U.S. patent application number 17/172399 was filed with the patent office on 2021-08-12 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 Kyunghoon CHOI, Jeongmin JEON, Dohyung KIM, Insub LEE, Heeyuel ROH, Kookjeong SEO.
Application Number | 20210247112 17/172399 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005400827 |
Filed Date | 2021-08-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210247112 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
JEON; Jeongmin ; et
al. |
August 12, 2021 |
REFRIGERATOR
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a
cabinet, a first storage compartment formed in the cabinet, a
second storage compartment formed in the cabinet to be separated
from the first storage compartment, a cooling chamber including an
evaporator configured to generate cold air, the cooling chamber
connected to the first storage compartment to allow the cold air to
be supplied to the first storage compartment, a cold air duct
connected to the evaporator to receive the cold air, and a cooling
plate configured to exchange heat with cold air in the cold air
duct and provided to form one surface of the second storage
compartment.
Inventors: |
JEON; Jeongmin; (Suwon-si,
KR) ; KIM; Dohyung; (Suwon-si, KR) ; SEO;
Kookjeong; (Suwon-si, KR) ; CHOI; Kyunghoon;
(Suwon-si, KR) ; ROH; Heeyuel; (Suwon-si, KR)
; LEE; Insub; (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: |
1000005400827 |
Appl. No.: |
17/172399 |
Filed: |
February 10, 2021 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25B 39/022 20130101;
F25D 2317/0682 20130101; F28F 3/025 20130101; F25D 17/065
20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25B 39/02 20060101
F25B039/02; F25D 17/06 20060101 F25D017/06; F28F 3/02 20060101
F28F003/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 10, 2020 |
KR |
10-2020-0015586 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet; a first storage
compartment formed in the cabinet; a second storage compartment
formed separate from the first storage compartment in the cabinet;
a cooling chamber including an evaporator configured to generate
cold air, the cooling chamber connected to the first storage
compartment to allow the cold air generated to be supplied to the
first storage compartment; a cold air duct connected to the cooling
chamber which includes the evaporator to receive the cold air
generated by the evaporator; and a cooling plate configured to
exchange heat with cold air received in the cold air duct and to
form one surface of the second storage compartment.
2. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising: a fan provided
in the cooling chamber and configured to supply the cold air to the
first storage compartment.
3. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the fan is configured to
blow the cold air toward the cooling plate through the cold air
duct.
4. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the one surface of the
second storage compartment formed by the cooling plate is a rear
surface of the second storage compartment.
5. The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein the cold air duct further
comprises a rear duct formed on a rear portion of the cooling plate
to exchange heat with the cooling plate.
6. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the fan is a first fan, the
one surface of the second storage compartment formed by the cooling
plate is a rear surface of the second storage compartment, the cold
air duct comprises a rear duct formed on a rear portion of the
cooling plate to exchange heat with the cooling plate, wherein the
refrigerator further comprises a second fan connected to the
evaporator and the rear duct to supply the cold air generated by
the evaporator to the rear duct.
7. The refrigerator of claim 6, further comprising: a controller
configured to control a rotation of the first fan and the second
fan according to a set temperature of the first storage compartment
and the second storage compartment.
8. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the rear duct comprises an
inlet provided to supply the cold air to the rear portion of the
cooling plate, and an outlet provided to discharge the cold air
from the rear portion of the cooling plate.
9. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the one surface of the
second storage compartment formed by the cooling plate is an upper
surface of the second storage compartment.
10. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the cold air duct
comprises a first intermediate flow path provided to allow the cold
air to circulate in the first storage compartment, and a second
intermediate flow path provided adjacent to the second storage
compartment, wherein cold air in the first intermediate flow path
exchanges heat with cold air in the second intermediate flow
path.
11. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the second intermediate
flow path is disposed adjacent to the cooling plate and the cold
air in the second intermediate flow path exchanges heat with the
cooling plate.
12. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the fan is a first fan
and the first fan circulates the cold air in the first intermediate
flow path, wherein the refrigerator further comprises a second
blower fan provided adjacent to the evaporator and connected to the
second intermediate flow path so as to directly supply the cold air
generated by the evaporator to the second intermediate flow
path.
13. The refrigerator of claim 12, further comprising: a controller
configured to control a rotation of the first fan and the second
fan according to a set temperature of the first storage compartment
and the second storage compartment.
14. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the second intermediate
flow path comprises an inlet flow path provided to supply the cold
air to one surface of the cooling plate, and an outlet flow path
provided to discharge the cold air from the one surface of the
cooling plate.
15. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising: a fan provided
in the second storage compartment so as to circulate cold air that
is generated by heat exchange between the second storage
compartment and the cooling plate and placed in the second storage
compartment.
16. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet; a first storage
compartment formed in the cabinet; a second storage compartment
formed separate from the first storage compartment in the cabinet;
a cooling chamber including an evaporator configured to generate
cold air, the cooling chamber connected to the first storage
compartment to allow the cold air generated to be supplied to the
first storage compartment; a cold air duct connected to the cooling
chamber which includes the evaporator to receive the cold air
generated by the evaporator; and a cooling plate configured to
exchange heat with cold air received in the cold air duct and to
form a rear surface of the second storage compartment.
17. The refrigerator of claim 16, further comprising: a fan
provided in the cooling chamber and configured to supply the cold
air to the first storage compartment and the cooling plate.
18. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet; a first storage
compartment formed in the cabinet; a second storage compartment
formed separate from the first storage compartment in the cabinet;
an evaporator connected to the first storage compartment to supply
cold air to the first storage compartment; an intermediate wall
provided to define the first storage compartment and the second
storage compartment; a cold air duct connected to the evaporator
and provided inside the intermediate wall; and a cooling plate
configured to exchange heat with cold air received in the cold air
duct and to form an upper surface of the second storage
compartment.
19. The refrigerator of claim 18, further comprising: a fan
connected to the evaporator so as to supply the cold air to the
first storage compartment and a cooling chamber which includes the
evaporator.
20. The refrigerator of claim 18, wherein, the cold air duct
comprises: a first intermediate flow path provided to allow the
cold air to circulate in the first storage compartment, and a
second intermediate flow path provided adjacent to the second
storage compartment, wherein cold air in the first intermediate
flow path exchanges heat with cold air in the second intermediate
flow path, wherein the second intermediate flow path and the
cooling plate are adjacent to each other such that the cold air in
the second intermediate flow path exchanges heat with the cooling
plate.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This application is based on and claims priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn. 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0015586,
filed on Feb. 10, 2020, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office,
the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND
1. Field
[0002] The disclosure relates to a refrigerator, and more
particularly, to a refrigerator configured to cool a refrigerating
compartment and a freezing compartment respectively using a single
evaporator.
2. Description of Related Art
[0003] A refrigerator is an apparatus configured to keep foods
fresh by including a body having a storage compartment and a cold
air supply device configured to supply cold air to the storage
compartment. The storage compartment includes a refrigerating
compartment for refrigerating the food by being kept at about 0 to
5.degree. C. and a freezing compartment for freezing the food by
being kept at about 0 to -30.degree. C.
[0004] The refrigerator may be classified according to the position
of the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment and
the type of the door. That is, the refrigerator may be classified
into a bottom mounted freezer (BMF) type refrigerator in which the
refrigerating compartment is provided on the upper side and the
freezing compartment is provided on the lower side, a top mounted
freezer (TMF) type refrigerator in which the refrigerating
compartment is provided on the lower side and the freezing
compartment is provided on the upper side, and a side by side (SBS)
type refrigerator in which the freezing compartment is provided on
the left side and the refrigerating compartment is provided on the
right side. In addition, the BMF type refrigerator includes a
French door refrigerator (FDR) type in which a refrigerating
compartment doors configured to open and close the refrigerating
compartment is provided in a pair and a 4-door type in which a
refrigerating compartment door configured to open and close the
refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment door
configured to open and close the freezer are provided in a
pair.
[0005] The refrigerator may be classified into a mono-cycle type
and a twin-cycle type depending on the number of evaporators. In
particular, in the mono-cycle type in which a single evaporator is
provided, cold air generated from the evaporator is discharged to a
refrigerating compartment to directly cool an inside of the
refrigerating compartment, and then sucked back to a duct at a rear
side and then moved to the evaporator and mixed with cold air that
is sucked after cooling a freezing compartment. Air that is sucked
from the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment is
cooled again while passing through the evaporator, and then the
cold air cools the inside of the refrigerator while circulating
again. At this time, the cold air of the freezing compartment is
mixed with the cold air of the refrigerating compartment and thus
smell of food stored in the refrigerating compartment may be left
on food stored in the freezing compartment. Further, it is
difficult to make the humidity of the freezing compartment and the
refrigerating compartment different from each other.
[0006] The refrigerator is cooled by two evaporators and thus the
refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment are cooled
by one evaporator, respectively. Therefore, a flow path of the
refrigerating compartment and a flow path of the freezing
compartment are not overlapped and the refrigerating compartment
and the freezing compartment are cooled independently of each
other. Independent cooling may improve the freshness of food stored
in the refrigerator, but material cost may be increased.
SUMMARY
[0007] In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, a
refrigerator includes a cabinet, a first storage compartment formed
in the cabinet, a second storage compartment formed in the cabinet
to be separated from the first storage compartment, a cooling
chamber including an evaporator configured to generate cold air,
the cooling chamber connected to the first storage compartment to
allow the cold air to be supplied to the first storage compartment,
a cold air duct connected to the evaporator to receive the cold
air, and a cooling plate configured to exchange heat with cold air
in the cold air duct and provided to form one surface of the second
storage compartment.
[0008] The refrigerator may further include a first blower fan
provided in the cooling chamber and configured to supply the cold
air to the first storage compartment.
[0009] The first blower fan configured to blow the cold air toward
the cooling plate through the cold air duct.
[0010] The cooling plate may form a rear surface of the second
storage compartment.
[0011] The cold air duct may further include a rear duct formed on
a rear portion of the cooling plate to exchange heat with the
cooling plate.
[0012] The cooling plate forms a rear surface of the second storage
compartment, the cold air duct comprises a rear duct formed on a
rear portion of the cooling plate to exchange heat with the cooling
plate, the refrigerator may further include a second blower fan
connected to the evaporator and the rear duct to supply the cold
air generated by the evaporator to the rear duct.
[0013] The refrigerator may further include a controller configured
to control a rotation of the first blower fan and the second blower
fan according to a set temperature of the first storage compartment
and the second storage compartment.
[0014] The rear duct may include an inlet provided to supply the
cold air to the rear portion of the cooling plate, and an outlet
provided to discharge the cold air from the rear portion of the
cooling plate.
[0015] The cooling plate may form an upper surface of the second
storage compartment.
[0016] The cold air duct may include a first intermediate flow path
provided to allow the cold air to circulate in the first storage
compartment, and a second intermediate flow path provided adjacent
to the second storage compartment. Cold air in the first
intermediate flow path may exchange heat with cold air in the
second intermediate flow path.
[0017] The second intermediate flow path may be disposed adjacent
to the cooling plate and the cold air in the second intermediate
flow path may exchange heat with the cooling plate.
[0018] The first blower fan may circulate the cold air in the first
intermediate flow path, and the refrigerator may further include a
second blower fan provided adjacent to the evaporator and connected
to the second intermediate flow path so as to directly supply the
cold air generated by the evaporator to the second intermediate
flow path.
[0019] The refrigerator may further include a controller configured
to control a rotation of the first blower fan and the second blower
fan according to a set temperature of the first storage compartment
and the second storage compartment.
[0020] The second intermediate flow path may include an inlet flow
path provided to supply the cold air to one surface of the cooling
plate, and an outlet flow path provided to discharge the cold air
from the one surface of the cooling plate.
[0021] The refrigerator may further include a circulation fan
provided in the second storage compartment so as to circulate cold
air that is generated by heat exchange between the second storage
compartment and the cooling plate and placed in the second storage
compartment.
[0022] In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a
refrigerator includes a cabinet, a first storage compartment formed
in the cabinet, a second storage compartment formed in the cabinet
to be separated from the first storage compartment, a cooling
chamber including an evaporator configured to generate cold air,
the cooling chamber connected to the first storage compartment to
allow the cold air to be supplied to the first storage compartment,
a cold air duct connected to the evaporator to receive the cold
air, and a cooling plate configured to exchange heat with cold air
in the cold air duct and provided to form a rear surface of the
second storage compartment.
[0023] The refrigerator may further include a first blower fan
provided in the cooling chamber and configured to supply the cold
air to the first storage compartment and the cooling plate.
[0024] In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a
refrigerator includes a cabinet, a first storage compartment formed
in the cabinet, a second storage compartment formed in the cabinet
to be separated from the first storage compartment, an evaporator
connected to the first storage compartment to supply cold air to
the first storage compartment, an intermediate wall provided to
define the first storage compartment and the second storage
compartment, a cold air duct connected to the evaporator and
provided inside the intermediate wall, and a cooling plate
configured to exchange heat with cold air in the cold air duct and
provided to form an upper surface of the second storage
compartment.
[0025] The refrigerator may further include a first blower fan
connected to the evaporator so as to supply the cold air to the
first storage compartment and the cooling chamber.
[0026] The cold air duct may include a first intermediate flow path
provided to allow the cold air to circulate in the first storage
compartment, and a second intermediate flow path provided adjacent
to the second storage compartment. Cold air in the first
intermediate flow path may exchange heat with cold air in the
second intermediate flow path. The second intermediate flow path
and the cooling plate may be adjacent to each other and thus the
cold air in the second intermediate flow path may exchange heat
with the cooling plate.
[0027] Additional aspects of the disclosure will be set forth in
part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious
from the description, or may be learned by practice of the
disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become
apparent and more readily appreciated from the following
description of embodiments, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings of which:
[0029] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a refrigerator according to an
embodiment of the disclosure;
[0030] FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the refrigerator
shown in FIG. 1;
[0031] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a freezing
compartment cold air duct in the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1;
[0032] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a freezing
compartment cold air duct of a refrigerator according to another
embodiment of the disclosure;
[0033] FIG. 5 is a view of FIG. 4 when viewed from a different
angle;
[0034] FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a cooling plate and a rear
duct in the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1;
[0035] FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of a refrigerator
according to still another embodiment of the disclosure;
[0036] FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a part of an intermediate wall
in the refrigerator shown in FIG. 7; and
[0037] FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a control flow
according to embodiments of the disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0038] Embodiments described in the disclosure and configurations
shown in the drawings are merely examples of the embodiments of the
disclosure, and may be modified in various different ways at the
time of filing of the present application to replace the
embodiments and drawings of the disclosure.
[0039] In addition, the same reference numerals or signs shown in
the drawings of the disclosure indicate elements or components
performing substantially the same function.
[0040] Also, the terms used herein are used to describe the
embodiments and are not intended to limit and/or restrict the
disclosure. The singular forms "a," "an" and "the" are intended to
include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly
indicates otherwise. In this disclosure, the terms "including",
"having", and the like are used to specify features, numbers,
steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof,
but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more of the
features, elements, steps, operations, elements, components, or
combinations thereof.
[0041] It will be understood that, although the terms first,
second, third, etc., may be used herein to describe various
elements, but elements are not limited by these terms. These terms
are only used to distinguish one element from another element. For
example, without departing from the scope of the disclosure, a
first element may be termed as a second element, and a second
element may be termed as a first element. The term of "and/or"
includes a plurality of combinations of relevant items or any one
item among a plurality of relevant items.
[0042] In the following detailed description, the terms of "front
side", "rear side", "left side", "right side" and the like may be
defined by the drawings, but the shape and the location of the
component is not limited by the term.
[0043] It is an aspect of the disclosure to provide a refrigerator
capable of cooling a refrigerating compartment and a freezing
compartment with a single evaporator without mixing cold air in the
refrigerating compartment with cold air in the freezing
compartment.
[0044] It is another aspect of the disclosure to provide a
refrigerator with material cost that is reduced in comparison with
a case in which a plurality of evaporators is provided.
[0045] The disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with
reference to the accompanying drawings
[0046] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a refrigerator according to an
embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view
of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1.
[0047] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a refrigerator 1 may include a
body 10, a first storage compartment 50 and, a second storage
compartment 60 provided under the first storage compartment 50,
first door 31 and 32 configured to open and close the first storage
compartment 50, second door 33 and 34 configured to open and close
the second storage compartment 60, and a cold air supply device
configured to supply cold air to the first storage compartment 50
and the second storage compartment 60.
[0048] The first storage compartment 50 may be a freezing
compartment, and the second storage compartment 60 may be a
refrigerating compartment. The first doors 31 and 32 may be
freezing compartment doors and the second doors 33 and 34 may be
refrigerating compartment doors. That is, the refrigerator 1 may be
a top mounted freezer (TMF) type refrigerator including four
doors.
[0049] However, the scope of the disclosure is applied to not only
the TMF type refrigerator including four doors, but also a
structure as long as including a storage compartment partitioned
into on the upper and lower sides, regardless of the number and
shape of the door. Further, the scope of the disclosure may be
applied to a bottom mounted freezer (BMF) type as well as the TMF
type. In addition, the refrigerator may be a side-by-side (SBS)
type refrigerator in which the refrigerating compartment 60 and the
freezing compartment 50 are disposed left and right.
[0050] The body 10 may include an inner cabinet 11 forming the
first storage compartment 50 and the second storage compartment 60,
an outer cabinet 12 coupled to the outside of the inner cabinet 11,
and an insulating material provided between the inner cabinet 11
and the outer cabinet 12. The outer cabinet 12 may be formed of a
metal material having good strength and aesthetics, and the inner
cabinet 11 may be formed of a plastic material. The insulating
material may be urethane foam insulation or vacuum insulation. The
inner cabinet 11 may be referred to as a cabinet 11.
[0051] In another aspect, the body 10 has a substantially box shape
with an open front surface, and the body 10 includes an upper wall
15, a bottom 16, a rear wall 17, left and right side walls, and an
intermediate wall 18 provided to define the first storage
compartment 50 and the second storage compartment 60. The
insulating material may be filled in empty spaces of the upper wall
15, the bottom 16, the rear wall 17, the left and right side walls,
and the intermediate wall 18.
[0052] The freezing compartment 50 and the refrigerating
compartment 60 are storage compartments configured to store food,
and may be classified according to usage and internal temperature.
The refrigerating compartment 60 is a storage compartment
configured to refrigerate and store food without freezing, and may
be maintained at approximately 0 to 5.degree. C. The freezing
compartment 50 is a storage compartment configured to freeze and
store food, and may be maintained at approximately 0 to -30.degree.
C.
[0053] Because a difference between a temperature of the freezing
compartment 50 and a room temperature is greater than a difference
between a temperature of the refrigerating compartment 60 and the
room temperature, a thickness of the insulating material of the
freezing compartment 50 may be greater than a thickness of the
insulating material of the refrigerating compartment 60.
[0054] A size of the refrigerating compartment 60 may be greater
than a size of the freezing compartment 50. In general, this is
because an amount of food to be stored in the refrigerating
compartment 60 is greater than an amount of food to be stored in
the freezing compartment 50.
[0055] In the freezing compartment 50 and the refrigerating
compartment 60, shelves 51 and 61 provided to place food and a box
62 provided to store food in a sealed state may be provided.
[0056] The doors 31, 32, 33, and 34 may be hinged-coupled to the
body 10 so as to be rotatable. Handles 31a, 32a, 33a, and 34a
provided to be gripped to facilitate opening and closing of the
doors 31, 32, 33, and 34 may be provided on a front surface of the
doors 31, 32, 33, and 34. The doors 31, 32, 33, and 34 may include
insulating materials 31b and 32b for insulating the storage
compartments 50 and 60. The doors 31 and 32 of the freezing
compartment 50 may include an insulating material that is thicker
than an insulating material of the refrigerating compartment
60.
[0057] The doors 31, 32, 33, and 34 may include door guards 35 and
36 provided on a rear surface thereof to store food. Gaskets 37 and
38 may be provided on the rear surface of the doors 31, 32, 33, and
34 so as to be in close contact with the body 10 to seal the
storage compartment.
[0058] The gaskets 37 and 38 may be formed of a rubber material,
and may be provided on rear edges of the doors 31, 32, 33, and 34.
A magnet may be provided inside the gaskets 37 and 38, and thus the
body 10 and the doors 31, 32, 33, and 34 may be in close contact
with each other by the magnetic force.
[0059] The refrigerator may include a cold air supply device
configured to supply cold air to the storage compartments 50 and
60. The cold air supply device may include a compressor 25
installed in a machine room 24 to compress a refrigerant, a
condenser (not shown) installed in the machine room 24 to condense
the compressed refrigerant, an expansion valve (not shown)
configured to expand the refrigerant condensed by the condenser
(not shown), an evaporator 41 installed at a rear of the storage
compartments 50 and 60 to generate cold air, a blower fan 90
configured to guide cold air, which is generated by the evaporator
41, to be supplied to the storage compartments 50 and 60, and cold
air ducts 70 and 100 configured to guide and discharge the cold
air, which is guided by the blower fan 90, to the storage
compartments 50 and 60.
[0060] The refrigerator may further include a cooling chamber 40.
The cooling chamber 40 is provided at the rear of the storage
compartments 50 and 60 and may accommodate the evaporator 41. In
addition, in order to supply cold air, which is generated by the
evaporator 41, to the freezing compartment 50 and the refrigerating
compartment 60, the cooling chamber 40 may be connected to the
freezing compartment 50 and the refrigerating compartment 60
through the cold air ducts 70 and 100 described later.
[0061] The cold air ducts 70 and 100 may be provided at the rear of
the storage compartment 20 to supply cold air generated by the
evaporator 41 to the refrigerating compartment 60 and the freezing
compartment 50. The cooling chamber 40 may include the cold air
ducts 70 and 100.
[0062] The cold air ducts 70 and 100 may include a refrigerating
compartment cold air duct 70 disposed at the rear of the
refrigerating compartment 60 and a freezing compartment cold air
duct 100 disposed at the rear of the freezing compartment 50.
[0063] The refrigerating compartment cold air duct 70 may be
disposed in the rear side of the refrigerating compartment 60. The
refrigerating compartment cold air duct 70 may be connected to the
freezing compartment cold air duct 100 by a connection duct 80. A
portion of the cold air generated by the evaporator 41 may be
guided to the freezing compartment cold air duct 100 by a first
blower fan 91, which is to be described later, and discharged to
the freezing compartment 50. The remaining portion of the cold air
generated by the evaporator 41 may be guided from the freezing
compartment cold air duct 100 to the refrigerating compartment cold
air duct 70 by a second blower fan 93 to be described later. The
cold air guided to the refrigerating compartment cold air duct 70
may exchange heat with the refrigerating compartment 60 through a
cooling plate 140.
[0064] The first blower fan may supply cold air to the first
storage compartment, and may supply cold air to the cold air duct
on the cooling plate side through the connection duct. Accordingly,
both the first storage compartment 50 and the second storage
compartment 60 may be efficiently cooled by using the single
evaporator 41.
[0065] The cooling plate 140 may form one surface of the second
storage compartment 60. In the drawing, it is formed on a rear
surface. The cooling plate 140 may exchange heat with the cold air
in the cold air duct 70 and directly cool the second storage
compartment 60. Therefore, the cooling plate 140 may efficiently
cool the first storage compartment 50 and the second storage
compartment 60.
[0066] The refrigerating compartment cold air duct 70 may form a
rear flow path 70a to allow heat exchange to be performed between
the cooling plate 140 and cold air. The rear flow path 70a may
include an inlet flow path 72, an outlet flow path 74, and a
U-shaped flow path 75 to be described later.
[0067] The refrigerator may further include a circulation fan 63.
The circulation fan 63 may be mounted adjacent to the front portion
of the cooling plate 140. The circulation fan 63 may circulate the
cold air, which is generated by heat exchange between the cooling
plate 140 and the second storage compartment 60, in the second
storage compartment 60 to the entire second storage compartment
60.
[0068] The cooling chamber 40 mentioned above is the first cooling
chamber 40, and the refrigerator may include a second cooling
chamber 64 provided in the second storage compartment 60. The
circulation fan 63 may be provided in the second cooling chamber 64
to circulate cold air, in which heat is exchanged with the cooling
plate 140, to the air of the inside of the second storage
compartment 60.
[0069] The freezing compartment cold air duct 100 may be disposed
in the rear side of the freezing compartment 50. The freezing
compartment cold air duct 100 may be provided in front of the
evaporator 41. The freezing compartment cold air duct 100 may be
connected to the refrigerating compartment cold air duct 70 through
the connection duct 80.
[0070] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a freezing
compartment cold air duct in the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1.
[0071] Referring to FIG. 3, the freezing compartment cold air duct
100 may include a first cold air duct 110 disposed in front of the
evaporator 41, a second cold air duct 120 disposed in front of the
first cold air duct 110, and a cold air duct cover 130 disposed in
front of the second cold air duct 120. A first flow path P1
provided to guide the cold air, which is generated by the
evaporator 41, to the freezing compartment 50 by the first blower
fan 91 may be formed between the first cold air duct 110 and the
second cold air duct 120.
[0072] The first cold air duct 110 may include a fan mounting
portion 111 with a first blower fan mounting portion 112 to which
the first blower fan 91 is mounted, a refrigerating compartment
guide duct 114 provided to form a portion of a second flow path P2
provided to allow the cold air, which is generated by the
evaporator 41, to be guided to the refrigerating compartment 60 by
the first blower fan 91, a first guide portion 115 provided to form
a remaining portion of the second flow path P2 by being connected
to the refrigerating compartment guide duct 114, and a cold air
discharge portion 116 provided to connect the first guide portion
115 to the connection duct 80 so as to allow the cold air of the
second flow path P2 to be discharged to the connection duct 80.
[0073] The first blower fan 91 may guide the cold air, which is
generated by the evaporator 41, to the first flow path P1. Further,
the first blower fan 91 may guide the cold air, which is generated
by the evaporator 41, to the second flow path P2.
[0074] The refrigerating compartment guide duct 114 may form a
portion of the second flow path P2 provided to guide the cold air
generated by the evaporator 41 to the refrigerating compartment
cold air duct 70. The cold air generated in the evaporator 41 may
be guided to the refrigerating compartment guide duct 114 by the
first blower fan 91.
[0075] The first guide portion 115 may be provided in a lower
portion of the first cold air duct 110 to be connected to the
refrigerating compartment guide duct 114. The first guide portion
115 may be provided in a pair. The first guide portion 115 may be
formed to protrude from the front surface of the first cold air
duct 110 to the front side. The first guide portion 115 may form
the remaining portion of the second flow path
[0076] P2 together with a second guide portion 123 of the second
cold air duct 120 to be described below.
[0077] The cold air discharge portion 116 may be provided under the
first guide portion 115. The cold air discharge portion 116 may
connect the first guide portion 115 to the connection duct 80 so as
to allow the cold air of the second flow path P2 to be discharged
to the connection duct 80.
[0078] The second cold air duct 120 may include a plurality of
first freezing compartment discharge holes 121 provided to
discharge the cold air of the first flow path P1 to the freezing
compartment 50, and the second guide portion 123 provided to form
the remaining portion of the second flow path P2 together with the
first guide portion 115 of the first cold air duct 110.
[0079] The plurality of first freezing compartment discharge holes
121 may discharge the cold air, which is guided to the first flow
path P1 by the first blower fan 91, to the freezing compartment 50.
The plurality of first freezing compartment discharge holes 121 may
be formed at positions corresponding to a plurality of second
freezing compartment discharge holes 131 formed in the cold air
duct cover 130. The cold air guided to the first flow path P1 by
the first blower fan 91 may be discharged to the freezing
compartment 50 through the plurality of first freezing compartment
discharge holes 121 and the plurality of second freezing
compartment discharge holes 131.
[0080] The second guide portion 123 may be provided in a lower
portion of the second cold air duct 120 to be connected to the
refrigerating compartment guide duct 114 of the first cold air duct
110. The second guide portion 123 may be provided in a pair. The
second guide portion 123 may be formed to protrude from the rear
surface of the second cold air duct 120 to the rear side. The
second guide portion 123 may form the remaining portion of the
second flow path P2 together with the first guide portion 115 of
the first cold air duct 110. That is, the second flow path P2 may
be formed by the refrigerating compartment guide duct 114, the
first guide portion 115 and the second guide portion 123.
[0081] The cold air duct cover 130 may be disposed in front of the
second cold air duct 120. The cold air duct cover 130 may include
the plurality of second freezing compartment discharge holes 131.
The plurality of second freezing compartment discharge holes 131
may be provided at positions corresponding to the plurality of
first freezing compartment discharge holes 121 of the second cold
air duct 120. Accordingly, the cold air, which is generated from
the evaporator 41 and guided to the first flow path P1 by the first
blower fan 91, may be discharged to the inside of the freezing
compartment 50 through the plurality of first freezing discharge
holes 121 and the plurality of second freezing discharge holes
131.
[0082] The second cold air duct 120 may include a plurality of
first freezing compartment suction holes 122 provided to suck cold
air from the freezing compartment and discharge the cold air from
the second flow path P2 to the refrigerating compartment. The cold
air introduced through the first freezing compartment suction hole
may be supplied to the refrigerating compartment through the second
flow path.
[0083] The plurality of first freezing compartment suction holes
122 may be formed at positions corresponding to a plurality of
second freezing compartment suction holes 132 formed in the cold
air duct cover 130. The cold air guided to the freezing compartment
by the first blower fan 91 may be discharged to the second flow
path P2 through the plurality of first freezing compartment suction
holes 122 and the plurality of second freezing compartment suction
holes 132.
[0084] The refrigerator may include a flow control device 150
provided in the connection duct 80. The flow control device 150 may
be configured with a damper 150. The flow control device 150 may
regulate the air supplied from the blower fan 90 to the
refrigerating compartment cold air duct 70 to allow the freezing
compartment 50 and the refrigerating compartment 60 to be
controlled at respective set temperatures. The flow control device
150 may be controlled by a controller 200 to be described
later.
[0085] The refrigerator according to an embodiment of the
disclosure may include three modes in which a temperature is
varied.
[0086] In a first mode, the first blower fan 91 may cool the first
storage compartment 50 by guiding the cold air, which is generated
in the evaporator 41, to the first flow path P1. In addition, the
first blower fan 91 may guide the cold air, which is introduced
into the first and second freezing compartment suction holes 122
and 132, to the second flow path P2 so as to flow to the cooling
plate 140. Because the cooling plate 140 forms one surface of the
refrigerating compartment 60, in the first mode, both the freezing
compartment 50 and the refrigerating compartment 60 may be cooled
using the first blower fan 91 and the single evaporator 41.
[0087] In a second mode, the first blower fan 91 may cool only the
first storage compartment 50. At this time, the cold air, which is
introduced into the first and second freezing compartment suction
holes 122 and 132, may flow to the second flow path P2. However,
because the flow control device 150 in the connection duct 80
blocks a flow of air, the cold air may not be transmitted to the
cooling plate 140.
[0088] In a third mode, the first blower fan 91 may cool only the
first storage compartment 50 in the same as the second mode.
Therefore, the first storage compartment 50 may be used at a
temperature that is higher than a usual freezing compartment
temperature by controlling a rotational speed of the first blower
fan 91 by the controller 200 described later. That is, it is
possible to allow the temperature of the first storage compartment
50 to be similar with a usual refrigerating compartment
temperature.
[0089] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a freezing
compartment cold air duct of a refrigerator according to another
embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 5 is a view of FIG. 4 when
viewed from a different angle.
[0090] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a blower fan 90 may further
include a second blower fan 93.
[0091] A refrigerating compartment guide duct 114 may be formed to
allow cold air generated from an evaporator 41 to flow through the
second blower fan 93.
[0092] A blower fan mounting portion 111 may further include a
second blower fan mounting portion 113 to which the second blower
fan 93 is mounted. The second blower fan 93 may guide the cold air,
which is generated in the evaporator 41, to a second flow path
P2.
[0093] A refrigerator according to another embodiment of the
disclosure may include five modes in which a temperature is
varied.
[0094] In a first mode, a first blower fan 91 may cool a first
storage compartment 50 by guiding the cold air, which is generated
in the evaporator 41, to a first flow path P1. In addition, the
second blower fan 93 may guide the cold air, which is introduced
into first and second freezing compartment suction holes 122 and
132, to the second flow path P2 so as to flow to a cooling plate
140. Because the cooling plate 140 forms one surface of a second
storage compartment 60, in the first mode, both the first storage
compartment 50 and the second storage compartment 60 may be cooled
using the first blower fan 91, the second blower fan 93 and the
single evaporator 41. At this time, because the flow control device
150 formed in the connection duct 80 prevents cold air from flowing
to the cooling plate 140, only the first storage compartment 50 may
be used like a refrigerating compartment.
[0095] In a second mode, only the first storage compartment 50 may
be cooled at a freezing compartment temperature by using the first
blower fan 91 and the flow rate control device 150, as described
above.
[0096] In a third mode, as described above, the first storage
compartment may be used at a temperature higher than the
temperature of the freezing compartment by allowing the rotational
speed of the first blower fan 91 to be slow. That is, the first
storage compartment may be used at the temperature of the
refrigerating compartment. At this time, because the flow control
device 150 formed in the connection duct 80 prevents cold air from
flowing to the cooling plate 140, only the first storage
compartment 50 may be used like a refrigerating compartment.
[0097] In a fourth mode, both the first storage compartment 50 and
the second storage compartment 60 may be used at a higher
temperature than the freezing compartment by using only the first
blower fan 91. That is, the first storage compartment 50 and the
second storage compartment 60 may be cooled at the temperature of
the refrigerating compartment. At this time, because the flow rate
control device 150 is opened to allow cold air to flow to the
cooling plate 140, the second storage compartment 60 may also be
cooled.
[0098] In a fifth mode, only the refrigerating compartment may be
cooled. The first blower fan 91 does not operate and only the
second blower fan 93 operates, and thus the cold air generated in
the evaporator 41 may be guided to the second flow path P2 to cool
the second storage compartment 60. That is, because the first
blower fan 91 is not used, it is possible to cool only the second
storage compartment 60 using the second blower fan 93 without
cooling of the first storage compartment 50.
[0099] The second blower fan 93 may supply cold air to the cold air
duct 70 at the rear of the second storage compartment 60 to allow
the cold air to smoothly exchange heat with the cooling plate
140.
[0100] FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a cooling plate and a rear
duct in the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1.
[0101] Referring to FIG. 6, the refrigerating compartment cold air
duct 70 may include a rear duct 70. That is, the refrigerator may
include the rear duct 70 provided at the rear of the cooling plate
140 and provided to allow cold air, which passes through the
connection duct 80, to flow. The rear duct 70 may be formed to
smoothly exchange heat with the cooling plate 140.
[0102] The rear duct 70 may include an inlet 71 through which cold
air is introduced to allow the cold air of the rear duct 70 to
exchange heat with the cooling plate 140, and an outlet 73 provided
to allow air, in which heat is exchanged, to return to the
evaporator.
[0103] As the cooling plate 140 is coupled to the rear duct 70, the
inlet 71, the outlet 73, the inlet flow path 72, and the outlet
flow path 74 may be formed, respectively. The cold air may enter
the inlet 71, exchange heat with the cooling plate 140 through the
inlet flow path 72, and then discharged to one or more outlets 73
through the U-shaped flow path 75 and the outlet flow path 74 in
sequence. The number of outlets 73 is not limited to two shown in
the drawing, and thus may be one or two or more.
[0104] The inlet flow path 72 may include a step 72a provided
closer to the cooling plate 140 than the inlet 71. It is to make
heat exchange with the cooling plate 140 more smooth.
[0105] The cooling plate 140 may include a metal plate. However,
the disclosure is not limited thereto, and other materials may be
included as long as smoothly performing heat exchange with the
second storage compartment 60 to perform cooling.
[0106] Although not shown in FIG. 6, a circulation fan 63 may be
mounted adjacent to a front portion of the cooling plate 140.
[0107] The cooling plate 140 may include a square 141 on a surface.
The square 141 may be formed to enlarge a heat transfer area of the
second storage compartment 60 and the cooling plate 140. However,
the disclosure is not limited thereto, and a guide (not shown) may
be formed on the surface of the cooling plate 140 in accordance
with a flow direction of the circulation fan 63 in order to
increase a heat transfer amount by increasing the heat transfer
area and increasing a convective heat transfer coefficient.
[0108] The cooling plate 140 may include brackets 142 provided on
opposite side surfaces of a front portion where the square 141 is
formed. The bracket 142 may be coupled to the rear duct 70 to form
a flow path 70a through which cold air passes.
[0109] FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of a refrigerator
according to still another embodiment of the disclosure.
[0110] Referring to FIG. 7, a cooling plate 140 may form an upper
surface of a second storage compartment 60. The cooling plate 140
may cool the second storage compartment 60 by exchanging heat with
cold air in a second intermediate flow path 180 to be described
later. Redundant configurations such as doors are omitted. Based on
the cooling plate 140 being disposed on the upper surface of the
second storage compartment 60, heat loss to the rear surface may be
reduced.
[0111] A refrigerator 1 may include a first intermediate flow path
160, a first intermediate duct 170, the second intermediate flow
path 180, and a second intermediate duct 190. The first
intermediate flow path 160 may be a flow path through which cold
air generated in an evaporator 41 circulates through the first
storage compartment 50 by a first blower fan 91 and returns to the
evaporator 41. The first intermediate duct 170 may be formed in an
intermediate wall 18 and may form a portion of the first
intermediate flow path 160 through which cold air flows from a
first storage compartment 50 to the evaporator 41. The second
intermediate flow path 180 may allow cold air generated in the
evaporator 41 to flow to the upper surface of the cooling plate 140
by a second blower fan 93 and then flow back to the evaporator 41.
The second intermediate duct 190 may be formed in the intermediate
wall 18 and may form a portion of the second intermediate flow path
180 through which cold air flows from the upper surface of the
cooling plate 140 and return to the evaporator 41.
[0112] The cold air in the first intermediate duct 170 and the cold
air in the second intermediate duct 190 may exchange heat with each
other. The cold air in the second intermediate duct 190 may heat
exchange with the cooling plate 140 to cool the second storage
compartment 60. Therefore, the cold air in the first intermediate
flow path 160 and the cold air in the second intermediate flow path
180 may exchange heat with each other. The cold air in the second
intermediate flow path 180 may exchange heat with the cooling plate
140 to cool the second storage compartment 60.
[0113] The circulation fan 63 may be disposed in a second cooling
chamber 64. The cold air of the second storage compartment 60
cooled by the cooling plate 140 may be circulated in the entire
second storage compartment 60 by the circulation fan 63. That is,
the circulation fan 63 may allow cold air to circulate along a
refrigerating compartment flow path 65.
[0114] FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a part of an intermediate wall
in the refrigerator shown in FIG. 7.
[0115] Referring to FIG. 8, in the second intermediate flow path
180, an inlet flow path 161 and an outlet flow path 162 may be
formed for heat exchange with the cooling plate 140. The cold air
may exchange heat with the cooling plate 140 through the inlet flow
path 161 and then be discharged through the U-shaped flow path 164
and the outlet flow path 162 in sequence. Due to the shape of the
flow path, it is possible to smoothly exchange heat with the
cooling plate 140. The number of outlet flow path 162 is not
limited to two shown in the drawings, but may be one or two or
more.
[0116] FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a control flow
according to embodiments of the disclosure.
[0117] Referring to FIG. 9, the refrigerator may further include a
temperature input device 210 and the controller 200.
[0118] In response to that a user sets a desired temperature of the
first storage compartment 50 and the second storage compartment 60,
the controller 200 may adjust the temperature of the first storage
compartment 50 and the second storage compartment 60 by controlling
the first blower fan 91, the second blower fan 93, and the flow
control device 150. Therefore, the three modes or five modes
mentioned above may be possible.
[0119] For example, in an embodiment or another embodiment of the
disclosure, in response to that a user sets the temperature of the
first storage compartment 50 to be low, the controller 200 may
lower the temperature of the first storage compartment 50 by
allowing the rotational speed of the first blower fan 91 to be
increased. Further, in response to that a user sets the temperature
of the second storage compartment 60 to be low, the controller 200
may control the temperature of the first storage compartment 50 and
the second storage compartment 60 by allowing both or one of the
rotational speed of the first blower fan 91 and the rotational
speed of the second blower fan 93 to be increased. The controller
200 may allow the temperature difference between the first storage
compartment 50 and the second storage compartment 60 to be large by
controlling the flow control device 150. In this case, even when
the first blower fan 91 is rotated rapidly, the flow control device
150 may block cold air in the connection duct 80, thereby
preventing the second storage compartment 60 from being cooled.
[0120] In still another embodiment of the disclosure, in response
to the increase of the rotational speed of the first blower fan 91,
the controller 200 may maintain only the first storage compartment
50 at a low temperature. In response to the increase of the
rotational speed of the second blower fan 93, the controller 200
may maintain the second storage compartment 60 at a temperature
similar to the temperature of the freezing compartment 50.
[0121] As is apparent from the above description, the refrigerator
may cool the refrigerating compartment by using the cooling plate
without cold air leaking to the refrigerating compartment, thereby
preventing the cold air of the refrigerating compartment and the
cold air of the freezing compartment from being mixed with each
other.
[0122] The refrigerator may reduce material cost because a single
evaporator is used.
[0123] Although a few embodiments of the disclosure have been shown
and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art
that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing
from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of
which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *