Abstract:
A refrigerator includes a damper which acts to delay the closing of an ice supply duct once the user has released an ice supply lever. The camper relies upon a mechanical mechanism, rather than a electrically operated solenoid, to accomplish the delay operation. As a result, the refrigerator is less expensive to make and is quieter to operate.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to Patent Application No. 10-2006-0091855 filed in Korea on Sep. 21, 2006, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly to a refrigerator having a device for opening and closing an ice duct provided on the refrigerator. 
         [0004]    2. Background 
         [0005]    In general, a refrigerator keeps a refrigerator compartment and/or a freezer compartment at low temperatures using a coolant-cooling cycle device that includes a compressor, a condenser, an expander, and an evaporator.  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a typical refrigerator, whose freezer compartment and refrigerator compartment are open. 
         [0006]    A freezer compartment F and a refrigerator compartment R are separated by a barrier  1 . A cooling-cycle device mounted on the main body  2  is used to keep the freezer compartment F and refrigerator compartment R at low temperatures. A freezer compartment door  4  is connected to the main body  2  to open/close the freezer compartment F. A refrigerator compartment door  6  is connected to the main body  2  to open/close the refrigerator compartment R. 
         [0007]    The cooling cycle device of the refrigerator includes a compressor for compressing gas coolant; a condenser for radiating heat outside to condense the compressed high temperature and pressure coolant; an expander for decompressing the condensed coolant; and an evaporator for vaporizing the expanded coolant to absorb heat from air circulating in the freezer compartment F and refrigerator compartment R. The circulating air serves to cool the freezer compartment F and refrigerator compartment R. 
         [0008]    Refrigerators often include an automatic ice-making device for making ice. In addition, many refrigerators include an ice dispensing mechanism that automatically releases ice to a position outside the refrigerator. Typically, such an ice dispensing mechanism is provided on a door that closes the freezing chamber. 
         [0009]    The automatic ice-making device includes an icemaker  8  for making ice F and an ice bank  9  for containing the ice delivered from the icemaker  8 . The ice bank  9  includes a delivery unit for delivering and releasing the ice and a motor  10  for rotating the delivery unit. 
         [0010]    The freezer compartment door  4  includes a dispenser (not-shown) for supplying the ice delivered from the ice bank  9  and for supplying water fed from a water supply (not shown). The freezer compartment door  4  further includes an ice duct  12  which acts as a passageway for guiding the ice from the ice bank  9  to the dispenser. An ice duct open/close unit  13  is used for opening and closing the ice duct  12 . 
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the ice duct open/close unit of the refrigerator shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a block diagram of the automatic ice making device of the refrigerator shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0012]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the ice duct open/close unit  13  includes a duct cap  21  arranged to open and close the ice duct  12 . A lever  22  extends outside the freezer duct so that it can be operated by a user. A micro switch  23  is activated by the lever  22 . A rotational axis  24  is arranged so that the duct cap  21  can rotate to open and close the ice duct  12 . A solenoid  25  is used to rotate the duct cap  21  to open the ice duct  12  and to close the ice duct  12 . A spring  26  elastically supports the rotational axis  24  so that the duct cap  21  is biased toward the closed position. 
         [0013]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the refrigerator further includes a controller  30  for operating the motor  10  and solenoid  24  based on an input of the micro switch  23 . If a user presses the lever  22 , that is, a force is exerted on the lever  22 , then the lever  22  turns on the micro switch  23 . As a result, the controller  30  operates the solenoid  25  and the motor  10  of the ice bank  9 . The solenoid  25  rotates the rotational axis  24  and duct cap  21 , thus opening the ice duct  12 . Ice, which has been contained in the ice bank  9 , is released from the ice bank  9  and falls down into the ice duct  12  when the ice bank  9  and motor  10  are operated. Ice then passes through the opened ice duct  12  and is released by the dispenser. 
         [0014]    If the user releases the lever  22 , namely, the force exerted on the lever  22  is eliminated, the lever  22  turns off the micro switch  23 . As a result, the controller  30  returns the solenoid  25  to the original location after a predetermined period of time, e.g. 4 seconds has expired. This allows any ice pulled from the ice bank to be dispensed before the solenoid  25  returns to its original location and closes the ice duct. When the solenoid  25  returns to the original location, the spring  26  rotates the rotational axis  24  and the duct cap  21  to thereby close the ice duct  12 . 
         [0015]    The solenoid used to open and close the ice duct in the conventional refrigerator is primarily used so that there can be a delay between the time a user releases the lever, and the time that the duct is closed. However, the solenoid increases the cost of the refrigerator, and generates a significant amount of noise in operation. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements, and wherein: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a related art refrigerator; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an ice duct open/close unit for the refrigerator shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of the automatic ice making device of the refrigerator shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a part of an ice duct open/close unit of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a partial cross sectional view of the duct cap of  FIG. 4 , when the duct cap closes the ice duct; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a partial cross sectional view of the duct cap of  FIG. 4 , when the duct cap opens the ice duct; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is an expanded cross sectional view of a time delay unit at an initial opening step for the duct cap shown in  FIGS. 4 to 6 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is an expanded cross sectional view of the time delay unit at the final opening step; 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is an expanded cross sectional view of the time delay unit at the initial closing step; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is an expanded cross sectional view of the time delay unit at the final closing step. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a part of an ice duct open/close unit of a refrigerator.  FIG. 5  is a partial cross sectional view of the duct cap of  FIG. 4 , when the duct cap closes the ice duct, and  FIG. 6  is a partial cross sectional view of the duct cap of  FIG. 4 , when the duct cap opens the ice duct. 
         [0028]    The ice duct open/close unit  13  includes a funnel  51  connected to a freezer compartment door  4  by connection members such as screws, as shown in  FIG. 4 . The funnel  51  pivotably supports a lever  62  of an open/close unit  60 . The funnel  51  prevents ice that has passed through the ice duct  12  from jumping out from the inside of the dispenser. A duct portion  52  that communicates with the lower part of the ice duct  12  is provided at the lower side of the ice duct  12 . 
         [0029]    A micro switch  90  located on a side of the funnel  51  is operated by a lever  62  of the open/close unit  60 . The micro switch  90  is preferably provided beside the duct portion  52 . 
         [0030]    The ice duct open/close unit  13  includes a duct cap  58  for opening and closing the ice duct  12 . The open/close unit  60  is used to make the duct cap  58  perform the open/close operations. A time delay unit  100  is used to delay the closing of the duct cap  58  after the lever  62  of the open/close unit  60  has been released. 
         [0031]    In different embodiments, the duct cap  58  can slide or pivot to open and close the lower side of the ice duct  12 . The following discussion focus on an embodiment where the duct cap  58  is arranged pivot to open and close the ice duct  12 . However, in other embodiments, the duct cover could move in other ways to open and close the ice duct. 
         [0032]    The duct cap  58  is arranged to be rotated about its upper part. When in the opened position, the duct cap allows the ice duct  12  to communicate with the duct portion  52 . When in the closed position, the duct cap  58  is arranged between the duct portion  52  of the funnel  51  and the ice duct  12  to block the ice duct  12 . 
         [0033]    The open/close unit  60  includes a lever  62  manipulated by a user, a rotational axis  70  mechanically connected to the lever  62  to rotate the duct cap  58 , and a spring  80  for elastically supporting at least one of the lever  62  and the rotational axis  70  to rotate the duct cap  58  to the closed position. The lever  62  includes a vertical bar  63  positioned at an inside space of the dispenser. The vertical bar  63  is configured to be pressed rearward by a user. Left and right horizontal bars  64 ,  65  spread toward both sides from the top end of the vertical bar  63 . The left and right horizontal bars  64 ,  65  are pivotably supported by lever supporters  53 ,  54  provided at the left and right parts of the rear end of the duct portion  52 . 
         [0034]    A switch connection bar  66  is attached to the left horizontal bar  64 , and the switch connection bar  66  activates the micro switch  80 . A rotational axis connection bar  67  is attached to the right horizontal bar  65  and it is connected to the rotational axis  70 . 
         [0035]    The rotational axis  70  is arranged at the upper side of the duct portion  52  of the funnel  51 . A lever connection portion  72  protrudes from one end of the rotational axis  70  and is pivotably connected to the axis connection bar  67  by a hinge, pin or the like. The rotational axis  70  is provided with a cap connection portion  74  connected to a cap  130  of a time delay unit  100  to be described later. 
         [0036]    A spring  80  has one side connected to the funnel  51  and the other side connected to the rotational axis  70 . The spring  80  may be a coil spring or a torsion spring. 
         [0037]    The time delay unit  100 , which is connected to at least one of the duct cap  58  and the open/close unit  60 , acts to delay the closing of the duct cap  58 . Preferably, the time delay unit  100  is formed so that it does not significantly impede rotation of the lever  62  and the rotational axis  70  when the mechanism is moving toward the open position, which allows the duct cap  58  to be quickly and easily opened. 
         [0038]    The time delay unit  100  comprises a damper case  110  attached to the refrigerator. A core  120  is arranged inside of the damper case  110  in a rotatable manner. A cap  130  connected to one of the duct cap  58  and the open/close unit  60  is arranged inside of the damper case  110  such that it can move along a straight line. 
         [0039]    The damper case  110 , as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , is mounted on an installation plate  54  provided next to the duct portion  52  of the funnel  51 . The damper is attached to the installation plate  54  by a connection member and may be rotatable around a hinge  102 . 
         [0040]    The damper case  110  is attached to the installation plate  54  by a hinge  102  in a rotatable manner. A hinge bar  103  protrudes from the damper case  110 , and the installation plate  54  is provided with a hinge hanger  105  having a hinge hole  104  that pivotably supports the hinge bar  103 . 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 to 6 , a locking member  112  protrudes from the inner circumference of the damper case  110  so that the core  120  cannot be moved in the longitudinal direction along a straight line. The damper case  110  is also provided with a stopper  114  to block the core  120  from moving along a straight line in a direction opposite to the locking member  112 . 
         [0042]    Referring again to  FIG. 4 , the damper case  110  can be assembled by combining the separately-manufactured stopper  114  with one end of a cylindrical cavity through press-fitting, screwing, or adhering, or can be completed by combining a plurality of case members such as the locking member  112  and stopper  114 , which are separately provided, with one another through an attachment method, e.g. press-fitting or adhering. 
         [0043]    The damper case  110  is provided with a connection portion guide  116  that extends in the longitudinal direction. The connection portion guide allows a connection portion  132  of the cap  130  to protrude from the damper case  110 . The guide  116  also guides linear movement of the cap  130  within the damper case  110 , and guides the straight-line movement of the connection portion  132 . 
         [0044]    A locking jaw  122 , which is confined within the damper case  110 , protrudes from the core  120  so that the core  120  is not moved along a straight line together with the cap  130  in the straight-line movement. That is, the locking jaw  122  prevents the core from moving in one longitudinal direction because of the locking member  112  of the damper case, and the core is prevented from moving in the opposite longitudinal direction because of the stopper  114 . A protrusion  124  also projects from the core  120 . The protrusion  124  extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the core  120 . 
         [0045]    The cap  130  is moved back and forth along a straight line in connection with one of the duct cap  58  and open/close unit  60  during an opening/closing operation of the duct cap  58 . Discussion will now be restricted to a case where the connection portion  132  is connected to the rotational axis  70 . 
         [0046]    The connection portion  132  of the cap  130  is connected or adhered to the cap connection portion  74  of the rotational axis  70  by a connection member, e.g. a screw or adhesive. The cap  130  is formed approximately in the shape of a cylindrical cavity. It includes a straight portion  134 , an inclined portion  135 , and a protrusion guidance portion  136  formed along its inner circumference. 
         [0047]    The straight portion  134  guides the protrusion  124  on the core while the cap  130  is moved back and forth along a straight line. Two sides of the straight portion  134 A,  134 B are spaced to face each other in the circumferential direction. An opening is formed between the two sides of the straight portion  134 , whose width is greater than that of the protrusion  124 . 
         [0048]    As the cap moves longitudinally within the case  110 , the connection portion  132  of the cap will be moved down the length of connection guide portion  116  of the case  110 . Although the cap can move in the longitudinal direction within the case  110 , the connection portion  132  protruding from the connection guide portion  116  prevents the cap from rotating within the case. 
         [0049]    In contrast, the core  120  is prevented from moving longitudinally along the inside of the case  110  because the locking jaw  122  is trapped between the stopper  114  and the locking member  112  of the case  110 . However, the core is free to rotate within the case. 
         [0050]    As the cap moves from the position shown in  FIG. 7  upward towards the position shown in  FIG. 8 , the protrusion  124  on the core rides along the straight portion  134  of the cap. This allows the cap to move quickly and easily. However, as the cap nears the end of its travel, the protrusion  124  will encounter the inclined portion  135  of the cap. The inclined portion  135 , will act to rotate the protrusion  124 , and the attached core as the cap  130  continues to move. 
         [0051]      FIG. 7  is an expanded cross sectional view of the time delay unit at an initial opening position. This is the position it would have before the duct cap  58  begins to open.  FIG. 8  is an expanded cross sectional view of the time delay unit at a final opening step, at which point the duct cap is fully opened.  FIG. 9  is an expanded cross sectional view of the time delay unit at an initial closing step, where the duct cap is just beginning to close.  FIG. 10  is an expanded cross sectional view of the time delay unit at a final closing step, where the duct cap is returning to the fully closed position. 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , the protrusion  124  is formed to have a shorter width W 2  than a width W 1  between the two sides  134 A,  134 B facing each other. Referring to  FIG. 8 , the protrusion  124  is formed to have a shorter length H 2  than a length H 1  between the inclined portion  135  and protrusion guidance portion  136  on the cap  130 . 
         [0053]    The protrusion  124  is formed so that a frictional force between the protrusion  124  and the inclined portion  135  on one hand, and the friction between the protrusion  124  and the guidance portion  136  on the other hand, is different. As a result, the friction generated by the protrusion  124  varies depending on whether the duct cap is opening or closing. A first frictional portion  125  of the protrusion  124  is configured to have a smaller frictional force than a second frictional portion  126  of the protrusion  124 . 
         [0054]    In some embodiments, the first frictional force portion  125  is configured such that it will be put in point-contact with the protrusion guidance portion  136  during an opening operation. The second frictional force portion  125  is configured to be in line-contact or surface-contact with the inclined portion  135  during a closing operation. In alternative embodiments, the first frictional force portion  125  may be configured to be put in line-contact with the protrusion guidance portion  136  during an opening operation, and the second frictional force portion  126  may be configured to be in surface-contact with the inclined portion  135 . Either way, the result will be greater friction during the closing operation than during the opening operation. 
         [0055]    The description will now be restricted to a case where the first frictional force portion  125  is put in line-contact with the inclined surface of the protrusion guidance portion  136 , and where the second frictional force portion  126  is put in surface-contact with the inclined surface of the inclined portion  135 . Specifically, the first frictional force portion  125  is a rounded portion that is brought into line-contact with the inclined surface of the protrusion guidance portion  136 , and the second frictional force portion  126  is an inclined surface portion in surface-contact with the inclined surface of the inclined portion  135 . 
         [0056]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , because the first frictional force portion  125  will be in line contact with the inclined surface of the protrusion guidance portion  136 , a small frictional force is provided between them. As a result, the cap  130  moves rapidly when the duct cap is opening. Referring to  FIG. 9 , because when the second frictional force portion  126  is in surface contact with the inclined surface of the inclined portion  135 , a great frictional force is provided between them. As a result, the cap  130  moves slowly when the duct cap first begins the closing operation. 
         [0057]    In addition, note that one side  134 A of the straight portion  134  is formed longer than the other side  134 B. The inclined portion  135  is formed in the spiral direction from one end  134 C of the one side  134 A to the other end  134 D of the other side  134 B. The protrusion guidance portion  136  is formed spirally in the opposite direction to the inclined portion  135 . 
         [0058]    That is, if the protrusion guidance portion  136  is formed in a downwardly inclined manner with respect to the rotational direction of the protrusion  124 , then the inclined portion  135  is formed in an upwardly inclined manner with respect to the rotational direction of the protrusion  124 . 
         [0059]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 to 6 , if a user presses the vertical bar  63  of the lever  62 , then the lever  62  rotates with the horizontal bars  64 ,  65  supported by the lever supporters  53 ,  54  of the funnel  51 . The rotational connection bar  67  rotates the rotational axis  70 . As the rotational axis  70  turns, it elastically compresses the spring  80  and the duct cap  58  turns within the duct portion  52 , thereby opening the ice duct  12 . 
         [0060]    When the lever  62  revolves, the cap  130 , as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 7 , is moved along a straight line in a direction such that it retreats from the damper case  110 . The cap  130  is moved along a straight line because of the connection portion  132  which extends out the connection guide portion  116  on the damper case  110 . 
         [0061]    During the initial opening movement, the protrusion  124  on the core  120  rides down the straight portion  134  of the cap  130 . Once the cap  130  retreats a certain distance, the straight portion  134  becomes distant from the protrusion  124  and the protrusion guidance portion  136  contacts the protrusion  124 . The first frictional force portion  125  of the protrusion  124  is put in line contact with the protrusion guidance portion  136 , which produces a relatively small amount of friction. As the cap  130  continues to move, the protrusion guidance portion  136  makes the protrusion  124  revolve along the protrusion guidance portion  136 , and the core  120  core rotates until the protrusion  124  is opposite to the inclined surface of the inclined portion  135 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0062]    Because the protrusion guidance portion  136  creates a relatively small frictional force with the protrusion  124  after the protrusion has left straight portion  134 , the cap  130  moves swiftly and the lever  62  and rotational axis  70  rotate fast without any disturbance from the core  120  and cap  130 . This ensures the duct cap  58  quickly opens the ice duct  12 . 
         [0063]    When the lever  62  rotates, the switch connection bar  66  of the lever  62  operates, i.e. turns on the micro switch  90 , and the controller  30  receives signals from the micro switch  90  to operate the motor  10  of the ice bank  9 . When the motor  10  of the ice bank  9  operates, ice contained in the ice bank  9  is released from the ice bank  9  and falls down the ice duct  12 , and passes through the opened ice duct  12  and duct portion  52  of the funnel  51  and is released to the dispenser. 
         [0064]    When the user releases the lever  62 , i.e. eliminates the force exerted on the lever  62 , and the spring  80  causes the rotational axis  70  to rotate in a closing direction. This also pushes the cap  130  with a force causing straight-line movement of the cap back into the damper case  110 . 
         [0065]    As described above, when the rotational axis  70  rotates reversely, the switch connection bar  66  of the lever  62  turns off the micro switch  90 , and the controller  30  stops the operation of the motor  10 . This stops the ice from being released from the ice bank  9 . 
         [0066]    As the cap  130  first begins to move along a straight line in the direction back into the damper case  110 , as shown in  FIG. 9 , the inclined surface of the inclined portion  135  is put in surface-contact with the second frictional force portion  126 , of the protrusion  124 . The surface contact generates a relatively large frictional force between the second frictional force portion  126  and the inclined surface of the inclined portion  135 . 
         [0067]    As the spring  80  continues to exert a force pushing the cap back into the damper case, the protrusion  124  will ride along the inclined portion  135 , which will cause the core to rotate in the reverse direction. Because of the large frictional force, however, the core  120  will slowly rotate, and the cap  130  is slowly moved forward. 
         [0068]    When the cap  130  moves forward slowly, the lever  62  and rotational axis  70  rotate at a slow speed so as to gradually close the ice duct  12 . This allows the remaining ice to fall down from the ice bank  9  to the dispenser while the ice duct  12  is still open. 
         [0069]    Eventually, the protrusion  124  of the core  120  moves off the inclined portion  135  and enters the straight portion  134 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . Once the protrusion  124  starts to escape from the inclined portion  135 , and into the straight portion  134 , the large frictional force will be removed, and the restoring force of the spring will cause the cap  130  to move fast along a straight line into the damper case  110 . At the same time, the lever  62  and rotational axis  70  are reversely rotated at a relatively high speed without any disturbance from the core  120  and cap  130 , and the duct cap  58  quickly closes the ice duct  12 . 
         [0070]    A refrigerator as described above is less expensive to make and is also quieter in operation compared to the prior art refrigerators which use a solenoid as an electronic time delay unit. 
         [0071]    In addition, a refrigerator as described above allows the time delay unit to be more compact, since a connection portion that is connected to one of the duct cap and rotational axis protrudes from the cap, and the damper case is provided with a connection portion guide through which the connection portion passes when the cap moves back and forth along a straight line. 
         [0072]    Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments. 
         [0073]    Although a number of illustrative embodiments have been described, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combinations while still falling within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.