U.S. patent application number 14/117550 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-25 for refrigerator.
This patent application is currently assigned to Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation. Invention is credited to Won Woo Jang.
Application Number | 20140283542 14/117550 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47669062 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140283542 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jang; Won Woo |
September 25, 2014 |
REFRIGERATOR
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator in which a
water tank for storing water to be supplied to an ice maker and a
dispenser is in a shelf in the interior thereof. The refrigerator
includes an ice maker in a freezer; a dispenser in a front part of
a door; a slidable water tank in a shelf in a cold storage space; a
pump for pumping water in the water tank to the ice maker and the
dispenser; a passage connecting the water tank to the pump; and a
silicone inlet in a rear surface of the shelf and having one end
connected to an outlet of the water tank and another end connected
to the passage. Thus, the water tank, which stores purified water,
not tap water, is in the shelf in the refrigerator to supply water
to the ice maker and the dispenser through the pump.
Inventors: |
Jang; Won Woo; (Incheon,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
Dongbu Daewoo Electronics
Corporation
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
47669062 |
Appl. No.: |
14/117550 |
Filed: |
August 7, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
August 7, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR12/06252 |
371 Date: |
November 13, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/340 ;
62/389 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 23/126 20130101;
F25D 31/002 20130101; F25C 1/00 20130101; F25D 2323/122
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/340 ;
62/389 |
International
Class: |
F25C 1/00 20060101
F25C001/00; F25D 31/00 20060101 F25D031/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 9, 2011 |
KR |
10-2011-0079248 |
Aug 9, 2011 |
KR |
10-2011-0079250 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator having a movable, slidable water tank on a shelf
in a cold storage space, the water tank having an outlet thereon to
supply water to an ice maker or a dispenser.
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the water tank
comprises a water tank body and a water tank cover adapted to cover
an open top portion of the water tank body, wherein the outlet is
on the water tank body.
3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the water tank
has a pipe connector connected to the outlet and extending into the
water tank.
4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the pipe
connector is bent toward a bottom surface of the water tank body
from a wall surface of the water tank body, and the pipe connector
has an inverted U shape.
5. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the pipe
connector is bent toward a bottom surface of the water tank body
from a wall surface of the water tank body and comprises a bending
part having an inverted U shape and a height that is greater than
that of the outlet.
6. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the pipe
connector has a filter on one end thereof.
7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the filter has a
plurality of separate protrusions along an outer periphery of an
underside surface, facing the bottom surface of the water tank.
8. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the water tank
cover has an opening and closing injection hole thereon.
9. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the water tank
has a rubber packing along edges of the water tank body between the
water tank cover and the water tank body.
10. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the water tank
body has locking members along edges thereof, and the water tank
cover has fastening wings along the edges thereof corresponding to
the locking members.
11. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the water tank
has protruding parts protruding outwardly from sides of a front
surface thereof.
12. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the shelf
comprises a shelf body adapted to guide and support sliding
movement of the water tank and a shelf cover adapted to cover a top
portion of the shelf body.
13. The refrigerator according to claim 12, wherein the shelf body
has guides on sides thereof and a sagging prevention member between
the guides.
14. The refrigerator according to claim 12, wherein the shelf cover
includes a transparent window.
15. The refrigerator according to claim 12, wherein the shelf cover
has a rotary door hinge-coupled to a front side thereof configured
to open and close up and down.
16. The refrigerator according to claim 12, wherein a rear surface
of the shelf body faces a wall surface of the cold storage
space.
17. The refrigerator according to claim 16, wherein the outlet is
on a rear surface of the water tank and passes through the shelf
body.
18. The refrigerator according to claim 17, wherein the water tank
has coupling protrusions thereon, and the shelf body has coupling
grooves thereon or therein corresponding to the coupling
protrusions.
19. The refrigerator according to claim 12, further comprising a
pump adapted to pump water in the water tank to the ice maker or
the dispenser; a passage adapted to connect the water tank to the
pump; and a silicone inlet on a rear surface of the shelf and
having one end connected to the outlet of the water tank and
another end connected to the passage.
20. The refrigerator according to claim 19, wherein the water tank
is below the dispenser or the ice maker.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more
particularly, to a refrigerator in which a water tank for storing
water to be supplied to an ice maker and a dispenser is in a shelf
in the interior thereof.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Generally, a refrigerator is a household appliance adapted
to maintain the inside of a cold storage space and a freezer to low
temperatures through the repetition of a refrigeration cycle in
which a refrigerant is compressed, condensed, expanded and
evaporated, thereby keeping the food stored therein in a fresh
state for a given period of time.
[0003] Accordingly, the refrigerator is provided with a compressor
adapted to compress a refrigerant, a condenser adapted to condense
the refrigerant from the compressor using external air, an
expansion valve adapted to reduce the pressure of the refrigerant
from the condenser, and an evaporator adapted to absorb the heat in
the interior of the refrigerator through the evaporation of the
refrigerant passing through the expansion valve at a low
pressure.
[0004] Also, the refrigerator generally includes a body forming an
accommodating space partitioned into a cold storage space and a
freezer, doors mounted on the front surface of the body to open and
close the cold storage space and the freezer, and a machine space
in the body and having the compressor and condenser mounted
therein.
[0005] With the change and development of food quality and culture,
recently, the size and function of the refrigerator have been
increased, and further, refrigerators having various structures and
convenience devices have been developed and marketed for the user's
convenience.
[0006] Representative examples of the convenience devices of the
refrigerator are an ice maker in the freezer to make ice using the
sequential operations of water feeding, ice making and ice ejecting
in an automatic manner, and a dispenser on the door to provide
drinkable water.
[0007] Additionally, the refrigerator is provided with a water
supply line connected directly to a tap to supply water to the ice
maker and the dispenser, a water tank in which the water from the
water supply line is stored, and a valve adapted to open and close
the supply of water from the tap.
DISCLOSURE
Technical Problem
[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
refrigerator in which a water tank for storing water to be supplied
to an ice maker and a dispenser is accommodated in a shelf within
the interior thereof.
Technical Solution
[0009] To accomplish the above object, according to the present
invention, there is provided a refrigerator having a slidable,
moveable water tank mounted on a shelf in the interior of a cold
storage space, the water tank having an outlet thereon to supply
water to an ice maker or a dispenser.
[0010] According to the present invention, preferably, the water
tank includes a water tank body and a water tank cover adapted to
cover an open top portion of the water tank body, wherein the
outlet is on the water tank body.
[0011] According to the present invention, preferably, the water
tank has a pipe connector connected to the outlet and extending to
an interior of the water tank.
[0012] According to the present invention, preferably, the pipe
connector is bent toward a bottom surface of the water tank body
from a wall surface of the water tank body, and has an inverted L
or `.right brkt-bot.` shape.
[0013] According to the present invention, preferably, the pipe
connector is bent toward the bottom surface of the water tank body
from the wall surface of the water tank body and comprises a
bending part having a `.left brkt-top..right brkt-bot.` or inverted
U shape, and the bending part has height greater than that of the
outlet.
[0014] According to the present invention, preferably, the pipe
connector has a filter mounted on one end thereof.
[0015] According to the present invention, preferably, the filter
has a plurality of separate protrusions along an outer periphery of
an underside surface, facing the bottom surface of the water
tank.
[0016] According to the present invention, preferably, the water
tank cover has an opening and closing injection hole thereon.
[0017] According to the present invention, preferably, the water
tank has a rubber packing along edges of the water tank body,
between the water tank cover and the water tank body.
[0018] According to the present invention, preferably, the water
tank body has locking members along the edges thereof, and the
water tank cover has fastening wings along edges thereof
corresponding to the locking members.
[0019] According to the present invention, preferably, the water
tank has protruding parts protruded outwardly from both sides of
the front surface thereof.
[0020] According to the present invention, preferably, the shelf
comprises a shelf body adapted to guide and support sliding
movement of the water tank, and a shelf cover adapted to cover the
top portion of the shelf body.
[0021] According to the present invention, preferably, the shelf
body has guides on sides thereof and a sagging prevention member
between the guides.
[0022] According to the present invention, preferably, the shelf
cover has a transparent window.
[0023] According to the present invention, preferably, the shelf
cover has a rotary door hinge-coupled to a front side thereof,
configured to open and close up and down.
[0024] According to the present invention, preferably, a rear
surface of the shelf body faces the wall surface of the cold
storage space.
[0025] According to the present invention, preferably, the outlet
is on a rear surface of the water tank and passes through the shelf
body and is coupled thereto.
[0026] According to the present invention, preferably, the water
tank has coupling protrusions thereon, and the shelf body has
coupling grooves thereon or therein corresponding to the coupling
protrusions.
[0027] According to the present invention, preferably, the
refrigerator further includes a pump adapted to pump the water in
the water tank to the ice maker and the dispenser; a passage
adapted to connect the water tank to the pump; and a silicone inlet
on a rear surface of the shelf and having one end connected to the
outlet of the water tank and another end connected to the
passage.
[0028] According to the present invention, preferably, the water
tank is below the dispenser or the ice maker.
Advantageous Effects
[0029] According to the present invention, the water tank in which
purified water, not tap water, is stored is accommodated in a shelf
in the interior of the cold storage space and supplies the water to
the ice maker or the dispenser using the pump.
[0030] Further, the water tank is in the interior of the cold
storage space, so that cold water can be supplied to the dispenser.
Furthermore, the cooled water in the water tank is supplied to the
ice maker, thereby shortening the ice making time.
[0031] Also, the water tank is mounted on the beads of the inner
case of the cold storage space, thereby also serving as a
shelf.
[0032] Additionally, water can be fully stored in the water tank to
the height of the outlet of the water tank and can be discharged
through a pipe connector and the outlet, and the height of the pipe
connector is higher than that of the outlet, thereby preventing
water leakage from occurring through the outlet of the water
tank.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0033] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a refrigerator according to
the present invention.
[0034] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the refrigerator of FIG. 1
wherein the doors are open.
[0035] FIGS. 3a to 3c are perspective views showing a water tank as
shown in FIG. 2.
[0036] FIG. 4a is a cross-sectional view showing the coupling
structure of a water tank and a shelf in the refrigerator according
to the present invention.
[0037] FIG. 4b is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the
water tank in the refrigerator according to the present
invention.
[0038] FIG. 4c is a cross-sectional view showing another example of
the water tank in the refrigerator according to the present
invention.
[0039] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a
passage in the refrigerator according to the present invention.
[0040] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of
a passage in the refrigerator according to the present
invention.
[0041] FIGS. 7a and 7b are perspective and cross-sectional views
showing an example of a pump in the refrigerator according to the
present invention.
[0042] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of
the pump in the refrigerator according to the present
invention.
[0043] FIG. 9 is a front view showing a path of a dispenser tube in
the refrigerator according to the present invention.
[0044] FIG. 10 is a front view showing a path of an ice maker tube
in the refrigerator according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0045] Hereinafter, an explanation of a refrigerator according to
the present invention will be in detail given with reference to the
attached drawings.
[0046] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a refrigerator according to
the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view showing the
refrigerator of FIG. 1 wherein the doors are open, FIGS. 3a to 3c
are perspective views showing a water tank as shown in FIG. 2, FIG.
4a is a cross-sectional view showing the coupling structure of a
water tank and a shelf in the refrigerator according to the present
invention, FIG. 4b is a cross-sectional view showing an example of
the water tank in the refrigerator according to the present
invention, FIG. 4c is a cross-sectional view showing another
example of the water tank in the refrigerator according to the
present invention, FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an example of
a passage in the refrigerator according to the present invention,
FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing another example of the passage
in the refrigerator according to the present invention, FIGS. 7a
and 7b are perspective and sectional views showing an example of a
pump in the refrigerator according to the present invention, FIG. 8
is a sectional view showing another example of the pump in the
refrigerator according to the present invention, FIG. 9 is a front
view showing a path of a dispenser tube in the refrigerator
according to the present invention, and FIG. 10 is a front view
showing a path of an ice maker tube in the refrigerator according
to the present invention.
[0047] First, an internal structure of a refrigerator according to
the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1
to 10, and the refrigerator A according to the present invention
largely includes a body 100 including a cold storage space 110 and
a freezer 120 separate from each other in left and right directions
or in up and down directions; doors 200a and 200b mounted on one
side or both sides of the body 100 to open and close the cold
storage space 110 and the freezer 120; and a machine space 130 in
the lower portion of the body 100 to mount mechanical devices (not
shown) executing part of a refrigeration cycle like a compressor, a
condenser and an evaporator therein.
[0048] Further, the refrigerator A further includes a dispenser 300
mounted on the door 200b from which cold water is directly supplied
to a user.
[0049] Furthermore, the freezer 120 has an ice maker 400 therein,
in which ice is made through the sequential operations of water
feeding, ice making and ice ejecting, in an automatic manner.
[0050] On the other hand, preferably, a water tank 500 is mounted
in the cold storage space 110. At this time, the height for the
installation of the water tank 500 is lower than that of the
dispenser 300 or the ice maker 400, thereby preventing water from
flowing toward the dispenser 300 or the ice maker 400 and at the
same time suppressing the water remaining in a passage as will be
discussed later.
[0051] Further, the water tank 500 is mounted using a shelf 520
disposed on the beads of the inner case of the cold storage space
110, and the shelf 520 is inserted into the inner case of the cold
storage space 110, while the water tank 500 is inserted into the
shelf 520. The shelf 520 can be removed from the cold storage space
110, and the water tank 500 can be removed from the shelf 500.
[0052] Also, the refrigerator A further includes a pump 600 adapted
to pump the water stored in the water tank 500 to the ice maker 400
or the dispenser 300, and a passage 700 adapted to connect the
water tank 500 and the pump 600.
[0053] On the other hand, the water tank 500 has an outlet 510
formed on the rear surface thereof in such a manner as to be passed
through the rear surface of the shelf 520.
[0054] The shelf 520 has a silicone inlet 710 formed on the rear
surface thereof, and the silicone inlet 710 has one end connected
to the outlet 510 of the water tank 500 and another end connected
to the passage 700.
[0055] At this time, the silicone inlet 710 has a shape of a funnel
having an outer peripheral surface and internal passage reduced
from one side to the other side thereof, so that a tube 730 as will
be discussed later fits to the inner or outer peripheral surface of
the smaller end portion of the silicone inlet 710. The tube 730 is
fixed using a cylindrical metal fastening piece 711.
[0056] On the other hand, if the end portion of the silicone inlet
710 facing the tube 730 has a shape of a long pipe, the silicone
inlet 710 and the tube 730 are connected to each other using a tube
fitting (not shown).
[0057] Also, the shelf 520 includes a shelf body 521 adapted to
support the water tank 500 and a shelf cover 522 adapted to cover
the top portion of the shelf body 521. Further, the silicone inlet
710 is formed on the shelf body 521 of the rear surface of the
shelf 520 facing the inner wall surface of the cold storage space
110.
[0058] On the other hand, the shelf body 521 has guides 523 on
opposite sides thereof and a sagging prevention member 524 disposed
between the guides 523 of the shelf body 521 to stably support the
underside of the water tank 500.
[0059] Further, the shelf cover 522 has a transparent window 525 to
visually check the water tank 500 in the shelf 520.
[0060] Also, the shelf cover 522 has a rotary door 526
hinge-coupled thereto in such a manner as to be open and
closed.
[0061] On the other hand, the water tank 500 has coupling
protrusions 501 formed thereon, and the shelf body 521 has coupling
grooves 527 formed thereon or therein corresponding to the coupling
protrusions 501, so that through their coupling, the coupling
position of the water tank 500 is guided and at the same time the
water tank 500 is rigidly fixed to the shelf body 521.
[0062] Furthermore, the coupling grooves 527 are coupled to the
inner wall surface of the cold storage space 110 using mechanical
fasteners such as bolts. That is, the shelf 520 is fixed to the
cold storage space 110, and the water tank 500 is removable from
the shelf 520.
[0063] Also, the shelf body 521 has a fitting protrusion 528 formed
thereon, and the silicone inlet 710 has a fitting groove 721 formed
thereon in such a manner as to insert the fitting protrusion 528
thereinto, thereby being rigidly fixed to the shelf body 521.
[0064] Further, as shown in FIGS. 3c and 4b, the water tank 500
includes a water tank body 550 and a water tank cover 560 adapted
to cover the open top portion of the water tank body 550. At this
time, the water tank 500 further includes a rubber packing 561
disposed along the edges of the water tank body 550 between the
water tank cover 560 and the water tank body 550 to prevent the
leakage of water.
[0065] In addition, the water tank body 550 has locking members 559
formed thereon, and the water tank cover 560 has fastening wings
569 formed thereon corresponding to the locking members 559,
thereby allowing the water tank body 550 and the water tank cover
560 to be maintained separate from each other or rigidly fixed to
each other.
[0066] On the other hand, the outlet 510 is formed on the rear
surface of the water tank body 550, and a pipe connector 570 is
fitted to the outer or inner peripheral surface of the outlet 510
that protrudes inward from the water tank body 550.
[0067] The pipe connector 570 extends to the interior of the water
tank 500. As shown in FIG. 4b, also, the pipe connector 570 is bent
to an inverted L or `.right brkt-bot.` shape toward the bottom
surface of the water tank body 550 from the wall surface of the
water tank body 550.
[0068] Further, as shown in FIG. 4c, a pipe connector 570'
according to another example of the present invention is bent
toward the bottom surface of the water tank body 550 from the wall
surface of the water tank body 550 using a bending part 571' having
an inverted U shape or a `.left brkt-top..right brkt-bot.` shape.
The height of the bending part 571' is higher than the outlet 510,
thereby preventing the water stored in the water tank body 550 from
leaking through the outlet 510.
[0069] On the other hand, the pipe connector 570 has a filter 572
mounted thereon to remove foreign matter in the water.
[0070] Further, the filter 572 has a plurality of protrusions 573
formed along the outer periphery of the underside surface thereof
to prevent the filter 572 and the bottom surface of the water tank
body 550 from being brought into close contact with each other.
That is, the formation of the plurality of protrusions 573 prevents
the flow of water from being interrupted due to the contact of the
filter 572 with the water tank body 550.
[0071] Further, the water tank cover 560 has an opening and closing
injection hole 562 formed therein, thereby making it convenient to
inject water into the water tank 500.
[0072] On the other hand, the water tank 500 has protruding parts
590 protruding outwardly from opposite sides of the front surface
thereof in such a manner as to allow the beads formed on the inner
case of the cold storage space 110 to be hidden.
[0073] Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the passage 700 includes a
guide 720 embedded into the rear surface of the inner case of the
cold storage space 110 and a tube 730 inserted into the guide 720
to connect the silicone inlet 710 and the pump 600 to each other.
The guide 720 is embedded using urethane foam under the rear
surface of the inner case of the cold storage space 110, thereby
being not exposed to the interior of the cold storage space
110.
[0074] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, a passage 700'
according to another example of the present invention is disposed
between the front surface of the inner case of the cold storage
space 110 and the shelf 520 and has a tube 730' connecting a
silicone inlet 710' and the pump 600 to each other. At this time,
the silicone inlet 710' is bent to An inverted L shape or a short
`.right brkt-bot.` in such a manner as to be brought into
completely close contact with the wall surface of the inner case of
the cold storage space 110.
[0075] Further, a cover 720' adapted to cover the tube 730' is
attached to the front surface of the inner case of the cold storage
space 110, thereby preventing the tube 730' from being exposed to
the interior of the cold storage space 110.
[0076] Also, as shown in FIGS. 7a to 8, the pump 600 is disposed on
the lower portion of the cold storage space 110, that is, behind a
vegetable bin (not shown), and includes a first guide 610 adapted
to connect the lower portion of the cold storage space 110 and the
front surface of the lower portion of the freezer 120 to each
other, a second guide 620 adapted to connect the lower portion of
the cold storage space 110 and a machine space (not shown)
accessible from the rear of the refrigerator, and a dispenser tube
611 in the first guide 610 to connect the pump 600 and the
dispenser 300 to each other. As shown in FIG. 9, the dispenser tube
611 extends from the front surface of the lower portion of the
freezer 120 and connects to the dispenser 300 via the door 200b of
the freezer 120.
[0077] On the other hand, the second guide 620 has an ice maker
tube 621 therein to connect the pump 600 and the ice maker 400 to
each other, and the ice maker tube 621 extends to the freezer 120
from the machine space behind the cold storage space 110 through
the space behind the freezer 120 and is connected to the ice maker
400, as shown in FIG. 10.
[0078] Accordingly, the water tank 500 in which purified water, not
tap water, is stored is accommodated in the shelf 520 within the
interior of the cold storage space 110 and supplies the water to
the ice maker 400 and the dispenser 300 using the pump 600.
[0079] Further, the water tank 500 is not exposed to the external
air, so that cold water can be supplied to the dispenser 300.
Furthermore, cooled water in the water tank 500 is supplied to the
ice maker 400, thereby shortening the ice making time.
[0080] Also, the water tank 500 is mounted on the beads of the
inner case of the cold storage space 110, thereby also serving as a
shelf.
[0081] On the other hand, the tube 730, the dispenser tube 611 and
the ice maker tube 621 are fixed to the silicone inlet 710, the
pump 600, the dispenser 300 and the ice maker 400 using elastic
materials and tube fittings, and a detailed explanation of the
manner of attaching these components to each other will be
avoided.
[0082] Further, as shown in FIGS. 7a to 8, the pump 600 includes a
dispenser pump 600a and an ice maker pump 600b, and the dispenser
pump 600a is driven when the lever 301 of the dispenser 300 is
pressed by a user's manipulation, while the ice maker pump 600b is
automatically driven in accordance with the amount of water supply
demanded by the user.
[0083] If demand for water supply from the ice maker pump 600b
occurs during the driving of the dispenser pump 600a, the ice maker
pump 600b is driven when the driving of the dispenser pump 600a is
finished.
[0084] Further, if the dispenser pump 600a is driven during the
period of water supply from the ice maker pump 600b, the ice maker
pump 600b and the dispenser pump 600a are driven at the same
time.
[0085] While the present invention has been described with
reference to particular illustrative embodiments, it is not to be
restricted by the embodiment but only by the appended claims. It is
to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or
modify the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit
of the present invention.
* * * * *