U.S. patent application number 15/413113 was filed with the patent office on 2017-10-12 for refrigerator.
The applicant listed for this patent is Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation. Invention is credited to Sung Jin YANG.
Application Number | 20170292773 15/413113 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58501370 |
Filed Date | 2017-10-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170292773 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
YANG; Sung Jin |
October 12, 2017 |
REFRIGERATOR
Abstract
A refrigerator capable of effectively sealing a gap between an
ice-maker and a wall surface of the refrigerator while preserving
an internal capacity of the refrigerator. The ice-maker has a first
external frame coupled to an inner wall surface of the refrigerator
main body and comprises a first step portion extending a surface of
the first external frame facing the inner wall surface of the
refrigerator main body. A second external frame is coupled to the
first external frame and includes a second step portion extending
along the surface of the second external frame facing a ceiling of
the refrigerator main body. A sealing member is coupled to the
first and the second step portions which protrude from the first
and the second external frames.
Inventors: |
YANG; Sung Jin; (Seoul,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
58501370 |
Appl. No.: |
15/413113 |
Filed: |
January 23, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 23/087 20130101;
F25D 2400/02 20130101; F25C 5/22 20180101; F25D 23/025 20130101;
F25D 11/02 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25D 23/02 20060101
F25D023/02; F25D 11/02 20060101 F25D011/02; F25C 5/00 20060101
F25C005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 8, 2016 |
KR |
10-2016-0043427 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator comprising: an ice maker case coupled to a
refrigerator main body; and an ice tray disposed inside the ice
maker case and configured to store water for making ice, wherein
the ice maker case comprises: a first external frame coupled to an
inner wall surface of the refrigerator main body and comprising a
first step portion extending along an edge of one surface of the
first external frame facing the inner wall surface of the
refrigerator main body; a second external frame coupled to the
first external frame to form an outer shell of the ice maker case
and comprising a second step portion extending along an edge of one
surface of the second external frame facing a ceiling surface of
the refrigerator main body; and a sealing member coupled to the
first step portion and the second step portion, the sealing member
configured to continuously extend along the first step portion and
the second step portion.
2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the sealing member forms a
closed loop.
3. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the first step portion and
the second step portion protrude from the first external frame and
the second external frame and are operable to shield the sealing
member.
4. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the first step portion
makes surface contact with the inner wall surface of the
refrigerator main body, and wherein the second step portion makes
surface contact with the ceiling surface of the refrigerator main
body.
5. The refrigerator of claim 1 further comprising a heater disposed
inside at least one of the first step portion and the second step
portion.
6. The refrigerator of claim 1 further comprising: an ice bucket
disposed below the ice tray and configured to receive ice supplied
from the ice tray.
7. The refrigerator of claim 6 further comprising: a feeder
assembly comprising an auger and an auger motor, wherein the auger
is accommodated within the ice bucket and is operable to rotate to
move ice.
8. The refrigerator of claim 1 further comprising an internal frame
that is disposed between the first external frame and the second
external frame.
9. The refrigerator of claim 8 further comprising an shaped heat
insulation frame disposed between the internal frame and the second
external frame.
10. The refrigerator of claim 1 further comprising an ejection part
having a hole configured to allow ice produced in the ice tray to
be discharged, wherein the ejection part is disposed in one end
portion of the ice maker case.
11. The refrigerator of claim 10 further comprising a cold air
supply port configured to supply cold air and disposed in another
end portion of the ice maker case.
12. The refrigerator of claim 1 further comprising a freezer and a
refrigeration chamber, wherein the ice maker case is coupled to a
door of the refrigeration chamber.
13. A refrigerator comprising: an ice-maker case mounted in a
refrigerator main body; and an ice tray disposed inside the
ice-maker case and configured to store water for making ice,
wherein the ice-maker case comprises: a first external frame
coupled to an inner wall surface of the refrigerator main body and
comprising a first step portion extending along an edge of one
surface of the first external frame facing the inner wall surface
of the refrigerator main body; a second external frame coupled to
the first external frame to form an outer shell of the ice-maker
case and comprising a second step portion extending along an edge
of one surface of the second external frame facing a ceiling
surface of the refrigerator main body; and a sealing member coupled
to the first step portion and the second step portion, wherein the
first step portion and the second step portion protrude from the
first external frame and the second external frame and are operable
to shield the sealing member.
14. The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein the first step portion
makes surface contact with the inner wall surface of the
refrigerator main body, and wherein and further the second step
portion makes surface contact with the ceiling surface of the
refrigerator main body.
15. The refrigerator of claim 13 further comprising a heater that
is disposed inside the first step portion or the second step
portion.
16. The refrigerator of claim 13 further comprising: an ice bucket
disposed below the ice tray and configured to receive ice supplied
from the ice tray; and a feeder assembly comprising an auger and an
auger motor, wherein the auger accommodated within the ice bucket
and is operable to rotate to feed ice.
17. The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein an internal frame is
disposed between the first external frame and the second external
frame.
18. A refrigerator comprising: an ice-maker case mounted inside a
refrigerator main body; and an ice tray disposed inside the
ice-maker case and configured to store water for making ice,
wherein the ice-maker case comprises: a first external frame
coupled to an inner wall surface of the refrigerator main body and
comprising a first step portion extending along an edge of one
surface of the first external frame facing the inner wall surface
of the refrigerator main body; a second external frame coupled to
the first external frame to form an outer shell of the case and
comprising a second step portion extending along an edge of one
surface of the second external frame facing a ceiling surface of
the refrigerator main body; and a sealing member coupled to the
first step portion and the second step portion, wherein an internal
frame is disposed between the first external frame and the second
external frame, and wherein further an L-shaped heat insulation
frame is disposed between the internal frame and the second
external frame.
19. The refrigerator of claim 18 comprising a heater disposed
inside the first step portion or the second step portion.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based on priority from Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2016-0043427, filed on Apr. 8, 2016, the
disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by
reference for all purposes.
Technical Field
[0002] The present disclosure relates to refrigerators, and more
particularly, to ice-making mechanisms in refrigerators.
Background
[0003] A refrigerator is an electrical appliance that maintains a
storage space at low temperature for storing food or other objects
in a fresh or frozen state.
[0004] The internal storage of the refrigerator can be cooled to a
preset low temperature through circulation of cold air that is
continuously generated through refrigeration cycles using a
refrigerant, a refrigeration cycle including compression,
condensation, expansion and evaporation.
[0005] Top-mount-type refrigerators having a freezer positioned on
a top of refrigeration chamber used to be the popular style. In
recent years, however, bottom-freezer-style refrigerators have
become more popular, in which a freezer is positioned under the
refrigeration chamber. This style makes it easier for a user to
access the refrigeration chamber but harder to access the freezer
because the user typically has to bend down to open the
freezer.
[0006] To solve such a problem, some bottom-freezer-type
refrigerators have an ice dispenser installed in a refrigeration
chamber door at the upper side of the refrigerator. An ice-maker is
installed on the interior side of the refrigeration chamber.
[0007] An ice-maker in related art includes a heat insulation
structure for preventing a temperature increase caused by heat
exchange of an internal cold air with an external air. FIG. 6 shows
an ice-maker in the related art including a heat insulation
structure.
[0008] As shown in FIG. 6, a heat insulation member 22a is disposed
in the contact region between the ice-maker and an inner wall
surface of a refrigerator 2. The heat insulation member 22a is
adjacent to, and follows the same path as, a heat insulation
structure 24 of the refrigerator 2.
[0009] However, in this configuration, a dead space is formed
within the refrigerator 2, the dead space being occupied by the
ice-maker and not used for storage. This causes the internal
capacity of the refrigerator to become smaller.
[0010] In addition, it is difficult to seal a gap between the
ice-maker 20 and the inner wall surface of the refrigerator 2. Poor
sealing leads to dew formation which negatively affects
refrigeration performance.
SUMMARY
[0011] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a refrigerator
capable of effectively sealing a gap between an ice-maker and an
inner wall surface of the refrigerator without reducing an internal
capacity of the refrigerator.
[0012] The present disclosure provides a refrigerator comprising: a
case mounted to a refrigerator main body; and an ice tray within
the case and configured to store water for making ice, wherein the
case includes: a first external frame coupled to an inner wall
surface of the refrigerator main body and having a first step
portion extending along an edge of one surface of the first
external frame facing the inner wall surface of the refrigerator
main body; a second external frame coupled to the first external
frame to form an outer shell of the case and having a second step
portion extending along an edge of one surface of the second
external frame facing a ceiling surface of the refrigerator main
body; and a sealing member coupled to the first step portion and
the second step portion, the sealing member configured to
continuously extend along the first step portion and the second
step portion and to form a closed loop.
[0013] Further, the present disclosure also provides a
refrigerator, wherein the first step portion and the second step
portion protrude from the first external frame and the second
external frame so as to shield the sealing member when the case is
coupled to the refrigerator main body.
[0014] Further, the present disclosure also provides a
refrigerator, wherein the first step portion makes
surface-to-surface contact with the inner wall surface of the
refrigerator main body, and the second step portion makes
surface-to-surface contact with the ceiling surface of the
refrigerator main body.
[0015] Further, the present disclosure also provides a
refrigerator, wherein a heater is disposed inside of at least one
of the first step portion and the second step portion.
[0016] Further, the present disclosure also provides a
refrigerator, further including: an ice bucket disposed below the
ice tray and configured to accommodate ice dropped from the ice
tray; and a feeder assembly including an auger and an auger motor,
the auger accommodated within the ice bucket and rotatable to feed
the ice.
[0017] Further, the present disclosure also provides a
refrigerator, wherein an internal frame is disposed between the
first external frame and the second external frame, and an L-shaped
heat insulation frame is provided between the internal frame and
the second external frame.
[0018] Further, the present disclosure also provides a
refrigerator, wherein an ejection part having a hole is provided in
one end portion of the case. A cold air supply port configured to
supply cold air is provided in the other end portion of the case.
The hole allows ice produced in the ice tray to be discharged.
[0019] Further, the present disclosure provides a refrigerator,
comprising: a case provided within a refrigerator main body; and an
ice tray provided within the case and configured to store water for
making ice, wherein the case includes: a first external frame
coupled to an inner wall surface of the refrigerator main body and
provided with a first step portion extending along an edge of one
surface of the first external frame facing the inner wall surface
of the refrigerator main body; a second external frame coupled to
the first external frame to form an outer shell of the case and
provided with a second step portion extending along an edge of one
surface of the second external frame facing a ceiling surface of
the refrigerator main body; and a sealing member coupled to the
first step portion and the second step portion, and the first step
portion and the second step portion protrude from the first
external frame and the second external frame so as to shield the
sealing member when the case is coupled to the refrigerator main
body.
[0020] Further the present disclosure also provides a refrigerator,
comprising: a case provided within a refrigerator main body; and an
ice tray provided within the case and configured to store water for
making ice, wherein the case includes: a first external frame
coupled to an inner wall surface of the refrigerator main body and
provided with a first step portion extending along an edge of one
surface of the first external frame facing the inner wall surface
of the refrigerator main body; a second external frame coupled to
the first external frame to form an outer shell of the case and
provided with a second step portion extending along an edge of one
surface of the second external frame facing a ceiling surface of
the refrigerator main body; and a sealing member coupled to the
first step portion and the second step portion, wherein an internal
frame is provided between the first external frame and the second
external frame, and wherein an L-shaped heat insulation frame is
provided between the internal frame and the second external
frame.
[0021] In a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present
disclosure, a gap between an ice-maker and an inner wall surface of
the refrigerator can be effectively sealed while preserving the
internal capacity of the refrigerator.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the configuration of an
exemplary refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0023] FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the configuration of an
exemplary ice-maker in the refrigerator illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0024] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a case
of the exemplary ice-maker illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0025] FIG. 4 is a view of a layout of an exemplary sealing member
in the ice-maker illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0026] FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a portion
of the refrigerator in which the ice-maker illustrated in FIG. 2 is
installed.
[0027] FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a portion
of a refrigerator in which an ice-maker of the related art is
installed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] In the following detailed description, reference is made to
the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. The
illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description,
drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other
embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without
departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented
here.
[0029] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the configuration of an
exemplary refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present
disclosure. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the configuration of
an exemplary ice-maker in the refrigerator illustrated in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a case of the
exemplary ice-maker illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a view of a
layout of an exemplary sealing member in the ice-maker illustrated
in FIG. 2.
[0030] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the refrigerator 1 having an
ice-maker 10 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure
may include a refrigerator main body 12 serving as an outer shell
(or exterior housing) of the refrigerator 1, a barrier 14
configured to divide the interior of the refrigerator main body 12
into an upper refrigeration chamber R and a lower freezer F,
refrigeration chamber doors 13 mounted on a front edge of the
refrigerator main body 12 and configured to cover the refrigeration
chamber R, and a freezer door 15 configured to cover the freezer
F.
[0031] In the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the
ice-maker 10 is on one side of an upper region of the refrigeration
chamber R. However, this is merely exemplary. An ice-maker may be
located in another portion of a refrigerator.
[0032] The ice-maker 10 may make close contact with an inner wall
surface of the refrigerator main body 12. The ice-maker 10 may
include a case 100, a cooling system (not shown), an ice-making
assembly 200, an ice bucket 320, a feeder assembly 400 and an
ejection part 500.
[0033] The case 100 is a housing and may be installed to make close
contact with the inner wall surface of the refrigerator main body
12. For example, the ice-making assembly 200 is inside the case 100
and produces ice. Produced ice may be discharged through a hole of
the ejection part 500. Cold air for producing ice may be supplied
through a cold air supply port (not shown) in the other end portion
of the case 100.
[0034] The case 100 may include, for example, a first external
frame 110 coupled to the inner wall surface of the refrigerator
main body 12, and a second external frame 120 coupled to the first
external frame 110, where the second external frame 120 defines the
overall external shape of the case 100.
[0035] The first external frame 110 may be fastened to the inner
wall surface of the refrigerator main body 12. For example, the
first external frame 110 may be fastened to the inner sidewall of
the refrigerator main body 12, such as by screw fixing, bonding or
other fastening methods well known in the art.
[0036] The first external frame 110 may have an upper end portion
and a lower end portion. For example, the first external frame 110
may have an approximately C-like cross-sectional in general.
[0037] A first step portion 111 may be disposed in an edge of one
surface of the first external frame 110 facing the inner wall
surface of the refrigerator main body 12. For example, the first
step portion 111 may protrude toward the inner surface of the
refrigerator main body 12. A sealing member 160 may be bonded to an
upper surface 111a of the first step portion 111. The sealing
member 160 may prevent dew formation potentially caused by the
temperature between the inside and the outside of the case.
[0038] A heater (not shown) may be disposed in the first step
portion 111 and can evaporate dew formed in or around the first
step portion 111. The heater may be injection-molded inside the
first step portion 111 or may be bonded to the inside or the
outside of the first step portion 111.
[0039] The second external frame 120 may be coupled to the first
external frame 110 and form an outer shell of the case 100.
[0040] A fastening portion 122 may be disposed at the front end of
the second external frame 120. The election part 500 may be coupled
to the fastening portion 122. Furthermore, a fastening portion
heater 150 may be disposed in the fastening portion 122 to
evaporate dew formed in or around the fastening portion 122.
[0041] Additionally, a second step portion 121 may be disposed on
one surface of the second external frame 120 facing an inner
ceiling surface of the refrigerator main body 12 and extend along
an edge of the second external frame 120. For example, the second
step portion 121 may protrude along an edge of one surface of the
second external frame 120 facing the inner ceiling surface of the
refrigerator main body 12. A sealing member 160 may be disposed on
inner surface 121a of the second step portion 121. As noted above,
the sealing member 160 may prevent dew formation.
[0042] Descriptions will now be made on the configurations of the
sealing member 160 in particular, the first step portion 111 and
the second step portion 121. The sealing member 160 may be made of
an elastic material such as rubber or the like and may continuously
extend along the first step portion 111 and the second step portion
121. In other words, the sealing member 160 may continuously extend
along the edge of the case 100, which makes contact with the
refrigerator main body 12, and may form a closed loop.
[0043] In this case, the sealing member 160 may be coupled to the
inside of the first step portion 111 and the second step portion
121. Thus, with the case 100 coupled to the refrigerator main body
12, the sealing member 160 may not be exposed to the outside.
[0044] In other words, the first step portion 111 and the second
step portion 121 may protrude toward the inner wall of the
refrigerator main body 12 and may shield the sealing member 160
with the case 100 coupled to the refrigerator main body 12.
[0045] Furthermore, during manufacturing, the case 100 may be
coupled to the refrigerator main body 12 after the sealing member
160 is bonded to the first step portion 111 and the second step
portion 121. Accordingly, installing the sealing member 160 becomes
easier compared with the method of coating a sealing member 160
after the case 100 is coupled to the refrigerator main body 12 or
the method of coupling the case 100 to the refrigerator main body
12 after a sealing member bonded to the inner wail of the
refrigerator main body 12.
[0046] The first step portion 111 and the second step portion 121
may protrude to make surface contact with the inner wall surface
and the ceiling surface of the refrigerator main body 12. This can
enhance the heat insulation properties provided by the case 100.
Thus, dew formation caused by the temperature difference between
the inside and the outside of the case 100 can be effectively
prevented. In addition, one or more heaters may be installed inside
the first step portion 111 and the second step portion 121 to
facilitate dew evaporation in the first step portion 111 and the
second step portion 121.
[0047] A heat insulation frame 140 may be installed inside the
second external frame 120. The heat insulation frame 140 may be
made material having superior heat insulation performance, such as
a urethane foam or the like. The heat insulation frame 140 may be
manufactured by foaming and solidifying a raw material within a
mold for example.
[0048] The heat insulation frame 140 may be formed in an L-like
cross-sectional shape and used to insulate the outer side of the
ice-maker 10, which does not make contact with the refrigerator
main body 12 when the ice-maker 10 is mounted to the refrigerator
main body 12.
[0049] An internal frame 130 may be provided at the inner side of
the heat insulation frame 140. The heat insulation frame 140 may be
fixed by the internal frame 130. In other words, the heat
insulation frame 140 may be disposed between the internal frame 130
and the second external frame 120.
[0050] By fastening the internal frame 130 and the second external
frame 120 together, the heat insulation frame 140 can be fixed
between the internal frame 130 and the second external frame
120.
[0051] With such configuration of the L-shaped heat insulation
frame, the internal capacity of the refrigerator can be increased.
The first external frame 110 disposed at the side of the inner wall
of the refrigerator main body 12 is not provided with a separate
heat insulation frame because the refrigerator main body 12 is
provided with a heat insulation material. Rather, the heat
insulation frame 140 is only provided at the outer side of the
ice-maker 10 which does not make contact with the refrigerator main
body 12. A dead space as present in the refrigerator 1 can be
reduced and therefore the internal capacity of the refrigerator 1
is advantageously enlarged.
[0052] A cooling system (not shown) is used to supply cold air to
an ice tray 210. Any cold air generation device that is well known
in the art may be used in the cooling system.
[0053] Specifically, the cooling system may include a compressor, a
condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator, and execute
cooling cycles. The cooling system may generate cold air through
heat exchange between a refrigerant with air. The cold air thus
generated may be supplied to the ice tray 210 by a blow fan or the
like via an injection duct 310 coupled to the cold air supply port
of the case 100 and a cold air guide part 220.
[0054] The ice-making assembly 200 may include an ice tray 210
configured to store water, a cold air guide part 220 configured to
guide a flow of cold air supplied from the cooling system so that
the cold air moves along a lower surface of the ice tray 210, and a
rotation part 230 configured to rotate the ice tray 210 so that ice
formed in the ice tray 210 can drop out from the ice tray 210.
[0055] The ice tray 210 may include a plurality of ice-making
spaces for storing water and may receive water from an external
water source (not shown). After water is filled in the ice tray
210, cold air generated by the cooling system is supplied to the
ice tray 210 to produce ice.
[0056] The ice tray 210 may be made of a metal having high heat
conductivity to enhance ice production efficiency. For example, the
ice tray 210 may be made of aluminum (Al). In addition, ribs (not
shown) for increasing the contact area of the ice tray 210 with the
cold air may be formed on the lower surface of the ice tray
210.
[0057] The cold air guide part 220 serves to guide the cold air
supplied from the cooling system toward the lower side of the ice
tray 210. The cold air guide part 220 may be coupled to an
injection duct 310. Furthermore, the cold air guide part 220 may
include first and second cold air guide members 221 and 222 coupled
to at least one surface of the injection duct 310. The first cold
air guide member 221 may extend from the upper surface of the
injection duct 310. The second cold air guide member 222 may extend
from the lower surface of the injection duct 310.
[0058] The first cold air guide member 221 may be coupled between
the upper surface of the injection duct 310 and a bracket 211 to
which the ice tray 210 is mounted. The second cold air guide member
222 may extend from the lower surface of the injection duct 310 and
may be spaced apart from the lower surface of the ice tray 210.
Thus, a cold air flow path 225, through which the cold air can
move, may be formed between the lower surface of the ice tray 210
and the second cold air guide member 222.
[0059] The rotation part 230 may be used to transfer ice from the
ice tray 210 to the ice bucket 320 disposed below the ice tray 210.
For example, the upper surface of the ice tray 210 may be rotated
toward the ice bucket 320 as a rotary shaft 231 rotates. At this
time, if the ice tray 210 is rotated by a specified angle or more,
the ice tray 210 is twisted by an interference member (not shown).
Due to the twisting action of the ice tray 210, the ice contained
in the ice tray 210 may fall into the ice bucket 320. Various other
methods that are well known in the art may be employed as a method
of transferring the ice from the ice tray 210.
[0060] The feeder assembly 400 serves to feed the ice toward the
election part 500. The feeder assembly 400 may include an auger 410
and an auger motor 420. The auger 410 may be accommodated within
the ice bucket 320. As the auger 410 rotates, ice stacked in the
ice bucket 320 may be fed to the ejection part 500. The auger 410
may be rotated by the auger motor 420 provided in an auger housing
430.
[0061] Although exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are
described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, those
skilled in the art will understand that the present disclosure may
be implemented in various ways without changing the necessary
features or the spirit of the present disclosure.
[0062] Therefore, it should be understood that the exemplary
embodiments described above are not limiting, but only an example
in all respects. The scope of the present disclosure is expressed
by claims below, not the detailed description, and it should be
construed that all changes and modifications achieved from the
meanings and scope of claims and equivalent concepts are included
in the scope of the present disclosure.
[0063] From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various
embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein
for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be
made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present
disclosure. The exemplary embodiments disclosed in the
specification of the present disclosure do not limit the present
disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure will be interpreted
by the claims below, and it will be construed that all techniques
within the scope equivalent thereto belong to the scope of the
present disclosure.
* * * * *