U.S. patent application number 14/841155 was filed with the patent office on 2016-12-22 for ice making system and method for a refrigerator.
The applicant listed for this patent is Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation. Invention is credited to Min Bon KOO.
Application Number | 20160370083 14/841155 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54199107 |
Filed Date | 2016-12-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160370083 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KOO; Min Bon |
December 22, 2016 |
ICE MAKING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A REFRIGERATOR
Abstract
Ice making system and method for a refrigerator is disclosed.
The ice making system includes an ice making unit that makes ice
cubes; a cold air generator that cools air inside a cooling duct so
as to produce cold air; a cold air circulation unit that supplies
the cold air from the cold air generator to the ice making unit,
and discharges the cold air from the ice making unit to the cold
air generator; and an opening/closing unit that discharges defrost
water produced from the cooling duct to an outside.
Inventors: |
KOO; Min Bon; (Seoul,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
54199107 |
Appl. No.: |
14/841155 |
Filed: |
August 31, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25C 5/22 20180101; F25D
2317/062 20130101; F25C 1/04 20130101; F25C 2400/10 20130101; F25D
21/12 20130101; F25D 11/006 20130101; F25D 11/02 20130101; F25D
21/08 20130101; F25D 17/065 20130101; F25D 23/028 20130101; F25D
21/06 20130101; F25D 11/022 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25D 11/00 20060101
F25D011/00; F25C 1/04 20060101 F25C001/04; F25D 11/02 20060101
F25D011/02; F25D 21/06 20060101 F25D021/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 16, 2015 |
KR |
10-2015-0085275 |
Claims
1. An ice making system for a refrigerator, the ice making system
comprising: an ice making unit that makes ice cubes; a cold air
generator that cools air inside a cooling duct so as to produce
cold air; a cold air circulation unit that supplies the cold air
from the cold air generator to the ice making unit and discharges
the cold air from the ice making unit to the cold air generator;
and an opening/closing unit that discharges defrost water produced
from the cooling duct to an outside.
2. The ice making system for the refrigerator according to claim 1,
wherein the opening/closing unit comprises: a cap provided in a
lowermost part of the cooling duct such that the cap communicates
with the cooling duct; and a lid connected to a predetermined
portion of the cap such that the lid opens the cap in response to a
weight of the defrost water.
3. The ice making system for the refrigerator according to claim 1,
wherein the opening/closing unit includes an elastic member
elastically restoring an original shape of the opening/closing
unit.
4. The ice making system for the refrigerator according to claim 1,
further comprising: a drainage unit that drains the defrost water
discharged from the opening/closing unit to the outside through a
drain hose communicating with the opening/closing unit.
5. The ice making system for the refrigerator according to claim 4,
wherein the opening/closing unit comprises: a cap provided in a
lowermost part of the cooling duct such that the cap communicates
with the cooling duct, the cap being combined with an upper end of
the drain hose; and a lid connected to a predetermined portion of
the cap such that the lid opens the cap in response to a weight of
the defrost water.
6. The ice making system for the refrigerator according to claim 5,
wherein the cap is provided with a stop rim that protrudes from an
edge of the cap such that the stop rim overlaps with an edge of the
lid.
7. The ice making system for the refrigerator according to claim 1,
wherein the cold air generator comprises: the cooling duct through
which the air flows; an evaporation coil wound around the cooling
duct such that the air is cooled by a heat exchanging operation
between the air and a refrigerant; a compressor that compresses the
refrigerant discharged from the evaporation coil so as to change
the refrigerant to a high temperature and high pressure gas
refrigerant; a condenser that condenses the gas refrigerant so as
to change the gas refrigerant to a high pressure liquid
refrigerant; an expansion valve that performs adiabatic expansion
of the liquid refrigerant and supplies the refrigerant to the
evaporation coil; and a heater that defrosts the cooling duct by
heating the cooling duct, thereby producing the defrost water.
8. The ice making system for the refrigerator according to claim 1,
wherein the ice making unit comprises: an ice making cabinet
defining an ice making space; an ice maker making the ice cubes
using the cold air; and an ice bank storing the ice cubes.
9. The ice making system for the refrigerator according to claim 1,
wherein the cold air generator comprises: an inlet hole provided on
an upper part of the ice making unit such that the cold air flows
from the cooling duct into the ice making unit; an outlet hole
provided on a lower part of the ice making unit such that the cold
air is discharged from the ice making unit into the cooling duct;
and a circulation fan that circulates the cold air from the inlet
hole to the outlet hole.
10. The ice making system for the refrigerator according to claim
1, wherein: the cooling duct is provided in a refrigerator body,
and the ice making unit is provided on a refrigeration compartment
door of the refrigerator; and the cooling duct communicates with
the ice making unit when the refrigeration compartment door is
closed.
11. The ice making system for the refrigerator according to claim
7, wherein the evaporation coil functions as an evaporator of a
refrigeration cycle, and cools the cooling duct through heat
conduction.
12. An ice making method for a refrigerator, the method comprising:
cooling air using a cooling duct so as to produce cold air;
supplying the cold air to an ice making unit so as to make ice
cubes; discharging the cold air from the ice making unit to the
cooling duct; cooling the discharged cold air again in the cooling
duct; defrosting the cooling duct by heating the cooling duct,
thereby producing defrost water; opening an opening/closing unit
provided in a lowermost part of the cooling duct; and draining the
defrost water discharged from the opening/closing unit to an
outside.
13. The ice making method for the refrigerator according to claim
12, wherein in the opening of the opening/closing unit provided in
the lowermost part of the cooling duct, a lid of the
opening/closing unit is opened by a weight of the defrost
water.
14. The ice making method for the refrigerator according to claim
12, wherein in the draining of the defrost water to the outside,
the defrost water produced from the defrosted cooling duct is
drained to a defrost water tray provided in a machine room of the
refrigerator.
15. The ice making method for the refrigerator according to claim
12, wherein in the cooling of the air using the cooling duct so as
to produce the cold air, the air flows through a cooling line of
the cooling duct for a predetermined lengthy period of time,
thereby being cooled to a predetermined temperature or lower and
producing the cold air.
16. A refrigerator, comprising: a freezer compartment located
within a main body of the refrigerator; a refrigeration compartment
located within the main body of the refrigerator, wherein the
freezer compartment is located below the refrigeration compartment;
an ice making unit that makes ice cubes; a cold air generator that
cools air inside a cooling duct so as to produce cold air; a cold
air circulation unit that supplies the cold air from the cold air
generator to the ice making unit and discharges the cold air from
the ice making unit to the cold air generator; and an
opening/closing unit that discharges defrost water produced from
the cooling duct to an outside.
17. The refrigerator according to claim 16, wherein the
opening/closing unit comprises: a cap provided in a lowermost part
of the cooling duct such that the cap communicates with the cooling
duct; and a lid connected to a predetermined portion of the cap
such that the lid opens the cap in response to a weight of the
defrost water.
18. The refrigerator according to claim 16, further comprising: a
drainage unit that drains the defrost water discharged from the
opening/closing unit to the outside through a drain hose
communicating with the opening/closing unit.
19. The refrigerator according to claim 18, wherein the
opening/closing unit comprises: a cap provided in a lowermost part
of the cooling duct such that the cap communicates with the cooling
duct, the cap being combined with an upper end of the drain hose;
and a lid connected to a predetermined portion of the cap such that
the lid opens the cap in response to a weight of the defrost
water.
20. The refrigerator according to claim 19, wherein the cap is
provided with a stop rim that protrudes from an edge of the cap
such that the stop rim overlaps with an edge of the lid.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority to and the benefit
of the Republic of Korea Patent Application Serial Number
10-2015-0085275, having a filing date of Jun. 16, 2015, filed in
the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to an ice making system and
method for a refrigerator.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A refrigerator unit is an apparatus intended to store food
items at low temperatures. The refrigerator unit may store foods in
a frozen or refrigerated state according to the types of food
intended to be stored.
[0004] The interior of the refrigerator unit is cooled by cold air
that is constantly supplied. The cold air is constantly generated
through a heat exchanging operation with a refrigerant based on a
refrigeration cycle. The cycle includes a process of
compression-condensation-expansion-evaporation that are
sequentially performed. The cold air supplied to the inside of the
refrigerator unit is evenly distributed due to convection of air to
store food, drink, and other items within the refrigerator unit at
desired temperatures.
[0005] In general, a main body of the refrigerator unit has a
rectangular, hexahedral shape which is open at a front surface. The
front surface may provide access to a refrigeration compartment and
a freezer compartment defined within the body of the refrigerator
unit. Further, hinged doors may be fitted to the front side of the
refrigerator body in order to selectively open and/or close
openings to the refrigeration compartment and the freezer
compartment. In addition, a number of drawers, racks, shelves,
storage boxes, and the like may be provided in the refrigeration
compartment and the freezer compartment within the refrigerator
unit that are configured for optimally storing various foods,
drinks, and other items within a storage space inside the
refrigerator unit.
[0006] Conventionally, refrigerator units were configured as a top
mount type in which a freezer compartment is positioned above a
refrigeration compartment. Recently, bottom freezer type
refrigerator units position the freezer compartment below the
refrigeration compartment to enhance user convenience. In the
bottom freezer type refrigerator unit, the more frequently used
refrigeration compartment is advantageously positioned at the top
so that a user may conveniently access the compartment without
bending over at the waist, as previously required by the top mount
type refrigerator unit. The less frequently used freezer
compartment is positioned at the bottom.
[0007] However, a bottom freezer type refrigerator unit may lose
its design benefits when a user wants to access the lower freezer
compartment on a more frequent basis. For example, prepared ice
that is stored in the freezer compartment may be a popular item
accessed frequently by a particular user. In a bottom freezer type
refrigerator unit, since the freezer compartment is positioned
below the refrigeration compartment, the user would have to bend
over at the waist in order to open the freezer compartment door to
access the ice.
[0008] In order to solve such a problem, bottom freezer type
refrigerators may include a dispenser configured for dispensing ice
that is provided in a refrigeration compartment door. In this case,
the ice dispenser is also positioned in the upper portion of the
refrigerator unit, and more specifically is located above the
freezer compartment. In this case, an ice maker for generating ice
may be provided in the refrigeration compartment door or in the
interior of the refrigeration compartment.
[0009] For example, in a bottom freezer type refrigerator having an
ice making device in the refrigeration compartment door, cold air
that has been produced by an evaporator is divided and discharged
both into the freezer compartment and into the refrigeration
compartment. Here, cold air that was discharged into the freezer
compartment flows to the ice making device via a cold air supply
duct arranged in a sidewall of the body of the refrigerator unit,
and then freezes water while circulating inside the ice making
device. Thereafter, the cold air is discharged from the ice making
device into the refrigeration compartment via a cold air
restoration duct arranged in the sidewall of the body of the
refrigerator unit, so the cold air can reduce the temperature
inside the refrigeration compartment.
[0010] However, because cold air flows through multiple ducts when
making ice cubes using the ice making device in the above-mentioned
refrigerator, the efficiency of the refrigerator unit may be
lessened. That is, because cold air flows to the ice making device
via the cold air supply duct, and then flows from the ice making
device to the refrigeration compartment via the cold air
restoration duct, the efficiency of supplying cold air for the
refrigerator unit may be less than optimum.
[0011] Further, frost may be produced in both the cold air supply
duct and the cold air restoration duct due to the cold air. When
the cold air supply duct and the cold air restoration duct are not
sufficiently defrosted, the cold air may not be efficiently
supplied to the ice making device and the refrigeration
compartment, in part due to blockage. This may cause a problem in
that an excessive amount of electricity may be wasted during the
operation of the refrigerator to overcome the affects of frost.
SUMMARY
[0012] In view of the above, therefore, embodiments of the present
invention provide an ice making system and method for a
refrigerator unit in which cold air produced from a cooling duct
can be efficiently used to make ice cubes, and from which defrost
water produced from the cooling duct can be efficiently drained to
the outside.
[0013] Embodiments of the present invention can also provide an ice
making system and method for a refrigerator unit that can
efficiently intercept outside hot air using an opening/closing unit
of the cooling duct, and can increase cooling efficiency of the
refrigerator unit by draining defrost water produced to the outside
of the cooling duct.
[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, there is
provided an ice making system for a refrigerator unit, including:
an ice making unit that makes ice cubes; a cold air generator that
cools air inside a cooling duct so as to produce cold air; a cold
air circulation unit that supplies the cold air from the cold air
generator to the ice making unit and discharges the cold air from
the ice making unit to the cold air generator; and an
opening/closing unit that discharges defrost water produced from
the cooling duct to the outside.
[0015] Advantages of embodiments of the present invention include
the ability of a refrigerator unit to efficiently defrost the
cooling duct and efficiently drain defrost water produced during
the defrosting process to the outside of the cooling duct.
[0016] Another advantage of embodiments of the present invention
includes the ability of a refrigerator unit to efficiently
intercept outside hot air using the opening/closing unit of the
cooling duct, and to increase the cooling efficiency of the
refrigerator unit by draining defrost water produced from the
refrigerator to the outside.
[0017] A further advantage of embodiments of the present invention
include the ability of a refrigerator unit to make ice cubes using
the cold air directly produced from the cooling duct, thereby
increasing the efficiencies of making ice and supplying cold
air.
[0018] Still another advantage of embodiments of the present
invention include the ability of a refrigerator unit to circulate
the cold air only a short distance within an ice making space
defined between the cooling duct and the refrigeration compartment
door, when compared to a conventional technique in which cold air
produced from the lower part of a refrigerator unit flows to an ice
making space defined in a refrigeration compartment door located in
the upper part of the refrigerator unit. As such, embodiments of
the present invention can reduce the loss of cold air when making
ice by reducing the distance of travel of cold air, thereby
increasing the efficiency of the ice making unit, and saving
electricity during the operation of the refrigerator unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
form a part of this specification and in which like numerals depict
like elements, illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure
and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles
of the disclosure.
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator unit showing
an ice making system, in accordance with one embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a view showing a connection between an ice making
unit and a cooling duct of a cold air generator in the ice making
system for a refrigerator unit, in accordance with one embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an internal
construction of an ice making system for a refrigerator unit, in
accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a cold air generator
implementing a refrigeration cycle of an ice making system for a
refrigerator unit, in accordance with one embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0024] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an opening/closing unit
of an ice making system for a refrigerator unit, in accordance with
one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0025] FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line A--A of FIG. 5,
in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0026] FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing an operation of the
opening/closing unit of the ice making system based on the line
A--A of FIG. 5, in accordance with one embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0027] FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating another
opening/closing unit of an ice making system for a refrigerator
unit, in accordance with one embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0028] FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line B--B of FIG. 8,
in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0029] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for making
ice within a refrigerator unit, in accordance with one embodiment
of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] Reference will now be made in detail to the various
embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While described in
conjunction with these embodiments, it will be understood that they
are not intended to limit the disclosure to these embodiments. On
the contrary, the disclosure is intended to cover alternatives,
modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the
spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended
claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the
present disclosure, numerous specific details are set forth in
order to provide a thorough understanding of the present
disclosure. However, it will be understood that the present
disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In
other instances, well-known methods, functions, constituents,
procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as
not to unnecessarily obscure aspects and/or features of the present
disclosure.
[0031] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an ice making system
for a refrigerator unit, in accordance with one embodiment of the
present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a view showing a connection between
an ice making unit and a cooling duct of a cold air generator in
the ice making system for the refrigerator unit of FIG. 1, in
accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is
a cross-sectional view showing an internal construction of an ice
making system for the refrigerator unit of FIG. 1, in accordance
with one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0032] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the ice making system for the
refrigerator unit according to exemplary embodiments of the present
invention can make ice cubes by freezing water using cold air
produced from a cooling duct 210, and can efficiently drain defrost
water produced from the cooling duct to the outside.
[0033] In particular, the refrigerator unit 1 may include a
refrigerator body 10 that defines an external appearance or
exterior. A barrier 20 is configured for dividing the interior
cavity of the refrigerator body 10 into a refrigeration compartment
at the top thereof, and a freezer compartment at the bottom
thereof. One or more doors may be configured to selectively isolate
the interiors of the compartments from the surrounding environment.
For example, a pair of refrigeration compartment doors 30 may be
hinged to opposite edges of the front of the refrigeration
compartment, and are configured through rotation thereof to
selectively open and close the refrigeration compartment. A freezer
compartment door 40 may be hinged to an edge of the front of the
freezer compartment, and is configured through rotation thereof to
selectively open and close the freezer compartment.
[0034] Although the refrigerator unit 1 of exemplary embodiments of
the present invention is a bottom freezer type refrigerator in
which the freezer compartment is provided in the lower part of the
refrigerator body, it should be understood that the present
invention may be adapted to various types of refrigerators without
being limited to the bottom freezer type refrigerator
[0035] The ice making system of the present invention includes an
ice making unit 100, a cold air generator 200, a cold air
circulation unit 300, a drainage unit 600, and an opening/closing
unit 700.
[0036] Described in detail, the ice making unit 100 changes the
phase of water to ice using cold air. The ice making unit may be
provided on an inner surface of the refrigeration compartment door
30. Although the ice making unit 100 of the present embodiment is
provided on the upper part or portion of the refrigeration
compartment door 30, the location is provided merely for
illustration purposes only. It should be understood that the ice
making unit 100 may be provided on another position of the
refrigeration compartment door 30, in a different position within
the interior of the refrigeration compartment, and the like.
[0037] The ice making unit 100 may include an ice making cabinet
110, an ice maker 120, and an ice bank 130.
[0038] In particular, the ice making cabinet 110 may be provided on
the inside surface of the refrigeration compartment door 30, and
may define an ice making space 111 in which ice cubes are produced.
The ice maker 120 can freeze water using cold air flowing into the
ice making space 111, such as when making ice cubes. The ice maker
120 can discharge the ice cubes into the ice bank 130. The ice bank
130 is provided at a location below the ice maker 120 and is
configured to receive ice cubes discharged from the ice maker 120.
The ice bank 130 can store the ice cubes discharged from the ice
maker 120, and can dispense ice cubes to users using an ice
dispenser unit (not shown).
[0039] The cold air circulation unit 300 functions to introduce
cold air from the cold air generator 200 into the ice making space
111 of the ice making unit 100. The cold air circulation unit 300
may also be configured to discharge the cold air from the ice
making space 111 to the cold air generator 200, to undergo a new
refrigeration cycle.
[0040] For example, the cold air circulation unit 300 may include
an inlet hole 310 provided on an upper part of the ice making unit
100 and an outlet hole provided on a lower part of the ice making
unit 100. The inlet hole 310 in the ice making unit 100 may be
provided at a location corresponding to a first duct hole 212 of
the cooling duct 210. The outlet hole 320 may be provided at a
location corresponding to a second duct hole 213 of the cooling
duct 210. A circulation fan 330 may be configured to circulate cold
air from the inlet hole 310 to the outlet hole 320 through the ice
making unit 100.
[0041] Accordingly, when the refrigeration compartment door 30 is
closed onto the refrigerator body 10, the cold air inside the
cooling duct 210 flows into the inlet hole 310 of the ice making
unit 100 via the first duct hole 212. In the ice making unit 100,
the cold air introduced from the cooling duct 210 circulates inside
the ice making space 111 by operation of the circulation fan 330.
In that manner, water contained inside the ice making space 111
gradually freezes, and given enough refrigeration cycles ice cubes
may be formed. Thereafter, the cold air circulating inside the ice
making unit 100 may be discharged into the second duct hole 213 of
the cooling duct 210 via the outlet hole 320. The cold air
discharged from the ice making unit 100 is cooled again inside the
cooling duct 210 prior to being reintroduced into the inlet hole
310, via the first duct hole 212, of the ice making unit 100.
[0042] The drainage unit 600 can efficiently drain defrost water
produced from the cooling duct 210 to the outside.
[0043] To this end, the drainage unit 600 may include a hollow
drain hose 610 through which defrost water can flow from the
cooling duct 210 to be drained. A defrost water tray 50 is
configured to collect the defrost water drained from the drain hose
610. In particular, the drain hose 610 may be connected to a lower
bent portion of the U-shaped cooling duct 210, such that the upper
end of the drain hose 610 communicates and/or connects with the
cooling duct 210. Thus, the drain hose 610 can efficiently drain
the defrost water discharged from the cooling duct 210 onto the
defrost water tray 50
[0044] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a cold air generator
200 of the ice making system for the refrigerator unit 1 of FIGS.
1-3, in accordance with one embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0045] As shown in FIG. 4, the cold air generator 200 can cool air
flowing through the cooling duct 210, thereby producing cold air.
The cold air generator 200 can supply the cold air to the ice
making unit 100. The cold air generator 200 may be provided inside
the refrigerator body 10 of the refrigerator unit 1. More
specifically, the cold air generator 200 may be provided on the
sidewall of the refrigerator body 10, in one embodiment. In another
embodiment, the cold air generator 200 may be provided in the lower
part of the refrigerator body 10.
[0046] The cold air generator 200 includes the cooling duct 210
that is provided in the sidewall of the refrigerator body. The
cooling duct is configured to form a cooling line through which air
flows. An evaporation coil 220 is configured to be wound around the
cooling duct 210, such that the air inside and traveling through
the cooling duct is cooled by a heat exchanging operation between
the air and a refrigerant. A compressor 230 is configured to
compresses the refrigerant discharged from the evaporation coil 220
so as to change the refrigerant to a high temperature and high
pressure vapor or gas refrigerant. A condenser 240 is configured to
condense the gas refrigerant so as to change the gas refrigerant to
a high pressure liquid refrigerant. An expansion valve 250 is
configured to perform adiabatic expansion of the liquid
refrigerant, and supplies the liquid refrigerant to the evaporation
coil 220. A heater (not shown) is configured to defrost the cooling
duct 210 by heating the duct 210, thereby producing defrost
water.
[0047] In particular, the first duct hole 212 may be provided on
the upper end of the cooling duct 210, such that the first duct
hole 212 can communicate with, or is connected to, the inlet hole
310 of the ice making unit 100 when the refrigeration compartment
door 30 is closed. The second duct hole 213 may be provided on the
lower end of the cooling duct 210, such that the second duct hole
213 can communicate with, or is connected to, the outlet hole 320
of the ice making unit 100 when the refrigeration compartment door
30 is closed. Further, the heater may include a heat transfer tape
the covers the outer surface of the cooling duct 210, so as to
provide heat to the cooling duct 210.
[0048] In some embodiments, the compressor 230, the condenser 240,
the expansion valve 250, and the evaporation coil 220 are
configured to implement a refrigeration cycle for the purpose of
supplying cold air. The refrigeration cycle composed of four
processes (e.g., compression, condensation, expansion, and
evaporation) is performed in which a heat exchanging operation
between air and refrigerant is implemented. Accordingly, air inside
the cooling duct 210 may be cooled to become cold air by a heat
exchanging operation performed, in part, between the air inside the
cooling duct 210 and the refrigerant inside the evaporation coil
220. In particular, the evaporation coil 220 cools the cooling duct
210 through heat conduction. Further, the cooling channel defined
by and within the cooling duct 210 is sufficiently long such that
air inside the cooling line can be efficiently cooled. As such,
when the air flows through the cooling line for a predetermined
period of time (dependent in part on the length of and flow of air
through the cooling duct 210), the air can be cooled to a
predetermined temperature (for example, 14 degrees Fahrenheit below
zero or lower) at which the cold air can efficiently make ice
cubes.
[0049] In one embodiment, the compressor 230, the condenser 240,
and the expansion valve 250 may form a refrigeration cycle that can
be implemented to supply cold air to both the refrigeration
compartment and the freezer compartment of the refrigerator unit
1.
[0050] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the construction of an
opening/closing unit of an ice making system for a refrigerator
unit 1 of FIGS. 1 to 3, in accordance with one embodiment of the
present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along
line A--A of FIG. 5, in accordance with one embodiment of the
present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an
operation of the opening/closing unit 700 taken along line A--A of
FIG. 5, in accordance with one embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0051] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the opening/closing unit 700 is
configured to intercept outside hot air. The opening/closing unit
700 is configured to drain defrost water produced from the cooling
duct 210 to the outside. In particular, the opening/closing unit
700 is configured to drain defrost water produced from the interior
of the refrigerator unit 1 to the outside of the cooling duct 210,
thereby increasing the cooling efficiency of the refrigerator unit
1.
[0052] Specifically, the opening/closing unit 700 may include a cap
710 arranged in a lowermost part of the cooling duct 210, such that
the cap 710 communicates with and/or connects to the cooling duct
210. A lid 720 is connected to a predetermined portion of the cap
710. In particular, the lid 720 of the cap 710 is opened by a
weight of defrost water draining from cooling duct 210. The lid 720
can be elastically returned to an original position thereof after
the defrost water is discharged, thereby closing the cap 710.
[0053] In particular, a gap may be formed between the inner
circumference of the cap 710 and the outer circumference of the lid
720. When the cold air inside the cooling duct 210 is cooled, the
gap may become frosted, so the cold air may not be effectively
and/or efficiently discharged through the frosted gap. To defrost
the gap, the cooling duct 210 is heated by a heater. Thus, defrost
water is produced from the cooling duct 210.
[0054] Although the opening/closing unit 700 of the exemplary
embodiment is configured as a cap combined with and/or connected to
the upper end of the drain hose 610, it is noted that the
construction of the opening/closing unit 700 may be changed without
being limited to the cap structure in other embodiments. In these
other embodiments, the opening/closing unit 700 may be configured
such that the unit 700 can elastically restore an original shape
thereof using an elastic member.
[0055] Further, the opening/closing unit 700 may be configured as
an openable cap configured to open or close a hole that is formed
in the lowermost part of the cooling duct 210. In that manner, the
opening/closing unit 700 is configured to communicate with the
cooling duct 210. For example, the opening/closing unit 700 may be
configured as a cap that is provided in the lowermost part of the
cooling duct 210, so as to communicate with and/or connect to the
cooling duct 210. A lid connected to the cap is configured to
selectively open the cap in response to a weight of defrost water.
In this case, the opening/closing unit 700 may be provided with a
drain hose.
[0056] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an alternate
construction of an opening/closing unit of an ice making system for
a refrigerator unit 1 of FIGS. 1-3, in accordance with one
embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional
view taken along line B--B of FIG. 8, in accordance with one
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0057] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, in the opening/closing unit 700',
a cap 710' may be provided with a stop rim 711 that protrudes
radially inwards from the outside edge of the cap 710'.
[0058] In particular, a lid 720' may be provided in of the
opening/closing unit 700' in such a way that the edge of the lid
720' overlaps with the stop rim 711 of the cap 710'. Further, a
water collecting space 712, configured to temporarily collect
defrost water therein, may be defined on an upper surface of the
lid 720'. When a predetermined amount of defrost water is contained
in the water collecting space 712, the lid 720' opens the cap 710'
due to the weight of the defrost water, thus discharging the
defrost water. After the defrost water is discharged, the lid 720'
is elastically returned to an original position thereof, thus
closing the cap 710'.
[0059] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating method for making ice
in a refrigerator unit, in accordance with one embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0060] As shown in FIG. 10, the ice making method for the
refrigerator unit may include: a step of cooling air using the
cooling duct so as to produce cold air (S100); a step of supplying
the cold air to the ice making unit so as to make ice cubes (S200);
a step of discharging the cold air from the ice making unit to the
cooling duct (S300); a step of cooling the discharged cold air
again in the cooling duct (S400); a step of defrosting the cooling
duct by heating the cooling duct, thereby producing defrost water
(S500); a step of opening the opening/closing unit provided in a
lowermost part of the cooling duct (S600); and a step of draining
the defrost water discharged from the opening/closing unit to the
outside (S700) of the cooling duct.
[0061] In the step of cooling air using the cooling duct so as to
produce cold air (S100), air is cooled to become cold air by making
the air flow through the cooling duct on which the evaporation coil
is wound. In this case, the air inside the cooling duct flows
through the cooling line for a predetermined period of time while
losing heat by the refrigerant flowing in the evaporation coil. In
that manner, the air discharged from the cooling line can be cooled
to a predetermined temperature (for example, 14 degrees Fahrenheit
below zero or lower) at which the cold air can efficiently make ice
cubes.
[0062] In the step of supplying the cold air to the ice making unit
so as to make ice cubes (S200), the cold air cooled in the cooling
duct is supplied to the ice making space of the ice making unit
through the inlet hole of the ice making unit. In particular, the
cold air supplied to the ice making space circulates in the ice
making space by operation of the circulation fan, and can freeze
water contained inside the ice making space, thereby making ice
cubes.
[0063] In the step of discharging the cold air from the ice making
unit to the cooling duct (S300), the cold air is discharged from
the ice making space into the cooling duct through the outlet hole
of the ice making unit.
[0064] In the step of cooling the discharged cold air again in the
cooling duct (S400), the cold air discharged into the cooling duct
flows through the cooling line of the cooling duct for a
predetermined period of time, thereby being cooled to a
predetermined temperature or lower at which the cold air can freeze
water to make ice cubes.
[0065] In the step of defrosting the cooling duct by heating the
cooling duct, thereby producing the defrost water (S500), the
heater is operated to defrost the cooling duct. In particular, the
heater may be configured as a heat transfer tape that covers the
surface of the evaporation coil. However, it should be understood
that various heating units configured to heat the cooling duct may
be used as the heater, without being limited to the heat transfer
tape covering the surface of the evaporation coil.
[0066] In the step of opening the opening/closing unit provided in
the lowermost part of the cooling duct (S600), the lid of the
opening/closing unit is opened by the weight of defrost water. When
the defrost water is discharged through the cap of the
opening/closing unit, the lid is elastically returned to an
original position thereof, thereby closing the cap.
[0067] In the step of draining the defrost water discharged from
the opening/closing unit to the outside (S700), the defrost water
discharged from the opening/closing unit is drained to the outside
of the cooling duct. Here, the defrost water produced from the
defrosted cooling duct is drained to the defrost water tray
provided in a machine room of the refrigerator unit through the
drain hose extending from the lower end of the cooling duct.
[0068] The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has
been described with reference to specific embodiments of an ice
maker and a method for deodorizing the same. However, the
illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or
to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. It should be
construed that the present invention has the widest range in
compliance with the basic idea disclosed in the invention. Many
modifications and variations are possible in view of the above
teachings. Although it is possible for those skilled in the art to
combine and substitute the disclosed embodiments to embody the
other types that are not specifically disclosed in the invention,
they do not depart from the scope of the present invention as well.
The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain
the principles of the invention and its practical applications, to
thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the
invention. Further, it will be understood by those skilled in the
art that various changes and modifications may be made without
departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the
following claims.
[0069] The process parameters and sequence of steps described
and/or illustrated herein are given by way of example only and can
be varied as desired. For example, while the steps illustrated
and/or described herein may be shown or discussed in a particular
order, these steps do not necessarily need to be performed in the
order illustrated or discussed. The various example methods
described and/or illustrated herein may also omit one or more of
the steps described or illustrated herein or include additional
steps in addition to those disclosed.
[0070] Embodiments according to the invention are thus described.
While the present disclosure has been described in particular
embodiments, it should be appreciated that the invention should not
be construed as limited by such embodiments.
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