U.S. patent application number 12/601116 was filed with the patent office on 2010-06-24 for refrigerator.
Invention is credited to Yabg-Gyu Kim, Nam-Gyo Lee, Hyoung-Keun Lim, Min-Kyu Oh, Gye-Young Song.
Application Number | 20100154461 12/601116 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40075206 |
Filed Date | 2010-06-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100154461 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lim; Hyoung-Keun ; et
al. |
June 24, 2010 |
REFRIGERATOR
Abstract
A refrigerator is disclosed. A freezing chamber evaporator and a
chilling chamber evaporator are installed at an inner side of a
partition wall that partitions a freezing chamber and a chilling
chamber from each other. Accordingly, the freezing chamber and the
chilling chamber have deep depths thus to have large available
capacities, thereby freshly receiving a large amount of food items.
Furthermore, a cool air channel is formed at the freezing chamber
door and the chilling chamber door so as to be connected to a cool
air channel of the partition wall. Accordingly, a temperature
difference between an inner space and a door basket does not occur,
thereby storing food or beverage items received in the door basket
with a fresh state.
Inventors: |
Lim; Hyoung-Keun; (Seoul,
KR) ; Oh; Min-Kyu; (Seoul, KR) ; Song;
Gye-Young; (Seoul, KR) ; Lee; Nam-Gyo; (Seoul,
KR) ; Kim; Yabg-Gyu; (Seoul, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KED & ASSOCIATES, LLP
P.O. Box 221200
Chantilly
VA
20153-1200
US
|
Family ID: |
40075206 |
Appl. No.: |
12/601116 |
Filed: |
November 22, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
November 22, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR07/05926 |
371 Date: |
November 20, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/428 ; 62/441;
62/449 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 2317/0682 20130101;
F25D 2317/062 20130101; F25D 2317/0664 20130101; F25D 2317/0663
20130101; F25D 17/065 20130101; F25D 23/069 20130101; F25D 2400/06
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/428 ; 62/449;
62/441 |
International
Class: |
F25D 17/06 20060101
F25D017/06; F25D 23/04 20060101 F25D023/04; F25D 13/04 20060101
F25D013/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 25, 2007 |
KR |
10-2007-0051092 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator, comprising: a refrigerator body having an inner
space opened/closed by a refrigerator door; a partition wall having
one or more first cool air channels therein and having a
predetermined thickness and area, for partitioning the inner space
of the refrigerator body into two ore more spaces; one or more
evaporators installed at the first cool air channels of the
partition wall, for generating cool air; and one or more fans
installed at the first cool air channel, for supplying cool air
generated from the evaporator to the corresponding space.
2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the first cool air channel
is implemented in plurality in number so as to be respectively
communicated with the spaces inside the refrigerator, and one or
more evaporators and fans are installed at each of the first cool
air channels.
3. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein one first cool air channel
is formed at the spaces so as to be communicated with the spaces,
one or more evaporators are installed at the first cool air
channel, and a plurality of fans are installed at both sides of the
first cool air channel so as to respectively supply cool air
generated from the evaporator into each space inside the
refrigerator.
4. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein a second cool air channel
is formed at the refrigerator door so as to be communicated with
the first cool air channel, and a cool air outlet for supplying
cool air guided through the second cool air channel to the
respective spaces is formed at an inner wall surface of the
refrigerator door.
5. The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein one or more door baskets
are installed at an inner wall surface of the refrigerator door,
and the cool air outlet is formed at each of the door baskets so as
to be communicated therewith.
6. A refrigerator, comprising: a refrigerator body having a
freezing chamber that stores food with a frozen state, and a
chilling chamber that stored food with a fresh state, the chambers
partitioned from each other by a partition wall; a freezing chamber
door and a chilling chamber door coupled to the refrigerator body,
for opening and closing the freezing chamber and the chilling
chamber; and a freezing chamber evaporator and a chilling chamber
evaporator installed at the partition wall of the refrigerator
body.
7. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the freezing chamber
evaporator and the chilling chamber evaporator are installed so as
to have a predetermined gap therebetween in a height direction.
8. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the freezing chamber
evaporator and the chilling chamber evaporator are installed so as
to have a predetermined gap therebetween in a depth direction.
9. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the freezing chamber
evaporator and the chilling chamber evaporator are installed such
that one or more parts thereof are communicated with each
other.
10. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein a plurality of first cool
air channels for guiding cool air generated from the freezing
chamber evaporator and the chilling chamber evaporator into the
refrigerator are formed at the partition wall, and one or more
second cool air channels are formed at least one of the freezing
chamber door and the chilling chamber door so as to be communicated
with the first cool air channel.
11. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein one or more cool air
outlets are formed at an inner wall surface of the freezing chamber
door or the chilling chamber door so that the second cool air
channel can be communicated with each door basket of the freezing
chamber door and the chilling chamber door.
12. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the freezing chamber
evaporator and the chilling chamber evaporator are individually
connected to one compressor by a 3-way valve, or are closed by the
3-way valve.
13. The refrigerator of claim 10, further comprising one or more
fans installed at the first cool air channel for supplying cool air
generated from the freezing chamber evaporator or the chilling
chamber evaporator to the corresponding space.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more
particularly, to a method for disposing an evaporator and a cool
air channel for a refrigerator.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] A refrigerator is generally provided with a refrigerating
cycle composed of a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve,
and an evaporator, and serves to store food items with a fresh
state for a long period by supplying cool air generated from the
evaporator to a freezing chamber or a chilling chamber.
[0003] Recently, a side-by-side refrigerator partitioned into right
and left chamber by a partition wall, that is, a freezing chamber
and a chilling chamber, is being widely used. As the side-by-side
refrigerator becomes larger, a method for separately disposing
evaporators at the freezing chamber and the chilling chamber has
been disclosed. Here, the two evaporators may be serially connected
to one refrigerating cycle, or may be installed at different
refrigerating cycles. Also, the two evaporators may be installed at
different refrigerating cycles with sharing one compressor.
[0004] However, in the conventional refrigerator having a plurality
of evaporators, the evaporators are respectively installed at a
rear surface of the freezing chamber and a rear surface of the
chilling chamber. Accordingly, the freezing chamber and the
chilling chamber respectively have a small available capacity and a
shallow depth, thereby having a limitation in storing food items.
Furthermore, since the evaporators are installed at rear surfaces
of the freezing chamber and the chilling chamber, cool air is not
uniformly distributed to inside of the refrigerator. Accordingly,
food received in a front surface of the refrigerator or food
received in a door basket may be easily rotten than food stored in
a rear surface of the refrigerator.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a refrigerator capable of increasing available capacities
of a freezing chamber and a chilling chamber by properly disposing
evaporators.
[0006] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
refrigerator capable of uniformly distributing cool air to inside
thereof.
[0007] To achieve these objects, there is provided a refrigerator,
comprising: a refrigerator body having an inner space opened/closed
by a refrigerator door; a partition wall having one or more first
cool air channels therein and having a predetermined thickness and
area, for partitioning the inner space of the refrigerator body
into two ore more spaces; one or more evaporators installed at the
first cool air channels, for generating cool air; and one or more
fans installed at the first cool air channel, for supplying cool
air generated from the evaporator to the corresponding space.
[0008] To achieve these objects, there is also provided a
refrigerator, comprising: a refrigerator body having a freezing
chamber that stores food with a frozen state, and a chilling
chamber that stored food with a fresh state, the chambers
partitioned from each other by a partition wall; a freezing chamber
door and a chilling chamber door coupled to the refrigerator body,
for opening and closing the freezing chamber and the chilling
chamber; and a freezing chamber evaporator and a chilling chamber
evaporator installed at the partition wall of the refrigerator
body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator, which shows
a freezing chamber evaporator and a chilling chamber evaporator
installed at upper and lower sides of a partition wall according to
one embodiment of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line `I-I` in FIG.
1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a cool air channel of a
refrigerator door of the refrigerator of FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the refrigerator, which
shows the freezing chamber evaporator and the chilling chamber
evaporator installed at right and left sides of the partition wall
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line in FIG. 4;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the refrigerator, which
shows the freezing chamber evaporator and the chilling chamber
evaporator installed at the same position of the partition wall
according to still another embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line in FIG. 6;
and
[0016] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the refrigerator, which
shows the freezing chamber evaporator and the chilling chamber
evaporator installed at one cool air channel formed at the
partition wall according to yet still another embodiment of the
present invention.
MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
[0018] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a refrigerator according to the
present invention comprises a refrigerator body 100 having a
freezing chamber 110 and a chilling chamber 120 partitioned from
each other by a partition wall 130, a freezing chamber door 200 and
a chilling chamber door 300 for opening and closing the freezing
chamber 110 and the chilling chamber 120 of the refrigerator body
100, and a refrigerant compression type-refrigerating cycle device
400 installed at the refrigerator body 100 and generating cool
air.
[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, when the refrigerator is a side-by-side
type one, the freezing chamber 110 and the chilling chamber 120 are
disposed at right and left sides, and are partitioned from each
other by the partition wall 130 vertically disposed between the
freezing chamber 110 and the chilling chamber 120. As shown in FIG.
2, at inner right and left sides of the partition wall 130,
disposed are a freezing chamber channel 131 (hereinafter, will be
referred to as a `first refrigerator channel`) and a chilling
chamber channel 132 (hereinafter, a `second refrigerator channel`)
respectively having a freezing chamber evaporator (hereinafter, a
`first evaporator`) 440 and a chilling chamber evaporator
(hereinafter, a `second evaporator`) 460 thereby implementing a
first cool air channel. One or more freezing chamber cool air
outlet (hereinafter, a `first refrigerator outlet`) 131a and one or
more chilling chamber cool air outlet (hereinafter, a `second
refrigerator outlet`) 132a are formed along each height direction
of the first refrigerator channel 131 and the second refrigerator
channel 132.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 3, at a front side of the partition wall
130, disposed are a freezing chamber door guide channel
(hereinafter, a `first guide channel`) 131b and a chilling chamber
door guide channel (hereinafter, a `second guide channel`) 132b
respectively for guiding cool air inside the first refrigerator
channel 131 and the second refrigerator channel 132 to a cool air
channel for a freezing chamber door 200 (hereinafter, a `first door
channel`) 211 and a cool air channel for a chilling chamber door
300 (hereinafter, a `second door channel`) 311.
[0021] As shown in FIG. 3, the first door channel 211 and the
second door channel 311 are respectively formed at the freezing
chamber door 200 and the chilling chamber door 300 so as to be
communicated with the first guide channel 131b and the second guide
channel 132b of the partition wall 130. One or more first door
outlets 211a and one or more second door outlets 311a may be formed
at the first door channel 211 and the second door channel 311 in
each height direction.
[0022] When cool air inlets (not shown) are formed at the freezing
chamber 110 and the chilling chamber 120 of the refrigerator body
100, cool air can be introduced into the first and second door
channels 211 and 311 through the cool air inlets even if additional
cool air inlets are not provided at the freezing chamber door 200
and the chilling chamber door 300.
[0023] The refrigerating cycle device 400 includes one compressor
410; one condenser 420 connected to the compressor 410, for
condensing a refrigerant discharged from the compressor 410 with a
high temperature and a high pressure; a freezing chamber expansion
valve (hereinafter, a `first expansion valve`) 430 installed at a
freezing chamber refrigerating cycle (hereinafter, a `first cycle`
C1) diverged from an exit of the condenser 420, for expanding the
refrigerant with a high temperature and a high pressure in
correspondence with a preset temperature of the freezing chamber
110; a first evaporator 440 connected to the first expansion valve
430 and installed at the first refrigerator channel 131, for
evaporating a refrigerant of a low temperature and a low pressure;
a chilling chamber expansion valve (hereinafter, a `second
expansion valve`) 450 installed at a chilling chamber refrigerating
cycle (hereinafter, a `second cycle` C2) diverged from an exit of
the condenser 420, for expanding a refrigerant in correspondence
with a preset temperature of the chilling chamber 120; a second
evaporator 460 connected to the second expansion valve 450 and
installed at the second refrigerator channel 132, for evaporating a
refrigerant. At each one side of the first evaporator 440 and the
second evaporator 460, a freezing chamber fan (hereinafter, a
`first fan`) 470 and a chilling chamber fan (hereinafter, a `second
fan`) 480 for blowing cool air cooled through the first and second
evaporators 440 and 460 to the freezing chamber 110 and the
chilling chamber 120 are respectively formed at the first
refrigerator channel 131 and the second refrigerator channel 132 of
the partition wall 130.
[0024] A refrigerant conversion valve 490 for selectively
circulating a refrigerant having passed through the condenser 420
to one of the first cycle (C1) and the second cycle (C2) is
installed at the exit of the condenser 420. The refrigerant
conversion valve 490 may be implemented as a 3-way valve installed
at a diverge point between the first cycle (C1) and the second
cycle (C2), or as a 2-way valve individually installed at the first
cycle (C1) and the second cycle (C2). Here, the 3-way is operated
to totally close the condenser 420 and the first and second cycles
(C1 and C2), or to connect the condenser 420 and the first cycle
(C1) with each other, or to connect the condenser 420 and the
second cycle (C2) with each other when the refrigerator is
driven.
[0025] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first and second evaporators
440 and 460 may be installed on a nearly same plane in the
partition wall 130. For example, the first and second evaporators
440 and 460 may be installed at the same depth so as to be
separated from each other by a certain distance therebetween at
upper and lower sides of the partition wall 130. As shown in FIGS.
4 and 5, the first and second evaporators 440 and 460 may be
installed at the same height so as to be separated from each other
by a certain distance therebetween in a depth direction. As shown
in FIGS. 6 and 7, the first and second evaporators 440 and 460 may
be installed at the same height and at the same depth. When the
first and second evaporators 440 and 460 are disposed in upper and
lower directions, the first and second evaporators 440 and 460 can
have a long horizontal length and can be installed at a deep
position inside the refrigerator, respectively. When the first and
second evaporators 440 and 460 are disposed in a depth direction,
the first and second evaporators 440 and 460 can be disposed at
upper sides of the refrigerator. When the first and second
evaporators 440 and 460 are disposed at the same height and at the
same depth, the first and second evaporators 440 and 460 can have a
long horizontal length and can be installed at an upper side of the
refrigerator, respectively.
[0026] Unexplained reference numerals 220 and 320 denote door
baskets.
[0027] Operation and effects of the refrigerator according to the
present invention will be explained as follows.
[0028] When a load is generated as food items are received in the
freezing chamber 110 or the chilling chamber 120 of the
refrigerator, the compressor 410 starts to operate thus to compress
a refrigerant. Then, the compressed refrigerant is moved to the
first cycle (C1) via the condenser 420, and then is introduced into
the compressor 410 via the first expansion valve 430 and the first
evaporator 440. The compressed refrigerant is moved to the second
cycle (C2) via the condenser 420, and then is introduced into the
compressor 410 via the second expansion valve 450 and the second
evaporator 460. These processes are repeatedly performed. Here,
cool air generated from the first evaporator 440 and the second
evaporator 460 may be supplied to the freezing chamber 110 by the
first fan 470 through the first refrigerator channel 131 and the
first refrigerator outlet 131a, or may be supplied to the chilling
chamber 120 by the second fan 480 through the second refrigerator
channel 132 and the second refrigerator outlet 132a. Accordingly,
food items stored in the freezing chamber 110 and the chilling
chamber 120 can be maintained with a frozen status or a cool
status.
[0029] Cool air inside the first and second refrigerator channels
131, 132 is introduced into the first and second door channels 211,
311 provided at the freezing chamber door 200 and the chilling
chamber door 300 through the first and second guide channels 131b,
132b communicated with each side surface of the first and second
refrigerator channels 131, 132. Also, the cool air is directly
supplied to the door baskets 220, 320 of the freezing chamber door
200 and the chilling chamber door 300 through the first and second
door outlets 211a, 311a. Accordingly, food or beverage items stored
in the door baskets 220, 320 can be freshly maintained with a
frozen state or a cool state.
[0030] In order to receive a large amount of food items and to
store food items with a fresh state by smoothly supplying cool air,
the freezing chamber 110 and the chilling chamber 120 have to have
large available capacities. However, when the first and second
evaporators are installed at rear surfaces of the freezing chamber
110 and the chilling chamber 120, the available capacities of the
freezing chamber and the chilling chamber are decreased. To solve
the problem, in the present invention, the first and second
evaporators 440, 460 are installed inside the partition wall 130
that partitions the freezing chamber 110 and the chilling chamber
120 from each other. Since additional spaces for installing the
first and second evaporators 440, 460 are not required at rear
surfaces of the freezing chamber 110 and the chilling chamber 120,
the freezing chamber 110 and the chilling chamber can have a deep
depth and a large available capacity, respectively. Furthermore,
cool air generated from the first and second evaporators 440, 460
can be directly supplied to the door baskets 220, 320 of the
freezing chamber door 200 and the chilling chamber door 300 through
the first and second door channels 211, 311 formed at the freezing
chamber door 200 and the chilling chamber door 300. In this case,
each temperature difference between the freezing chamber 110 and
the door basket 220, and between the chilling chamber 120 and the
door basket 320 can be solved, thereby freshly storing food or
beverage items received in the door baskets 220, 320.
[0031] The refrigerator of the present invention may have other
embodiment.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 8, one refrigerator channel 133 having a
first cool air channel may be formed in the partition wall 130. A
first refrigerator outlet 133a and a second refrigerator outlet
133b may be formed at both sides of the refrigerator channel 133,
that is, a side surface of the freezing chamber and a side surface
of the chilling chamber. Here, one or more evaporators 440, 460 may
be installed at the one refrigerator channel 133. And, the freezing
chamber fan 470 and the chilling chamber fan 480 may be installed
at each periphery of the first and second refrigerator outlets
133a, 133b. Although not shown, one fan (not shown) may be
installed at rear sides of the evaporators 440, 460, thereby
guiding cool air discharged from the fan to be respectively
supplied to the freezing chamber 110 and the chilling chamber 120.
Here, since the evaporators 440, 460 are installed at the partition
wall 130 positioned at a side surface of the refrigerator not a
rear surface of the refrigerator, an available capacity inside the
refrigerator can be increased. Furthermore, since the first and
second door channels 211, 311 and the first and second door outlets
211a, 311a are respectively connected to the freezing chamber door
200 and the chilling chamber door 300, food items received in the
first and second door baskets 220, 320 can be stored with a fresh
state. The refrigerator according to another embodiment of the
present invention has the same effects and configurations as the
aforementioned refrigerator, and thus its detailed explanation will
be omitted.
[0033] The refrigerator according to the present invention has the
following advantages.
[0034] Since the freezing chamber evaporator and the chilling
chamber evaporator are installed at an inner side of the partition
wall that partitions inside of the refrigerator into the freezing
chamber and the chilling chamber, each depth of the freezing
chamber and the chilling chamber becomes deep. Accordingly, each
available capacity of the freezing chamber and the chilling chamber
can be increased, and thus a large amount of food items can be
stored in the refrigerator with a fresh state.
[0035] Furthermore, the cool air channel is connected to the
freezing chamber door and the chilling chamber door, thereby not
causing a temperature difference between the refrigerator body and
the door basket. Accordingly, food items or beverage items received
in the door basket can be stored with a fresh state.
[0036] The refrigerator according to the present invention can be
applied not only to a side-by-side type, but also to any
refrigerator having a partition wall therein.
[0037] It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that
various modifications and variations can be made in the present
invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the
invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover
modifications and variations of this invention provided they come
within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *