U.S. patent application number 14/048787 was filed with the patent office on 2014-10-02 for refrigerator.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is LG ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to Yongjoo Park, Changho Seo, Jaehoon Shin, Heayoun Sul.
Application Number | 20140290303 14/048787 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49509942 |
Filed Date | 2014-10-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140290303 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shin; Jaehoon ; et
al. |
October 2, 2014 |
REFRIGERATOR
Abstract
A refrigerator including a main body with a first storage
compartment and a first evaporation compartment provided within the
main body in order to cool the first storage compartment. The
refrigerator also includes a second storage compartment
independently provided in the first storage compartment and
maintained at a temperature lower than a temperature of the first
storage compartment; and a second evaporation compartment located
at a rear side of the second storage compartment to cool the second
storage compartment.
Inventors: |
Shin; Jaehoon; (Seoul,
KR) ; Sul; Heayoun; (Seoul, KR) ; Seo;
Changho; (Seoul, KR) ; Park; Yongjoo; (Seoul,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LG ELECTRONICS INC. |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
49509942 |
Appl. No.: |
14/048787 |
Filed: |
October 8, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/419 ;
62/441 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 2317/061 20130101;
F25D 17/065 20130101; F25D 25/025 20130101; F25D 11/022
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/419 ;
62/441 |
International
Class: |
F25D 11/00 20060101
F25D011/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 1, 2013 |
KR |
10-2013-0035087 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator, comprising: a main body with a first storage
compartment; a first evaporation compartment provided within the
main body in order to cool the first storage compartment; a second
storage compartment independently provided in the first storage
compartment and maintained at a temperature lower than a
temperature of the first storage compartment; and a second
evaporation compartment located at a rear side of the second
storage compartment to cool the second storage compartment , the
second evaporation compartment including a cold air outlet and a
cold air inlet.
2. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising: a first
evaporator disposed in the first evaporation compartment; a second
evaporator disposed in the second evaporation compartment; and a
cooling fan disposed in the first evaporation compartment.
3. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the first evaporator and
the second evaporator include fin-tube type heat exchangers.
4. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the second storage
compartment includes: a case communicating with the second
evaporation compartment and insulated from the first evaporation
compartment; and a drawer including: a storage box received in the
case and having a cold air hole on a rear side thereof; and a door
formed at a front side of the storage box.
5. The refrigerator of claim 4, further comprising: a main grille
to partition the first evaporation compartment and the first
storage compartment, wherein the second evaporation compartment is
fixed to a front side of the main grille.
6. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the rear side of the case
is in contact with a front side of the second evaporation
compartment, and wherein the second storage compartment and the
second evaporation compartment communicate with each other through
the cold air inlet and the cold air outlet.
7. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the rear side of the case
is in contact with the main grille, such that the second
evaporation compartment is completely received inside the case.
8. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the first storage
compartment is a freezing compartment maintained at or below a
freezing temperature, and the second storage compartment is a deep
freezing compartment maintained at a temperature lower than the
temperature in the freezing compartment.
9. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the first evaporation
compartment is provided at one side of the main body.
10. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the first storage
compartment includes a freezing compartment.
11. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the second storage
compartment includes a deep freezing compartment.
12. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the first evaporator
comprises a main evaporator.
13. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the second evaporator
comprises a deep evaporator.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims the priority benefit of
Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0035087 filed on Apr. 1,
2013, which is herein incorporated by reference in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator.
[0004] 2. Description of the related art
[0005] Generally, a refrigerator is an electronic appliance that
can store foods at a low temperature within an internal storage
space which is shielded by a door from an external environment. To
this end, the refrigerator is configured to cool the internal
storage space to keep the stored foods in an optimal state by using
cool air generated by a heat exchange with a coolant that is
circulated in a cooling cycle.
[0006] Recently, with increase in food shelf life and a tendency to
purchase higher-grade products, the refrigerator size has gradually
enlarged and the refrigerator has become more multi-functioned.
Refrigerators having various structures and convenient user
equipment have been introduced.
[0007] Particularly, consumer requirements for additional storage
space capable of cooling foods at a temperature lower than the
temperature of a freezing compartment have increased.
SUMMARY
[0008] The present disclosure has been made in an effort to provide
a refrigerator with a space separate from a refrigerating
compartment or a freezing compartment which may deep-cool food at a
temperature lower than a temperature in a freezing compartment
within a short time period.
[0009] A refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present
invention comprises: a main body with a first storage compartment;
a first evaporation compartment provided within the main body in
order to cool the first storage compartment; a second storage
compartment independently provided in the first storage compartment
and maintained at a temperature lower than a temperature of the
first storage compartment; and a second evaporation compartment
located at a rear side of the second storage compartment to cool
the second storage compartment, the second evaporation compartment
including a cold air outlet and a cold air inlet.
[0010] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the
following effects are created.
[0011] First, by providing a drawer assembly which may be provided
inside a freezing compartment and cooled at a temperature lower
than a temperature in the freezing compartment, food requiring
storage at various temperatures may be effectively stored.
[0012] Second, since a separate evaporation means for rapidly
cooling is provided, a state of a deep freezing compartment may be
uniformly maintained regardless of a load state of a refrigerating
compartment or a freezing compartment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a deep freezing
compartment system according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0014] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the deep
freezing compartment system according to one embodiment of the
present invention.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a
refrigerator with a deep freezing compartment according to one
embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a
refrigerator illustrating a structure of a deep evaporation
compartment according to another embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] In the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in
which is shown by way of illustration specific preferred
embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. The
embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those
skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is understood
that other embodiments may be utilized. Logical, structural,
mechanical, electrical, and chemical changes may be made without
departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. To avoid
details not necessary to enable those skilled in the art to
practice the invention, the description may omit certain
information known to those skilled in the art. The following
detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting
sense, and the scope of the present disclosure is defined only by
the appended claims.
[0018] A deep freezing compartment according to the embodiments of
the present invention can be applied to all types of refrigerators.
For example, the deep freezing compartment according to one
embodiment of the present invention can be applied to all of a top
mount type refrigerator in which the freezing compartment is
provided on the top of a cooling compartment, a bottom freezer type
refrigerator in which the freezing compartment is provided on the
bottom of the cooling compartment, and a side-by-side type
refrigerator in which the freezing compartment and the cooling
compartment are provided at left and right sides.
[0019] A refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present
invention comprises: a main body with a first storage compartment;
a first evaporation compartment provided within the main body in
order to cool the first storage compartment; a second storage
compartment independently provided in the first storage compartment
and maintained at a temperature lower than a temperature of the
first storage compartment; and a second evaporation compartment
located at a rear side of the second storage compartment to cool
the second storage compartment, the second evaporation compartment
including a cold air outlet and a cold air inlet.
[0020] The refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present
invention further comprises: a first evaporator disposed in the
first evaporation compartment; a second evaporator disposed in the
second evaporation compartment; and a cooling fan disposed in the
first evaporation compartment.
[0021] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the
first evaporator and the second evaporator include fin-tube type
heat exchangers.
[0022] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the
second storage compartment includes: a case communicating with the
second evaporation compartment and insulated from the first
evaporation compartment; and a drawer, wherein the drawer includes:
a storage box received in the case and having a cold air hole at a
rear side thereof; and a door formed at a front side of the storage
box.
[0023] The refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present
invention further comprises a main grille to partition the first
evaporation compartment and the first storage compartment, wherein
the second evaporation compartment is fixed to a front side of the
main grille.
[0024] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the
rear side of the case is in contact with a front side of the second
evaporation compartment, and the second storage compartment and the
second evaporation compartment communicate with each other through
the cold air inlet and the cold air outlet.
[0025] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the
rear side of the case is in contact with the main grille, such that
the second evaporation compartment is completely received inside
the case.
[0026] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the
first storage compartment is a freezing compartment maintained at a
below freezing temperature, and the second storage compartment is a
deep freezing compartment maintained at a temperature lower than
the temperature in the freezing compartment.
[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a deep freezing
compartment system according to one embodiment of the present
invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the
deep freezing compartment system, and FIG. 3 is a longitudinal
cross-sectional view of a refrigerator with a deep freezing
compartment according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0028] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a deep freezing compartment
system 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention
includes a deep freezing compartment 10 maintained at a temperature
lower than the freezing compartment temperature, and a cooling
module for cooling the inside of the deep freezing compartment
10.
[0029] The refrigerator with the deep freezing compartment system 1
according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a
freezing compartment 20 and a refrigerating compartment (not
illustrated) in a main body 30. Main body 30 comprises an outer
case 303, an inner case 301, and an insulation layer 302 interposed
therebetween. Additionally, the deep freezing compartment 10 is
provided at one side of freezing compartment 20 formed in main body
30. A main grille 15 is installed at the front of inner case 301,
and a main evaporator 18 for cooling the refrigerating compartment
and the freezing compartment 20 is disposed between main grille 15
and inner case 301. Accordingly, a space formed between main grille
15 and inner case 301, that is, a space in which main evaporator 18
is disposed may be defined as a main evaporation compartment 31.
Main evaporator 18 may be a fin-tube type evaporator.
[0030] The cold air cooled through main evaporator 18 is supplied
to freezing compartment 20 and the refrigerating compartment along
a cold-air path. Additionally, the cold air supplied to freezing
compartment 20 flows into main evaporation compartment 31 again
through a cold-air collecting hole 151 formed at a lower end side
of main grille 15. Condensate water generated from main evaporation
compartment 31 is discharged to a machine compartment 32 formed at
a lower end of main body 30 through a drain hole (not illustrated).
In addition, one or a plurality of main evaporators 18 may be
provided according to a capacity of the refrigerator. For example,
in the case of a refrigerator having a small capacity, a single
main evaporator 18 is applied, and the cold air may move to the
refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment through the
cold-air path. In the case of a refrigerator having a large
capacity, a main evaporator for a refrigerating compartment and a
main evaporator for a freezing compartment are separately provided,
and as a result, the cold air cooled by the main evaporator for a
refrigerating compartment may be supplied to only the refrigerating
compartment, and the cold air cooled by the main evaporator for a
freezing compartment may be supplied to only the freezing
compartment. In this case, since the cold air in the refrigerating
compartment does not flow into the freezing compartment side, there
is an advantage in that food smells in the refrigerating
compartment do not flow into the freezing compartment.
[0031] Meanwhile, in freezing compartment 20 or the refrigerating
compartment, a storage means for storing food may be provided. For
example, in freezing compartment 20, a plurality of shelves 201 in
which food or containers may be placed are disposed inside freezing
compartment 20 at intervals in a vertical direction, and a storage
box 202 to store the food may be provided.
[0032] Deep freezing compartment 10 according to embodiment of the
present invention may be provided at one side inside freezing
compartment 20, and provided between the shelves.
[0033] Meanwhile, the cooling module which maintains a temperature
of the deep freezing compartment at a temperature lower than the
temperature of the freezing compartment includes a deep evaporator
16, a deep evaporation compartment 13 in which deep evaporator 16
is received, and a deep fan 14 received in deep evaporation
compartment 13 to circulate the cold air. Deep evaporator 16 may be
a fin-tube type heat exchanger, and may be connected in parallel to
main evaporator 18. Accordingly, an opening of a switching valve
may be controlled so that a coolant flows toward the deep
evaporator 16 when a deep freezing is performed.
[0034] Deep evaporation compartment 13 may be a housing having a
box shape forming a predetermined compartment. A fan housing in
which deep fan 14 is received protrudes from the front side of deep
evaporation compartment 13. An ejecting grille 133 is formed at the
front side of fan housing 131. Additionally, a return grille 132 is
formed at a front side of the lower end of fan housing 131 so that
the cold air returns to deep evaporation compartment 13.
[0035] Further, deep evaporation compartment 13 is fixed to a front
side of a support plate defined as a shroud 17. Shroud 17 is fixed
to and installed on main grille 15. In main grille 15, a shroud
installation hole 152 for installing shroud 17 may be formed.
[0036] Meanwhile, deep freezing compartment 10 is configured by an
insulation wall to form a compartment therein, and includes a case
11 with an open front and rear sides and a drawer 12 which is
slidably inserted into and discharged from case 11. Case 11 may be
fixed to a wall surface of freezing compartment 20 or to shelves
201. Additionally, the rear side of case 11 contacts the front side
of the deep evaporation compartment 13. That is, only fan housing
131 protruding from the front side of deep evaporation compartment
13 and return grille 132 are received inside case 11, and a space,
in which deep evaporator 16 is received, is disposed outside case
11.
[0037] Drawer 12 includes a storage box 121 to hold food, and a
door 122 vertically provided at the front side of storage box 121.
A plurality of cold-air holes 124 are formed on the rear side of
storage box 121, and a slide rail 123 may be formed at both sides.
Additionally, guide rails 111 are formed at both sides in case 11,
and slide rail 123 of storage box 121 is engaged to guide rail 111.
When storage box 121 is inserted into case 11 or discharged from
case 11, slide rail 123 horizontally moves along the guide rail
111. Instead of slide rail 123, a roller may be installed, and a
roller guide may be installed at an inner side of case 11, or both
the slide rail and the roller may be used.
[0038] When storage box 121 is completely received in case 11, a
rear edge of door 122 is completely in contact with the front side
of case 11 so as to prevent the cold air from being leaked outside.
Although not illustrated, in order to prevent cold-air leakage, a
sealing member may be surrounded at the rear side of door 122
contacting the front side of case 11. The sealing member may be
surrounded at the front side of case 11. Additionally, a length of
storage box 121 may be extended so that the rear side of storage
box 121 is in contact with or slightly separated from the front
side of fan housing 131 while storage box 121 is completely
received in case 11.
[0039] A cooling process of deep freezing compartment 10 according
to one embodiment of the present invention utilizing the above
configuration will be described.
[0040] First, when a command for deep cooling is inputted, or it is
determined that a temperature of the deep freezing compartment is
higher than a set temperature, a deep cooling operation is
automatically performed. The deep cooling operation means that a
freezing cycle operation in which the coolant flows to main
evaporator 18 is switched into a freezing cycle operation in which
the coolant flows to deep evaporator 16. Since deep evaporator 16
is connected in parallel to main evaporator 18, through a switching
operation or opening control of the switching valve, the coolant is
controlled to flow toward deep evaporator 16. Further, in the case
where coolant circulation through main evaporator 18 is required
while a load of the refrigerating compartment and the freezing
compartment is increased, some amount of coolant flows toward main
evaporator 18 by the opening control of the valve, and the
remainder may flow toward deep evaporator 16. In another method,
before the deep cooling starts, first, the coolant flows toward
main evaporator 18 to supercool the refrigerating compartment at a
temperature lower than the set temperature, and thereafter, a flow
of the coolant may be switched toward deep evaporator 16 for deep
cooling.
[0041] When the coolant flows toward deep evaporator 16 and thus, a
temperature in deep evaporation compartment 13 is cooled to the set
temperature, deep compartment fan 14 received in fan housing 131 is
operated, and the cold air inside deep evaporation compartment 13
is ejected into deep freezing compartment 10 by an operation of
deep compartment fan 14. In this case, the ejected cold air is
guided toward storage box 121 through the rear side of case 11.
Additionally, some of the cold-air holes 124 formed at the rear
side of storage box 121 may function as a cold air outlet. Herein,
an operation timing of deep compartment fan 14 may be set to be a
time after a temperature of deep evaporation compartment 13
decreases to the set temperature, or may be set to a time when the
coolant starts to flow to deep evaporator 16.
[0042] Meanwhile, the cold air supplied to storage box 121 returns
to deep evaporation compartment 13 through cold-air holes 124 and
return grille 132 again. In addition, deep evaporation compartment
13 is completely insulated from the main evaporation compartment 31
in which the main evaporator is received. Accordingly, since the
cold air of main evaporation compartment 31 having a relatively
high temperature does not flow into deep evaporation compartment
13, the deep evaporation compartment 13 may be cooled to the set
temperature within a short time.
[0043] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a
refrigerator illustrating a structure of a deep evaporation
compartment according to another embodiment of the present
invention.
[0044] Referring to FIG. 4, a structure of a deep evaporation
compartment according to another embodiment is the same as that of
the above embodiment, but there is a difference in that the entire
deep evaporation compartment 13 is received inside deep freezing
compartment 10.
[0045] More specifically, a rear side of case 11 contacts main
grille 15, and deep evaporation compartment 13 is completely
received inside case 11. Accordingly, deep evaporation compartment
13 is positioned inside case 11, and as a result, there is an
advantage in that insulation performance improves.
[0046] In other words, in the case of the structure illustrated in
FIG. 3, a wall surface of the evaporation compartment in which deep
evaporator 16 is received is substantially in contact with an
internal air of freezing compartment 20 and thus, a part of the
cold air of deep evaporation compartment 13 may be used to cool
freezing compartment 20. However, in the other embodiment, deep
evaporation compartment 13 may be wholly used just to cool the
inside of case 11, that is, the deep freezing compartment.
[0047] Meanwhile, a first evaporator may comprise, among other
things, main evaporator 18 described in the embodiments of FIGS. 1
to 4, and a second evaporator may comprise, among other things,
deep evaporator 16. Additionally, a first storage compartment may
comprise, among other things, freezing compartment 20, and a second
storage compartment may comprise, among other things, deep freezing
compartment 10 provided in freezing compartment 20.
* * * * *