Abstract:
A water filter capable of preventing breakdown thereof due to freezing and a refrigerator having the same. The water filter includes a filter housing having entrance and exit ports to allow water to flow into and out of the filter housing, respectively, a filter member housed in the filter housing, and an expansion compensation part provided in the filter housing to compensate for expansion due to freezing of water.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0127903, filed on Dec. 14, 2006, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a water filter and a refrigerator having the same. More particularly, to a water filter capable of preventing breakdown thereof due to freezing and a refrigerator having the same. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    A conventional refrigerator includes a water supply apparatus for enabling drinking water to be ejected at a front side of a door of the refrigerator or an ice making apparatus capable of making ice in a storage chamber. The conventional refrigerator is provided with not only a water supply system for supplying water toward a water supply apparatus of an ice making apparatus, but also a water filter for purifying supplied water as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,907,958. 
         [0006]    However, when the conventional refrigerator is left outdoors for a long period of time, for example, in a winter season, or a refrigerating chamber having a water filter built therein is excessively refrigerated, water in the water filter may be frozen. In this case, the water in the water filter is expanded while being frozen, and the water filter may be broken. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a water filter capable of preventing a breakdown thereof due to freezing, and a refrigerator having the same. 
         [0008]    Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. 
         [0009]    The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention are achieved by providing a water filter which includes a filter housing having entrance and exit ports to allow water to flow into and out of the filter housing, respectively, a filter member housed in the filter housing, and an expansion compensation part provided in the filter housing to compensate for expansion due to freezing of water in the filter housing. 
         [0010]    According to an aspect of the present invention, the expansion compensation part is provided in an interior of the filter housing while being partitioned from a space in which the filter member is installed, and the expansion compensation part includes a partition space into which water does not flow. 
         [0011]    According to an aspect of the present invention, the water filter further includes an inner case installed in the filter housing to support the filter member, and a closing cover coupled with the inner case to form the partition space together therewith. 
         [0012]    Further, the strength of the closing cover is weaker than that of the filter housing. Thus, when water in the filter housing expands due to freezing, the closing cover is broken to compensate for the expansion. 
         [0013]    According to an aspect of the present invention, the closing cover is fusion-coupled with the inner case to seal the partition space. 
         [0014]    Further, according to an aspect of the present invention, the closing cover is screw-coupled with the inner case, and the water filter further comprises a sealing member interposed between the closing cover and a coupling part of the inner case in order to seal the partition space. 
         [0015]    According to an aspect of the present invention, the water filter further includes an inner case installed in the filter housing to enable movement of the inner case, a closing cover coupled with the inner case by sliding into the inner case so as to form the partition space together with the inner case, a coupling part extending from an edge of the inner case so as to cover an outer edge of the closing cover, and a sealing member interposed between an inner surface of the coupling part and the outer edge of the closing cover so as to seal the partition space. 
         [0016]    According to an aspect of the present invention, the water filter further includes an elastic member installed in the partition space. Thus, when water in the filter housing expands due to freezing, the inner case moves toward the partition space so as to compensate for the expansion, and when freezing water melts, the inner case returns to an original position thereof. 
         [0017]    It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a refrigerator which includes a body having a storage chamber, a water filter installed in the body, and a filter socket mounted on a water supply path of the body for attachment and separation of the water filter, wherein the water filter includes a filter housing coupled with the filter socket and including a connection part having entrance and exit ports, a filter member housed in the filter housing, and an expansion compensation part provided in the filter housing to compensate for expansion due to freezing of water. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator having a water filter installed therein according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view illustrating a water filter and a filter socket according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of “A” shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view illustrating an expansion compensation part of a water filter according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view illustrating an expansion compensation part of a water filter according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below to explain the present invention by referring to the figures. 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  illustrates a refrigerator having a water filter installed therein according to an embodiment of the present invention. The refrigerator comprises a body  10  having refrigerating and freezing chambers (not shown) mutually partitioned in an interior of the refrigerator, and doors  11  and  12  corresponding to the refrigerating and freezing chambers respectively attached at both sides of a front portion of the body  10  to open and close the refrigerating and freezing chambers. 
         [0026]    A machine chamber  16  is provided on an upper portion of the body  10 , and a compressor  14 , a condenser  15  and the like are installed in the machine chamber  16 . The machine chamber  16  includes a front side opened and closed by means of a rotatable cover  17 . Further, the refrigerator comprises at least one evaporator (not shown) for the refrigeration of the freezing and refrigerating chambers, and a refrigerant expansion means for decompressing and expanding a refrigerant supplied to the evaporator. 
         [0027]    A water supply apparatus  13  which enables a user to obtain water from the outside is provided to the door  11  for the freezing chamber. Water supply pipes  18   a ,  18   b  and  18   c  for supplying water toward the water supply apparatus  13  from an external water supply source are built in the body  10  and the door  11  for the freezing chamber. Further, a water supply valve  19  for controlling water supply, a cold water storage container  20  for refrigerating supplied water, and a water filter  40  for purifying supplied water are installed on a water supply path. 
         [0028]    The cold water storage container  20  is installed in a rear of the refrigerating chamber such that water can be refrigerated by cold air from the refrigerating chamber. The water filter  40  is installed in the machine chamber  16  of an upper portion of the body  10  such that the water filter  40  can be easily exchanged. Although,  FIG. 1  illustrates that the water filter  40  is installed in the machine chamber  16 , the installation position of the water filter  40  is not limited thereto. That is, the position of the water filter  40  may vary, as necessary. For example the water filter  40  may be installed at a rear side of the body  10  or in the interior of the refrigerating chamber. The water supply pipes  18   a ,  18   b  and  18   c  are laid in the body  10  and the door  11  of the freezing chamber, and a portion thereof passes through the machine chamber  16  to be connected to the water filter  40 . A filter socket  30  for the attachment and separation of the water filter  40  is connected to the water supply pipes  18   b  and  18   c  passing through the machine chamber  16 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 2  illustrates a water filter  40  and a filter socket  30  for attaching the water filter  40  according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 2 , for example, the filter socket  30  has entrance and exit ports  31  and  32  connected to fluid paths of the water filter  40  (to be described later). Water supply pipes  18   b  and  18   c  are connected to the entrance and exit ports  31  and  32 , respectively. 
         [0030]    The water filter  40  comprises a filter housing  41 , a cylindrical filter member  42  installed in the interior of the filter housing  41 , and an expansion compensation part  70  for compensating for expansion due to the freezing of water in the filter housing  41 . 
         [0031]    The filter housing  41  comprises a cylindrical body part  41   a  of which the bottom portion is closed, and a cover part  41   b  covering an opening of the body part  41   a . The cover part  41   b  comprises a connection part  44  coupled with the filter socket  30 , and the connection part  44  comprises entrance and exit ports  45  and  46  connected with fluid paths of the filter socket  30 . The connection part  44  comprises a stepped portion for distinguishing the entrance and exit ports  45  and  46 . The exit port  46 , through which water is discharged, is formed at a central portion of the connection part  44 , and the entrance port  45 , into which water flows, is formed at an outer side of the connection part  44 . Packings  47  and  48  are provided on an outer surface of the connection part  44  so as to prevent water from being leaked in a state in which the connection part  44  is coupled with the filter socket  30 . 
         [0032]    Upper and lower inner cases  50  and  60  for supporting the filter member  42  are installed in the interior of the filter housing  41 . Each of the upper and lower inner cases  50  and  60  is prepared in the form of a disk having a support projection  51  or  61  at the circumference thereof. The upper and lower inner cases  50  and  60  are mounted on a top and a bottom of the filter member  42  to support the filter member  42 , respectively. 
         [0033]    The upper inner case  50  is fixed with the connection part  44  or integrally formed with the connection part  44 . The upper inner case  50  supports a top of the filter member  42  and covers the top of the filter member  42  such that water flowing through the entrance port  45  of the connection part  44  is guided toward an outer surface of the filter member  42 . Thus, water flowing through the entrance port  45  is supplied toward the outer surface of the filter member  42 . The water is purified while passing through the filter member  42  from the outer surface of the filter member  42  to the center thereof. Then, the water is discharged through the exit port  46  of the connection part  44 . 
         [0034]    The expansion compensation part  70  is provided at a bottom of the lower inner case  60 . The expansion compensation part  70  comprises a partition space  71  partitioned from a space in which the filter member  42  is installed. The partition space  71  is confined by a closing cover  72  coupled with the lower inner case  60  at a bottom surface thereof. That is, the partition space is formed through the coupling of the lower inner case  60  and the closing cover  72 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the closing cover  72  is fusion-coupled with an inner surface of a coupling part  62  of which an outer surface at an opening side extends downward from an edge of the lower inner case  60  for sealing the partition space  71 . Such fusion-coupling may be accomplished by rotating the closing cover  72  at a high speed to produce friction in a state in which the closing cover  72  is coupled to the lower inner case  60 . Therefore, water does not flow into the partition space  71 . 
         [0035]    The strength of the closing cover  72  is weaker than that of the filter housing  41  or a disk part  63  of the lower inner case  60 . To this end, the closing cover  72  is made of a material having a thinner thickness or a weaker strength than that of the filter housing  41 . Further, a bottom surface of the closing cover  72  is supported by a plurality of support ribs  78  provided in an inner surface of the body part  41   a  of the filter housing  41  such that the closing cover  72  is spaced apart from the inner surface of the body part  41   a . Since water is introduced into a space  77  beneath the closing cover  72 , when water flowing into the filter housing  41  expands due to freezing, the closing cover  72  is broken, thereby compensating for the expansion of water. In a case where freezing occurs in the filter housing  41 , the freezing is generally progressed toward an outer wall of the filter housing  41 . Therefore, expansion due to freezing can be compensated by allowing the closing cover  72  to be broken in an initial period of freezing, in which water is frozen in the space  77  between the bottom surface of the closing cover  72  and the filter housing  41 . Further, the lower inner case  60  is protected from breaking during freezing, so that residues and the like due to the breakdown of the closing cover  72  can be filtered by the filter member  42 . Accordingly, the water filter  40  according to an embodiment of the present invention can prevent the filter housing  41  from being broken due to freezing even in a case where a refrigerator is left outdoors for a long period of time for the purpose of movement or the like in a winter season. 
         [0036]    When freezing water in the filter housing  41  melts, the water filter  40  can be used again. In general, the water filter  40  is exchanged in a period of approximately six months. Since the water filter  40  is hardly placed again in a freezing condition within an exchange period, there is no problem in utilizing the water filter  40  within the exchanging period even if the function of the expansion compensation part  70  is lost due to freezing. 
         [0037]    Although  FIG. 2  illustrates that the expansion compensation part  70  is provided at a side of the lower inner case  60  in the water filter  40 , the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the position of the expansion compensation part  70  may vary, as necessary. For example, the expansion compensation part  70  may be provided at an upper side of the upper inner case  50  or at an outer circumferential portion of the filter member  42 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 4  illustrates a water filter according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the water filter  140  of the second embodiment, a closing cover  172  constituting an expansion compensation part  170  is screw-coupled with a coupling part of a lower inner case  160 . Further, a sealing member  174  is installed in a portion at which the closing cover  172  is fastened to the lower inner case  160  so as to seal a partition space  171 . The components of a filter housing  141 , a filter member  142 , an upper inner case and the like are identical to those of the first embodiment, so detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted below. 
         [0039]    According to the second embodiment, in a case where water flowing into the filter housing  141  expands due to freezing, the closing cover  172  is broken to compensate for the expansion of water. 
         [0040]      FIG. 5  illustrates a water filter according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the water filter  240  of the third embodiment, a closing cover  272  of an expansion compensation part  270  is coupled with a lower inner case  260  by sliding into the lower inner case  260  so as to enable the movement of the lower inner case  260  in a filter housing  241 . For such coupling, a coupling part  262  extending to cover an outer edge of the closing cover  272  is provided at an edge of the lower inner case  260 , and a sealing member  274  for sealing a partition space  271  is interposed between the coupling part  262  and the outer edge of the closing cover  272 . Further, elastic members  275  for pressing a disk part  263  of the lower inner case  260  toward a filter member  242  are installed in the partition space  271 . According to an embodiment of the present invention, for example, the elastic member  275  is made of a spring or a material having elasticity, such as rubber or silicon. Since other components are identical to those of the first embodiment, descriptions thereof will be omitted. 
         [0041]    In the water filter  240  of the third embodiment, when water flowing into the filter housing  241  expands while freezing, the expansion can be received while the closing cover  272  is pushed toward the lower inner case  260 . For this reason, the breakdown of the filter housing  241  can be prevented. Further, in a case where freezing water in the filter housing  241  melts, the elastic member  275  presses the closing cover  272 . For this reason, the closing cover  272  can return to its initial position. Accordingly, the water filter  240  can prevent the breakdown of the filter housing  241  even if freezing repeatedly occurs. 
         [0042]    As described above, since a water filter according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an expansion receiving a part for receiving expansion due to freezing in the interior of the filter housing, there is an advantage in that the breakdown of the filter housing can be prevented even in a case where freezing is produced. 
         [0043]    Although few embodiments of the present invention 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 invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.