Abstract:
A refrigerator equipped with a water tank that is easily accessible to a user and a method of using the same. A water dispenser is installed on the front side of a refrigerator. A water tank coupled to the water dispenser is detachably installed on a lower inner inside of a refrigerator door such that a user can conveniently observe the state of the water tank and access the water tank for maintenance and refill thereof.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority and benefit from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0153698, filed on Nov. 6, 2014, with the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to refrigerators, and more specifically, to a method of controlling and using refrigerators. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    In general, a refrigerator is an apparatus for preserving food and other items in a cool or a frozen state by circulating cold air that is generated via a cooling system. 
         [0004]    Typically, a refrigerator has a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber disposed at the upper and lower sides of the refrigerator, respectively. Recently, refrigerators with two storage chambers disposed side-by-side are also available on the market. Such a side-by-side refrigerator is often equipped with a water dispenser coupled to a water purifier and used to supply drinking water (water or any beverage which is consumable or may be used to cook food) or ice. 
         [0005]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a refrigerator  100  in the related art includes a main frame  110  having a machine chamber (not illustrated), a freezing chamber  120 , and a refrigerating chamber  130 . A freezing chamber door  122  and a refrigerating chamber door  132  are hingedly coupled to the main frame  110 . 
         [0006]    A water supply valve (not illustrated) is provided in the machine chamber formed behind the main frame  110 . 
         [0007]    A dispenser  124  for dispensing drinking water is disposed at the front side of the freezing chamber door  122 . A water tank  140  for storing drinking water supplied to the dispenser  124  is provided behind a refrigerator drawer  130 . The water supply pipe  153  is coupled to the water tank  140  via the water supply valve. The other end of the water tank  140  is coupled to a water drain pipe  155  used to supply drinking water to the dispenser  124 . 
         [0008]    However, according to a refrigerator in the related art, the water tank is usually designed to be enclosed in a case disposed in the machine chamber. It is difficult for a user to locate and access the water tank for maintenance or replacement. Further, the structure of the water tank makes it difficult for a user to replace the water tank. Accordingly, a user cannot easily remove unwanted foreign substances accumulated on the water tank, such as substances produced by the dispenser or the ice maker. 
       LITERATURE OF RELATED ART 
     Patent Literature 
       [0009]    Korean Patent No. 0630910 (LG Electronics Co., Ltd.) (Sep. 26, 2006). Patent Literature 1 relates to a structure for installing a water tank of a refrigerator, and discloses that the water tank is installed in a freezing chamber door in order to supply cool water at a low temperature. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0010]    Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to providing a refrigerator having a water tank that can be easily detached from the refrigerator for maintenance. 
         [0011]    An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a refrigerator including: one or more refrigerating chambers and corresponding doors; a dispenser unit which is provided on the refrigerator front door and supplies drinking water to users; and a water tank which supplies water to the dispenser unit, in which the water tank is detachably mounted at a lower end inside the refrigerator door. 
         [0012]    The refrigerator may further include: a water outflow line through which water is supplied to the dispenser unit; a water supply line through which water is supplied from a water supply source; and a water tank coupling member with one end coupled to a flexible water supply nozzle, the one end having an inner circumferential surface on which screw threads are formed, and the other end which is coupled with the water outflow line and the water supply line, in which screw threads are formed on the outer circumferential surface at one end of the water tank at which a groove is formed, and coupled by being rotated to the screw threads formed on the inner circumferential surface at the one end of the water tank coupling member. 
         [0013]    The refrigerator may further include a water tank fixing member which is fixed to an inner surface of the refrigerator door on which the water tank is installed. The water tank is coupled to the water tank fixing member and thereby to the refrigerator door. 
         [0014]    The inner circumferential surface of the water tank fixing member may be formed such that it is conformal to a shape of the outer circumferential surface of the water tank. 
         [0015]    The refrigerator may further include a water tank door hingedly coupled to the refrigerator door and for covering the water tank. The water tank door can be made of a transparent material such that the water tank is visible through the cover. 
         [0016]    The water tank may be made of a transparent material and installed at a lower end of an accommodating drawer mounted on the inner side of the refrigerator door. 
         [0017]    The refrigerator may further include a water drain bolt which is coupled to a water drain groove formed at one end of the water tank. 
         [0018]    The refrigerator may further include a sterilizing unit which is installed at a lower inner side of the refrigerator door at which the water tank is installed, and has an ultraviolet ray lamp. 
         [0019]    Another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method of replacing a water tank for a refrigerator, including: detaching a water tank installed at a lower end inside a refrigerator door from a water tank coupling member by rotating the water tank; cleaning the water tank; inserting a water supply nozzle into the cleaned water tank; and coupling the cleaned water tank to the water tank coupling member by rotating the cleaned water tank. 
         [0020]    Yet another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method of controlling a refrigerator, including: closing a valve, which is installed on a line through which water is supplied to a water tank installed in a refrigerator, when a water tank replacement button, provided on the refrigerator, is selected; discharging water stored in the water tank through a dispenser unit; detaching the water tank from the refrigerator; cleaning the water tank; coupling the cleaned water tank to the refrigerator; and completing the replacement of the water tank. 
         [0021]    The method may further include outputting a message which shows that the water tank can be replaced, when all of the water stored in the water tank is discharged. 
         [0022]    The discharging of the water may include: determining whether there is a container that receives water discharged from the dispenser unit; and outputting an error message when there is no container, and discharging water stored in the water tank through the dispenser unit when the container is present. 
         [0023]    According to the refrigerator, the method of controlling the refrigerator, and the method of replacing the water tank for a refrigerator, according to the present disclosure, the water tank may be detachably coupled at the lower end inside the refrigerator door, thereby allowing the user to easily replace the water tank. 
         [0024]    Since the water tank is installed on the inner surface of the refrigerator door, the user may easily confirm a position of the water tank. In particular, the water tank is installed at the lower end of the accommodating drawer of the refrigerator door which is a region that is not mainly used by the user, thereby allowing the user to easily confirm the position of the water tank without inconveniencing the user when the user uses the refrigerator. 
         [0025]    Since the water tank door, which covers the water tank, is made of a transparent material, the user may easily confirm a state of the water tank, thereby allowing the user to easily confirm whether foreign substances, which are naturally produced when the dispenser has been used for a long period of time, are present in the water tank. The water tank can be made of a transparent material, thereby allowing the user to easily confirm a degree of contamination of water stored in the water tank. 
         [0026]    The sterilizing unit is installed on the inner surface of the refrigerator door on which the water tank is installed, whereby water stored in the water tank is sterilized using an ultraviolet ray that is emitted from the sterilizing unit to the water tank. 
         [0027]    The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0028]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a refrigerator in the related art. 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary refrigerator door installed with a water tank according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0031]      FIG. 4  illustrates the configuration of an exemplary water tank covered with a water tank door in the open state the according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0032]      FIG. 5  illustrates the configuration of an exemplary water tank covered with a water tank door in the closed state according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0033]      FIG. 6  illustrates the configuration of the exemplary water tank in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0034]      FIG. 7  illustrates the configuration of an exemplary refrigerator door when the water tank is detached according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0035]      FIG. 8  illustrates the configuration of an exemplary water flow path according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0036]      FIG. 9  illustrates the configuration of another exemplary water tank covered with a water tank door in the closed state according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0037]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0038]      FIG. 11  is a flowchart depicting an exemplary method of replacing a water tank for a refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0039]    A refrigerator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The refrigerator  200  includes a main frame  210  which has a machine chamber (not explicitly illustrated), a refrigerating chamber (not explicitly illustrated), a freezing chamber (not explicitly illustrated), and a plurality of refrigerator doors  220 ,  230 ,  240 , and  250  coupled to the main frame  210 . 
         [0041]    A dispenser unit  260  for supplying drinking water (and/or other beverages) is provided on the front side of the first refrigerator door  220 . An ice maker  261  as shown in  FIG. 8  for making and supplying ice may also be coupled to the dispenser unit  260 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 2  illustrates an example in which the refrigerator  200  according to the present disclosure has four refrigerator doors, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, two refrigerator doors may be provided on the upper and lower sides or on the left and right sides of the refrigerator, respectively. A dispenser unit according to the present disclosure may be disposed in anyone of the refrigerator doors. 
         [0043]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary refrigerator door installed with a water tank according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The water tank unit  270  is installed on a lower inner side of the first refrigerator door  220 , while the dispenser unit  260  is installed on the outer side of the door  220 . The water tank unit  270  stores water supplied from a water supply source (not illustrated), and supplies the stored water to the dispenser unit  260 . Here, water supplied from the water supply source may be supplied to the water tank unit  270  after being purified by a filter unit  211 . Since the water tank is disposed on the inner side of the refrigerator door, it is easily visible to a user. 
         [0044]    The water tank unit  270  may be installed on a storage compartment installed on the first refrigerator door  220 . As described above, the water tank is installed below the lowest drawer of the refrigerator door  220 . This is a region that is not frequently used by a user, thereby allowing the user to easily locate the water tank without causing any inconvenience for users to use the refrigerator. 
         [0045]    An exemplary water tank unit according to the present disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to  FIGS. 4 to 7 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 4  illustrates the configuration of an exemplary water tank covered with a water tank door being in the open state the according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 5  illustrates the configuration of an exemplary water tank covered with a water tank door being in the closed state according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 6  illustrates the configuration of the exemplary water tank in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 to 6 , the water tank unit  270  is installed on the inner surface of the first refrigerator door  220 . The unit  270  includes a water tank door  271 , a door coupling member  272 , a water tank  273 , a water drain bolt  274 , and a water tank coupling member  290 . 
         [0048]    The water tank door  271  is coupled to the first refrigerator door  220  via the door coupling member  272  and may be used to cover the water tank  273 . 
         [0049]    The water tank door  271  can be made of a transparent material such that a user can easily see through the cover and locate the water tank  273  and identify the state of the water tank. Based on the observed state, the user can determine whether or when maintenance is needed, such as removal of the unwanted foreign substances deposited on the water tank after the dispenser is used for an extended time. Further, the transparent material allows a user to see the water stored in the water tank  273  and determine whether the water has been contaminated. 
         [0050]    The water tank  273  is coupled with a water supply line through which water is supplied to the water tank  273  via the water tank coupling member  290 . The water tank is also coupled with a water outflow line through which water is supplied to the dispenser unit  260 . A groove may be formed on one end of the water tank  273 , and screw threads may be formed on an outer circumferential surface of the end with the groove. 
         [0051]    A water supply nozzle  279  made of a flexible material may be provided at one end of the water tank coupling member  290 . Screw threads may be formed on an inner circumferential surface of the water tank coupling member  290  such that the water tank coupling member  290  is coupled to the water tank  273 . The other end of the water tank coupling member  290  may be coupled with a first water supply line  281  through which water is supplied to the tank, and coupled with a water outflow line  282  through which water is supplied to the dispenser unit  260 . 
         [0052]    That is, the screw threads formed on the outer circumferential surface at the one end of the water tank  273  and the screw threads formed on the inner circumferential surface at the one end of the water tank coupling member  290  engage with each other. As a result, the water tank  273  may be fixed to the first refrigerator door  220 . 
         [0053]    A water drain groove is formed on the other side of the water tank  273 , and the water drain bolt  274  may be coupled to the water drain groove of the water tank  273 . The user may easily drain the water from the water tank  273  by removing the water drain bolt  274  that is coupled to the water drain groove of the water tank  273  as described above. 
         [0054]      FIG. 7  illustrates the configuration of an exemplary refrigerator door when the water tank is detached according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         [0055]    The water tank  273  is detachably installed on the inner surface of the first refrigerator door  220 , and the water tank  273  may be detached as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . That is, the water tank  273  may be detached by rotating the water tank  273  in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. In this case, since the water supply nozzle  279 , which is provided in the water tank coupling member  290 , is made of a flexible material, the user may easily detach the water tank. A user may easily mount the water tank  273  onto the inner surface of the first refrigerator door  220  by reverse the operation of detaching the water tank  273 . 
         [0056]      FIG. 8  illustrates the configuration of an exemplary water flow path according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         [0057]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , the water supply source supplies water to the filter unit  211  through a fourth water supply line  287 . Then, the filter unit  211  purifies water that is supplied from the water supply source through the fourth water supply line  287 . The filter unit supplies the purified water to a second valve  284  through a third water supply line  286 . The second valve  284  supplies water that is supplied from the filter unit  211  through the third water supply line  286  to the ice maker  261  through a second water supply line  285 , and supplies water to the water tank  273  through the first water supply line  281 . The ice maker  261  makes ice using water, which is supplied from the second valve  284  through the second water supply line  285 , and provides ice to users. The water tank  273  stores water, which is supplied from the second valve  284  through the first water supply line  281 , and supplies the stored water to the dispenser unit  260  through the water outflow line  282 . In this example, a first valve  283  may be installed on the first water supply line  281  and used by a user to shut off water supply. The first valve  283  may be a ball valve. Then, the dispenser unit  260  dispenses drinking water supplied from the water tank  273  through the water outflow line  282 . 
         [0058]    A water tank unit according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to  FIGS. 9 and 10 . 
         [0059]      FIG. 9  illustrates the configuration of another exemplary water tank covered with a water tank door in the closed state according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of  FIG. 9 . 
         [0060]    The water tank unit according to the present embodiment is similar with the water tank unit according to the aforementioned exemplary embodiment. Only the structure for coupling the water tank is different from that in the aforementioned exemplary embodiment. 
         [0061]    Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the water tank  273  is coupled with a water supply line via the water tank coupling member  290 . The water tank is also coupled to a water outflow line through which water is supplied to the dispenser unit  260 . A groove may be formed on one end of the water tank  273 , and screw threads  273   a  may be formed on the outer circumferential surface of the groove. A flexible water supply nozzle  279  is disposed on one end of the water tank coupling member  290 . Screw threads  290   a  are formed on the inner circumferential surface at the one end of the water tank coupling member  290 , such that the water tank coupling member  290  can be screwed onto the water tank  273 . 
         [0062]    The other end of the water tank coupling member  290  may be coupled with the first water supply line  281 , and also coupled with the water outflow line  282  through which water is supplied to the dispenser unit  260 . That is, the screw threads  273   a  on the end of the water tank  273  and the screw threads  290   a  on the end of the water tank coupling member  290  engage with each other. Thereby, the water tank  273  can be fixed to the first refrigerator door  220 . 
         [0063]    In this case, the water tank coupling member  290  may have a gasket  293  disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the end. As described above, the gasket  293  is provided within a region in which the water tank coupling member  290  and the water tank  273  are coupled to each other, thereby preventing water leakage. 
         [0064]    The water tank coupling member  290  may have a valve  291  for controlling the water supply. 
         [0065]    The water tank  273  according to the present exemplary embodiment may be fitted into and coupled to water tank fixing members  275  that are fixed to the inner side of the first refrigerator door  220 . In this manner, to the water tank  273  can be securely fixed to the first refrigerator door  220 . Here, the water tank fixing members  275  are coupled to the first refrigerator door  220  using screws  276 . 
         [0066]    In this case, an inner circumferential surface of the water tank fixing member  275  has a shape conformal to the outer circumferential surface of the water tank  273 . For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the water tank  273  is cylinder-shaped, and the inner circumferential surface of the water tank fixing member  275  defines a C-shaped space so that the water tank  273  is fitted into the water tank fixing member  275 . Although the drawing illustrates that the outer circumferential surface of the water tank  273  is in the ‘circular shape’ and the inner circumferential surface of the water tank fixing member  275  is in the ‘C shape’, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For instance, the water tank and the water tank fixing member may be formed in various other shapes in other embodiments. 
         [0067]    The refrigerator  220  according to the present disclosure includes a sterilizing unit  221  installed on the inner surface of the first refrigerator door  220 . 
         [0068]    The sterilizing unit  221  has an ultraviolet ray lamp to irradiate the water tank  273  using ultraviolet rays. The ultraviolet rays are emitted from the sterilizing unit  221  to the water tank  273  as described above, thereby sterilizing water stored in the water tank. 
         [0069]    A method of replacing a water tank for a refrigerator according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to  FIG. 11  as follows. 
         [0070]      FIG. 11  is a flowchart for explaining an exemplary method of replacing a water tank for a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         [0071]    Referring to  FIG. 11 , the water tank  273  installed at the lower side of the refrigerator door  220  is detached from the water tank coupling member  290  by rotating the water tank  273  (S 110 ). Then, the water tank  273  can be cleaned (S 120 ) according to appropriate procedures. 
         [0072]    Thereafter, the water supply nozzle  279  is inserted into the cleaned water tank  273  (S 130 ). The cleaned water tank  273  is coupled to the water tank coupling member  290  by rotating the cleaned water tank  273  (S 140 ). 
         [0073]    An exemplary method of controlling a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is described as follows. The method relates to replacing a water tank  273  on the refrigerator  200 . 
         [0074]    When a water tank replacement button on the refrigerator  200  is pressed by a user, the valve is closed. The valve is installed on the first water supply line  281  through which water is supplied to the water tank. 
         [0075]    Water stored in the water tank  273  is then discharged through the dispenser unit  260 . That is, water stored in the water tank  273  is supplied to the dispenser unit  260  through the water outflow line  282 , such that water stored in the water tank  273  can be emptied. 
         [0076]    Here, a determination is made with respect to whether there is a container present to receive water discharged from the dispenser unit  260 . If there is no container detected, an error message is presented to the user. If a container is detected, water stored in the water tank  273  is discharged through the dispenser unit  260 . 
         [0077]    When all the water stored in the water tank  273  is empty, an indication may be presented to users indicating the water tank should be replaced. The message may be in the form of a voice message or a text message through a speaker or a display module equipped on the refrigerator  200 . 
         [0078]    Thereafter, the water tank  273  can be detached from the refrigerator  200  by a user. The water tank  273  can be cleaned and/or refilled and installed back to the refrigerator  200 . 
         [0079]    As described above, when the water tank  273  mounted in the refrigerator  200  is to be taken off, water stored in the water tank  273  is first discharged to prevent water spill during the detachment operations. 
         [0080]    From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the various embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims. 
         [0081]    Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the disclosure will be described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the disclosure to these embodiments. On the contrary, the disclosure is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of embodiments of the present disclosure, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it will be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments of the present disclosure. The drawings showing embodiments of the disclosure are semi-diagrammatic and not to scale and, particularly, some of the dimensions are for the clarity of presentation and are shown exaggerated in the drawing Figures. Similarly, although the views in the drawings for the ease of description generally show similar orientations, this depiction in the Figures is arbitrary for the most part. Generally, the disclosure can be operated in any orientation. 
         [0082]    It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from the following discussions, it is appreciated that throughout the present disclosure, discussions utilizing terms such as “processing” or “accessing” or “executing” or “storing” or “rendering” or the like, refer to the action and processes of a computer system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system&#39;s registers and memories and other computer readable media into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer system memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission or client devices. When a component appears in several embodiments, the use of the same reference numeral signifies that the component is the same component as illustrated in the original embodiment. 
         [0083]    Although certain preferred embodiments and methods have been disclosed herein, it will be apparent from the foregoing disclosure to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications of such embodiments and methods may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. It is intended that the disclosure shall be limited only to the extent required by the appended claims and the rules and principles of applicable law.