U.S. patent application number 16/951176 was filed with the patent office on 2021-05-20 for refrigerator.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Jin JEONG, Kwanyeol LEE, Kyoungki PARK, Bongsu SON.
Application Number | 20210148627 16/951176 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005239054 |
Filed Date | 2021-05-20 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20210148627 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
JEONG; Jin ; et al. |
May 20, 2021 |
REFRIGERATOR
Abstract
A refrigerator includes a main body having a refrigerating
compartment and a freezing compartment. A refrigerating compartment
door is rotatably coupled to the main body to open and close at
least a part of the refrigerating compartment, and includes an
ice-making compartment and a dispenser. An auxiliary door opens and
closes the ice-making compartment, and a cold air duct connects the
ice-making compartment to the freezing compartment to cool the
ice-making compartment. The ice-making compartment is formed on a
front surface of the refrigerating compartment door such that
access to the ice-making compartment is allowed via the auxiliary
door with the refrigerating compartment door closed. The auxiliary
door has an opening corresponding to the dispenser such an access
to the dispenser is allowed with the auxiliary door closed.
Inventors: |
JEONG; Jin; (Suwon-si,
KR) ; PARK; Kyoungki; (Suwon-si, KR) ; SON;
Bongsu; (Suwon-si, KR) ; LEE; Kwanyeol;
(Suwon-si, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. |
Suwon-si |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
1000005239054 |
Appl. No.: |
16/951176 |
Filed: |
November 18, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 17/065 20130101;
F25D 23/025 20130101; F25D 23/126 20130101; F25C 5/22 20180101;
F25D 2317/067 20130101; F25C 2400/14 20130101; F25C 2400/10
20130101; F25D 17/08 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25D 23/02 20060101
F25D023/02; F25C 5/20 20060101 F25C005/20; F25D 17/08 20060101
F25D017/08; F25D 17/06 20060101 F25D017/06; F25D 23/12 20060101
F25D023/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 19, 2019 |
KR |
10-2019-0148887 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator comprising: a main body having a refrigerating
compartment and a freezing compartment; a refrigerating compartment
door rotatably coupled to the main body to open and close at least
a part of the refrigerating compartment, and including an
ice-making compartment and a dispenser on a front surface of the
refrigerating compartment door; an auxiliary door coupled to the
refrigerating compartment door, to open and close the ice-making
compartment, such that the auxiliary door is configured to allow a
user to access the ice-making compartment with the refrigerating
compartment door closed; the auxiliary door having an opening
corresponding to the dispenser and configured such that a user can
access the dispenser with the auxiliary door closed; and a cold air
duct connecting the ice-making compartment to the freezing
compartment to cool the ice-making compartment.
2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the freezing compartment
includes a storage space in which food is stored and a heat
exchange space in which an evaporator is disposed, the cold air
duct includes a supply duct configured to supply cold air from the
heat exchange space to the ice-making compartment and a recovery
duct configured to recover cold air from the ice-making compartment
to the heat exchange space.
3. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the supply duct includes a
main body supply duct in the main body and a door supply duct in
the refrigerating compartment door, and when the refrigerating
compartment door is closed, the main body supply duct and the door
supply duct are connected to each other, and when the refrigerating
compartment door is opened, the main body supply duct and the door
supply duct are separated from each other.
4. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the recovery duct includes
a main body recovery duct in the main body and a door recovery duct
in the refrigerating compartment door, and when the refrigerating
compartment door is closed, the main body recovery duct and the
door recovery duct are connected to each other, and when the
refrigerating compartment door is opened, the main body recovery
duct and the door recovery duct are separated from each other.
5. The refrigerator of claim 2, further comprising an evaporator
duct in the freezing compartment to divide the freezing compartment
into the storage space and the heat exchange space, wherein the
cold air duct is coupled to the evaporator duct.
6. The refrigerator of claim 5, further comprising a damper in the
evaporator duct to control supply of cold air into the ice making
compartment through the cold air duct.
7. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the front surface of the
refrigerating compartment door includes a door front plate, and the
refrigerating compartment door includes a door rear plate forming a
rear surface of the refrigerating compartment door, and an
insulator provided between the door front plate and the door rear
plate.
8. The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein the dispenser includes a
dispenser housing recessed to form a dispensing space, a chute
configured to guide ice of the ice-making compartment to the
dispensing space, and a lever configured to be manipulated by a
user to operate the dispenser.
9. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the door front plate
includes a dispenser installation hole that is open to install the
dispenser housing therein.
10. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the door front plate
includes a bottom surface forming a lower surface of the ice making
compartment, and the bottom surface is formed with an ice pathway
hole configured to communicate the ice-making compartment with the
chute.
11. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the dispenser includes a
chute opening/closing device to open and close the chute.
12. The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein the door front plate
includes a water filter accommodating portion recessed therein to
accommodate a water filter configured to purify water therein.
13. The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein the door rear plate
includes a water tank accommodating portion recessed therein to
accommodate a water tank configured to store water therein.
14. The refrigerator claim 13, further comprising a valve in the
water tank accommodating portion and configured to control supply
of water purified by the water filter into the water tank or the
ice making compartment.
15. A refrigerator comprising: a main body having a refrigerating
compartment and a freezing compartment; and a refrigerating
compartment door rotatably coupled to the main body to open and
close at least a part of the refrigerating compartment, the
refrigerating compartment door including: an ice-making compartment
on a front surface of the refrigerating compartment door and
configured such that access to the ice-making compartment by a user
is allowed with the refrigerating compartment door closed, the
ice-making compartment including an ice maker; a dispenser
configured to supply water or ice; a water filter configured to be
connected to an external water supply source, and configured to
purify water; a water tank configured to store water; and a valve
configured to control supply of the water purified by the water
filter into the water tank or the ice maker.
16. The refrigerator of claim 15, further comprising an auxiliary
door provided at a front of the refrigerating door to open and
close the ice-making compartment.
17. The refrigerator of claim 16, wherein the auxiliary door has an
opening corresponding to the dispenser and configured such that
access to the dispenser by a user is allowed with the auxiliary
door closed.
18. The refrigerator of claim 15, further comprising an evaporator
in the freezing compartment to cool the freezing compartment, and a
cold air duct to cool the ice making compartment using cold air
generated from the evaporator.
19. The refrigerator of claim 18, wherein the freezing compartment
includes a storage space in which food is stored and a heat
exchange space in which an evaporator is disposed, and the cold air
duct includes a supply duct configured to supply cold air from the
heat exchange space to the ice-making compartment and a recovery
duct configured to recover cold air from the ice-making compartment
to the heat exchange space.
20. The refrigerator of claim 18, further comprising a damper
configured to provide or block cold air supplied into the ice
making compartment through the cold air duct.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based on and claims priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn. 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0148887,
filed on Nov. 19, 2019 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office,
the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
1. Field
[0002] The disclosure relates to a refrigerator in which an ice
making compartment is provided in a door.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0003] A refrigerator is a home appliance that is equipped with a
main body having a storage compartment, a cold air supply device
provided to supply cold air to the storage compartment, and a door
provided to open and close the storage compartment and stores food
in a fresh state.
[0004] The refrigerator may have an ice-making compartment to
generate and store ice. In the case of a Bottom Mounted Freezer
(BMF) type refrigerator, the ice-making compartment may be provided
at a corner inside a refrigerating compartment or may be provided
at a rear surface of a refrigerating compartment door.
[0005] In the ice-making compartment, an ice maker for generating
ice and an ice bucket for storing the ice generated by the ice
maker and transporting the ice to a dispenser may be disposed. When
the ice-making compartment is provided inside the refrigerating
compartment or on the rear surface of the refrigerating compartment
door, there is a need to open the door to access the ice maker and
ice bucket disposed in the ice-making compartment.
SUMMARY
[0006] Therefore, it is an aspect of the disclosure to provide a
refrigerator facilitating access to an ice making compartment.
[0007] It is another aspect of the disclosure to provide a
refrigerator capable of preventing outflow of cold air when
accessing an ice making compartment.
[0008] It is another aspect of the disclosure to provide a
refrigerator having an enhanced spatial efficiency of a storage
compartment.
[0009] It is another aspect of the disclosure to provide a
refrigerator having an improved ice making efficiency.
[0010] It is another aspect of the disclosure to provide a
refrigerator facilitating replacement and repair of a water filter
and simplifying a water supply line
[0011] According to an aspect of the disclosure, there is provided
a refrigerator including: a main body having a refrigerating
compartment and a freezing compartment; a refrigerating compartment
door rotatably coupled to the main body to open and close at least
a part of the refrigerating compartment, and including an
ice-making compartment and a dispenser; an auxiliary door provided
to open and close the ice-making compartment; and a cold air duct
connecting the ice-making compartment to the freezing compartment
to cool the ice-making compartment, wherein the ice-making
compartment is formed on a front surface of the refrigerating
compartment door such that an access to the ice-making compartment
is allowed with the refrigerating compartment door closed, and the
auxiliary door has an opening corresponding to the dispenser such
that an access to the dispenser is allowed with the auxiliary door
closed.
[0012] The freezing compartment may include a storage space in
which food is stored and a heat exchange space in which an
evaporator is disposed, and the cold air duct may include a supply
duct configured to supply cold air of the heat exchange space to
the ice-making compartment and a recovery duct configured to
recover cold air of the ice-making compartment to the heat exchange
space.
[0013] The supply duct may include a main body supply duct provided
in the main body and a door supply duct provided in the
refrigerating compartment door, and when the refrigerating
compartment door is closed, the main body supply duct and the door
supply duct may be connected to each other, and when the
refrigerating compartment door is opened, the main body supply duct
and the door supply duct may be separated from each other.
[0014] The recovery duct may include a main body recovery duct
provided in the main body and a door recovery duct provided in the
refrigerating compartment door, and when the refrigerating
compartment door is closed, the main body recovery duct and the
door recovery duct may be connected to each other, and when the
refrigerating compartment door is opened, the main body recovery
duct and the door recovery duct may be separated from each
other.
[0015] The refrigerator may further include an evaporator duct
installed in the freezing compartment to divide the freezing
compartment into the storage space and the heat exchange space,
wherein the cold air duct may be coupled to the evaporator
duct.
[0016] The refrigerator may further include a damper device
provided in the evaporator duct to control supply of cold air into
the ice making compartment through the cold air duct.
[0017] The refrigerator compartment door may include a door front
plate forming a front surface of the refrigerating compartment
door, a door rear plate forming a rear surface of the refrigerating
compartment door, and an insulator provided between the door front
plate and the door rear plate.
[0018] The dispenser may include a dispenser housing formed to be
recessed to form a dispensing space, a chute configured to guide
ice of the ice-making compartment to the dispensing space, and a
lever manipulated to operate the dispenser.
[0019] The door front plate may include a dispenser installation
hole that is open to install the dispenser housing therein.
[0020] The door front plate may include a bottom surface forming a
lower surface of the ice making compartment, and the bottom surface
is formed with an ice pathway hole configured to communicate the
ice-making compartment with the chute.
[0021] The dispenser may include a chute opening/closing device
provided to open and close the chute.
[0022] The door front plate may include a water filter
accommodating portion formed to be recessed therein to accommodate
a water filter for purifying water therein.
[0023] The door rear plate may include a water tank accommodating
portion formed to be recessed therein to accommodate a water tank
for storing water therein.
[0024] The refrigerator may further include a valve provided in the
water tank accommodating portion to control supply of water
purified by the water filter into the water tank or the ice making
compartment.
[0025] According to another aspect of the disclosure, there is
provided a refrigerator including: a main body having a
refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment; and a
refrigerating compartment door rotatably coupled to the main body
to open and close at least a part of the refrigerating compartment,
wherein the refrigerating compartment door includes: an ice-making
compartment formed on a front surface of the refrigerating
compartment door such that an access to the ice-making compartment
is allowed with the refrigerating compartment door closed, and in
which an ice maker is disposed; a dispenser configured to supply
water or ice; a water filter connected to an external water supply
source, and configured to purify water; a water tank configured to
store water; and a valve configured to control supply of the water
purified by the water filter into the water tank or the ice
maker.
[0026] The refrigerator may further include an auxiliary door
provided at a front of the refrigerating door to open and close the
ice-making compartment.
[0027] The auxiliary door may have an opening corresponding to the
dispenser such that an access to the dispenser is allowed with the
auxiliary door closed.
[0028] The refrigerator may further include an evaporator provided
in the freezing compartment to cool the freezing compartment, and a
cold air duct provided to cool the ice making compartment using
cold air generated from the evaporator.
[0029] The freezing compartment may include a storage space in
which food is stored and a heat exchange space in which an
evaporator is disposed, wherein the cold air duct may include a
supply duct configured to supply cold air of the heat exchange
space to the ice-making compartment and a recovery duct configured
to recover cold air of the ice-making compartment to the heat
exchange space.
[0030] The refrigerator may further include a damper device
configured to allow or block cold air suppled into the ice making
compartment through the cold air duct.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become
apparent and more readily appreciated from the following
description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings of which:
[0032] FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a front side of a
refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure;
[0033] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the refrigerator shown in
FIG. 1;
[0034] FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view schematically
illustrating main parts of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1;
[0035] FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a connecting structure between
a freezing compartment and an ice making compartment through a cold
air duct of the refrigerator shown in FIG.1;
[0036] FIG. 5 is an exploded view illustrating a refrigerating
compartment door of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1;
[0037] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a
refrigerator compartment door of the refrigerator shown in FIG.
1;
[0038] FIG. 7 is another exploded perspective view illustrating a
refrigerator compartment door of the refrigerator shown in FIG.
1;
[0039] FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view illustrating a
refrigerating compartment door of the refrigerator shown in FIG.
1;
[0040] FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a
refrigerating compartment door and an auxiliary door of the
refrigerator shown in FIG. 1;
[0041] FIG. 10 is a plan sectional view illustrating a
refrigerating compartment door and an auxiliary door of the
refrigerator shown in FIG. 1;
[0042] FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a connection relationship of
a cold air duct of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1;
[0043] FIG. 12 is a view illustrating an evaporator duct and a cold
air duct of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1;
[0044] FIG. 13 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating an
evaporator duct of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1; and
[0045] FIG. 14 is a plan cross-sectional view illustrating an
evaporator duct of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0046] The embodiments set forth herein and illustrated in the
configuration of the disclosure are only the most preferred
embodiments and are not representative of the full the technical
spirit of the disclosure, so it should be understood that they may
be replaced with various equivalents and modifications at the time
of the disclosure.
[0047] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the
disclosure. It is to be understood that the singular forms "a,"
"an," and "the" include plural references unless the context
clearly dictates otherwise. It will be further understood that the
terms "include", "comprise" and/or "have" when used in this
specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude
the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
[0048] The terms including ordinal numbers like "first" and
"second" may be used to explain various components, but the
components are not limited by the terms. The terms are only for the
purpose of distinguishing a component from another. Thus, a first
element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could
be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section
without departing from the teachings of the disclosure.
[0049] Hereinafter, embodiments of the disclosure will be described
in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0050] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a front side of a refrigerator
according to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 2 is a
perspective view of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a
side cross-sectional view schematically illustrating main parts of
the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a
connecting structure between a freezing compartment and an ice
making compartment through a cold air duct of the refrigerator
shown in FIG.1.
[0051] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a refrigerator 1 includes a main
body 10, a refrigerating compartment 21 and a freezing compartment
22 formed in the main body 10, refrigerating compartment doors 25
and 26 rotatably provided on the main body 10 to open and close the
refrigerating compartment 21, freezing compartment doors 27 and 28
rotatably provided on the main body 10 to open and close the
freezing compartment 22, an ice-making compartment 42 formed on the
refrigerating compartment door 25, and a cold air supply device
provided to supply cold air to the refrigerating compartment 21,
the freezing compartment 22, and the ice-making compartment 42.
[0052] The refrigerating compartment 21 and the freezing
compartment 22 are divided by an intermediate wall 14, and the
refrigerating compartment 21 may be formed at an upper side of the
main body 10, and the freezing compartment 22 may be formed at a
lower side of the main body 10. The refrigerating compartment 21
may be maintained at a temperature of about 0.degree. C. to
5.degree. C. so that food items are stored and refrigerated. The
freezing compartment 22 may be maintained at a temperature of about
-30.degree. C. to 0 degrees so that food is stored frozen. The
ice-making compartment 42 may be divided from the refrigerating
compartment 21 and may communicate with the freezing compartment 22
through a cold air duct 90. The ice-making compartment 42 may be
maintained at the same temperature as that of the freezing
compartment 22 to generate and store ice.
[0053] The cold air supply device may include a compressor 20a, a
condenser 20b, evaporators 17 and 18, and an expansion device (not
shown), and may generate cold air using latent heat of evaporation
of a refrigerant. The compressor 20a and the condenser 20b may be
disposed in a machine room 19 formed at a rear lower portion of the
main body 10.
[0054] The evaporators 17 and 18 may include a refrigerating
compartment evaporator 17 disposed in the refrigerating compartment
21 and a freezing compartment evaporator 18 disposed in the
freezing compartment 22. Cold air generated by the refrigerating
compartment evaporator 17 may be supplied to the refrigerating
compartment 21 by an operation of a refrigerating compartment
blower fan 16a. Cold air generated by the freezing compartment
evaporator 18 may be supplied to the freezing compartment 22 and
the ice-making compartment 42 by an operation of a freezing
compartment blower fan 83.
[0055] The refrigerator 1 may include a cold air duct 90 to guide
cold air generated by the evaporator 18 to the ice making
compartment 42.
[0056] The main body 10 includes an inner case 11 forming the
refrigerating compartment 21 and the freezing compartment 22, an
outer case 12 coupled to an outer side of the inner case 11 and
forming the external appearance of the refrigerator 1, and a heat
insulator 13 provided between the inner case 11 and the outer case
12. The inner case 11 may be formed of a plastic material, and the
outer case 12 may be formed of a metal material. As the insulator
13, a urethane foam insulator or a vacuum insulation panel may be
used.
[0057] The refrigerating compartment 21 is provided with a front
side thereof open so that food may be put in and out, and the open
front side may be opened and closed by the refrigerating
compartment doors 25 and 26. The refrigerating compartment doors 25
and 26 include a refrigerating compartment door 25 provided on the
left side and a refrigerating compartment door 26 provided on the
right side, and each of the refrigerating compartment doors 25 and
26 may open and close at least a part of the refrigerating
compartment 21. The refrigerating compartment doors 25 and 26 may
be coupled to the main body 10 so as to be rotatable in a
leftward/rightward direction through a main hinge (31 in FIG. 1).
Door guards 29 may be provided on rear surfaces of the refrigerator
compartment doors 25 and 26 to store food.
[0058] The freezing compartment 22 may be provided with a front
side thereof open so that food may be put in and out, and the
opened front side may be opened and closed by the freezing
compartment doors 27 and 28. Door guards 30 may be provided at rear
surfaces of the freezing compartment doors 27 and 28 to store
food.
[0059] On the refrigerating compartment door 25, the ice-making
compartment 42 and a dispenser 70 may be provided. The ice-making
compartment 42 may be provided at an upper portion of the
refrigerating compartment door 25, and the dispenser 70 may be
provided at a lower portion of the refrigerating compartment door
25.
[0060] The ice-making compartment 42 may be formed on the front
surface of the refrigerating compartment door 25 so as to be
accessible while the refrigerating compartment door 25 is closed.
Therefore, to access the ice-making compartment 42, the user does
not need to open the refrigerating compartment door 25, and an
operation of withdrawing ice or repairing and replacing the ice
maker and ice bucket may be facilitated. In addition, since the
refrigerating compartment 21 is allowed to remain closed by the
refrigerating compartment door 25 in access to the ice-making
compartment 42, leakage of cold air in the refrigerating
compartment 21 may be prevented, and energy may be saved.
[0061] The freezing compartment 22 may be divided into a storage
space 23 for storing food and a heat exchange space 24 in which the
freezing compartment evaporator 18 is disposed to generate cold
air. In order to divide the freezing compartment 22 into the
storage space 23 and the heat exchange space 24, an evaporator duct
80 may be disposed in the freezing compartment 22.
[0062] In order to control whether to supply the cold air generated
in the heat exchange space 24 to the ice-making compartment 42, a
damper device (89 in FIGS. 12 to 14) may be provided in the
evaporator duct 80. According to the operation of the damper device
89, all of the cold air generated in the heat exchange space 24 may
be supplied to the storage space 23. Alternatively, a part of the
cold air generated in the heat exchange space 24 may be supplied to
the storage space 23 and a remaining part may be supplied to the
ice-making compartment 42.
[0063] The cold air duct 90 may connect the heat exchange space 24
to the ice-making compartment 42. The cold air duct 90 may include
a supply duct 91 for supplying cold air of the heat exchange space
24 to the ice-making compartment 42 and a recovery duct 95 for
recovering the cold air of the ice-making compartment 42 to the
heat exchange space 24.
[0064] The supply duct 91 may include a main body supply duct 92
provided in the main body 10 and a door supply duct 93 provided in
the refrigerating compartment door 25. When the refrigerating
compartment door 25 is closed, the main body supply duct 92 and the
door supply duct 93 are connected to each other, and when the
refrigerating compartment door 25 is opened, the main body supply
duct 92 and the door supply duct 93 may be separated from each
other.
[0065] The recovery duct 95 may include a door recovery duct 96
provided in the refrigerating compartment door 25 and a main body
recovery duct 97 provided in the main body 10. When the
refrigerating compartment door 25 is closed, the door recovery duct
96 and the main body recovery duct 97 are connected to each other,
and when the refrigerating compartment door 25 is opened, the door
recovery duct 96 and the main body recovery duct 97 may be
separated from each other.
[0066] The main body supply duct 92 and the main body recovery duct
97 may be installed between the inner case 11 and the outer case 12
of the main body 10. The main body supply duct 92 and the main body
recovery duct 97 may be attached to an outer surface of the inner
case 11.
[0067] The cold air duct 90 may be connected to the evaporator duct
80. Specifically, the evaporator duct 80 may include a first outlet
84, a second outlet 85, a first inlet 86, and a second inlet 87
(see FIG. 11).
[0068] Cold air from the heat exchange space 24 may be discharged
to the storage space 23 through the first outlet 84. Cold air from
the storage space 23 may be recovered to the heat exchange space 24
through the first inlet 86.
[0069] The second outlet 85 may be connected to the supply duct 91.
Cold air of the heat exchange space 24 may be supplied to the
ice-making compartment 42 through the second outlet 85 and the
supply duct 91. The second inlet 87 may be connected to the
recovery duct 95. Cold air of the ice-making compartment 42 may be
recovered to the heat exchange space 24 through the recovery duct
95 and the second inlet 87.
[0070] The refrigerator 1 may further include an auxiliary door 35
provided on the front of the refrigerating compartment door 25 to
open and close the ice-making compartment 42. The auxiliary door 35
may be coupled to the refrigerating compartment door 25 through an
auxiliary hinge (32 in FIG. 6) so to be rotatable in the
leftward/rightward direction.
[0071] The auxiliary door 35 may be provided at a rear surface
thereof with a gasket 39 configured to be in close contact with the
front of the refrigerating compartment door 25 to seal the
ice-making compartment 42 when the auxiliary door 35 is closed.
[0072] The auxiliary door 35 may have a size corresponding to that
of the refrigerating compartment door 25. The auxiliary door 35 may
have an opening 36 allowing the dispenser 70 of the refrigerator
compartment door 25 to be exposed when the auxiliary door 35 is in
a closed state. The opening 36 may be formed at a position
corresponding to the dispenser 70 and have a size corresponding to
the dispenser 70. Accordingly, even when the auxiliary door 35 is
in a closed state, the dispenser 70 may be accessed through the
opening 36.
[0073] FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a refrigerating compartment
door of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is an exploded
perspective view of a refrigerator compartment door of the
refrigerator shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is another exploded
perspective view of a refrigerator compartment door of the
refrigerator shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view
illustrating a refrigerating compartment door of the refrigerator
shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating
a refrigerating compartment door and an auxiliary door of the
refrigerator shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 10 is a plan sectional view
illustrating a refrigerating compartment door and an auxiliary door
of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1;
[0074] Referring to FIGS. 5 to 10, the refrigerating compartment
door and the auxiliary door according to the embodiment of the
present invention will be described in detail.
[0075] The refrigerating compartment door 25 includes a door front
plate 40 forming the front side of the refrigerating compartment
door 25, a door rear plate 60 forming the rear side of the
refrigerating compartment door 25, a door left side plate 55
coupled to a left side of the door front plate 40, a door right
side plate 56 coupled to a right side of the door front plate 40, a
door upper cap 57 coupled to an upper portion of the door front
plate 40, a door lower cap 58 coupled to a lower portion of the
door front plate 40, and a heat insulator 54 provided between the
door front plate 40 and the door rear plate 60. The heat insulator
54 may be provided using a urethane foam insulation or a vacuum
insulation panel, similar to the heat insulator 13 of the main body
10.
[0076] The door front plate 40 may include the ice making
compartment 42. The ice making compartment 42 may be formed on a
front surface 41 of the door front plate 40. The ice making
compartment 42 may be formed by a portion of the door front plate
40 being recessed backward. Since the ice-making compartment 42 is
formed on the front surface 41 of the door front plate 40, the
ice-making compartment 42 may be efficiently insulated from the
refrigerating compartment 21 of the main body 10 by the heat
insulator 54.
[0077] In the ice-making compartment 42, an ice maker 100 to
generate ice and an ice bucket 101 to store ice may be disposed. A
support rib 45 may be formed on a door front plate 40 to support a
locking rib 108 of the ice bucket 101.
[0078] The ice bucket 101 may include an ice bucket cover 102
formed to cover the open front surface of the ice-making
compartment 42 and a bucket body 103 forming a space for storing
ice. The ice bucket 101 may be provided with a stirrer 105 that is
rotatably provided to stir and transport ice stored in the bucket
body 103. A crushing blade 106 configured to crush ice may be
coupled to a central axis 104 of the stirrer 105. The bucket body
103 may be provided at a lower portion with an ice discharge port
107 through which ice may be discharged to the outside of the ice
bucket 101.
[0079] In the ice-making compartment 42, a transport motor 49
configured to rotate the stirrer 105 and the crushing blade 106 may
be disposed. A driving coupler 50 may be coupled to the transport
motor 49. When the ice bucket 101 is mounted in the ice-making
compartment 42, the central axis 104 of the stirrer 105 is
connected to the driving coupler 50, and when the ice bucket 101 is
separated from the ice-making compartment 42, the central axis 104
of the stirrer 105 may be separated from the driving coupler
50.
[0080] The door front plate 40 may include an ice-making
compartment bottom 43 that forms a lower surface of the ice-making
compartment 42. The ice-making compartment bottom 43 may be formed
with an ice pathway hole 44 configured to communicate the
ice-making compartment 42 with the dispenser 70. Ice discharged
from the ice bucket 101 may be guided to a chute 73 of the
dispenser 70 through the ice pathway hole 44.
[0081] The door front plate 40 may be formed with a cold air supply
hole 46 to which an exit 93b of the door supply duct 93 is
connected to supply cold air to the ice-making compartment 42, and
a cold air recovery hole 47 to which an entry 96a of the door
recovery duct 96 is connected to recover cold air of the ice-making
compartment 42.
[0082] The door front plate 40 may be formed with a dispenser
installation hole 48 that is open to install the dispenser 70. A
dispenser housing 71 of the dispenser 70 may be installed in the
dispenser installation hole 48.
[0083] The door front plate 40 may be provided with a water filter
accommodating portion 51 in which a water filter 53 for purifying
water is accommodated. The water filter accommodating portion 51
may be formed on the front surface 41 of the door front plate 40.
The water filter accommodating portion 51 may be formed by a
portion of the door front plate 40 being recessed backward. A
filter cap 53a may be provided in the water filter accommodating
portion 51, and the water filter 53 may be coupled to the filter
cap 53a. The water filter 53 may purify water supplied from an
external water supply source through a water supply line (not
shown) and supply the purified water to a water tank 67 or the ice
maker 100. A filter cover 52 may be coupled to the water filter
accommodating portion 51 to cover the open front surface of the
water filter accommodating portion 51.
[0084] As such, since the water filter 53 is mounted on the front
surface of the refrigerating compartment door 25 as described
above, the water filter 53 may be easily replaced and repaired
without opening the refrigerating compartment door 25.
[0085] The door rear plate 60 may be provided at a rear surface 61
thereof with the door guard 29 for storing food and a gasket 69
configured to be in close contact with the front surface of the
main body 10 to seal the refrigerating compartment 21. The door
rear plate 60 may have a mullion 59 rotatably coupled thereto to
seal a gap between the refrigerating compartment doors 25 and 26
when the refrigerating compartment doors 25 and 26 are closed to
thereby prevent leakage of cold air from the refrigerating
compartment 21.
[0086] The door rear plate 60 may be formed with a door supply
connection hole 62 to which an entry 93a of the door supply duct 93
is connected to supply cold air to the ice making compartment 42
and a door recovery connection hole 63 to which an exit 96b of the
door recovery duct 96 is connected to recover cold air of the ice
making compartment 42.
[0087] The door rear plate 60 may be provided with a water tank
accommodating portion 65 in which the water tank 67 for storing
water is accommodated. The water tank accommodating portion 65 may
be formed on the rear surface 61 of the door rear plate 60. The
water tank accommodating portion 65 may be formed by a portion of
the door rear plate 40 being recessed forward. The water tank
accommodating portion 65 may have a water tank cover 66 coupled
thereto to cover an open rear side of the water tank accommodating
portion 65.
[0088] The water tank 67 may store water purified through the water
filter 53 and cool the stored water using cold air in the
refrigerating compartment 21. The water tank 67 may be connected to
a water supply head 77 of the dispenser 70 through a water supply
line (not shown). Water stored in the water tank 67 may be provided
to a dispensation space 72 of the dispenser 70 through the water
supply head 77 of the dispenser 70.
[0089] The water tank accommodating portion 65 may be provided with
a valve 68 for controlling supply of water purified through the
water filter 53 to the water tank 67 or the ice maker 100. The
valve 68 may selectively supply water purified through the water
filter 53 to the water tank 67 or to the ice maker 100. That is,
the valve 68 may be a 3-way valve that switches a flow path.
[0090] As described above, the water filter 53 for purifying water,
the water tank 67 for storing water, the ice maker 100 for
producing ice by cooling water, the dispenser 70 for dispensing
water or ice, and the valve 68 for controlling supply of water
purified through the water filter 53 to the water tank 67 or the
ice maker 100 may be provided in the refrigerator compartment door
25. Therefore, a water supply line connecting such parts to each
other is not provided in the main body 10 but is provided only in
the refrigerator compartment door 25, so that the water supply line
may be simplified, and space utilization of the main body 10 may be
increased
[0091] The dispenser 70 may provide water or ice. The dispenser 70
may be installed between the door front plate 40 and the door rear
plate 60.
[0092] The dispenser 70 may include a dispenser housing 71 formed
to be recessed to form the dispensation space 72, the chute 73 that
is a passage for guiding ice of the ice-making compartment 42 to
the dispensation space 72, a lever 78 manipulated by the user to
operate the dispenser 70, and a switch 76 pressed by the lever 78
to operate the dispenser 70.
[0093] The dispenser 70 may further include a chute opening/closing
device 74 provided to open and close the chute 73. The chute
opening/closing device 74 may include an opening/closing plate 75
to open or close the chute 73 so that ice is allowed to pass
through the chute 73 or prevented from passing through the chute 73
and an opening/closing motor 76 to rotationally drive the
opening/closing plate 75. When the opening/closing plate 75 opens
the chute 73, ice of the ice-making compartment 42 may be provided
through the dispenser 70. When the opening/closing plate 75 closes
the chute 73, the opening/closing plate 75 may seal the chute 73
such that cold air of the ice-making compartment 42 does not flow
through the chute 73.
[0094] The auxiliary door 35 may include a case 37 and a heat
insulator 38 provided inside the case 37 to insulate the ice-making
compartment 42. The insulator 38 may be a urethane foam insulation
or a vacuum insulation panel, similar to the heat insulator 13 of
the main body 10 and the heat insulator 54 of the refrigerating
compartment door 25.
[0095] FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a connection relationship of
a cold air duct of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 12 is a
view illustrating an evaporator duct and a cold air duct of the
refrigerator shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 13 is a side cross-sectional
view illustrating an evaporator duct of the refrigerator shown in
FIG. 1, and FIG. 14 is a plan cross-sectional view illustrating an
evaporator duct of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1.
[0096] Referring to FIGS. 11 to 14, the cold air duct and the
evaporator duct will be described in detail.
[0097] The evaporator duct 80 may include a duct insulation plate
81 including an insulation material and a duct cover 82 coupled to
the duct insulation plate 81. A blower fan 83 for flowing cold air
may be coupled between the duct insulation plate 81 and the duct
cover 82.
[0098] The evaporator duct 80 may divide the freezing compartment
22 into the storage space 23 in which food is stored and the heat
exchange space 24 in which the evaporator 18 is disposed and cold
air is generated.
[0099] The evaporator duct 80 includes the first outlet 84 formed
to supply cold air from the heat exchange space 24 to the storage
space 23, the second outlet 84 formed to supply cold air from the
heat exchange space 24 to the ice making compartment 42, the first
inlet 86 formed to recover cold air from the storage space 23 to
the heat exchange space 24, and the second inlet 87 formed to
recover cold air from the ice making compartment 42 to the heat
exchange space 24.
[0100] On the second outlet 85 of the evaporator duct 80, the
damper device 89 for controlling supply of cold air to the ice
making compartment 42 may be mounted. The damper device 89 may
include a damper plate 89a rotating on a damper shaft 89c to open
and close the second outlet 85 and a damper motor 89b to
rotationally drive the damper plate 89a.
[0101] When the damper device 89 opens the second outlet 85, cold
air in the heat exchange space 24 may be supplied to both of the
freezing compartment 22 and the ice making compartment 42. When the
damper device 89 closes the second outlet 85, cold air in the heat
exchange space 24 may not be supplied to the ice making compartment
42, but may be supplied only to the freezing compartment 22.
[0102] The cold air duct 90 includes the supply duct 91 for
supplying cold air from the heat exchange space 24 to the ice
making compartment 42, and the recovery duct 95 for recovering cold
air from the ice making compartment 42 to the heat exchange space
24.
[0103] The supply duct 91 may include the main body supply duct 92
provided in the main body 10 and the door supply duct 93 provided
in the refrigerating compartment door 25. The recovery duct 95 may
include the door recovery duct 96 provided in the refrigerating
compartment door 25 and the main body recovery duct 97 provided in
the main body 10.
[0104] An inlet 92a of the main body supply duct 92 may be
connected to the second outlet 85 of the evaporator duct 80, and an
exit 92b of the main body supply duct 92 may be connected to a main
body supply connection hole 15 formed in the inner case 11 of the
side of the main body 10.
[0105] The entry 93a of the door supply duct 93 may be connected to
the door supply connection hole 62 of the door rear plate 60, and
the exit 93b of the door supply duct 93 may be connected to the
cold air supply hole 46 of the door front plate 40.
[0106] When the refrigerating compartment door 25 is closed, the
main body supply connection hole 15 may be connected to the door
supply connection hole 62. A gasket 98 may be provided on the
refrigerating compartment door 25 to prevent leakage of cold air
between the main body supply connection hole 15 and the door supply
connection hole 62.
[0107] The entry 96a of the door recovery duct 96 may be connected
to the cold air recovery hole 47 of the door front plate 40, and
the exit 96b of the door recovery duct 96 may be connected to the
door recovery connection hole 63 of the door rear plate 60.
[0108] An entry 97a of the main body recovery duct 97 may be
connected to a main body recovery connection hole 16 formed in the
inner case 11 of the side of the main body 10, and an exit 97b of
the main body recovery duct 97 may be connected to the second inlet
82 of the evaporator duct 80.
[0109] When the refrigerating compartment door 25 is closed, the
door recovery connection hole 63 and the main body recovery
connection hole 16 may be connected to each other. The gasket 98
may be provided in the refrigerating compartment door 25 to prevent
leakage of cold air between the door recovery connection hole 63
and the main body recovery connection hole 16.
[0110] As is apparent from the above, the refrigerator includes the
ice-making compartment that is formed on the front surface of the
door to be accessed without opening the door, so that dispensing of
ice and repair and replacement of the ice maker and the ice bucket
can be facilitated.
[0111] The refrigerator has the door kept closed when the user
accesses the ice-making compartment, so that cold air of the
storage compartment can be prevented from leaking and energy
consumption can be reduced.
[0112] Although few embodiments of the disclosure have been shown
and described, the above embodiment is illustrative purpose only,
and it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
changes and modifications may be made in these embodiments without
departing from the principles and scope of the disclosure, the
scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *