U.S. patent application number 13/143605 was filed with the patent office on 2012-01-19 for cooling apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG ELECTRONICS, INC.. Invention is credited to Won-Young Chung, Cheol-Hwan Kim, Ju-Hyun Kim, Jae-Hyun Soh, Deok-Hyun Youn.
Application Number | 20120011880 13/143605 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42316969 |
Filed Date | 2012-01-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120011880 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chung; Won-Young ; et
al. |
January 19, 2012 |
COOLING APPARATUS
Abstract
The present invention relates to a cooling apparatus including a
non-freezing apparatus which can be installed in a refrigerating
chamber or a refrigerating chamber door and stably store food in a
non-frozen state. A cooling apparatus includes a freezing chamber,
a refrigerating chamber, a freezing chamber door, a refrigerating
chamber door, and a non-freezing apparatus installed in the
refrigerating chamber or the refrigerating chamber door and storing
food in a non-frozen state. In the non-freezing apparatus, since a
lower space is cooled by the cool air introduced from the freezing
chamber and an upper space is cooled by the atmosphere of the
refrigerating chamber, it is possible to reduce a heating value of
a heater which is operated to maintain the temperature of the upper
space to be higher than that of the lower space.
Inventors: |
Chung; Won-Young;
(Changwon-si, KR) ; Soh; Jae-Hyun; (Paju-si,
KR) ; Youn; Deok-Hyun; (Gimhae-si, KR) ; Kim;
Cheol-Hwan; (Changwon-si, KR) ; Kim; Ju-Hyun;
(Jinhae-si, KR) |
Assignee: |
LG ELECTRONICS, INC.
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
42316969 |
Appl. No.: |
13/143605 |
Filed: |
January 7, 2010 |
PCT Filed: |
January 7, 2010 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR10/00095 |
371 Date: |
August 29, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/408 ;
220/592.02; 220/592.09; 62/407; 62/441; 62/449 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25C 5/22 20180101; F25C
2600/04 20130101; F25D 23/126 20130101; F25C 2301/002 20130101;
F25C 1/00 20130101; F25D 2323/023 20130101; F25D 2700/12 20130101;
F25D 29/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/408 ; 62/449;
62/441; 62/407; 220/592.02; 220/592.09 |
International
Class: |
F25D 23/00 20060101
F25D023/00; B65D 81/38 20060101 B65D081/38; F25D 17/04 20060101
F25D017/04; F25D 23/02 20060101 F25D023/02; F25D 11/02 20060101
F25D011/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 8, 2009 |
KR |
10-2009-0001668 |
Nov 10, 2009 |
KR |
10-2009-0108307 |
Claims
1-20. (canceled)
21. A cooling apparatus, comprising: a cooling chamber; a cooling
chamber door opening and closing the cooling chamber; a home bar
formed in the cooling chamber door; and a non-freezing apparatus
installed in the home bar.
22. The cooling apparatus of claim 21, wherein the non-freezing
apparatus comprises an upper space and a lower space, and the
temperature of the upper space is maintained to be higher than that
of the lower space.
23. The cooling apparatus of claim 22, wherein the non-freezing
apparatus comprises a hole through which an upper portion of a
container can be disposed in the upper space and a separation film
covering the hole.
24. The cooling apparatus of claim 21, wherein the home bar
comprises a storing space separated from the other space of the
cooling chamber door and a home bar door opening and closing the
storing space on the outside of the cooling chamber door.
25. The cooling apparatus of claim 24, wherein the non-freezing
apparatus comprises a door formed separately from the home bar door
and opening and closing the non-freezing apparatus.
26. The cooling apparatus of claim 24, wherein the non-freezing
apparatus comprises a door integrally formed with the home bar door
and opening and closing the non-freezing apparatus.
27. The cooling apparatus of claim 21, wherein the non-freezing
apparatus comprises a damper controlling the inflow of the cool
air.
28. A cooling apparatus, comprising: a freezing chamber; a
refrigerating chamber; a freezing chamber door opening and closing
the freezing chamber; a refrigerating chamber door opening and
closing the refrigerating chamber; a home bar formed in the
freezing chamber door or the refrigerating chamber door; and a
non-freezing apparatus installed in the home bar.
29. The cooling apparatus of claim 28, wherein the non-freezing
apparatus is installed in the home bar formed in the freezing
chamber door, and the non-freezing apparatus comprises a damper
controlling the inflow of the cool air from the freezing chamber to
the non-freezing apparatus.
30. The cooling apparatus of claim 28, wherein the non-freezing
apparatus is installed in the home bar formed in the refrigerating
chamber door, and the cooling apparatus further comprises a passage
introducing the cool air from the freezing chamber into the home
bar.
31. The cooling apparatus of claim 28, wherein the non-freezing
apparatus is installed in the home bar formed in the refrigerating
chamber door, and the cooling apparatus further comprises a passage
introducing the cool air from the freezing chamber into the
non-freezing apparatus.
32. The cooling apparatus of claim 31, further comprising a damper
located on the passage and controlling the inflow of the cool air
to the non-freezing apparatus.
33. A cooling apparatus, comprising: a freezing chamber; a
refrigerating chamber; a freezing chamber door opening and closing
the freezing chamber; a refrigerating chamber door opening and
closing the refrigerating chamber; and a non-freezing apparatus
installed in the freezing chamber door or the refrigerating chamber
door and including a door open by moving relative to the freezing
chamber door or the refrigerating chamber door.
34. The cooling apparatus of claim 33, wherein a thermal insulator
is foamed in the door of the non-freezing apparatus.
35. The cooling apparatus of claim 33, wherein an upper space of
the non-freezing apparatus is controlled at a higher temperature
than a lower space thereof.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling apparatus
including a non-freezing apparatus, and, more particularly to, a
cooling apparatus including a non-freezing apparatus which can be
provided in a cooling apparatus such as a general refrigerator
without significantly modifying the construction of the cooling
apparatus and which can store food and beverages in a non-frozen
state and easily make slush particularly in the beverages.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Supercooling means the phenomenon that a molten object or a
solid is not changed although it is cooled to a temperature below
the phase transition temperature in an equilibrium state. A
material has a stable state at every temperature. If the
temperature is slowly changed, the constituent elements of the
material can follow the temperature changes, maintaining the stable
state at each temperature. However, if the temperature is suddenly
changed, since the constituent elements cannot be changed to the
stable state at each temperature, the constituent elements maintain
a stable state of the initial temperature, or some of the
constituent elements fail to be changed to a state of the final
temperature.
[0003] For example, when water is slowly cooled, it is not
temporarily frozen at a temperature below 0.degree. C. However,
when water enters a supercooled state, it has a kind of
quasi-stable state. As this unstable equilibrium state is easily
broken even by slight stimulation, water tends to move to a more
stable state. That is, if a small piece of material is put into the
supercooled liquid, or if the liquid is suddenly shaken, the liquid
starts to be frozen at once such that its temperature reaches the
freezing point, and maintains a stable equilibrium state at this
temperature.
[0004] In general, an electrostatic atmosphere is made in a
refrigerator and meat and fish are thawed in the refrigerator at a
minus temperature. In addition to the meat and fish, fruit is kept
fresh in the refrigerator.
[0005] This technology uses a supercooling phenomenon. The
supercooling phenomenon indicates the phenomenon that a molten
object or a solid is not changed although it is cooled to a
temperature below the phase transition temperature in an
equilibrium state.
[0006] This technology includes Korean Patent Publication No.
2000-0011081 titled "Electrostatic field processing method,
electrostatic field processing apparatus, and electrodes
therefor".
[0007] FIG. 1 is a view of an example of a conventional thawing and
freshness-keeping apparatus. A keeping-cool room 1 is composed of a
thermal insulator 2 and an outer wall 5. A mechanism (not shown)
controlling a temperature inside the room 1 is installed therein. A
metal shelf 7 installed in the room 1 has a two-layer structure.
Target objects to be thawed or freshness-kept and ripened such as
vegetables, meat and marine products are loaded on the respective
layers. The metal shelf 7 is insulated from the bottom of the room
1 by an insulator 9. In addition, since a high voltage generator 3
can generate 0 to 5000 V of DC and AC voltages, an insulation plate
2a such as vinyl chloride, etc. is covered on the inside of the
thermal insulator 2. A high-voltage cable 4 outputting the voltage
of the high voltage generator 3 is connected to the metal shelf 7
after passing through the outer wall 5 and the thermal insulator
2.
[0008] When a user opens a door installed at the front of the
keeping-cool room 1, a safety switch 13 (see FIG. 2) is turned off
to intercept the output of the high voltage generator 3.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration view of the high voltage
generator 3. 100 V of AC is supplied to a primary side of a voltage
regulation transformer 15. Reference numeral 11 represents a power
lamp and 19 a working state lamp. When the door 6 is closed and the
safety switch 13 is on, a relay 14 is operated. This state is
displayed by a relay operation lamp 12. Relay contact points 14a,
14b and 14c are closed by the operation of the relay 14, and 100 V
of AC is applied to the primary side of the voltage regulation
transformer 15.
[0010] The applied voltage is regulated by a regulation knob 15a on
a secondary side of the voltage regulation transformer 15, and the
regulated voltage value is displayed on a voltmeter. The regulation
knob 15a is connected to a primary side of a boosting transformer
17 on the secondary side of the voltage regulation transformer 15.
The boosting transformer 17 boosts the voltage at a ratio of 1:50.
For example, when 60 V of voltage is applied, it is boosted to 3000
V.
[0011] One end O.sub.1 of the output of the secondary side of the
boosting transformer 17 is connected to the metal shelf 7 insulated
from the keeping-cool room 1 through the high-voltage cable 4, and
the other end O.sub.2 of the output is grounded. Moreover, since
the outer wall 5 is grounded, if the user touches the outer wall 5
of the keeping-cool room 1, he/she does not get an electric shock.
Further, in FIG. 1, when the metal shelf 7 is exposed in the room
1, it should be maintained in an insulated state in the room 1.
Thus, the metal shelf 7 needs to be separated from the wall of the
room 1 (the air performs an insulation function). Furthermore, if a
target object 8 is protruded from the metal shelf 7 and brought
into contact with the wall of the room 1, the current flows to the
ground through the wall of the room 1. Therefore, the insulation
plate 2a is attached to the inner wall to prevent drop of the
applied voltage. Still furthermore, when the metal shelf 7 is
covered with vinyl chloride without being exposed in the room 1, an
electric field atmosphere is produced in the entire room 1. In the
prior art, an electric field or a magnetic field is applied to the
received object to be cooled, such that the received object enters
a supercooled state. Accordingly, a complicated apparatus for
producing the electric field or the magnetic field should be
provided to keep the received object in the supercooled state, and
the power consumption is increased during the production of the
electric field or the magnetic field. Additionally, the apparatus
for producing the electric field or the magnetic field should
further include a safety device (e.g., an electric or magnetic
field shielding structure, an interception device, etc.) for
protecting the user from high power, when producing or intercepting
the electric field or the magnetic field.
[0012] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-4260 discloses a
supercooling control refrigerator which includes a temperature
detection means and a control means controlling the temperature at
a given set temperature in an openable/closable thermal insulation
unit and which keeps the goods cold at a temperature below the
freezing point during the supercooling operation. However, since
the refrigerator controls the rotation number of a cool air
circulation fan to adjust the temperature in the thermal insulation
unit, if the temperature in the unit is reduced to a temperature
below the set temperature, there is no means for raising the
temperature to the set temperature within a short time. When the
temperature in the unit is maintained at a temperature below the
set temperature for a predetermined time, the goods intended to be
stored in a supercooled state are frozen. In addition, the frozen
goods cannot be thawed and stored again in the supercooled state.
The refrigerator has low stability in maintaining a non-frozen
state.
[0013] Korean Patent Registration No. 10-850062 describes a
refrigerator having a space for receiving food and a storing room
for cooling the space, the refrigerator including a cool air
flowing space directly cooling the food receiving space and a
thermal insulation layer insulating the cool air flowing space from
the space, and storing the food in a supercooled state. However, if
the temperature in the refrigerator is reduced to a temperature
below a set temperature, there is no construction for raising the
temperature. Therefore, the refrigerator also has low stability in
maintaining a non-frozen state.
[0014] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2008-267646 discloses a
refrigerator with a supercooling room which includes a freezing
chamber with a temperature control means therein to continuously
adjust the temperature between 0.degree. C. and a temperature of a
freezing temperature zone by stages, the supercooling room disposed
in the freezing chamber and receiving the cool air from the
freezing chamber, and a control apparatus controlling the freezing
chamber so that the food stored in the supercooling room can be
maintained in a supercooled state at a temperature below the
freezing point without being frozen. The temperature of the
freezing chamber or a switching chamber in which the supercooling
room is installed is controlled to adjust the temperature of the
supercooling room. The supercooling room is sealed with respect to
the freezing chamber or the switching chamber such that a
temperature change in the supercooling room is limited. However,
when the food is stored in the supercooled state by slowing down
the temperature change in the supercooling room by indirect
cooling, it takes a long time for the food to reach the supercooled
state. Moreover, if the temperature in the refrigerator is reduced
to a temperature below a set temperature, there is no construction
for raising the temperature. Accordingly, the refrigerator also has
low stability in maintaining a non-frozen state.
DISCLOSURE
Technical Problem
[0015] An object of the present invention is to provide a cooling
apparatus including a non-freezing apparatus which can be installed
in a refrigerating chamber or a refrigerating chamber door and
stably store food in a non-frozen state.
[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
cooling apparatus which has a passage for introducing the cool air
from a freezing chamber into a non-freezing apparatus, so that a
non-freezing apparatus located in a refrigerating chamber can store
food in a supercooled state.
[0017] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
cooling apparatus including a non-freezing apparatus which can
stably adjust the temperature inside the non-freezing apparatus by
selectively introducing the cool air from a freezing chamber using
a damper.
[0018] A still further object of the present invention is to
provide a cooling apparatus including a non-freezing apparatus
which can independently control the temperature of upper and lower
portions of the non-freezing apparatus to maintain the temperature
of the upper space in which the freezing starts to be higher,
thereby stably maintaining food in a non-frozen state.
Technical Solution
[0019] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a cooling apparatus, including: a freezing chamber; a
refrigerating chamber; a freezing chamber door; a refrigerating
chamber door; a bulkhead separating the freezing chamber and the
refrigerating chamber; a non-freezing apparatus installed in the
freezing chamber or the freezing chamber door and storing food in a
non-frozen state; and a supplementary non-freezing apparatus
installed in the refrigerating chamber or the refrigerating chamber
door and storing food in a non-frozen state. In addition, the
non-freezing apparatus is spaced apart from the refrigerating
chamber or the refrigerating chamber door by a given gap.
[0020] Moreover, the non-freezing apparatus is detachably installed
in the refrigerating chamber or the refrigerating chamber door.
[0021] Further, the cooling apparatus further includes a passage
for introducing the cool air from the freezing chamber into the
non-freezing apparatus.
[0022] Furthermore, the cooling apparatus further includes a
bulkhead separating the freezing chamber and the refrigerating
chamber, and an opening portion formed in the bulkhead to introduce
the cool air from the freezing chamber into the non-freezing
apparatus.
[0023] Still furthermore, the cooling apparatus further includes a
cooling passage guide duct connected to the opening portion and
guiding the cool air to the non-freezing apparatus.
[0024] Still furthermore, the non-freezing apparatus includes a
control unit controlling an upper space and a lower space at
different temperatures, respectively.
[0025] Still furthermore, the non-freezing apparatus includes a
damper controlling the cool air introduced into the non-freezing
apparatus.
[0026] Still furthermore, the cooling apparatus further includes a
cooling passage guide duct guiding the cool air from the freezing
chamber to the damper.
[0027] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a cooling apparatus, including: a freezing chamber; a
refrigerating chamber; a bulkhead separating the freezing chamber
and the refrigerating chamber; a freezing chamber door; a
refrigerating chamber door; and a non-freezing apparatus installed
in the refrigerating chamber or the refrigerating chamber door and
storing food in a non-frozen state.
[0028] In addition, the cooling apparatus includes a cooling
passage passing through the bulkhead and introducing the cool air
from the freezing chamber into the non-freezing apparatus.
[0029] Moreover, an upper space and a lower space of the
non-freezing apparatus are controlled at different temperatures,
respectively.
[0030] Further, the cooling passage is connected to the lower
space.
[0031] Furthermore, the non-freezing apparatus includes a
separation film preventing the cool air introduced from the
freezing chamber from flowing into the upper space. Still
furthermore, the non-freezing apparatus includes a discharge hole
for discharging the flow from the non-freezing apparatus to the
refrigerating chamber. Still furthermore, the non-freezing
apparatus includes a flow fan producing a forcible flow.
[0032] Still furthermore, the cooling apparatus further includes a
damper controlling the inflow of the cool air from the cooling
passage to the non-freezing apparatus. Still furthermore, the
damper is installed at a lower portion of the non-freezing
apparatus.
[0033] Still furthermore, the damper is installed on the
bulkhead.
[0034] According to a further aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a cooling apparatus, including: a freezing
chamber; a refrigerating chamber; a freezing chamber door; a
refrigerating chamber door; a bulkhead separating the freezing
chamber and the refrigerating chamber; a non-freezing apparatus
installed in the refrigerating chamber or the refrigerating chamber
door and storing food in a non-frozen state; and a damper
controlling the inflow of the cool air from the freezing chamber to
the non-freezing apparatus.
[0035] In addition, the non-freezing apparatus includes an upper
space and a lower space controlled at different temperatures,
respectively, and a lower space located at the rear of the upper
space and the lower space, and the damper is installed in the rear
space.
Advantageous Effects
[0036] According to the cooling apparatus provided by the present
invention, since the non-freezing apparatus is detachably mounted
in the refrigerating chamber or the refrigerating chamber door
without significantly modifying the construction of the general
cooling apparatus, the food can be stably stored in the non-frozen
state in the non-freezing apparatus.
[0037] According to the non-freezing apparatus provided by the
present invention, since the lower space is cooled by the cool air
introduced from the freezing chamber and the upper space is cooled
by the atmosphere of the refrigerating chamber, it is possible to
reduce a heating value of a heater which is operated to maintain
the temperature of the upper space to be higher than that of the
lower space.
[0038] The non-freezing apparatus of the cooling apparatus provided
by the present invention includes the separation film formed
between the upper space having a high temperature and the lower
space having a low temperature to limit the heat exchange between
the upper space and the lower space, thereby stably maintaining a
liquid in the supercooled state.
[0039] The non-freezing apparatus of the cooling apparatus provided
by the present invention includes the flow fan producing the
forcible flow, so that a liquid contained in a container can have
the utmost uniform temperature distribution.
[0040] The non-freezing apparatus of the cooling apparatus provided
by the present invention is detachable from the cooling apparatus.
If the non-freezing apparatus is not used, the corresponding
cooling space can be used as a general refrigerating or freezing
storage space.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0041] FIG. 1 is a view of an example of a conventional thawing and
freshness-keeping apparatus.
[0042] FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration view of a high voltage
generator.
[0043] FIG. 3 is a view showing a supercooling process applied to a
slush making container, a non-freezing apparatus and a cooling
apparatus according to the present invention.
[0044] FIG. 4 is a view showing a process of preventing the ice
crystal nucleus formation, which is applied to the non-freezing
apparatus according to the present invention.
[0045] FIG. 5 is a view showing a state where a non-freezing
apparatus provided in a cooling apparatus according to an
embodiment of the present invention is mounted in a freezing
chamber.
[0046] FIG. 6 is a view showing a state where the non-freezing
apparatus provided in the cooling apparatus according to the
embodiment of the present invention is mounted in a refrigerating
chamber.
[0047] FIG. 7 is a view showing a state where the non-freezing
apparatus provided in the cooling apparatus according to the
embodiment of the present invention is mounted in a freezing
chamber door.
[0048] FIG. 8 is a view showing a state where the non-freezing
apparatus provided in the cooling apparatus according to the
embodiment of the present invention is mounted in a refrigerating
chamber door.
[0049] FIGS. 9 and 10 are exploded perspective views of the
non-freezing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present
invention.
[0050] FIGS. 11 to 13 are views of a damper provided in the
non-freezing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present
invention.
[0051] FIG. 14 is a view of a rear space of the non-freezing
apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0052] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the non-freezing apparatus
according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0053] FIG. 16 is a view of the rear of the non-freezing apparatus
according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0054] FIGS. 17 and 18 are schematic views showing the heat
transfer comparison, when the non-freezing apparatus is closely
attached to the cooling apparatus and when the non-freezing
apparatus is spaced apart from the cooling apparatus by a given
gap.
[0055] FIG. 19 is a graph showing changes in the internal
temperature versus the time, when the non-freezing apparatus is
closely attached to the cooling apparatus and when the non-freezing
apparatus is spaced apart from the cooling apparatus by a given
gap.
MODE FOR INVENTION
[0056] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in
detail with reference to the exemplary embodiments and the
accompanying drawings.
[0057] FIG. 3 is a view showing a supercooling process applied to a
non-freezing apparatus and a cooling apparatus according to the
present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 3, a container C
containing a liquid L is cooled in a cooling space S.
[0058] For example, it is assumed that a cooling temperature of the
cooling space S is lowered from a room temperature to a temperature
below 0.degree. C. (the phase transition temperature of water) or a
temperature below the phase transition temperature of the liquid L.
While the cooling is carried out, it is intended to maintain the
water or the liquid L in a supercooled state at a temperature below
the maximum ice crystal formation zone (about -1.degree. C. to
-5.degree. C.) of the water in which the formation of ice crystals
is maximized, or at a cooling temperature below the maximum ice
crystal formation zone of the liquid L.
[0059] The liquid L is evaporated during the cooling such that
vapor is introduced into a gas Lg (or a space) in the container C.
In a case where the container C is closed by a cover Ck, the gas Lg
may be supersaturated due to the evaporated vapor. In this
description, the container C may selectively include the cover Ck.
If the container C includes the cover Ck, it can prevent, to some
extent, the cool air from being introduced directly from the
cooling space or from reducing the temperature of the surface of
the liquid L or the temperature of the gas Lg thereon.
[0060] When the cooling temperature reaches or exceeds a
temperature of the maximum ice crystal formation zone of the liquid
L, the vapor in the gas Lg or the water drops on the inner wall of
the container C may be frozen. Alternatively, the condensation
occurs in a contact portion of the surface Ls of the liquid L and
the inner wall of the container C (almost the same as the cooling
temperature of the cooling space S) such that the condensed liquid
L may form ice crystal nucleuses which are ice crystals.
[0061] For example, when the ice crystal nucleuses in the gas Lg
are lowered and infiltrated into the liquid L through the surface
Ls of the liquid L, the liquid L is released from the supercooled
state and caused to be frozen. That is, the supercooling of the
liquid L is released.
[0062] Alternatively, as the ice crystal nucleuses are brought into
contact with the surface Ls of the liquid L, the liquid L may be
released from the supercooled state and caused to be frozen.
[0063] Therefore, the non-freezing apparatus of the present
invention applies or supplies energy (e.g., thermal energy) to the
container C received in the cooling space S and the liquid L to
control the temperature of the gas Lg and the liquid L, so that the
liquid L can be maintained in a non-frozen state, i.e., a
supercooled state below its phase transition temperature. Here, the
gas Lg is located at a top layer portion of the liquid L in contact
therewith. In this description, it is defined as a liquid top layer
portion (or received object top layer portion). The liquid top
layer portion may be an oil layer which can float in the liquid L
or an object which contains plastic or other resin, in addition to
the liquid Lg. In this embodiment, for convenience, the liquid L is
described as an example. However, the present invention can be
applied to general received objects such as meat, fish, vegetables,
fruit, etc.
[0064] The maintenance of the supercooled state using the
temperature control will be described in detail with reference to
FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0065] FIG. 4 is a view showing a process of preventing the ice
crystal nucleus formation, which is applied to the non-freezing
apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 4, to prevent
the freezing of the vapor W1 in the gas Lg, i.e., to continuously
maintain the vapor W1 state, the energy is applied to at least the
gas Lg or the surface Ls of the liquid L so that the temperature of
the gas Lg or the surface Ls of the liquid L can be higher than a
temperature of the maximum ice crystal formation zone of the liquid
L, more preferably, the phase transition temperature of the liquid
L. In addition, to prevent the freezing although the surface Ls of
the liquid L is brought into contact with the inner wall of the
container C, the temperature of the surface Ls of the liquid L is
maintained higher than a temperature of the maximum ice crystal
formation zone of the liquid L, more preferably, the phase
transition temperature of the liquid L.
[0066] Accordingly, the liquid L in the container C maintains the
supercooled state at a temperature below its phase transition
temperature or a temperature below its maximum ice crystal
formation zone.
[0067] Moreover, when the cooling temperature in the cooling space
S is a considerably low temperature, e.g., -20.degree. C., although
the energy is applied to an upper portion of the container C, the
liquid L which is the received object may not be able to maintain
the supercooled state. There is a need that the energy should be
applied to a lower portion of the container C to some extent. When
the energy applied to the upper portion of the container C is
relatively larger than the energy applied to the lower portion of
the container C, the temperature of the upper portion of the
container C can be maintained higher than the phase transition
temperature or a temperature of the maximum ice crystal formation
zone. Further, the temperature of the liquid L in the supercooled
state can be adjusted by the energy applied to the lower portion of
the container C and the energy applied to the upper portion of the
container C.
[0068] The liquid L has been described as an example with reference
to FIGS. 3 and 4. In the case of a received object containing a
liquid, when the liquid in the received object is continuously
supercooled, the received object can be kept fresh for an extended
period of time. The received object can be maintained in the
supercooled state at a temperature below the phase transition
temperature via the above process. Here, the received object may
include meat, vegetables, fruit and other food as well as the
liquid.
[0069] Furthermore, the energy used in the present invention may be
thermal energy, electric or magnetic energy, ultrasonic-wave
energy, light energy, and so on.
[0070] FIG. 5 is a view showing a state where a non-freezing
apparatus provided in a cooling apparatus according to an
embodiment of the present invention is mounted in a freezing
chamber. The cooling apparatus 1000 is an apparatus supplying the
cool air into a cooling space 1300 and 1400 using a cooling cycle.
FIG. 5 illustrates a state where the non-freezing apparatus 2000 is
installed in the freezing chamber 1300 of a side-by-side
refrigerator which is an example of the cooling apparatus 1000. The
cooling space 1300 and 1400 in the cooling apparatus 1000 is
divided into the freezing chamber 1300 and a refrigerating chamber
1400 by a bulkhead 1500. Support portions (not shown) are formed on
both sides of the freezing chamber 1300 to protrude therefrom, and
hook-shaped ribs 2200 supported by the support portions (not shown)
and fixing the non-freezing apparatus 2000 are formed on both side
surfaces of the non-freezing apparatus 2000. The non-freezing
apparatus 2000 is fixed in the freezing chamber 1300 by the
hook-shaped ribs 2200 and the support portions (not shown) and may
be detachable from the freezing chamber 1300 like other general
shelves. The non-freezing apparatus 2000 needs power supply.
Preferably, power connectors (not shown) are provided between the
cooling apparatus 1000 and the non-freezing apparatus 2000 and
connected to each other to supply power. The power connectors (not
shown) may be contact-type connectors such as battery chargers
formed in the corresponding positions of the cooling apparatus 1000
and the non-freezing apparatus 2000 and transferring power through
the contact, or a pair of female and male port-type connectors
engaged with ends of power transfer cables provided in the cooling
apparatus 1000 and the non-freezing apparatus 2000, respectively.
Additionally, the non-freezing apparatus 2000 may be fixed to the
freezing chamber 1300 using screws or the like not to be detached
therefrom. In this situation, not a separate power connector (not
shown) but a general electric wire is provided between the
non-freezing apparatus 2000 and the freezing chamber 1300 to supply
power from the cooling apparatus 1000 to the non-freezing apparatus
2000. Meanwhile, when it is intended to display a working state, a
supercooling proceeding state and so on of the non-freezing
apparatus 2000 through an external display (not shown) installed on
the outside of the cooling apparatus 1000, it is preferable to
configure the power connector (not shown) or the electric wire to
transmit electricity in two ways so as to transfer information from
a PCB (not shown) which is a control unit controlling the operation
of the non-freezing apparatus 2000 to the external display (not
shown) or a control unit (not shown) of the cooling apparatus
1000.
[0071] FIG. 6 is a view showing a state where the non-freezing
apparatus provided in the cooling apparatus according to the
embodiment of the present invention is mounted in the refrigerating
chamber. The cooling apparatus 1000 supplies the cool air into the
cooling space 1300 and 1400 using the cooling cycle. FIG. 6
illustrates a state where the non-freezing apparatus 2000 is
installed in the refrigerating chamber 1400 of the side-by-side
refrigerator which is the example of the cooling apparatus 1000.
The non-freezing apparatus 2000 mounted in the refrigerating
chamber 1400 may be further mounted in addition to the non-freezing
apparatus 2000 mounted in the freezing chamber 1300 or may be
mounted alone in the refrigerating chamber 1400. The cooling space
1300 and 1400 in the cooling apparatus 1000 is divided into the
freezing chamber 1300 and the refrigerating chamber 1400 by the
bulkhead 1500. Support portions (not shown) are formed on both
sides of the refrigerating chamber 1400 to protrude therefrom, and
hook-shaped ribs 2200 supported by the support portions (not shown)
and fixing the non-freezing apparatus 2000 are formed on both side
surfaces of the non-freezing apparatus 2000. The non-freezing
apparatus 2000 is fixed in the refrigerating chamber 1400 by the
hook-shaped ribs 2200 and the support portions (not shown) and may
be detachable from the refrigerating chamber 1400 like other
general shelves. The non-freezing apparatus 2000 needs power
supply. Preferably, power connectors (not shown) are provided
between the cooling apparatus 1000 and the non-freezing apparatus
2000 and connected to each other to supply power. The power
connectors (not shown) may be contact-type connectors such as
battery chargers formed in the corresponding positions of the
cooling apparatus 1000 and the non-freezing apparatus 2000 and
transferring power through the contact, or a pair of female and
male port-type connectors engaged with ends of power transfer
cables provided in the cooling apparatus 1000 and the non-freezing
apparatus 2000, respectively. Additionally, the non-freezing
apparatus 2000 may be fixed to the refrigerating chamber 1400 using
screws or the like not to be detached therefrom. In this situation,
not a separate power connector (not shown) but a general electric
wire is provided between the non-freezing apparatus 2000 and the
refrigerating chamber 1400 to supply power from the cooling
apparatus 1000 to the non-freezing apparatus 2000. Meanwhile, when
it is intended to display a working state, a supercooling
proceeding state and so on of the non-freezing apparatus 2000
through an external display (not shown) installed on the outside of
the cooling apparatus 1000, it is preferable to configure the power
connector (not shown) or the electric wire to transmit electricity
in two ways so as to transfer information from a PCB (not shown)
which is a control unit controlling the operation of the
non-freezing apparatus 2000 to the external display (not shown) or
a control unit (not shown) of the cooling apparatus 1000.
[0072] Normally, the refrigerating chamber 1400 is maintained
between a temperature above 0.degree. C. and -2.degree. C. such
that a liquid cannot be frozen. Therefore, when the non-freezing
apparatus 2000 is installed not in the freezing chamber 1300 but in
the refrigerating chamber 1400, required is a cooling passage for
introducing the cool air from the freezing chamber 1300 to the
non-freezing apparatus 2000 or a damper.
[0073] For this purpose, the cooling apparatus 1000 includes a
cooling passage guide duct 2300 which can pass through a bulkhead
1500 and introduce the cool air into the non-freezing apparatus
2000. Alternatively, the guide duct 2300 may be connected directly
to the non-freezing apparatus 2000, so that the cooling passage can
be connected directly to the non-freezing apparatus 2000. The guide
duct 2300 may not be connected directly to the non-freezing
apparatus 2000 but an end portion thereof may be located adjacent
to the non-freezing apparatus 2000, so that the cooling passage can
supply the cool air to the periphery of the non-freezing apparatus
2000 to indirectly cool the non-freezing apparatus 2000. In
addition, a damper controlling the cool air flowing into the
non-freezing apparatus 2000 may be provided. The damper may be
installed in the guide duct 2300 or on the side of the non-freezing
apparatus 2000. If the damper is closed, the non-freezing apparatus
2000 is cooled according to a first cooling method in which the
cool air in the cooling apparatus 1000 indirectly cools the
non-freezing apparatus 2000. Meanwhile, if the damper is open,
while the cool air in the cooling apparatus 1000 is circulated
around the non-freezing apparatus 2000 to indirectly cool the
non-freezing apparatus 2000, a second cooling method is performed,
in which the cool air is introduced into the non-freezing apparatus
2000 through the damper and circulated directly in the non-freezing
apparatus 2000. If the damper is provided on the side of the
non-freezing apparatus 2000, the guide duct 2300 may cover the
damper such that the damper is provided both in the guide duct 2300
and on the non-freezing apparatus 2000. When the non-freezing
apparatus 2000 is installed in the refrigerating chamber 1400, it
may be detachable from the refrigerating chamber 1400 or fixed to
the wall of the refrigerating chamber 1400 using screws or
rivets.
[0074] FIG. 7 is a view showing a state where the non-freezing
apparatus provided in the cooling apparatus according to the
embodiment of the present invention is mounted in a freezing
chamber door. According to the embodiment of the present invention,
the non-freezing apparatus 2000 is installed in the freezing
chamber door 1100 of the cooling apparatus 1000. The freezing
chamber door 1100 serves to open and close the freezing chamber
1300. The non-freezing apparatus 2000, an ice bank 1600 and an ice
maker 1700 are installed in the freezing chamber door 1100
sequentially from the lower side. The ice maker 1700 is supplied
with water to make ice. When the ice maker 1700 finishes the ice
making, the ice made in the ice maker 1700 is automatically or
manually supplied to the ice bank 1600. In a case where the ice is
automatically supplied from the ice maker 1700 to the ice bank
1600, an ice tray (not shown) in which the ice is made is rotatably
installed in the ice maker 1700 and rotated to drop the ice to the
lower side upon the completion of the ice making. The ice bank 1600
includes an outer casing 1610 mounted in the freezing chamber door
1100 and a drawer 1620 which can be pulled out from the outer
casing 1610. The outer casing 1610 has an opening portion on the
upper side so that the ice dropped from the ice maker 1700 can be
introduced therethrough. The ice made in the ice maker 1700 is
dropped to the lower portion by the rotation of the ice tray (not
shown), passed through the opening portion formed in the outer
casing 1610 of the ice bank 1600, and stored in the drawer 1620 of
the ice bank 1600. When dropped to the ice bank 1600, the ice gives
a shock to the ice bank 1600. This shock may be transferred to the
freezing chamber door 1100, the non-freezing apparatus 2000, etc.
Accordingly, the non-freezing apparatus 2000 has a groove 2100
having a larger section than that of the drawer 1620. As such, when
the ice is dropped to the drawer 1620, the drawer 1620 can be
downwardly moved to reduce the shock.
[0075] FIG. 8 is a view showing a state where the non-freezing
apparatus provided in the cooling apparatus according to the
embodiment of the present invention is mounted in a refrigerating
chamber door. According to the embodiment of the present invention,
the non-freezing apparatus 2000 is installed in the refrigerating
chamber door 1200 of the cooling apparatus 1000. The non-freezing
apparatus 2000 installed in the refrigerating chamber door 1200 may
be further installed in addition to the non-freezing apparatus 2000
installed in the freezing chamber 1300 or the freezing chamber door
1100, or may be mounted alone in the refrigerating chamber door
1200. When the non-freezing apparatus 2000 is installed in the
refrigerating chamber door 1200, the cooling apparatus 1000 should
include a cooling passage guide duct 2300 to introduce the cool air
into the non-freezing apparatus 2000. Since the guide duct 2300
should not disturb the movement of a freezing chamber door 1100 and
the refrigerating chamber door 1200, it is preferably installed
below the non-freezing apparatus 2000. Moreover, an opening portion
1110 for introducing the cool air into the guide duct 2300 is
formed in the freezing chamber door 1100, thereby forming a passage
introducing the cool air into the guide duct 2300 through the
opening portion 1110 and then introducing the cool air into the
non-freezing apparatus 2000 to cool the non-freezing apparatus
2000. A damper controlling the inflow of the cool air from the
passage may be installed on the opening portion 1110 or in the
guide duct 2300. Preferably, the damper is located in the guide
duct 2300 below the non-freezing apparatus 2000. That is, the
damper installed below the non-freezing apparatus 2000 is covered
with the guide duct 2300. A separate home bar (not shown) may be
installed in the refrigerating chamber door 1200. Here, the
relative positions of the home bar and the non-freezing apparatus
2000 may be determined regardless of order. If the damper is
closed, the non-freezing apparatus 2000 is cooled according to a
first cooling method in which the cool air in the cooling apparatus
1000 indirectly cools the non-freezing apparatus 2000. In the
meantime, if the damper is open, while the cool air in the cooling
apparatus 1000 is circulated around the non-freezing apparatus 2000
to indirectly cool the non-freezing apparatus 2000, a second
cooling method is performed, in which the cool air is introduced
into the non-freezing apparatus 2000 through the damper and
circulated directly in the non-freezing apparatus 2000.
[0076] FIGS. 9 and 10 are exploded perspective views of the
non-freezing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present
invention.
[0077] The non-freezing apparatus 2000 according to the embodiment
of the present invention includes a casing 100 defining the inner
space for storing a container and a door 200 opening and closing
the casing 100, and is installed in a cooling apparatus 1000
storing food at a temperature below 0.degree. C. such as a freezing
chamber of the cooling apparatus 1000. The casing 100, which
separates the outer space, i.e., the space of the cooling apparatus
1000 in which the non-freezing apparatus 2000 is installed from the
inner space of the non-freezing apparatus 2000, includes outer
casings 110 and 120 forming the external appearance of the
non-freezing apparatus 2000. The outer casings 110 and 120 include
a front outer casing 110 and a rear outer casing 120. The front
outer casing 110 forms the external appearance of the front and
lower portions of the non-freezing apparatus 2000, and the rear
outer casing 120 forms the external appearance of the rear and
upper portions of the non-freezing apparatus 2000. The casing 100
enables upper and lower portions of container containing a liquid
to be located and stored in different temperature regions. More
specifically, the lower portion of the container is located in a
temperature region (about -1.degree. C. to -5.degree. C.) of the
maximum ice crystal formation zone, and the upper portion of the
container is located in a higher temperature region (about
-1.degree. C. to 2.degree. C.) in which the ice crystals are not
easily formed. For this purpose, the casing 100 includes a lower
space 100L having the temperature region (about -1.degree. C. to
-5.degree. C.) of the maximum ice crystal formation zone, and an
upper space 1000 having the temperature region (about -1.degree. C.
to 2.degree. C.) in which the ice crystals are not easily formed.
The upper space 1000 and the lower space 100L are separated by a
bulkhead 140. The casing 100 includes a lower casing 130 defining
the lower space 100L with the bulkhead 140 and an upper casing 150
defining the upper space 1000 with the bulkhead 140. Further, a
hole 140h is formed in the bulkhead 140 so that the upper portion
of the container can pass through the bulkhead 140 and be located
in the upper space 1000.
[0078] A flow fan 170 is installed at the rear of the lower space
100L so that the liquid stored in the lower portion of the
container located in the lower space 100L can rapidly reach the
temperature region (about -1.degree. C. to -5.degree. C.) of the
maximum ice crystal formation zone and have a supercooled state. In
addition, a lower heater (not shown) is provided to adjust the
temperature of the lower space 100L. An upper heater (not shown) is
installed adjacent to the upper casing 150 so that the upper
portion of the container located in the upper space 1000 can be
maintained in the temperature region (about -1.degree. C. to
2.degree. C.) in which the ice crystals are not easily formed.
Moreover, a separation film 142 made of an elastic material and
covering the hole 140h of the bulkhead 140 is installed on the
bulkhead 140 to prevent the heat exchange from occurring between
the upper space 1000 and the lower space 100L having different
temperatures due to a forcible flow produced by the flow fan 170.
Further, preferably, fixing plates 144, which can be fixed to the
bulkhead 140 by screws or the like, are provided to press the
separation film 142 in the up-down direction to fix the separation
film 142 to the bulkhead 140.
[0079] Meanwhile, a thermal insulator 112 for insulating the lower
space 100L from the outer space is provided at the lower portions
of the outer casings 110 and 120, and a thermal insulator 122 for
insulating the upper space 1000 from the outer space is provided at
the upper portions of the outer casings 110 and 120. In addition, a
power switch 182, a display unit 184 and the like are installed
between the front outer casing 110 and the thermal insulator 122,
and the PCB (not shown) controlling electronic components, such as
the power switch 182, the display unit 184, the upper and lower
heaters (not shown), the flow fan 170 and a damper 190, and a PCB
installation portion 186 are installed between the rear outer
casing 120 and the thermal insulator 122. The rear outer casing 120
further includes an opening portion 124 through which the PCB
installation portion 186 can be detached in an assembled state of
the outer casings 110 and 120 for the PCB installation, and a PCB
cover 124c covering the opening portion 124 after the mounting of
the PCB installation portion 186.
[0080] In the meantime, a bulkhead is formed to prevent the cool
air from flowing from the lower portion of the rear space 100R to
the upper portion thereof and reducing the temperature of the upper
space 1000. A rib 120r formed on the rear outer casing 120 and a
rib 140r formed on the bulkhead 140 of the upper portion of the
lower casing 130 to protrude from the lower casing 130 backwards
overlap with each other, thereby forming the bulkhead. Preferably,
a rib 150r having a shape corresponding to that of the bulkhead 140
of the upper portion of the lower casing 130 is provided at the
lower portion of the upper casing 150 to protrude therefrom
backwards. The rib 120r formed on the rear outer casing 120, the
rib 140r formed on the bulkhead 140 and the rib 150r formed on the
upper casing 150 overlap with each other, thus forming the bulkhead
of the rear space 100R.
[0081] The door 200 is installed on the front surface of the front
outer casing 110 to open and close the lower space 100L. The door
200 includes a door panel 220 made of a transparent or
semitransparent material in a door casing 210, a door frame 230
fixed to the door casing 210 and fixing the door panel 220
therewith, and a gasket 240 mounted at the rear of the door frame
230 and sealing up between the door 200 and the front outer casing
110. The non-freezing apparatus 2000 according to the embodiment of
the present invention includes a plurality of door panels 220. The
respective door panels 220 are installed between the door casing
210 and the door frame 230 with a gap such that air layers are
formed between the door panels 220. The air layers not only
compensate for a low thermal insulation property of the door 200
but also prevent the frosting of the door 200, i.e., the door
panels 220. The gasket 240 is made of an elastic material to seal
up the gap between the door 100 and the front outer casing 110,
thereby preventing the heat exchange from occurring between the
cooling space 1300 and 1400 in which the non-freezing apparatus
2000 is mounted and the inside of the non-freezing apparatus 2000.
That is, the gasket 240 can prevent leakage of the cool or hot
air.
[0082] Meanwhile, a rear space R is defined by the rear outer
casing 120, the lower casing 130 and the upper casing 150. The flow
fan 170, the damper 190 and the lower heater (not shown) are
installed in the rear space R. Particularly, the PCB installation
portion 186 is installed at the upper portion of the rear space R
to be detachable therefrom. The lower heater (not shown), the upper
heater (not shown), the lower sensor (not shown), the upper sensor
(not shown), the flow fan 170, the damper 190, the power switch 182
and the display unit 184 are connected to the PCB through an
electric wire. The PCB is fixed in the PCB installation portion
186, and then the PCB installation portion 186 is fitted into a
groove formed in the thermal insulator 122 of the upper space
through the opening portion 124 formed in the rear outer casing
120. The electric wire connecting the PCB to the respective
electronic components is connected to the PCB with a sufficient
length to pull out the PCB installation portion 186 through the
opening portion 124 of the rear outer casing 120. Accordingly, when
the PCB is to be repaired or replaced, it is not necessary to
separate the front outer casing 110 from the rear outer casing 120,
which improves the convenience of maintenance and repair. In
addition, grooves 136 and 156 are provided in the upper portion of
the lower casing 130 and the lower portion of the upper casing 150,
respectively, so that the electric wire connecting the PCB to the
respective electronic components can be fitted thereinto. The upper
portion of the lower casing 130 and the lower portion of the upper
casing 150 are fixed to each other in an overlapping manner. The
separation film 142 or the fixing plate 144 described above are
located between the upper portion of the lower casing 130 and the
lower portion of the upper casing 150. Moreover, when the PCB
installation portion 186 is inserted into the thermal insulator 122
of the upper space in the rear outer casing 120, the opening
portion 124 is closed by the PCB cover 124c. If the cool air of the
cooling space infiltrates through the opening portion 124 during
the operation, there is the possibility of lowering the temperature
of the upper space 1000 which should be maintained at a higher
temperature than that of the lower space 100L, in addition to the
cooling space. Therefore, there is a disadvantage in that a heating
value of the upper heater (not shown) should be increased. When the
opening portion 124 is closed by the PCB cover 124c, the energy
efficiency can be improved and the liquid can be stably changed to
the supercooled state.
[0083] FIGS. 11 to 13 are views of the damper provided in the
non-freezing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present
invention. As described above, the damper 170 is installed in the
rear space 100R (see FIG. 9) and controls the inflow of the cool
air from the cooling space in which the non-freezing apparatus 2000
is installed to the rear space 100R (see FIG. 9). The damper 170
pivots on a frame 172 installed on the rear outer casing 120 to
thereby open or close an opening portion of the frame 172. The
damper 170 is connected to the PCB via an electric wire, and the
PCB controls the opening and closing of the damper 170 according to
temperature information of the lower space 100L measured by a
sensor (not shown). If the damper 170 is closed, the non-freezing
apparatus 2000 is cooled according to a first cooling method in
which the cool air in the cooling apparatus 1000 indirectly cools
the non-freezing apparatus 2000. Meanwhile, if the damper 170 is
open, while the cool air in the cooling apparatus 1000 is
circulated around the non-freezing apparatus 2000 to indirectly
cool the non-freezing apparatus 2000, a second cooling method is
performed, in which the cool air is introduced into the
non-freezing apparatus 2000 through the damper 170 and circulated
directly in the non-freezing apparatus 2000. That is, when the
non-freezing apparatus 2000 is cooled in the cooling apparatus 1000
according to the first cooling method, the second cooling method is
selectively performed with the first cooling method according to
the opening and closing of the damper 170. In other words, if the
damper 170 is closed, the non-freezing apparatus 2000 is cooled
according to the first cooling method, and if the damper 170 is
open, the non-freezing apparatus 2000 is cooled according to the
first cooling method and the second cooling method.
[0084] FIG. 14 is a view of the rear space of the non-freezing
apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, and
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the non-freezing apparatus
according to the embodiment of the present invention. As described
above, the damper 190 is installed at the lower portion of the rear
space 100R to control the inflow of the cool air. In addition, the
flow fan 170 installed on the rear surface of the lower casing 130
produces a forcible flow such that the air introduced into the rear
space 100R can be introduced into the lower space 100L and the air
of the lower space 100L can be discharged again to the rear space
100R. A discharge grill 172 is provided in the installation
position of the flow fan 170 in the lower casing 130 so that the
flow produced by the flow fan 170 can flow therethrough, thereby
forming a passage from the rear space 100R to the lower space 100L.
Moreover, first discharge holes 310a, 310b, 310c and 310d are
formed in the rear surface of the lower casing 130 to discharge the
flow from the lower space 100L to the rear space 100R. The first
discharge holes 310 are formed at both side ends. Four first
discharge holes 310a, 310b, 310c and 310d are formed in twos in the
up-down direction. The flow produced by the flow fan 170 is
introduced into the lower space 100L through the discharge grill
172, and then discharged again through the first discharge holes
310a, 310b, 310c and 310d located at both side ends. Thus, a
natural cooling passage is formed in the lower space 100L. In the
meantime, second discharge holes 320 are formed in the lower
portion of the lower space 100L to discharge the flow discharged
through the first discharge holes 310a, 310b, 310c and 310d to the
cooling space. Here, bulkheads 330a and 330b are installed between
the flow fan 170 and the first discharge holes 310a, 310b, 310c and
310d to prevent the flow discharged through the first discharge
holes 310a, 310b, 310c and 310d from flowing to the central portion
in which the flow fan 170 is located and flowing into the lower
space 100L again.
[0085] Further, some of the flow flowing into the lower space 100L
through the first discharge holes 310a, 310b, 310c and 310d and
cooling the liquid stored in the container is discharged directly
to the cooling space through third discharge holes 340 located in
the lower portion of the lower space 100L. Preferably, the third
discharge holes 340 are formed in the left and right in the same
number to form symmetric passages.
[0086] Accordingly, if the damper 190 is open and the flow fan 170
is in operation, the cool air is introduced from the cooling space
to the rear space 100R through the damper 190, and then introduced
from the rear space 100R to the lower space 100L through the
discharge grill 172, thus cooling the lower portion of the
container containing the liquid in the non-freezing apparatus 2000.
Some of the flow exchanging heat with the liquid contained in the
container and cooling the liquid is discharged directly to the
cooling space through the third discharge holes 340 located at both
sides of the lower portion of the lower space 100L. The rest of the
flow is discharged to the rear space 100R through the first
discharge holes 310a, 310b, 310c and 310d of both side ends, and
then discharged to the outside (cooling space) through the second
discharge holes 320a and 320b.
[0087] Meanwhile, fourth discharge holes 350a and 350b are further
formed in the lower casing 130 to be located inside the bulkheads
330a and 330b. That is, the bulkheads 330a and 330b exist between
the fourth discharge holes 350a and 350b, and the first discharge
holes 310a, 310b, 310c and 310d and the second discharge holes 320a
and 320b. In a state where the damper 190 is closed, when the flow
fan 170 is operated, the flow discharged from the rear space 100R
to the lower space 100L through the discharge grill 172 is
circulated in the lower space 100L and discharged again to the rear
space 100R through the fourth discharge holes 350a and 350b. That
is, when it is determined that the temperature of the lower space
100L reaches an appropriate temperature for storing the liquid in
the supercooled state, in a state where the damper 190 is closed,
the flow is circulated between the lower space 100L and the rear
space 100R through the discharge grill 172 and the fourth discharge
holes 350a and 350b, and the cool air is not introduced any more
from the external cooling space.
[0088] Referring to FIG. 15, a trough 116 is formed at a contact
portion of the door 200 and the front outer casing 110. The trough
116 prevents dews or moisture deposited on the container from being
frozen on the door 200 or the front outer casing 110. Without the
trough 116, the door 200 and the front outer casing 110 are not
closely attached to each other but have a gap therebetween, and the
cool air infiltrates into the gap and lowers the temperature of the
lower space 100L. That is, since the dews deposited on the door 200
or the front outer casing 110 are dropped and collected in the
trough 116, the frosting or freezing of the moisture does not occur
on the bottom surface of the front outer casing 110 brought into
contact with the door 200.
[0089] FIG. 16 is a view of the rear of the non-freezing apparatus
according to the embodiment of the present invention. Fifth
discharge holes 360a, 360b and 360c are formed in a center of the
rear surface of the rear outer casing 120 to discharge the flow
from the rear space 100R to the cooling space. Some of the cool air
introduced from the cooling space to the rear space 100R through
the damper 190 is not introduced into the lower space 100L through
the discharge grill 172 but discharged again to the cooling space
through the fifth discharge holes 360a, 360b and 360c.
[0090] In the meantime, a plurality of ribs 125 are formed on the
rear surface of the rear outer casing 120. The ribs 125 serve to
leave a spacing between the rear surface of the rear outer casing
120 and the installation surface. When the non-freezing apparatus
2000 is installed in the cooling apparatus 1000 like the embodiment
of the present invention, the ribs 125 maintain a spacing between
the inner surface of the cooling apparatus 1000 and the rear
surface of the rear outer casing 120. The inner surface of the
cooling apparatus 1000 includes the inner surfaces of the freezing
chamber door 1100 and the refrigerating chamber door 1200. In
addition, a separate rib 126 is provided to enclose the fifth
discharge holes 360a, 360b and 360c formed in the center of the
rear surface of the rear outer casing 120 so that the flow
discharged through the fifth discharge holes 360a, 360b and 360c of
the rear outer casing 120 can be guided to the lower portion of the
rear outer casing 120. The separate rib 126 encloses the fifth
discharge holes 360a, 360b and 360c in three sides except the lower
side such that the flow discharged through the fifth discharge
holes 360a, 360b and 360c is naturally guided to the lower side of
the non-freezing apparatus 2000.
[0091] FIGS. 17 and 18 are schematic views showing the heat
transfer comparison, when the non-freezing apparatus is closely
attached to the cooling apparatus and when the non-freezing
apparatus is spaced apart from the cooling apparatus by a given
gap. As illustrated in FIG. 18, when the non-freezing apparatus
2000 is closely attached to the cooling apparatus 1000, the heat
exchange occurs between the inner surface of the cooling apparatus
1000 and the contact surface of the non-freezing apparatus 2000, so
that the inner surface of the cooling apparatus 1000 and the
contact surface of the non-freezing apparatus 2000 have the same
temperature. However, when the non-freezing apparatus 2000 is
spaced apart from the cooling apparatus 1000 by the ribs 125, the
non-freezing apparatus 2000 can be maintained at a different
temperature from the inner surface of the cooling apparatus 1000.
Therefore, the influence of the outdoor air of the cooling
apparatus 1000 exerted on the non-freezing apparatus 2000 can be
reduced. Moreover, after the temperature in the non-freezing
apparatus 2000 is lowered to a temperature at which the liquid can
be stored in a supercooled state, it is possible to reduce heating
values of upper and lower heaters (not shown) installed in the
non-freezing apparatus 2000, thereby improving the energy
efficiency of the non-freezing apparatus 2000. When the
non-freezing apparatus 2000 is closely attached to the cooling
apparatus 1000, the heat transfer occurs to the cooling apparatus
1000. If the heater is operated so that the temperature in the
non-freezing apparatus 2000 can be maintained in a given
temperature region, the heat generated by the heater is used to
raise the temperature of the inner surface of the cooling apparatus
1000 closely attached to the non-freezing apparatus 2000.
Accordingly, when the non-freezing apparatus 2000 is spaced apart
from the cooling apparatus 1000 by the given gap, the liquid can be
rapidly changed to the supercooled state and the energy efficiency
of the non-freezing apparatus 2000 can be improved.
[0092] FIG. 19 is a graph showing changes in the internal
temperature versus the time, when the non-freezing apparatus is
closely attached to the cooling apparatus and when the non-freezing
apparatus is spaced apart from the cooling apparatus by a given
gap. As shown in the graph, when the non-freezing apparatus 2000 is
spaced apart from the cooling apparatus 1000 by the given gap (less
close attachment), it is cooled faster.
[0093] The present invention has been described in detail in
connection with the exemplary embodiments and the accompanying
drawings. However, the scope of the present invention is not
limited thereto but is defined by the appended claims.
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