Refrigerator with cool air distributing device

Abstract: Disclosed is a refrigerator having a cool air dispersing device (30) capable of dispersing cool air vertically. In a duct (15) of a cooling compartment (3) are installed many vertical dispersing blades (51) of planar plate shape for dispersing cool air flowing thereinto vertically. A vertical shaft (31) is installed in the duct (15). Many horizontal dispersing blades (32) of planar plate shape are installed on the shaft (31). The shaft (31) is rotated by a motor (35), and a cam (39) is installed on the shaft (31). The cam (39) converts rotational movement of the motor to an elevational/de-elevational movement of the vertical dispersing blades (51). Thus, the cool air is dispersed horizontally and vertically in the compartment (3), and the temperature in the compartment (3) is maintained uniform. Further, if the blades (32, 51) are stopped, the cool air can be concentrated on a specific area.

Description: The present invention relates to a refrigerator comprising a cooling compartment, an aperture opening into the compartment, a heat pump and cool air distributing means for supplying cool air generated by the heat pump to the compartment through the aperture. Generally, a refrigerator has a cabinet in which there are a freezing compartment and a fresh food compartment. A partition wall separates these compartments. Doors are provided at the front of the freezing and cooling compartments. A cooling system supplies the freezing compartment and the fresh food compartment with cool air and comprises a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator. The cool air generated by the evaporator flows along a supply duct formed at the back of each compartment, and is then supplied into each cooling compartment through cool air discharge ports opening thereinto by a fan. In such a conventional refrigerator, however, cool air tends to be supplied into a particular area of the cooling compartment and other areas tend to be less well served. Consequently, a uniform temperature is not maintained throughout the cooling compartment. This problem has been addressed by providing cool air discharge ports in the side walls of the cooling compartment as well as in its rear wall. However, there may be still a dead-zone at an edge area which is not supplied with the cool air sufficiently. Furthermore, the ducting required to supply cool air from the sides of the cooling compartment reduces the space available for food and increases the cost of manufacture. The problem of adequately distributing cool air in a refrigerator is worse for larger refrigerators. Figures 1 through 3 are a side view, a partial enlarged sectional view, and an exploded perspective view of the main elements of a refrigerator having a device for dispersing cool air as disclosed in WO-A-95/27178. Referring to Figures 1 to 3, a refrigerator comprises freezing and fresh food compartments 2, 3 in a cabinet 1, which are separated from each other by a partition 5. Respective doors 6, 7 are provided for closing the compartments 2, 3. A cooling system, comprising a compressor 11, a condenser (not shown), a freezing compartment evaporator 12a, and a fresh food compartment evaporator 12b, is installed in the cabinet 1. Cool air generated by the evaporators 12a, 12b is supplied to the corresponding compartments 2, 3 by a freezing compartment fan 13a and a fresh food compartment fan 13b respectively. A partially cylindrical duct plate 9 is attached to an inner wall plate 23 forming the rear inner wall surface of the fresh food compartment 3. The duct plate 9 has cool air discharge ports 16, opening into the fresh food compartment 3, formed in it A supply duct 15 and a return duct 17, separated from each other by a seal plate 25, are provided between the duct plate 9 and the rear wall 4 of the cabinet 1. A duct member 21, for guiding downwards cool air blown by the fresh food compartment fan 13b, is installed in the supply duct 15. Cool air generated by the fresh food compartment evaporator 12b is blown by the fresh food compartment fan 13b and then supplied to the fresh food compartment 3 via the supply duct 15 and the cool air discharge ports 16. A cool air dispersing device 130 is installed in the supply duct 15. The cool air dispersing device 130 comprises a rotational shaft 131 having a vertical axis, cool air dispersing blades 132 assembled with the rotational shaft 131 in correspondence with respective cool air discharge ports 16, and a driving motor 135 for rotating the rotational shaft 131. Each of the cool air dispersing blades 132 comprises three discs 136, 137, 138 disposed in parallel with each other along the shaft 131, and first and second blade parts 133, 134 disposed between pairs of the discs 136, 137, 138. Each of the blade parts 133, 134 is curved so that its cross-section is loosely S-shaped. The blade parts 133, 134 are bent in opposite directions to each other. In a refrigerator having the above-described constitution, when the driving motor 131 rotates the rotational shaft 131 at a low speed, cool air flowing along the supply duct 15 changes its direction along the curved surfaces of the cool air dispersing blades 132, and is directed into the fresh food compartment 3 so as to disperse horizontally. When concentrated cooling in a specific area is needed, the driving motor 135 stops the rotational shaft 131 so that the cool air dispersing blades 132 direct cool air to the specific area. However, since the blade parts 133, 134 of the cool air dispersing device 130 are S-shaped, the left or right sides of the fresh food compartment 3 may not be supplied with the cool air sufficiently and the smooth flow of cool air may be impeded by a vortices in the cool air formed about the cool air discharge ports 16. A refrigerator according to the present invention is characterised in that the cool air distributing means comprises a blade pivotable about a horizontal axis, which is horizontal when the refrigerator is in its operational orientation, and a driven vertical shaft perpendicular to said horizontal axis and having thereon a guide surface, the blade engaging the guide surface and the cool air distributing means being configured such that the point on the guide surface engaged by the blade rises and falls during rotation of the shaft so as to cause the blade to reciprocate about said horizontal axis. Preferably, the blade has a downwardly extending projection that rests upon the guide surface. The guide surface is slanted or there may be cam means arranged such that the shaft rises and falls during rotation about its axis. Preferably, a refrigerator, according to the present invention, includes a plurality of blades pivotable about respective horizontal axes, one blade drivingly engaging the guide surface and another drivingly engaging the blade engaging the guide surface such that the blades move together during rotation of the shaft. An embodiment of refrigerator, according to the present invention, includes a duct plate installed on a side wall of the cooling compartment, said duct plate forming a cool air duct in said side wall, and a plurality of apertures in said duct plate, and the cool air distributing means comprises a plurality of blades associated with respective ones of said apertures and pivotable about respective horizontal axes, which are horizontal when the refrigerator is in its operational orientation, the blades engaging respective tilted guide surfaces carried by said vertical shaft, and the cool air distributing means is configured such that the points on said guide surfaces, engaged by said blades, rise and fall during rotation of the shaft so as to cause the blades to reciprocate about said horizontal axis. Another embodiment includes a duct plate installed on a side wall of the cooling compartment, said duct plate forming a cool air duct in said side wall, and a plurality of apertures in said duct plate, and the cool air distributing means comprises a plurality of blades associated with respective ones of said apertures and pivotable about respective horizontal axes, which are horizontal when the refrigerator is in its operational orientation, the blades engaging respective guide surfaces carried by said vertical shaft, and the drive means is configured to vertically reciprocate said vertical shaft such that the points on said guide surfaces, engaged by said blades, rise and fall during rotation of the shaft so as to cause the blades to reciprocate about said horizontal axis. In such an embodiment, the cool air distributing means preferably comprises a cam installed on said vertical shaft, said cam having a cam profile for raising and lowering said vertical shaft, and a cam protrusion formed on a part of said duct plate, said cam protrusion interacting with said cam to raise and lower said vertical shaft. In the case of both aforementioned embodiments, there is preferably a further blade, having a supporting protrusion protruding vertically downwards therefrom, immediately above each of said blades engaging guide surfaces, said supporting protrusion being in contact with the blade immediately below so that the blades associated with the same aperture maintain a predetermined distance from each other. Additionally, there may be a plurality of vertical blades installed on said vertical shaft for dispersing cool air in said cool air duct horizontally according to their angular positions, said vertical blades being rotated together with said vertical shaft. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to Figures 4 to 13 of the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a side sectional view of a conventional refrigerator having cool air dispersing blades; Figure 2 is a partial enlarged sectional view of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of main elements of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a front view of a refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 is a side sectional view of Figure 4; Figure 6 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a cool air dispersing device shown in Figures 4 and 5; Figure 7 is a partial enlarged view of the assembled state of Figure 6; Figures 8 and 9 are side sectional views of the assembled state of Figure 6; Figure 10 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a cool air dispersing device according to the second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 11 is a partial enlarged view of the assembled state of Figure 10; and Figures 12 and 13 are side sectional views of the assembled state of Figure 10. Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Parts identical to those in the conventional refrigerator shown in Figures 1 through 3 will be referred to with the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. Figure 4 is a front view of a refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 5 is a side sectional view of Figure 4. The refrigerator has, as the conventional refrigerator which has been illustrated with reference to Figures 1 through 3, a cabinet 1 forming freezing compartment 2 and a fresh food compartment 3 which are partitioned by a partitioning wall 5 and are disposed upper and lower parts thereof, respectively. On the front openings of the freezing compartment 2 and the fresh food compartment 3, doors 6 and 7 for opening/closing them are installed respectively. In the fresh food compartment 3, shelves 8 for placing food thereon is installed, which divide the fresh food compartment 3 into three stratified area, i. e., an upper area, a middle area, and a lower area. A special fresh chamber 18 for storing food which requiresa specific temperature range is formed at the upper part of the fresh food compartment 3, and a vegetable chamber 19 for storing vegetables is formed at the lower part of the fresh food compartment 3. In the cabinet 1 is installed a cooling system comprising a compressor 11, a condenser (not shown), a freezing compartment evaporator 12a, and a fresh food compartment evaporator 12b. The cool air generated by the evaporators 12a and 12b is supplied into the corresponding cooling compartments 2 and 3 by the freezing compartment fan 13a and the fresh food compartment fan 13b. A supply duct 15 and a return duct 17 are provided in the rear of the fresh food compartment 3. The cool air generated by the fresh food compartment evaporator 12b is blown by the fresh food compartment fan 13b so as to be supplied into the fresh food compartment 3 via the supply duct 15 and the cool air discharge ports 16. A device 30 for dispersing cool air is installed in the supply duct 15. A pair of temperature sensors 19a and 19b are installed in the fresh food compartment 3. The temperature sensors 19a and 19b comprise a first temperature sensor 19a installed at the upper left area of the fresh food compartment 3, and a second temperature sensor 19b installed at the lower right area of the fresh food compartment 3. Figures 6 through 9 show the cool air dispersing device 30. As shown in the figures, three cool air discharge ports 16a, 16b and 16c are provided on the duct plate 27. The discharge ports 16a, 16b and 16c respectively correspond to three stratified areas in the fresh food compartment 3. The cool air dispersing device 30 comprises a plurality of vertical dispersing blades 51 disposed adjacently to the discharge ports 16a, 16b and 16c in the supply duct 15, a vertical shaft 31 disposed vertically in the supply duct 15, a plurality of horizontal dispersing blades 32 installed on the vertical shaft 31, and a driving motor 35 for rotating the vertical shaft 31. Each of the discharge ports 16a, 16b and 16c corresponds to three vertical dispersing blades 51a, 51b and 51c. The vertical dispersing blades 51 are formed into an arc-shape plate, and horizontal shafts 53 are formed at both sides thereof. Furthermore, a cut part 59 is formed at the rear area of the vertical dispersing blade 51 so as to accommodate the vertical shaft 31 and the horizontal dispersing blades 32. On the flanges 45 provided at both sides of the duct plate 27 are formed a plurality of shaft holes 45, and the horizontal shafts 53 of the vertical dispersing blades 51 are inserted into the shaft holes 45. Therefore, the vertical dispersing blades 51 are rotatable around the horizontal shaft 53. A supporting protrusion 61 protrudes at the lower surface of each of the vertical dispersing blades 51. Such a supporting protrusion 61 can be provided only at upper two vertical dispersing blades 51a and 51b except for the lowermost vertical dispersing blade 51c among three vertical dispersing blades 51 disposed near the respective discharge ports 16a, 16b and 16c. The end of the supporting protrusion 61 is contacted with the upper surface of other vertical dispersing blade 51 disposed at the lower area thereof, whereby the vertical dispersing blades 51 are supported so as to be parallel with each other by a predetermined distance. Furthermore, when the lowermost vertical dispersing blade 51c is rotated upward, the upper two vertical dispersing blades 51a and 51b are rotated by the supporting protrusions 61 together therewith. The upper end 34 of the vertical shaft 31 is coupled with the shaft 36 of the driving motor 35, and the lower end 38 thereof is inserted into a supporting hole 29 formed on the lower flange 28 of the duct plate 27. Thus, the vertical shaft 31 is supported so as to be capable of rotating. The driving motor 35 is a stepping motor which can control the angular position thereof. Meanwhile, on the vertical shaft 31 is installed a cam plate 37 interacting with the lowermost vertical dispersing blade 51c among three vertical dispersing blades 51. The cam plate 37 has a shape of a disc, and is tilted with respect to the vertical shaft 31 at a predetermined angle. Further, the cam plate 37 is coaxially disposed with the vertical shaft 31, and rotates together with the vertical shaft 31. The edge of the cam plate 37 supports the supporting protrusion 61 of the lowermost vertical dispersing blade 51c. Therefore, while the vertical shaft 31 is rotated by the driving motor 35, the supporting protrusion 61 of the lowermost vertical dispersing blade 51c elevates/de-elevates along the edge of the cam plate 37, whereby the other vertical dispersing blades 51a and 51b supported by the supporting protrusions 61 in parallel with each other are rotated upward around the horizontal shaft 53. Meanwhile, three horizontal dispersing blades 32 are installed on the vertical shaft 31. The horizontal dispersing blades 32 correspond to the discharge ports 16a, 16b and 16c, respectively. The horizontal dispersing blade 32 is formed into a rectangular plate. Furthermore, the lower end of the horizontal dispersing blade 32 is connected with the cam plate 37. A guide plate 39 is provided on the upper end of the horizontal dispersing blade 32. The guide plate 39 is tilted so as to be parallel with the cam plate 37. The guide plate 39 also guides cool air like the vertical dispersing blades 51 so that the cool air is dispersed vertically while the vertical shaft 31 is rotating. The operation of the refrigerator according to the present invention having such a construction is as follows. Figures 8 and 9 show the discharge states of cool air guided by the vertical dispersing blades 51. The vertical shaft 31 is rotated continuously by the driving motor 35. When the cam plates 37 are tilted upward as shown in Figure 8 while the vertical shaft 31 is rotating, the vertical dispersing blades 51 supported by the cam plate 37 are tilted upward. Thus, the cool air in the supply duct 15 is discharged upward by the vertical dispersing blades 51. Similarly, when the cam plates 37 are tilted downward as shown in Figure 9 while the vertical shaft 31 is rotating, the vertical dispersing blades 51 are tilted downward, and the cool air is discharged downward. While the vertical shaft 31 is rotating, the horizontal dispersing blades 32 rotate together with the vertical shaft 31. Therefore, the cool air is dispersed horizontally. As such, the angular positions of the vertical dispersing blades 51 and the horizontal dispersing blades 32 are changed while the vertical shaft 31 is rotating, so the discharge direction of cool air is consecutively changed vertically and horizontally. Therefore, the cool air is dispersed uniformly while it is supplied into the fresh food compartment 3. Moreover, since the horizontal dispersing blades 32 and the vertical dispersing blades 51 are formed into a planar plate, vortex of the cool air does not occur while they are rotating. Meanwhile, if the concentrative supply of cool air on a specific area such as an upper area or a lower area is required, the concentrative cooling can be realized by stopping the driving motor 35 when the horizontal dispersing blades 32 and the vertical dispersing blades 51 are directed to the corresponding area In such a situation, an additional control part should be provided which operates on the basis of the temperature sensed by the temperature sensors 19a and 19b placed in the fresh food compartment 3. If a rise in temperature of a specific area is sensed by the temperature sensors 19a and 19b, the control part stops the vertical shaft 31 so that the horizontal dispersing blades 32 and the vertical dispersing blades 51 are positioned on an angular position corresponding to the specific area. Therefore, the specific area is cooled in a concentrative manner in a short period of time, whereby the uniform distribution of cool air can be achieved more effectively. Figures 10 through 13 show the cool air dispersing device 70 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, parts identical to those in the above-described first embodiment, i. e., the driving motor 35, the duct plate 27, etc., are referred to with the same reference numerals. In the present embodiment, the construction of the vertical dispersing blades 51 is similar to that in the above-described first embodiment. However, the vertical dispersing blades 51 further comprise contact protrusions 63 besides the supporting protrusions 61, respectively. The contact protrusion 63 protrudes backward from the plane of the vertical dispersing blades 51. In the present embodiment, the vertical dispersing blades 51 are supported by a support plate 77 through the contact protrusion 63. The support plate 77 is installed on the vertical shaft 31. The support plate 77 has a shape of a disc just like the cam plate 37 of the first embodiment. However, the support plate 77 is not tilted with respect to the vertical shaft 31 but disposed transversely to the vertical shaft 31, that is, horizontally, which is an aspect dissimilar to the cam plate 37 of first embodiment. Further, a disc-shaped guide plate 79 is also installed on the upper end of the horizontal dispersing blade 32. The guide plate 79 is disposed horizontally so as to be parallel with the support plate 77. The vertical shaft 31 is inserted into the insertion hole 29 formed on the lower flange 28 of the duct plate 27. Thus, the vertical shaft 31 is supported so as to be capable of rotating. The insertion hole 29 has a depth enough to allow the vertical movement of the vertical shaft 31. An elevation/de-elevation cam 67 is installed on the lower part of the vertical shaft 31. The elevation/de-elevation cam 67 is coaxially disposed with the vertical shaft 31, and the lower surface thereof is tilted to form a cam profile elevating/de-elevating vertically. On the lower flange 28 of the duct plate 27 is formed a cam protrusion 65 which functions as a cam follower. The cam protrusion 65 is disposed near the insertion hole 29. When the lower end of the vertical shaft 31 is inserted into the insertion hole 29, the cam protrusion 65 is contacted with the lower surface of the elevation/de-elevation cam 67. Therefore, while the vertical shaft 31 is rotated by the driving motor 35, the vertical shaft 31 elevates/de-elevates vertically. In the present embodiment, the elevation/de-elevation cam 67 is formed on the vertical shaft 31 and the cam protrusion 65 is formed on the lower flange 28, however, it is possible to modify them so that the elevation/de-elevation cam 67 is formed on the lower flange 28 and the cam protrusion 65 is formed on the vertical shaft 31. The operation of the cool air dispersing device 70 according to the present embodiment is as follows. While the vertical shaft 31 is rotated by the driving motor 35, the vertical shaft 31 is elevated/de-elevated by the elevation/de-elevation cam 67 and the cam protrusion 65. As the vertical shaft 31 is elevated/de-elevated, the contact protrusions 63 supported by the support plates 77 respectively are elevated/de-elevated, whereby the vertical dispersing blades 51 reciprocate between the states that they are rotated downward as shown in Figure 12 and rotated upward as shown in Figure 13. Accordingly, the cool air is dispersed vertically. Furthermore, while the vertical shaft 31 is rotating, the horizontal dispersing blades 32 are rotated as those in the first embodiment do, whereby the cool air is dispersed horizontally. As described above, according to the present invention, a stable cool air flow and a uniform distribution of cool air in vertical and horizontal directions can be achieved without the vortex of cool air about the cool air discharge ports.

Claims: A refrigerator comprising a cooling compartment (3), an aperture (16a, 16b, 16c) opening into the compartment, a heat pump and cool air distributing means (30) for supplying cool air generated by the heat pump to the compartment (3) through the aperture (16a, 16b, 16c), characterised in that the cool air distributing means (30) comprises a blade (51a) pivotable about a horizontal axis, which is horizontal when the refrigerator is in its operational orientation, and a driven vertical shaft (31) perpendicular to said horizontal axis and having thereon a guide surface (37; 77), the blade (51a) engaging the guide surface (37; 77) and the cool air distributing means (30) being configured such that the point on the guide surface (37; 77) engaged by the blade (51a) rises and falls during rotation of the shaft (31) so as to cause the blade (51a) to reciprocate about said horizontal axis. A refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the blade (51a) has a downwardly extending projection (61) that rests upon the guide surface (37; 77). A refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the guide surface (37) is slanted. A refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, including cam means (67) arranged such that the shaft (31) rises and falls during rotation about its axis. A refrigerator according to any preceding claim, including a plurality of blades (51a, 51b) pivotable about respective horizontal axes, one blade (51a) drivingly engaging the guide surface (37; 77) and another (51b) drivingly engaging the blade (51a) engaging the guide surface (37; 77) such that the blades (51a, 51b) move together during rotation of the shaft (31). A refrigerator according to claim 1, including: a duct plate installed on a side wall of the cooling compartment (3), said duct plate for forming a cool air duct (15) in said side wall; and a plurality of apertures (16a, 16b, 16c) in said duct plate, wherein the cool air distributing means (30) comprises a plurality of blades (51a) associated with respective ones of said apertures (16a, 16b, 16c) and pivotable about respective horizontal axes, which are horizontal when the refrigerator is in its operational orientation, the blades (51a) engaging respective tilted guide surfaces (37; 77) carried by said vertical shaft (31), and the cool air distributing means (30) is configured such that the points on said guide surfaces (37; 77), engaged by said blades (51a), rise and fall during rotation of the shaft (31) so as to cause the blades (51a) to reciprocate about said horizontal axis. A refrigerator according to claim 6, comprising a further blade (51b), having a supporting protrusion (61) protruding vertically downwards therefrom, immediately above each of said blades (51a) engaging guide surfaces (37; 77), said supporting protrusion (61) being in contact with the blade (51a) immediately below so that the blades (521a, 51b) associated with the same aperture (16a, 16b, 16c) maintain a predetermined distance from each other. A refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein said guide surfaces (37; 77) are in contact with supporting protrusions (61) formed on the respective blade (51a) with which they are engaged. A refrigerator according to claim 6, further comprising a plurality of vertical blades (32) installed on said vertical shaft (31) for dispersing cool air in said cool air duct (15) horizontally according to their angular positions, said vertical blades (32) being rotated together with said vertical shaft (31). A refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein said guide surfaces (37; 77) are provided by disc-shaped structures. A refrigerator according to claim 1, including: a duct plate installed on a side wall of the cooling compartment (3), said duct plate for forming a cool air duct (15) in said side wall; and a plurality of apertures (16a, 16b, 16c) in said duct plate, wherein the cool air distributing means (30) comprises a plurality of blades (51a) associated with respective ones of said apertures (16a, 16b, 16c) and pivotable about respective horizontal axes, which are horizontal when the refrigerator is in its operational orientation, the blades (51a) engaging respective guide surfaces (37; 77) carried by said vertical shaft (31), and the cool air distributing means (30) is configured to vertically reciprocate said vertical shaft such that the points on said guide surfaces (37; 77), engaged by said blades (51a), rise and fall during rotation of the shaft (31) so as to cause the blades (51a) to reciprocate about said horizontal axis. A refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein the drive means (30) comprises: a cam (67) installed on said vertical shaft (31), said cam (67) having a cam profile for raising and lowering said vertical shaft (31); and a cam protrusion (65) formed on a part of said duct plate, said cam protrusion (65) interacting with said cam (67) to raise and lower said vertical shaft (31). A refrigerator according to claim 11, comprising a further blade (51b), having a supporting protrusion (61) protruding vertically downwards therefrom, immediately above each of said blades (51a) engaging guide surfaces (37; 77), said supporting protrusion (61) being in contact with blade (51a) immediately below so that the blades (521a, 51b) associated with the same aperture (16a, 16b, 16c) maintain a predetermined distance from each other. A refrigerator according to claim 11, further comprising a plurality of vertical blades (32) installed on said vertical shaft (31) for dispersing cool air in said cool air duct (15) horizontally according to their angular positions, said vertical blades (32) being rotated together with said vertical shaft (31).

Inventors: JOO TAE HO, LEE SUN GYOU, JOO, TAE HO, LEE, SUN GYOU
Applicants: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD, SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: F25D11
IPC codes: F25D17, F24F13