 11 while the water
filled in the ice-making grooves 23a is frozen. Thus, the water
made in the freezing chamber in such a way is not sanitary and odor
of the other food may smell when the ice is utilized.
[0021] If a user intends to withdraw the ice bank 27 with ice
stored therein from the freezing chamber 11, he/she should rotate
the freezing chamber door 11a to open the freezing chamber 11.
Therefore, there is a problem in that it is troublesome to put the
ice bank 27 into or out of the freezing chamber.
[0022] Moreover, when the freezing chamber 11 is opened in order to
withdraw the ice bank 27 from the chamber, cold air in the freezing
chamber 11 is discharged to the outside. That is, in the related
art ice-making device for a refrigerator, cold air in the freezing
chamber 11 is unnecessarily discharged to the outside while the ice
bank 27 is withdrawn. Therefore, power consumption of the
refrigerator is increased.
[0023] Further, the ice bank 27 is accommodated in the freezing
chamber 11. Thus, it is likely that ice stored in the ice bank 27
is impregnated with odor of foods stored in the freezing chamber
11.
DISCLOSURE
Technical Problem
[0024] Accordingly, the present invention is conceived to solve the
problems in the prior art. An object of the present invention is to
provide an ice-making device for a refrigerator capable of
preventing ice-making water from running down from an ice tray.
[0025] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
ice-making device for a refrigerator capable of making ice in a
more sanitary way.
[0026] A further object of the present invention is to provide an
ice-making device for a refrigerator capable of withdrawing ice in
a more convenient way.
[0027] A still further object of the present invention is to
provide an ice-making device for a refrigerator capable of
minimizing the leakage of cold air occurring while withdrawing ice
from the refrigerator to the outside.
[0028] A still further object of the present invention is to
provide an ice-making device for a refrigerator capable of
preventing ice stored in an ice bank from being impregnated with
odor of foods stored in the refrigerator.
Technical Solution
[0029] According to an aspect of the present invention for
achieving the objects, there is provided an ice-making device for a
refrigerator comprising: a water tank detachably mounted to a rear
surface of a refrigerator door; an ice-making housing detachably
mounted to the rear surface of the door below the water tank and
provided with a predetermined installation space therein; an ice
tray mounted into the installation space and provided with an
ice-making groove in which water supplied from the water tank is
frozen into ice; and an ice bank for storing ice made in the ice
tray, wherein the ice bank can be received in or withdrawn from the
installation space.
[0030] In one embodiment of the invention, the water tank is
detachably mounted into a mounting space defined between a bottom
surface of any one of door baskets provided on the rear surface of
the door and a top surface of the ice-making housing.
[0031] In another embodiment of the invention, the water tank is
provided with a water storage space, a supply port through which
water is supplied into the water storage space, a discharge port
through which the water stored in the water storage space is
supplied to the ice tray, and a valve for selectively opening or
closing the discharge port.
[0032] In another embodiment of the invention, the discharge port
is formed at a position deviated from a region where the water is
supplied into the water storage space through the supply port.
[0033] In another embodiment of the invention, the water tank
includes: a tank main body formed into a polyhedral shape with an
open top to form the water storage space therein and provided with
the discharge port at a bottom surface thereof; a tank cover
coupled to an upper portion of the tank main body to selectively
open or close the water storage space and provided with the supply
port at a predetermined position; and a supply port cover provided
on the tank cover to selectively open or close the supply port, and
at least a part of the water tank is formed of a transparent or
translucent material to visually check an amount of water stored in
the water storage space from the outside.
[0034] In another embodiment of the invention, a support member is
provided at an inner side of a sidewall of the tank main body to
support an outer periphery of the tank cover.
[0035] In another embodiment of the invention, a seating recess in
which the supply port cover is seated when the supply port is
closed by the cover and a packing groove covers the supply port are
formed on a top surface of the tank cover, a cutout which
communicates with the seating recess to allow a user's hand to be
inserted into the recess is formed at a position on the tank cover
to open the supply port cover which has covered the supply port,
and a contact protrusion brought into close contact with the supply
port and a packing protrusion fitted into the packing groove are
provided on a bottom surface of the supply port cover.
[0036] In another embodiment of the invention, the valve includes:
a valve bracket provided at an outer periphery of the discharge
port and formed with a supply port; a valve main body installed to
be vertically movable through the supply port of the valve bracket
to selectively open or close the supply port; a packing ring
provided between the valve bracket and the valve main body to stop
up a gap between the valve bracket and the valve main body; and an
elastic member for imparting an elastic force to the valve main
body in a direction in which the valve main body closes the supply
port of the valve bracket, and the valve main body is actuated by
an actuating protrusion provided on the top surface of the
ice-making housing to open the discharge port.
[0037] In another embodiment of the invention, the water tank is
provided with a guide groove formed by depressing upward a portion
of a bottom surface of the water tank, the ice-making housing is
provided with a guide rib protruding upward from the top surface of
the ice-making housing, and the water tank can be guided by
allowing the guide rib to be inserted and slid in the guide groove
while the water tank is received in or withdrawn from the mounting
space.
[0038] In another embodiment of the invention, the ice-making
housing comprises a first ice-making housing mounted below the
water tank and having an ice tray installed in an installation
space thereof, and a second ice-making housing mounted below the
first ice-making housing and having an ice bank installed in an
installation space thereof.
[0039] In another embodiment of the invention, a supply port is
provided at a top surface of the first ice-making housing to supply
water stored in the water tank into the ice tray.
[0040] In another embodiment of the invention, the first ice-making
housing further comprises at least one cold air supply port for
supplying cold air into the installation space, a viewing window
for visually checking from the outside a process of making ice in
the ice-making groove, and a handle opening through which a user's
hand can pass to allow the water tank to be mounted or
withdrawn.
[0041] In another embodiment of the invention, support shafts are
provided at both lateral sides of the ice tray to pivotally support
the ice tray on the first ice-making housing, a stopper is provided
on an inner side of the first ice-making housing and is located
within a range of the ice tray pivoting about the support shafts, a
pivoting lever is provided on an outer side of the first ice-making
housing to allow the ice tray to be pivoted, and the ice made in
the ice-making groove is separated from the ice-making groove and
then stored in the ice bank by actuating the pivoting lever to
allow the ice tray to be caught to the stopper and then twisted
while the ice tray is pivoted.
[0042] In another embodiment of the invention, the pivoting lever
is provided on one side of the first ice-making housing
corresponding to a free end of the door.
[0043] In another embodiment of the invention, further comprising a
tray cover mounted in the installation space of the first
ice-making housing to be vertically pivoted in cooperation with the
pivot motion of the ice tray and to selectively open or close the
ice-making groove.
[0044] In another embodiment of the invention, the tray cover is
made of a transparent or translucent material to allow a user to
visually check a process of making ice in the ice-making
groove.
[0045] In another embodiment of the invention, the tray cover is
provided with a supply port through which water supplied from the
water tank through the supply port of the first ice-making housing
can be supplied to the ice tray.
[0046] In another embodiment of the invention, the supply port of
the tray cover is formed at a position deviated from a region where
the water is supplied from the water storage space through the
supply port of the first ice-making housing.
[0047] In another embodiment of the invention, the tray cover is
further provided with a water guide surface downwardly inclined
toward the supply port of the tray cover to guide the water into
the supply port.
[0048] In another embodiment of the invention, an ice transfer
opening through which ice made in the ice tray is transferred to
the ice bank and a transfer guide surface which is formed to be
downwardly inclined toward the ice transfer opening to guide the
ice into the ice guide opening are provided on a top surface of the
second ice-making housing.
[0049] In another embodiment of the invention, the ice bank is
formed into a hexahedral shape with an open top and provided with
an ice storage space therein, and at least a portion of the ice
bank is made of a transparent or translucent material to allow a
user to visually check the ice stored in the ice storage space from
the outside.
[0050] In another embodiment of the invention, further comprising a
guide means for allowing the ice bank to be received in or
withdrawn from the installation space of the second ice-making
housing through a home bar provided in the door.
[0051] In another embodiment of the invention, the home bar
includes: a home bar housing installed in the rear surface of the
door below the second ice-making housing and provided with a
predetermined storage space; an opening formed by cutting out a
portion of the door and communicating with the storage space and
the installation space of the second ice-making housing; and a home
bar door for selectively opening or closing the opening, and the
ice bank is received in or withdrawn from the installation space of
the second ice-making housing through the opening by means of the
guide means.
[0052] In another embodiment of the invention, the guide means is a
guide box for moving forward or rearward of the installation space
of the second ice-making housing in a state where the ice bank is
seated thereon.
[0053] In another embodiment of the invention, a support rib is
provided at a rear end of the guide box to be brought into close
contact with a rear side of the ice bank in a state where the ice
bank is seated on a top surface of a floor plate of the guide box,
and a support projection is provided at a front side of the ice
bank to be brought into close contact with a front end of the guide
box in a state where the ice bank is seated on the top surface of
the floor plate of the guide box.
[0054] In another embodiment of the invention, the floor plate of
the guide box can be slid in a forward and rearward direction with
respect to lateral sides of the guide box in a state where the ice
bank is seated thereon, and a catching groove and a catching
protrusion inserted in the catching groove are provided
respectively at a position on a bottom surface of the ice bank and
a corresponding position on the floor plate of the guide box.
[0055] In another embodiment of the invention, the guide box which
is received in the installation space of the second ice-making
housing in a state where the ice bank is seated thereon is
prevented from being inadvertently withdrawn from the installation
space of the second ice-making housing by means of a locking
means.
[0056] In another embodiment of the invention, the locking means is
composed of: a push latch provided on one side of the guide box or
the second ice-making housing brought into close contact with the
guide box; and a latch hook provided on the other side of the guide
box or the second ice-making housing brought into close contact
with the guide box and inserted selectively in the push latch by
pushing the guide box in a direction in which the ice bank is
received in the installation space of the second ice-making
housing.
[0057] According to another aspect of the present invention for
achieving the objects, there is provided an ice-making device for a
refrigerator comprising: a water tank detachably mounted to a rear
surface of a refrigerator door; a first ice-making housing
detachably mounted to the rear surface of the door below the water
tank and provided with a predetermined installation space therein;
an ice tray pivotally mounted into the installation space of the
first ice-making housing and provided with an ice-making groove in
which water supplied from the water tank is frozen into ice; a tray
cover mounted in the installation space of the first ice-making
housing to be vertically pivoted in cooperation with a pivot motion
of the ice tray and to selectively open or close the ice-making
groove; a second ice-making housing detachably mounted to the rear
surface of the door below the first ice-making housing and provided
with a predetermined installation space therein; an ice bank for
storing ice made in the ice tray; and a guide box for moving
forward or rearward of the installation space of the second
ice-making housing in a state where the ice bank is seated thereon
such that the ice bank can be received in or withdrawn from the
installation space of the second ice-making housing through a home
bar provided in the door, wherein the ice bank and the guide box
can be received in or withdrawn from the installation space of the
second ice-making housing.
[0058] In another embodiment of the invention, the water tank is
detachably mounted into a mounting space defined between a bottom
surface of any one of door baskets provided on the rear surface of
the door and a top surface of the first ice-making housing.
[0059] In another embodiment of the invention, the water tank
includes: a tank main body formed into a polyhedral shape with an
open top to form a water storage space therein and provided with a
discharge port, through which water stored in the water storage
space is supplied to the ice bank, at a bottom surface thereof; a
valve coupled to the tank main body to selectively open or close
the discharge port; a tank cover coupled to an upper portion of the
tank main body to selectively open or close the water storage space
and provided with a supply port through which water is supplied
into the water storage space; and a supply port cover provided on
the tank cover to selectively open or close the supply port, and
the discharge port is formed at a position deviated from a region
where the water is supplied into the water storage space through
the supply port and at least a part of the water tank is made of a
transparent or translucent material to visually check an amount of
water stored in the water storage space from the outside.
[0060] In another embodiment of the invention, the valve includes:
a valve bracket provided at an outer periphery of the discharge
port and formed with a supply port; a valve main body installed to
be vertically movable through the supply port of the water tank to
selectively open or close the supply port; a packing ring provided
between the valve bracket and the valve main body to stop up a gap
between the valve bracket and the valve main body; and an elastic
member for imparting an elastic force to the valve main body in a
direction in which the valve main body closes the supply port of
the water tank, and the valve main body is actuated by an actuating
protrusion provided on the top surface of the first ice-making
housing to open the discharge port.
[0061] In another embodiment of the invention, a supply port is
provided at the top surface of the first ice-making housing to
supply the water stored in the water tank into the ice tray, an ice
transfer opening through which ice made in the ice tray is
transferred to the ice bank and a transfer guide surface which is
formed to be downwardly inclined toward the ice transfer opening to
guide the ice into the ice guide opening are provided on a top
surface of the second ice-making housing.
[0062] In another embodiment of the invention, ice made in the
ice-making groove is separated from the ice-making groove and then
stored in the ice bank by actuating a pivoting lever, which is
provided on an outer side of the first ice-making housing
corresponding to a free end of the door, and then allowing the ice
tray to be caught to and twisted by a stopper provided on an inner
side of the first ice-making housing when the ice tray is supported
on the stopper.
[0063] In another embodiment of the invention, the tray cover is
provided with a supply port formed at a position deviated from a
region where the water is supplied from the water tank to the ice
tray through the supply port of the first ice-making housing, and a
water guide surface downwardly inclined toward the supply port of
the tray cover to guide the water into the supply port of the tray
cover.
[0064] In another embodiment of the invention, the ice bank is
formed into a hexahedral shape with an open top and provided with
an ice storage space therein, and at least a portion of the ice
bank is made of a transparent or translucent material to allow a
user to visually check the ice stored in the ice storage space from
the outside.
[0065] In another embodiment of the invention, a floor plate of the
guide box can be slid in a forward and rearward direction with
respect to lateral sides of the guide box in a state where the ice
bank is seated thereon.
[0066] In another embodiment of the invention, a push latch and a
latch hook are provided respectively on the guide box and the
second ice-making housing brought into close contact with the guide
box such that the latch hook is selectively fastened to the push
latch by pushing the guide box in a direction in which the ice bank
is received in the installation space of the second ice-making
housing.
[0067] According to another aspect of the present invention for
achieving the objects, there is provided a refrigerator,
comprising: a refrigerator main body provided with a predetermined
storage space; a refrigerator door for selectively opening or
closing the storage space; and an ice-making device according to
any one of claims 1 to 39, which is mounted to a rear surface of
the door.
ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS
[0068] According to an ice-making device for a refrigerator of the
present invention as described above, the following effects can be
expected.
[0069] It is possible to prevent ice-making water from running down
from the ice tray. It is also possible to prevent ice made in the
ice tray from being impregnated with odor of other foods. Further,
the ice can be easily withdrawn and an amount of cold air lost
while the ice is withdrawn can also be minimized. Furthermore, it
is also possible to prevent the ice stored in the ice bank from
being impregnated with odor of other foods.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0070] FIG. 1 is a front view showing an external appearance of a
refrigerator equipped with a related art ice-making device;
[0071] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the interior of the
refrigerator shown in FIG. 1;
[0072] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the ice-making device provided in
the refrigerator shown in FIG. 2;
[0073] FIG. 4 is a front view showing an external appearance of a
refrigerator equipped with a preferred embodiment of an ice-making
device according to the present invention;
[0074] FIG. 5 is a front view showing the interior of a
refrigerator equipped with a preferred embodiment of an ice-making
device according to the present invention;
[0075] FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the embodiment of the
present invention shown in FIG. 5;
[0076] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a water tank constituting the
embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 5;
[0077] FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a valve of a water tank
constituting the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.
5;
[0078] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an external appearance
of a first ice-making housing constituting the embodiment of the
present invention shown in FIG. 5;
[0079] FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing the interior of a first
ice-making housing constituting the embodiment of the present
invention shown in FIG. 5;
[0080] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an external appearance
of a second ice-making housing constituting the embodiment of the
present invention shown in FIG. 5;
[0081] FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing the interior of a second
ice-making housing constituting the embodiment of the present
invention shown in FIG. 5;
[0082] FIGS. 13 and 14 are sectional views illustrating a process
of storing water into a water storage space in a water tank shown
in FIG. 5;
[0083] FIGS. 15 and 16 are sectional views illustrating a process
of installing a water tank shown in FIG. 5;
[0084] FIGS. 17 to 19 are sectional views illustrating an operating
process of an ice tray shown in FIG. 5; and
[0085] FIGS. 20 to 23 are sectional views illustrating a
withdrawing process of an ice bank shown in FIG. 5.
BEST MODE
[0086] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of an ice-making device
for a refrigerator according to the present invention will be
described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0087] FIGS. 4 and 5 show a refrigerator equipped with a preferred
embodiment of an ice-making device according to the present
invention, FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the embodiment of the
present invention shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 7 shows a water tank
constituting the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.
5, FIG. 9 shows an external appearance of a first ice-making
housing constituting the embodiment of the present invention shown
in FIG. 5, FIG. 10 shows the interior of the first ice-making
housing, FIG. 11 shows an external appearance of a second
ice-making housing constituting the embodiment of the present
invention shown in FIG. 5, and FIG. 12 shows the interior of the
second ice-making housing.
[0088] As shown in the figures, freezing and refrigerating chambers
31 and 33 are provided within a main body 30 of a refrigerator. The
freezing and refrigerating chambers 31 and 33 are partitioned side
by side within the main body 30. Further, freezing and
refrigerating chamber doors 31a and 33a are pivotally installed to
the main body 30 such that one side of each door is horizontally
rotated about another hinged side thereof. The freezing and
refrigerating chamber doors 31a and 33a serve to selectively open
or close the freezing and refrigerating chambers 31 and 33,
respectively.
[0089] Referring to FIG. 5, support sidewalls 31b and 33b are
provided at opposite side ends on rear surfaces of the freezing and
refrigerating chamber doors 31a and 33a, respectively. Each of the
support sidewalls 31b and 33b is formed in such a manner that a
portion of a door liner constituting an outer appearance of a rear
surface of the door 31a or 33a protrudes rearward by a
predetermined height.
[0090] A plurality of door baskets 32 and 34 are provided on the
rear surfaces of freezing and refrigerating chamber doors 31a and
33a between the support sidewalls 31b and 33b. An accommodating
space for accommodating foods therein is formed in each of the door
baskets 32 and 34. The door baskets 32 and 34 are detachably
installed on the rear surfaces of the freezing and refrigerating
chamber doors 31a and 33a, respectively.
[0091] Home bars 35 and 37 are provided in the freezing and
refrigerating chamber doors 31a and 33a, respectively. The home
bars 35 and 37 are used to receive or withdraw foods such as
drinking water without opening the freezing and refrigerating
chamber doors 31a and 33a, respectively. As shown in FIG. 6, the
home bar 35 or 37 comprises a home bar housing 35a or 37a and a
home bar door 35b or 37b.
[0092] The home bar housing 35a or 37a is generally formed into a
polyhedral shape with an open front. The home bar housing 35a or
37a is provided on the rear surface of the freezing or
refrigerating chamber door 31a or 33a between the support sidewalls
31b and 33b. A storage space 35s or 37s for accommodating drinking
water and the like is defined within the home bar housing 35a or
37a.
[0093] Further, as shown in FIG. 6, an opening 35c is formed by
cutting out a portion of the freezing chamber door 31a. The opening
35c communicates with the storage space 35s of the home bar housing
35a and an installation space 61s of a second ice-making housing 61
to be explained later.
[0094] The home bar doors 35b and 37b serve to selectively open or
close the openings 35c and 37c, respectively. The home bar door 35b
or 37b is installed on a front surface of the freezing or
refrigerating chamber door 31a or 33a such that home bar door can
be vertically pivoted.
[0095] In addition, ice-making housings 41 and 51 are provided on
the rear surface of the freezing door 31a above the home bar
housing 35a. The ice-making housing 41 and 51 are composed of a
first ice-making housing 41 and a second ice-making housing 51.
Installation spaces 41s and 51s are defined within the first and
second ice-making housings 41 and 51, respectively.
[0096] The first ice-making housing 41 is detachably installed on
the rear surface of the freezing door 31a between support sidewalls
31b of the freezing door. To this end, as shown in FIG. 9, fixing
grooves 41a are formed on both external sides of the first
ice-making housing 41. In addition, fixing protrusions (not shown)
are provided at inner sides of the support sidewalls 31b of the
freezing chamber door 31a to correspond to the fixing grooves 41a
of the first ice-making housing 41.
[0097] As shown in FIG. 6, the first ice-making housing 41 is
installed below any one of the door baskets 32 provided on the rear
surface of the freezing chamber door 31a. At this time, the first
ice-making housing 41 is installed at a position downward below the
door basket 32 by a predetermined height. Therefore, a certain
mounting space S is defined between a bottom surface of the door
basket 32 and a top surface of the first ice-making housing 41. A
water tank 61 to be explained later is detachably mounted into the
mounting space S.
[0098] The first ice-making housing 41 is formed into a polyhedral
shape with an open bottom. A water supply port 41h is provided on
the top surface of the first ice-making housing 41. The water
supply port 41h is used to deliver water stored in the water tank
61 into the installation space 41s.
[0099] An actuating protrusion 42 is provided on the top surface of
the first ice-making housing 41 adjacent to an outer periphery of
the water supply port 41h. The actuating protrusion 42 protrudes
from the top surface of the first ice-making housing 41 by a
predetermined height. The actuating protrusion 42 functions to
actuate a valve 65 to be explained later.
[0100] A guide rib 43 is provided on the top surface of the first
ice-making housing 41. The guide rib 43 protrudes at a position
adjacent to the actuating protrusion 41 upward from the top surface
of the first ice-making housing 41 by a predetermined height, and
extends in a direction in which the water tank 61 is installed or
detached. The guide rib 43 functions to guide the water tank 61
which is received in or withdrawn from the mounting space S.
[0101] Further, a viewing window 44 is provided in a rear surface
of the first ice-making housing 41. The viewing window 44 is formed
of a transparent or translucent material. The viewing window 44
functions to visually check a process of making ice in an ice tray
71 to be explained later.
[0102] A handle opening 45 is formed at an upper rear edge of the
first ice-making housing 41. The handle opening 45 is formed by
cutting out a portion of a top surface of the first ice-making
housing 41 corresponding to a rear end of the mounting space S and
a portion of an upper end of the viewing window 44. The handle
opening 45 functions to allow a user's hand to pass therethrough to
mount or withdraw the water tank 61 and also to supply cold air in
the freezing chamber 31 into the installation space 41s of the
first ice-making housing 41.
[0103] Stoppers 46 are provided on inner sides of the first
ice-making housing 41. Each of the stoppers 46 protrudes into the
installation space 41s by a predetermined length from the inner
side of the first ice-making housing 41. The stoppers 46 are
located within a range where the ice tray 71 is pivoted. The
stopper 46 functions to support the ice tray 71 and also to allow
the ice tray 71 to be twisted after being pivoted by a
predetermined angle.
[0104] As shown in FIG. 11, the second ice-making housing 51 is
detachably installed at the rear surface of the freezing chamber
door 31a below the first ice-making housing 41. To this end,
similar to the first ice-making housing 41, fixing grooves 51a are
formed on both external sides of the second ice-making housing 51.
In addition, fixing protrusions (not shown) are provided at inner
sides of the support sidewalls 31b of the freezing chamber door 31a
to correspond to the fixing grooves 51a of the second ice-making
housing 51.
[0105] The second ice-making housing 51 is formed into a polyhedral
shape with an open bottom. A plurality of cold air supply ports 52
are provided on a rear surface of the second ice-making housing 51.
Each of the cold air supply ports 52 functions to deliver cold air
in the freezing chamber 31 into an installation space 51s of the
second ice-making housing 51.
[0106] In addition, an ice transfer opening 53 is formed in a top
surface of the second ice-making housing 51. The ice transfer
opening 53 becomes a passage through which ice made in the ice tray
71 is delivered to an ice bank 81 to be explained later.
[0107] A transfer guide surface 54 is also defined on the top
surface of the second ice-making housing 51. The guide surface 54
is formed by downward inclining a portion of the top surface of the
second ice-making housing 51 toward the ice transfer opening 53.
The guide surface 54 functions to guide ice made in the ice tray 71
into the ice transfer opening 53.
[0108] Guide protrusions 55 are provided on inner sides of the
second ice-making housing 51. Each of the guide protrusions 55
protrudes from the inner sides of the second ice-making housing 51
by a predetermined height and extends in a front or rear direction
of the installation space 51s. The guide protrusion 55 functions to
guide the movement of a guide box 83 to be explained later.
[0109] A latch hook 56 is provided on a side of the second
ice-making housing 51. The latch hook 56 is inserted in a push
latch 89 to be explained later and then prevents the ice bank from
being inadvertently withdrawn in a state where the ice tray 71 is
received in the installation space 51s of the second ice-making
housing 51.
[0110] Further, water is stored in the water tank 61 mounted into
the mounting space S such that the stored water can be supplied to
the ice tray 71. Referring to FIG. 7, the water tank 61 comprises a
tank main body 62, a tank cover 63, a supply port cover 64 and a
valve 65.
[0111] The tank main body 62 is formed into a polyhedral shape with
an open top. A water storage space 62s for storing an amount of
water (corresponding to an amount of water required to make ice
once in the ice tray 71) is provided within the tank cover 63. The
tank main body 62 is formed into a polyhedral shape with an open
top. It is preferred that at least a portion of the tank main body
62 (and/or the tank cover 63 and the supply port cover 64) be
formed of a transparent or translucent material such that an amount
of water stored in the water storage space 62s can be checked from
the outside.
[0112] A discharge port 62h is provided at a portion on a bottom
surface of the tank main body 62 corresponding to the water supply
41h of the first ice-making housing 41. Water stored in the water
storage space 62s is supplied to the ice tray 71 through the
discharge port 62h. A fitting rib 62r is provided at an outer
periphery of the discharge port 62h on the bottom surface of the
tank main body 62. The fitting rib 62r protrudes downward from the
bottom surface of the tank main body by a predetermined height.
[0113] Further, a support member 62a is provided at an inner upper
portion of a sidewall of the tank main body 62. The support member
62a protrudes inwardly from the inner upper portion of the tank
main body 62 by a predetermined height to support an outer
periphery of the tank cover 63.
[0114] A handle 62b is provided at a portion on the bottom surface
of the tank main body 62. The handle 62b is a part which a user
grips to mount or withdraw the water tank 61 into or from the
mounting space S. The handle 62b is formed by upwardly depressing a
portion of the bottom surface of the tank main body 62.
[0115] A guide groove 62c is formed in the bottom surface of the
tank main body 62. The guide groove 62c serves to guide the water
tank 61 when the water tank 61 is received in or withdrawn from the
mounting space S. The guide groove 62c is formed by upwardly
depressing a portion of the bottom surface of the tank main body 62
including the discharge port 62h. While the water tank 61 is
received in or withdrawn from the mounting space S, an outward
surface of the guide rib 43 of the first ice-making housing 41
comes into contact with lateral sides of the guide groove 62c of
the tank main body 62.
[0116] The tank cover 63 is coupled with a top portion of the tank
main body 62 to selectively open or close the water storage space
62s. The outer periphery of the tank cover 63 is supported by the
support member 62a of the tank main body 62 in a state where the
tank cover 63 is coupled with the tank main body 62. At this time,
a top surface of the tank cover 63 is level with an upper end of
the sidewall of the tank main body 62.
[0117] Further, a supply port 63h is provided at a portion of the
tank cover 63. Water supplied from an external water source (not
shown) is stored in the water storage space 62s through the supply
port 62h.
[0118] In the meantime, the discharge port 62h of the tank main
body 62 is spaced apart from the supply port 63h of the tank cover
63 by a predetermined distance in a lateral direction. That is, the
discharge port 62h of the tank main body 62 is formed at a position
deviated from a region where water is stored in the water storage
space 62s through the supply port 63h of the tank cover 63. The
reason is to prevent water stored in the water storage space 62s
through the supply port 63h of the tank cover 63 from being
immediately discharged through the discharge port 62h of the tank
main body 62.
[0119] A packing groove 63a is formed in the tank cover 63. As
shown in FIG. 7, the packing groove 63a is positioned on the top
surface of the tank cover 63 such that it can cover an outer
periphery of the supply port 63h in a state where it is spaced
apart from the outer periphery of the supply port 63h by a
predetermined distance.
[0120] In addition, the seating recess 63b is provided in the tank
cover 63. The seating recess 63b is formed by depressing a portion
of tank cover 63 including the supply port and packing groove 63a
of the tank cover 63. The supply port cover 64 is securely placed
in the seating recess 63b in a state where the supply port 63h of
the tank cover 63 is covered. As such, the supply port cover 64 is
securely placed in the seating recess 63b, and thus, it does not
protrude upwardly from the tank cover 63 even in a state where the
supply port 63h is covered with the supply port cover 64.
[0121] A cutout 63c is also formed in the tank cover 63. The cutout
63c communicates with the seating recess 63b. The cutout 63c is a
part through which a user's hand is inserted in the seating recess
to allow the supply port cover 64 to be pivoted about the tank
cover 63. To this end, the cutout 63c is formed by depressing a
portion of the tank cover 63 relatively more deeply and downwardly
as compared with the seating groove 63b.
[0122] The supply port cover 64 can be vertically and forwardly
pivoted. The supply port cover 64 serves to selectively open or
close the supply port 63h of the tank cover 63. The supply port
cover 64 is securely placed in the seating recess 63b in a state
where the supply port is covered with the cover 64.
[0123] A contact protrusion 64a and a packing protrusion 64b are
also provided on a bottom surface of the supply port cover 64. The
contact protrusion 64a and the packing protrusion 64b protrude
downwardly from the bottom surface of the supply port cover 64 at
positions corresponding to the outer periphery of the supply port
63h of the tank cover and the packing groove 63a, respectively, by
a predetermined height. An outward surface of the contact
protrusion 64a is brought into close contact with the outer
periphery of the supply port 63h in a state where the supply port
63h of the tank cover 63 is covered with the supply port cover 64.
In addition, the packing protrusion 64b is fitted into the packing
groove 63a in a state where the supply port 63h of the tank cover
63 is covered with the supply port cover 64.
[0124] Referring now to FIG. 8, the valve 65 functions to
selectively open or close the discharge port 62h of the tank main
body 62. More specifically, the valve 65 is designed to allow water
stored in the water storage space 62s to be supplied to the ice
tray 71 only when the water tank 61 is mounted into the mounting
space S. The valve 65 comprises a valve bracket 66, a valve main
body 67, a packing ring 68 and an elastic member 69.
[0125] The valve bracket 66 is provided at an outer periphery of
the discharge port 62h of the tank main body 62. The valve bracket
66 is formed with a supply port 66h through which the water stored
in the water storage space 62s is substantially supplied to the ice
tray 71. Further, the valve bracket 66 is formed with a top surface
inclined downward toward the supply port 66h.
[0126] In addition, a seating groove 66a is formed in the top
surface of the valve bracket 66 at a position adjacent to the
supply port 66h of the valve bracket 66. The packing ring 68a is
securely placed in the seating groove 66a.
[0127] A fitting groove 66b is formed in the top surface of the
valve bracket 66. The fitting rib 62r of the tank main body 62 is
inserted in the fitting groove 66b. A fixing hook 66c is provided
at an upper portion of the valve bracket 66 corresponding to an
inner side of the fitting groove 66b. Since the fixing hook 66c is
caught to a floor surface of the tank main body 62 in a state where
the fitting rib 62r is inserted in the fitting groove 66b, the
valve bracket 66 is fixed to the bottom surface of the tank main
body 62.
[0128] The valve main body 67 is installed to be vertically movable
through the supply port 66h of the valve bracket 66. The valve main
body 67 selectively opens or closes the supply port 66h of the
valve bracket 66. That is, the water tank 61 is mounted into the
mounting space S, the valve main body 67 is moved upward by the
actuating protrusion 42 such that the supply port 66h of the valve
bracket 66 can be opened.
[0129] A fitting groove 67a into which the packing ring 68a is
fitted is also formed at an upper portion of the valve main body
67. Further, a flange 67f is provided at a lower portion of the
valve main body 67 such that an end of the elastic member 69 is
supported on the top surface of the flange. A supply port 66h is
also provided in the flange 67f. The supply port 67h of the flange
67f is formed at a position corresponding to the supply port 66h of
the valve bracket 66.
[0130] The packing ring 68a stops up a gap between valve bracket 66
and the valve main body 67 to prevent the water stored in the water
storage space 62s from being discharged to the outside. The packing
ring 68a is vertically moved together with valve main body 67 in a
state where it is inserted in the fitting groove 66b.
[0131] Further, a packing member 68b is provided between the
fitting rib 62r of the tank main body 62 and the fitting groove 66b
of the valve bracket 66. The packing member 68b functions to
prevent the water stored in the water storage space 62s from
flowing out to the outside through a gap between the fitting rib
62r and the fitting groove 66b when the fitting rib 62r is inserted
in the fitting groove 66b.
[0132] Both ends of the elastic member 69 are supported by the
bottom surface of the valve bracket 66 and a top surface of the
flange 67f, respectively. The elastic member 69 serves to prevent
the supply port 66h of the valve bracket 66 from being
inadvertently opened by means of the valve main body 67. To this
end, the elastic member 69 imparts an elastic force to the valve
main body 67 in a direction in which the valve main body 67 intends
to close the supply port 66h of the valve bracket 66.
[0133] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 10, the ice tray 71 is installed in
the installation space 41s of the first ice-making housing 41. The
ice tray 71 is formed into a rectangular shape. The ice tray 71 is
also provided with a plurality of ice-making grooves 72. The ice
tray 71 is pivotally installed in the installation space 41s of the
first ice-making housing 41.
[0134] To this end, support shafts 73 are provided on short sides
of the ice tray 71, respectively. A tip end of the support shaft 73
is pivotally supported on an inner surface of the first ice-making
housing 41. As shown in FIG. 5, a pivoting lever 74 is provided on
an external surface of the first ice-making housing 41
corresponding to a free end of the freezing chamber door 31a. The
pivoting lever 74 is connected to any one of the support shafts 73
of the ice tray 71. Therefore, a user can rotate the pivoting lever
74 with his/her hand such that the ice tray 71 connected to the
lever is pivoted.
[0135] A side of the ice tray 71, i.e. the left side as shown in
FIG. 6, is supported by the stopper 46. At this time, the ice tray
71 is in a horizontal state. Therefore, the ice tray 71 can be
pivoted only in one direction, i.e. in a clockwise direction as
viewed in FIG. 6.
[0136] Although it has not been illustrated in the figures, the
support shaft 73 is provided with an elastic member. The elastic
member imparts an elastic force to the ice tray 71 in a direction
opposite to a direction in which the ice tray 71 is pivoted, i.e.
in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 6. Therefore, an elastic
force for causing the pivoting lever 74 to be pivoted is removed,
the ice tray 71 is returned to an initial original position by
means of the elastic force of the elastic member. As this time,
since one side of the ice tray 71 is supported to be kept at a
horizontal state by means of the stopper 46, the ice tray 71 cannot
be further pivoted in a counterclockwise direction from a position
shown in FIG. 6.
[0137] Further, the ice tray 71 is caught to the stoppers 46 while
being pivoted about the support shafts 73. Thus, since the ice tray
71 can be distorted while being pivoted about the support shafts
73, ice made in the ice-making grooves 72 can be separated from the
ice tray.
[0138] Referring again to FIGS. 6 and 10, a tray cover 75 is
installed in the installation space 41s of the first ice-making
housing 41. The tray cover 75 serves to selectively open or close
the ice-making grooves 72 of the ice tray 71. The tray cover 75 is
formed into a plate shape corresponding to a cross section of the
ice tray 71. Further, the tray cover 75 is preferably formed of a
transparent or translucent material in order to visually check a
process of making ice in the ice-making grooves 72.
[0139] The tray cover 75 is vertically pivoted about any one end
corresponding to long sides of the ice tray 71 in cooperation with
the pivot motion of the ice tray 71. To this end, pivoting shafts
75a are provided at both sides of the one long end of the tray
cover 75, respectively. Therefore, the tray cover 75 is pivoted
about the pivoting shafts 75a in cooperation with the ice tray
71.
[0140] A supply port 75h is also formed in the tray cover 75. The
supply port 75h of the tray cover 75 functions as a passage through
the water stored in the water storage space 62s of the water tank
61 is supplied to the ice tray 71. Further, the supply port 75h of
the tray cover 75 is spaced apart from the discharge port 62h of
the water tank 61 by a certain distance in a lateral direction.
That is, the supply port 75h of the tray cover 75 is formed at a
position deviated from a region where water is discharged through
the discharge port 62h of the water tank 61. The reason is to
prevent water supplied from the water tank 61 from impinging
directly against a floor surface of the ice-making groove 72 of the
ice tray 71 and thus from being splashed from the ice-making groove
72 to the outside.
[0141] A water guide surface 76 is also formed on the tray cover
75. The water guide surface 76 serves to guide water supplied from
the water tank 61 into the supply port 75h of the tray cover 75.
The water guide surface 76 is formed by allowing a portion of the
tray cover 75 to be inclined downward toward the supply port
75h.
[0142] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 12, the ice bank 81 is installed in
the installation space 51s of the second ice-making housing 51. The
ice bank 81 can be received in or withdrawn from the installation
space 51s of the second ice-making housing 51 through the opening
35c.
[0143] In addition, the ice bank 81 is formed into a hexahedral
shape with an open top. An ice storage space 81s is defined within
the ice bank 81. Ice made in the ice tray 71 is stored in the ice
storage space 81s. Further, a front side of the ice bank 81 is made
of a transparent or translucent material such that ice stored in
the ice storage space 81s can be visually viewed from the
outside.
[0144] A support projection 81a is provided at the front side of
the ice bank 81. The support projection 81a extends outwards from
an edge of the front side of the ice bank 81 by a predetermined
length. The support projection 81a is brought into close contact
with a front brim of the guide box 83 to be explained later.
[0145] A catching protrusion 81b is provided on a bottom surface of
the ice bank 81. The catching protrusion 81b is protrudes
downwardly from the bottom surface of the ice bank 81 by a
predetermined height and extends in a lateral direction.
Preferably, the catching protrusion 81b is formed to have the same
height as the support projection 81a provided at the lower end of
the ice bank 81. The catching protrusion 81b is inserted in a
catching groove 87b of the guide box 83.
[0146] The guide box 83 is installed in the installation space 51s
of the second ice-making housing 51. The guide box 83 serves to
guide the ice bank 81 which is received in or withdrawn from the
installation space 51s of the second ice-making housing 51. The
guide box 83 is installed to be movable in a forward or rearward
direction of the installation space 51s of the second ice-making
housing 51.
[0147] The guide box 83 is formed into a hexahedral shape with open
front and back in accordance with the ice bank 81. An ice transfer
opening 83a which communicates with the ice transfer opening 53 of
the second ice-making housing 51 is provided on a top surface of
the guide box 83. Guide slots 84 are also formed on outer lateral
sides of the guide box 83, respectively, in a forward or rearward
direction. The guide protrusions 55 of the second ice-making
housing 51 are inserted in the guide slots 84.
[0148] The ice bank 81 is securely placed on a floor plate 87 of
the guide box 83. The floor plate 87 of the guide box 83 is
installed such that it can be slid in a forward or rearward
direction with respect to the lateral sides of the guide box 83. To
this end, guide protrusions 85 are formed at lower ends of the
inner sides of the guide box 83 to extend in a forward or rearward
direction. Further, guide slots 88 in which the guide protrusions
85 are inserted are provided at both lateral sides of the floor
plate 87 of the guide box 83.
[0149] Support ribs 86 are provided at upper and lower ends on the
rear side of the guide box 83. The support ribs 86 extend upward or
downward from the upper and lower ends on the rear side of the
guide box 83 by a predetermined height. The support ribs 86 are
brought into close contact with upper and lower ends on the rear
side of the ice bank 81 securely placed on the floor plate 87 of
the guide box 83.
[0150] A handle rib 87a is provided on the floor plate 87 of the
guide box 83. The handle rib 87a protrudes downward from a front
end on a bottom surface of the floor plate of the guide box 83 by a
predetermined length. The handle grip 87a is a part which a user
grips to allow the floor plate 87 of the guide box 83 to be slid
with respect to both lateral sides of the guide box 83.
[0151] The catching groove 87b is formed in the floor plate 87 of
the guide box 83. The catching groove 87b is formed by cutting out
a portion of the floor plate 87 of the guide box 83 in a lateral
direction in accordance with the catching protrusion 81b. Since the
catching protrusion 81b is inserted in the catching groove 87b, the
ice bank 81 can be moved in cooperation with the sliding motion of
the floor plate 87 of the guide box 83.
[0152] The push latch 89 is provided on a rear surface of the guide
box 83. The latch hook 56 is selectively inserted in the push latch
89. That is, the latch hook 56 is inserted into or separated from
the push latch 89 by pushing the ice bank 81 or the guide box 83
into the installation space 51s of the second ice-making housing
51. Therefore, the ice bank 81 can be mounted into the installation
space 51s of the second ice-making housing 51 in a state where it
is received in the space or be withdrawn from the installation
space 51s of the second ice-making housing 51.
[0153] Next, a process of making ice using an ice-making device for
a refrigerator according to the present invention will be described
in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0154] FIGS. 13 and 14 show a process of storing water into the
water storage space in the water tank of the ice-making device
according to the present invention, FIGS. 15 and 16 show a process
of mounting the water tank of the ice-making device according to
the present invention, FIGS. 17 to 19 show an operating process of
the ice tray of the ice-making device according to the present
invention, and FIGS. 20 to 23 show a withdrawing process of an ice
bank of the ice-making device according to the present
invention.
[0155] Referring first to FIG. 13, the supply port cover 64 is
pivoted at a predetermined angle with respect to the tank cover 63
to open the supply port 63h. Then, water is fed and stored into the
water storage space 62s of the water tank 61 through the supply
port 63h. At this time, the supply port 63h of the tank cover 63
and the discharge port 62h of the tank main body 62 are spaced
apart from each other by a predetermined distance in a lateral
distance. Therefore, it is possible to prevent water from being
immediately discharged through discharge port 62h of the tank main
body 62 while storing the water in the water storage space 62s
through the supply port 63h of the tank cover 63.
[0156] If water is stored in the water storage space 62s, the
supply port cover 64 is pivoted to close the supply port 63h as
shown in FIG. 14. Then, in a state where the supply port 63h is
closed, the water tank is mounted into the mounting space S.
[0157] More specifically, the water tank 61 is first slid into the
mounting space S as shown in FIG. 15. At this time, the bottom
surface of the tank main body 63 comes into contact with the top
surface of the first ice-making housing 41. Then, the top surface
of the tank cover 63 is brought into contact with a bottom surface
of the door basket 34.
[0158] As shown in FIG. 16, the water tank 61 is further slid into
the mounting space S in a state where the guide ribs 43 of the
first ice-making housing 41 are brought into contact with the
lateral sides of the guide groove 62c of the tank main body 62.
That is, the water tank 61 can be easily mounted by using the guide
ribs 43 and the guide groove 63c.
[0159] If the water tank has been completely mounted into the
mounting space S as shown in FIG. 14c, the discharge port 62h of
the water tank 61 is positioned to correspond to the supply port
41h of the first ice-making housing 41. Then, the valve main body
67 is moved upward, i.e. into the water tank 61, by means of the
actuating protrusion 42 of the first ice-making housing 41.
Therefore, the discharge port 62h of the water tank 61 and
substantially supply port 66h of the valve bracket 66 are opened,
and consequently, water stored in the water storage space 62s of
the water tank 61 can be transferred through the supply port 66h of
the valve bracket 66 and the supply port 67h of the valve main body
67.
[0160] The water transferred through the supply port 66h of the
valve bracket 66 drops onto a top surface of the tray cover 75
through the supply port 41h of the first ice-making housing 41.
Then, the water dropped onto the top surface of the tray cover 75
is guided into the supply port 75h of the tray cover 75 by means of
the water guide surface 76.
[0161] As shown in FIG. 17, the water guided into the supply port
75h of the tray cover 75 is supplied into the ice-making grooves 72
of the ice tray 71. The water stored in the water storage space 62s
of the water tank 61 as such drops onto the tray cover 75 and is
then supplied into ice-making grooves 72 of the ice tray 71.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent the water stored in the water
storage space 62s of the water tank 61 from impinging directly
against the floor surface of the ice-making groove 72 of the ice
tray 71 and thus from being splashed from the ice-making groove 72
to the outside.
[0162] Thereafter, the water contained in the ice-making grooves 72
of the ice tray 71 is frozen into ice by means of cold air from the
freezing chamber 31. At this time, the cold air is supplied from
the freezing chamber 31 into the installation space 41s of the
first ice-making housing 41 through the handle opening 45.
[0163] After the water contained in the ice-making grooves 72 of
the ice tray 71 has been frozen into ice, the pivoting lever 74 is
rotated. As shown in FIG. 18, therefore, the ice tray 71 connected
to the pivoting lever 74 is pivoted about the support shafts
73.
[0164] As shown in FIG. 19, if the ice tray 71 is pivoted by a
predetermined angle, one end of the ice tray 71 is caught to the
stoppers 46. If the pivoting lever 74 is further rotated in such a
state, the ice tray 71 is twisted by means of the stoppers 46.
Thus, the ice is separated from the grooves 72.
[0165] As shown in FIG. 20, the ice separated from the ice-making
grooves 72 of the ice tray 71 is stored in the ice bank 81 placed
in the guide box 83. The ice stored in the guide box 83 has been
guided by means of the transfer guide surface 54 of the second
ice-making housing 51 and transferred through the ice transfer
opening 53 of the second ice-making housing 51 and the ice transfer
opening 53a of the guide box 53.
[0166] In order to use the ice stored in the ice bank 81, the home
bar door 35b of the home bar 35 is first opened to open the opening
35c. Then, ice bank 81 or the guide box 83 is pushed into the
installation space 51s of the second ice-making housing 51. Thus,
the latch hook 56 of the second ice-making housing 51 is released
from the push latch 89 of the guide box 83.
[0167] Therefore, the guide box 83 with the ice bank 81 seated
therein can be moved forward from the installation space 51s of the
second ice-making housing 51. As shown in FIG. 21, if the guide box
83 is pulled forward out of the installation space 51s of the
second ice-making housing 51, both the ice bank 81 and the guide
box 83 can be pulled out of the installation space 51s of the
second ice-making housing 51.
[0168] Further, as shown in FIG. 22, the ice bank 81 is further
pulled forward out of the installation space 51s of the second
ice-making housing 51 with respect to the guide box 83. Therefore,
the ice bank 81 and the floor plate 87 of the guide box 83 are
completely pulled out of the installation space 51s of the second
ice-making housing 51 through the opening 35c of the home bar
35.
[0169] Finally, as shown in FIG. 23, the ice bank 81 can be
separated from the floor plate 87 of the guide box 83. That is, the
ice bank 81 can be completely withdrawn by pulling up the ice bank
81 and then taking the ice bank out of the floor plate through the
opening 35c of the home bar 35.
[0170] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and changes can be made thereto within the scope of
the invention defined by the claims. Thus, the scope of the present
invention should be construed on the basis of the claims.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0171] From an ice-making device for a refrigerator and a
refrigerator including an ice-making device according to the
present invention so configured, the following effects can be
expected.
[0172] First, according to the present invention, water used to
make ice is supplied to an ice tray in a state where it is
contained in a water tank. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a
phenomenon in which a freezing chamber or a room may be stained or
dirty due to the ice-making water running down from the water tank
or ice tray.
[0173] Further, the ice tray is mounted into an installation space
of the ice-making housing partitioned from the freezing chamber.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent ice from being impregnated
with odor of other foods stored in the freezing chamber while water
supplied from the water tank is frozen into ice within the ice
tray. As a result, a user can utilize ice in a more sanitary and
comfortable way.
[0174] In addition, an ice bank for storing ice therein is
withdrawn out of the freezing chamber through a home bar. That is,
the ice bank can be withdrawn to the outside by opening a home bar
door which is relatively smaller than a freezing chamber door for
opening or closing the freezing chamber. Therefore, the ice bank
can be withdrawn in a more convenient way.
[0175] Furthermore, since the ice bank can be withdrawn out of the
freezing chamber without opening the freezing chamber door, it is
possible to prevent cold air in the freezing chamber from being
unnecessarily discharged to the outside. Therefore, it is possible
to minimize power consumption of a refrigerator and thus to utilize
the refrigerator in a more economical way.
[0176] Moreover, the ice bank is mounted into the installation
space of the ice-making housing provided on a rear surface of the
freezing chamber door. Therefore, since ice stored in the ice bank
from is prevented from being impregnated with the odor of other
foods stored in the freezing chamber, the ice can be utilized in a
more sanitary way.
* * * * *