Abstract:
A refrigerator having a main body includes a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber provided for storing foods. A cool air-generating device provided in the body generates cool air and a cool air-supplying device including at least one opening for discharging the cool air, is used to circulate the cool air through the freezing chamber, the refrigerating chamber, and the cool air-generating device. A separator provided adjacent to the opening acts to uniformly diffuse the cool air in the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber. The separator acts to separate two flows that are then brought back together. The collision and mixing of the two flows create a turbulent flow of air that is directed into the refrigerating and freezing chambers.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerant circulating device of the refrigerator. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    In general, a refrigerator is an apparatus for storing foods at a low temperature in a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber. To maintain the low temperature in the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber, the refrigerator generates cool air by using a freezing cycle of compressing-condensing-expanding-evaporating. Then, the generated cool air is provided to and circulated in the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber using a supplying device. The supplying device is comprised of a passage or duct for supplying the cool air from the freezing cycle to the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber. Openings in the walls of the refrigerating and freezing chambers discharge the cool air into the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber. 
         [0003]    Typically, the openings are relatively small as compared with a volume in the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber. As a result, it is impossible to discharge a large amount of cool air into the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber in a short time. Also because the discharged cool air has a relatively high flow rate, the discharged cool air flows in a specific direction out of the openings, and more particularly, a straightforward direction. As a result, the cool air is not uniformly diffused in the entire refrigerating chamber and the entire freezing chamber. 
       DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
       [0004]    An object of the present invention, designed for solving the foregoing problems, is to provide a refrigerator for uniformly providing a cool air to the inside of the refrigerating and freezing chambers. 
         [0005]    A refrigerator embodying the present invention includes a body; a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber provided in the body, for taking storage of foods; a cool air-generating device provided in the body, a cool air-supplying device including at least one opening for discharging cool air into the freezing chamber and refrigerating chamber; and a separator provided adjacent to the opening, for uniformly diffusing the cool air in the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber by separating the cool air into at least two streams. The separator is provided to partially block the cool air being discharged from the opening. The separator may extend perpendicular to a flowing direction of the cool air. 
         [0006]    The separator may be configured to generate at least two vortexes in the discharged cool air that rotate in opposite directions. The vortexes have a size and an intensity that are different and that continuously change. Also, the separator is configured to allow the separated flows of cool air to collide with each other before they are discharged into the refrigerating and freezing chambers. The separated flows of the cool air collide with each other in a straight line, and at a predetermined angle. The separator may be formed as a flat member. Also, the separator may have a round shape that protrudes opposite to a flowing direction of the cool air. The separator may be formed of an angularly bent shape that protrudes in the flowing direction of the cool air. Also, the separator may be formed of an oval shape wherein both sides are round in the forward and opposite directions of the cool air. A plurality of protrusions or dimples may be formed on the surface of the separator. 
         [0007]    Two opposite passages are formed between the separator and the opening, and the separated flows of cool air pass along the two opposite passages. In some embodiments, the opening is positioned adjacent to a crossing point where the separated flows of the cool air come back together. In addition, an interval between the separator and the opening is equivalent to (or smaller than) a width of the opening. Preferably, an interval between the separator and the opening is about 0.5 times a width of the opening. Also, preferably, a width of the separator is equivalent to a width of the opening. 
         [0008]    The opening is configured to discharge the generated cool air to the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber. Preferably, the opening is configured to discharge the generated cool air to the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber in at least two different directions. Also, the openings within a chamber may be configured to discharge the generated cool air to the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber, in two different directions that are substantially perpendicular to each other. 
         [0009]    One or more openings that lead back towards the cool air-generating device may also include separators. In more detail, such openings discharge the cool air which has been circulated in the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber back towards an evaporator of the cool air-generating device. Preferably, the refrigerator would include one or more auxiliary ducts that extend from the refrigerating and freezing chambers to the evaporator of the cool air-generating device, for directly discharging the cool air circulated in the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber to the evaporator. A separator would be positioned adjacent to an opening of the auxiliary duct. 
         [0010]    The ducts that deliver cool air to the refrigerating and freezing chamber may be expanded at locations immediately adjacent the opening into the inside of the refrigerating chamber and/or the freezing chamber. Preferably, the ducts have an expanded portion adjacent to the separator. Also, a width of the expanded portion is preferably about 2 to 2.5 times of a width of the corresponding duct, and a height of the expanded portion is about 1 to 1.2 times of a width of the corresponding duct. The duct is gradually expanded. More preferably, a sidewall of the expanded portion is inclined at a predetermined angle relative to a sidewall of the duct. 
         [0011]    A refrigerator embodying the invention may have a plurality of openings and separators, wherein the separators are respectively positioned adjacent to the openings. In this case, the adjacent separators oscillate the discharged cool air in perpendicular directions. Preferably, the adjacent separators are configured to separate the discharged cool air in different directions. Also, the separators may further include one pair of supports that extend from the opposite sides of the separator near to the opening. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a refrigerator according to the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a front sectional view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of a refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a partially expanded sectional view of a separator according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B  are schematic views of a cool air-supplying device according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B  are schematic views of a modified cool air-supplying device according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a partially expanded sectional view of a separator according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 9A  and  FIG. 9B  are cross sectional and schematic views of a modified refrigerator according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 10A  and  FIG. 10B  are schematic views illustrating a modified duct which can be applied to the first and second embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 11A  to  FIG. 11C  are schematic views illustrating modified separators which can be applied to the first and second embodiments of the present invention; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 12A  and  FIG. 12B  are perspective and front views illustrating a modified combination of a separator and an opening, which can be applied to the first and second embodiments of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]    Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a refrigerator according to the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a front sectional view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of a refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the drawings, the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a body  10 , a freezing chamber  30 , a refrigerating chamber  40 , a cool air-generating device, and a cool air-supplying device. 
         [0027]    The freezing chamber  30  holds frozen foods, and the refrigerating chamber  40  keeps foods cold, so that foods are stored freshly. The freezing chamber  30  and the refrigerating chamber  40  are formed by dividing an inner space of the body  10  with a barrier  20 . 
         [0028]    In the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the freezing chamber  30  and the refrigerating chamber  40  are positioned side by side. Alternatively, the freezing chamber  30  and the refrigerating chamber  40  may be positioned up and down. 
         [0029]    The cool air-generating device is configured to generate cool air which is discharged into the freezing chamber  30  and the refrigerating chamber  40 . The cool air-generating device is provided with a compressor, a condenser, an expanding valve, and an evaporator  71 . The compressor makes a low temperature/low pressure gaseous refrigerant into a high temperature/high pressure gaseous refrigerant, and the condenser condenses the gaseous refrigerant provided from the compressor. Also, the expanding valve lowers the pressure of the refrigerant provided from the condenser. Then, the evaporator  71  evaporates the refrigerant passing through the expanding valve in state of the low pressure, to absorb heat from the surrounding air. Thus, the surrounding air is cooled. 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the compressor and the condenser (not shown) are provided in a machine room  12  at a lower portion of the body  10 . Also, the evaporator  71  is provided in an additional room adjacent to the freezing chamber  30  and the refrigerating chamber  40 . In addition, a fan or a blower  72  is also provided in the additional room adjacent to the evaporator  71  so that the air is continuously circulated inside the refrigerator. 
         [0031]    The cool air-supplying device discharges cool air generated by the cool air-generating device to the freezing chamber  30  and the refrigerating chamber  40 . Also, the cool air-supplying device re-circulates the cool air from the refrigerating and freezing chambers back into the evaporator  71 . That is, the cool air-supplying device continuously provides and circulates the cool air through the freezing chamber  30  and the refrigerating chamber  40 , and then back to the evaporator  71 , whereby the freezing chamber  30  and the refrigerating chamber  40  are respectively maintained below a specific temperature. The cool air-supplying device may be provided with a first supplying part for the refrigerating chamber  40 , and a second supplying part for the freezing chamber  30 . 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the first supplying part is comprised of a first duct  50  for guiding the cool air to the refrigerating chamber  40 , and first and second openings  51  and  52  for discharging the guided cool air to the refrigerating chamber  40 . As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3 , the first duct  50  is in communication with the room for the evaporator  71  by a first middle opening  21  provided in the barrier  20 . Accordingly, the cool air is directly provided to the first duct  50  through the first middle opening  21 . 
         [0033]    The first and second openings  51  and  52  are positioned at the upper and lateral sides of the refrigerating chamber  40  for smoothly supplying the cool air to the refrigerating chamber  40 . If necessary, a plurality of first and second openings  51  and  52  may be provided to the refrigerating chamber  40 . Also, a second middle opening  22  is provided at a lower side of the barrier  20 , wherein the second middle opening  22  is in communication with both the refrigerating chamber  40  and the freezing chamber  30 . Thus, the cool air of the refrigerating chamber  40  is discharged to the freezing chamber  30  through the second middle opening  22 . 
         [0034]    The second supplying part is provided with a second duct  60  for guiding the cool air to the freezing chamber  30  and the evaporator  71 . At least one or more third and fourth openings  61  and  62  being in communication with the second duct  60 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the second duct  60  is provided between the freezing chamber  30  and the evaporator  71 . The second duct  60  is in communication with the evaporator  71  by a third middle opening  63 , and the second duct  60  receives the cool air from the evaporator  71  by the fan  72 . The third opening  61  discharges the cool air of the second duct  60  to the freezing chamber  30 . The fourth opening  62  discharges the cool air of the freezing chamber  30  to the evaporator  71  so as to cool the air. 
         [0035]    In this refrigerator according to the present invention, the air is cooled while passing through the evaporator  71  by the fan  72 . Subsequently, the cool air is provided to the first duct  50  and the second duct  60  through the first middle opening  21  and the third middle opening  63 . After that, the cool air is discharged to the refrigerating chamber  40  through the first opening  51  and the second opening  52 , and is discharged to the freezing chamber  30  through the third opening  61 . 
         [0036]    However, as explained above, in related art refrigerators, the cool air doesn&#39;t uniformly reach the freezing chamber  30  and the refrigerating chamber  40  due to the small-sized first, second, and third openings  51 ,  52 ,  61  and the circulation speed/direction of the cool air. Thus, in case of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 4 , separators  100  are provided in the openings  51 ,  52 ,  61  for discharging the generated cool air to the freezing chamber  30  and the refrigerating chamber  40 . 
         [0037]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , each of the separators  100  separates the cool air into at least two separate flows before discharging the cool air. That is, the separators  100  are provided adjacent to the openings  51 ,  52 ,  61 , and more particularly, not inside the freezing chamber  30  and the refrigerating chamber  40  but inside the ducts  50 ,  60 . The separators  100  serve to decrease the circulation speed of the cool air, and to diffuse the cool air more uniformly throughout the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber. 
         [0038]    The separators  100  extend in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the flowing direction of the cool air, thereby separating the cool air into multiple flows, and simultaneously decreasing the circulation speed of the cool air. Preferably, the separators  100  are formed of flat members. Although not shown, the separators  100  are fixed to the inner surfaces of the ducts  50  and  60 . Preferably, as shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the portion of the ducts  50  and  60  adjacent the openings have a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the openings. 
         [0039]    Before discharging the cool air, the cool air collides with the separators  100 , thereby forming a turbulent flow. The turbulent flow tends to generate several vortexes around the separators  100 . An adverse pressure gradient is generated in a flow boundary layer formed on the surface of the separators  100 , so that the separated flows of the cool air cause the separation at both ends of the separators  100 . The separation generates at least two vortexes A between the separator  100  and the openings  51 ,  52 ,  61 . The vortexes A flow in opposite directions from the ends of the separators  100 . Each vortex A has a specific frequency dependent on a shape and a dimension of the separator  100 , and also has an intensity and a size that are different from each other, and that vary continually. The discharged flow is excited by the vortexes between the separator  100  and the openings  51 ,  52 ,  61 . As a result, the flow of cool air into the refrigerating/freezing chamber tends to oscillate and move, and the cool air is uniformly diffused into the freezing chamber  30  and the refrigerating chamber  40 . 
         [0040]    Also, as shown in  FIG. 4 , insertion of the separator  100  in the duct forms two passages between the separator  100  and the openings  51 ,  52 ,  61 . The two passages are substantially opposite to each other and the separated cool air flows along the two passages. The passages substantially function as nozzles that form two jets B. As the two jets B collide with each other, surrounding static pressure rises above an atmospheric pressure, thereby contributing to the turbulent flow. That is, this collision strengthens the vortex A generated by the separation of the cool air. Thus, the cool air oscillates greatly, so that the cool air is uniformly diffused and provided to the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber. 
         [0041]    To obtain the maximum efficiency on diffusion of the flow, it is necessary to directly discharge the cool air into the refrigerating/freezing chamber at the location of maximum excitation from the vortexes A. Accordingly, the openings  51 ,  52 ,  61  are positioned adjacent to points of inference between the two vortexes A. The cool air experiences its maximum excitement at the point the jets B meet. In this respect, it is preferable to position the openings  51 ,  52 ,  61  adjacent to the point where the jets B meet. In due consideration of the aforementioned explanation, if an interval Hi between the separator  100  and the opening  51 ,  52 ,  61  is larger than a width of the opening  51 ,  52 ,  61 , the flow resistance increases substantially. Preferably, the interval Hi is the same as (or less than) the width D 2  of the opening  51 ,  52 , and  61 . On the other hand, when the interval H 1  is too small, it is hard to form and grow the vortexes A. Thus, preferably, the interval H 1  is at least 0.5 times of the width D 2  of the opening  51 ,  52 , and  61 . Also, in forming the passages for the jets B and the vortexes A, it is useful to form the separator  100  in correspondence with the width D 2  of the opening  51 ,  52 , and  61 . 
         [0042]    An orientation of the separators  100  with respect to the openings  51 ,  52 ,  61  is also very important for the uniform diffusion of the cool air, and this will be described with reference to  FIG. 5A  to  FIG. 6B .  FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B  are schematic views of a cool air-supplying device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B  are schematic views of a modified cool air-supplying device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The cool air-supplying device will be described with the reference to  FIG. 5A  to  FIG. 6B , which will be explained in comparison with  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 . 
         [0043]    First, as shown in  FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B , the cool air-supplying device has openings for discharging the generated cool air in different directions. In more detail, the openings are comprised of first inlets  111  provided at a top wall of the freezing chamber  30  and the refrigerating chamber  40 , and second inlets  112  provided at a sidewall of the freezing chamber  30  and the refrigerating chamber  40 . 
         [0044]    At this time, the first inlet  111  discharges the cool air toward the lower portion of the freezing chamber  30  and the refrigerating chamber  40 . The first inlet  111  discharges cool air substantially perpendicular to the cool air discharged from the second inlet  112 . Also, the second inlet  112  discharges the cool air toward the upper portion of the opposite sidewall. Accordingly, the oscillated cool air is discharged from the different portions of the freezing chamber  30  and the refrigerating chamber  40  through the first and second inlets  111  and  112 . A substantial range of discharging the cool air becomes wide, which is advantageous to the uniform diffusion of the cool air in the freezing chamber  30  and the refrigerating chamber  40 . To obtain the same result, the first and second inlets  111  and  112  may be positioned as shown in  FIG. 5B . 
         [0045]    Because the cool air flows from the inlets in perpendicular, crossing directions, the flows intermix, which increases the turbulence of the overall flow. Thus, the oscillated cool air is uniformly diffused in the freezing chamber  30  and the refrigerating chamber  40 . Simultaneously, this also helps to obtain a uniform temperature distribution. 
         [0046]    Also, the cool air-supplying device has outlets  120  for discharging the cool air from the freezing chamber  30  and the refrigerating chamber  40  back to the cool air generating device. The outlets  120  are provided at lower sides of the freezing chamber  30  and the refrigerating chamber  40 , so that the cool introduced through the inlets  111  and  112  is not immediately discharged. Preferably, the outlets  120  are provided on both lower sidewalls of the freezing chamber  30  and the refrigerating chamber  40 , to discharge the cool air rapidly. 
         [0047]    In connection with the freezing chamber  30 , the second supplying part shown in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3  has only the third opening  61  corresponding to the second inlet  112 . Referring to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , in connection with the refrigerating chamber  40 , the first supplying part has both the first and second openings  51  and  52  corresponding to the first and second inlets  111  and  112 . Thus, in the refrigerator of  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , preferably, the second supplying part for the freezing chamber  30  has the additional opening corresponding to the first inlet  111 . Also, in the freezing chamber  30 , the outlet  120  corresponds to the fourth opening  62 . In the refrigerating chamber  40 , the outlet  120  corresponds to the second middle opening  22 . 
         [0048]    Preferably, as shown in  FIG. 6A , the cool air-supplying device further includes third and fourth inlets  113  and  114 , wherein the third and fourth inlets  113  and  114  function as openings. In this case, the third inlet  113  is provided at a lower portion in a sidewall of the freezing chamber  30  and the refrigerating chamber  40 , below the second inlet  112 . Thus, the third inlet  113  discharges the cool air toward a lower portion of an opposite sidewall. The fourth inlet  114  is provided on a bottom wall of the freezing chamber  30  and the refrigerating chamber  40 , for discharging the cool air toward an upper portion of the freezing chamber  30  and the refrigerating chamber  40 . 
         [0049]    In the same way as the first and second inlets  111  and  112 , the third inlet  113  discharges cool air perpendicular to the cool air discharged from the fourth inlet  114 . The additional third and fourth inlets  113  and  114  further increase the turbulent flow in the chambers, and provide for a more uniform distribution of the cool air. 
         [0050]    The third and fourth inlets  113  and  114  may be provided as shown in  FIG. 6B , which has essentially the same effect as the arrangement shown in  FIG. 6A . In relation to the refrigerator of  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , the first supplying part and the second supplying part respectively have the openings  51  and  61  corresponding to the third inlets  113 . Accordingly, it is preferable for the first supplying part and the second supplying part to have the additional openings corresponding to the fourth inlets  114 . Also, preferably, the outlets  120  are provided on the center of the sidewalls of the freezing chamber  30  and the refrigerating chamber  40 . This presents cool air introduced through the inlets  111 ,  112 ,  113 , and  114  from being immediately discharged. 
         [0051]    Because the evaporator  71  tends to be relatively wide in prior art refrigerators, the cool air discharged from the fourth opening  62  is directed towards the center of the evaporator  71 . Accordingly, the heat-exchange efficiency of the evaporator  71  is lowered. Also, because little or no heat exchange occurs at the left and right sides of the evaporator  71 , frost may generated at the left and right sides of the evaporator  71 , thereby lowering the heat-exchange efficiency. 
         [0052]    In a refrigerator embodying the invention, as shown in  FIG. 7  to  FIG. 9B , a separator  100  is provided in the fourth opening  62  for discharging the cool air circulated in the freezing chamber  30  and the refrigerating chamber  40  to the evaporator  71 . 
         [0053]    The separators  100  described in  FIG. 8  have the same characteristics as the separators  100  of the first embodiment of the present invention explained with reference to  FIG. 4 . That is, the separator  100  separates the cool air into at least two flows before discharging the cool air, thereby decreasing the flow speed of the cool air. By the separation of the cool air, it is possible to form at least two vortexes A between the separator  100  and the opening  62 . Also, two jets B are formed by the passage, and the two jets B collide with each other, to increase the turbulence of the flow. Thus, the cool exiting the opening  62  is uniformly diffused to the entire evaporator  71 . 
         [0054]    Also, the opening  62  is provided adjacent to the crossing point of meeting the two jets B, so as to prevent the excited cool air from being lost. For this reason, an interval H 1  between the separator  100  and the opening  62  is same as (or smaller than) a width D 2  of the opening  62 . Preferably, the interval H 1  is 0.5 times of the width D 2  of the opening  62 . For ideal formation of the vortex A and the jet B, a width of the separator  100  is same as the width D 2  of the opening  62 . 
         [0055]    To smoothly guide the cool air to the evaporator  71 , preferably, as shown in  FIG. 9A  and  FIG. 9B , the second supplying part may include an additional auxiliary duct  80 . The auxiliary duct  80  is in communication with the fourth opening  62 , and is extended so that it is adjacent to the evaporator  71 . Furthermore, the auxiliary duct  80  includes an auxiliary opening  81  oriented toward the evaporator  71 , and the separator  100  is provided adjacent to the auxiliary opening  81 . Thus, as the cool air passes through the freezing chamber  30  and the refrigerating chamber  40 , the cool air is oscillated by the separator  100 , and is directly discharged to the evaporator  71 . As a result, the cool air is uniformly diffused over the entire evaporator  71 . 
         [0056]    In both the aforementioned first and second embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to improve the efficiency of the separator  100  by modification, which will be explained with reference to  FIG. 10A  to  FIG. 12B . 
         [0057]    First, as shown in  FIG. 10A , preferably, the first, and second auxiliary ducts  50 ,  60 ,  80  are partially expanded at the portions adjacent to the separators  100 . That is, the expanded portions  50   a,    60   a,    80   a  substantially enlarge the circumferential space adjacent to the separators  100 , which causes the flow speed of the cool air to decrease in the expanded portions  50   a,    60   a,    80   a.  Thus, the separators  100  decrease the loss on flow resistance, and simultaneously, separate the cool air. 
         [0058]    Preferably, the width D 3  of the expanded portions  50   a,    60   a,  and  80   a  is 2 to 2.5 times the width D 0  of the ducts  50 ,  60 , and  80 . The height H 2  of the expanded portions  50   a,    60   a,  and  80   a  is 1 to 1.2 times of the width DO of the ducts  50 ,  60 , and  80 . Also, as shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 8 , the width D of the separator  100  is equivalent to (or smaller than) the width D 0  of the ducts  50 ,  60 , and  80 , and the width D 2  of the first to fourth openings and the auxiliary openings  51 ,  52 ,  61 ,  62 , and  81 . Also, the interval H 1  is equivalent to (or smaller than) the width D 2  of the openings  51 ,  52 ,  61 ,  62 , and  81 . Preferably, the interval H 1  is 0.5 times the width D 2  of the openings  51 ,  52 ,  61 ,  62 , and  81 . 
         [0059]    If the ducts  50 ,  60 , and  80  expand rapidly and largely, the cool air momentarily has large resistance and great loss. Accordingly, as shown in  FIG. 10B , the expanded portions  50   a,    60   a,  and  80   a  preferably have the structure of gradually expanding the ducts  50 ,  60 , and  80 . That is, the sidewalls of the expanded portions  50   a,    60   a,  and  80   a  are inclined at a predetermined angle relative to the sidewalls of the ducts  50 ,  60 , and  80 . Thus, the shape of the expanded portions  50   a,    60   a,  and  80   a  substantially decreases the energy loss generated by the flow resistance. 
         [0060]    If the separator  100  is formed of a flat member, the flow resistance is great, which generates an energy loss in flowing the air. As described above, a drag coefficient of the flat member is 2.0. To reduce this energy loss, it is preferable to select a separator  100  having a smaller drag coefficient. 
         [0061]    First, as shown in  FIG. 11A , the separator  100  may be formed in a curved shape. Also, the curved ends of the separator  100  extend in the same direction as the flowing direction of the cool air. In this case, the drag coefficient of the separator  100  is about 1.40. Also, as shown in  FIG. 11B , the separator  100  may be formed in an angularly bent shape, wherein the ends of the separator  100  extend in the same direction as the flowing direction of the cool air. The separator  100  shown in  FIG. 11B  has a drag coefficient of about 1.20. 
         [0062]    Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 11C , the separator  100  may be formed in an oval shape, where both sides are rounded. The oval-shaped separator  100  has a drag coefficient which varies, depending on the characteristics on the circumferential flow boundary layer. More specifically, when the separator forms a laminar boundary layer, the drag coefficient is smaller than a drag coefficient of the separators of  FIG. 11B  and  FIG. 11C . When the separator forms a turbulent boundary layer, the drag coefficient is much smaller. Also, a plurality of protrusions or dimples may be formed on the surface of the separator according to other modifications of the present invention. The protrusions or dimples induce the formation of the turbulent boundary layer around the separator  100 , thereby decreasing the drag coefficient. 
         [0063]    As shown in  FIG. 12A  and  FIG. 12B , in the aforementioned first and second embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of openings  51 ,  52 ,  61 ,  62 , and  81  are formed in each of the corresponding ducts  50 ,  60 , and  80 . In this case, the openings  51 ,  52 ,  61 ,  62 , and  81  are provided adjacent to one another, and the ducts  50 ,  60  and  80  are connected with the openings. As shown in the drawings, one duct may be connected with a plurality of openings  51 ,  52 ,  61 ,  62 , and  81  that are adjacent to one another. Alternatively, a plurality of ducts may be respectively connected with the plurality of openings. The plurality of separators  100  are respectively provided to the openings  51 ,  52 ,  61 ,  62 , and  81 . In this state, the openings  51 ,  52 ,  61 ,  62 , and  81  have the alternately changed sizes, and the respective separators  100  also have the sizes equivalent to the corresponding openings  51 ,  52 ,  61 ,  62 , and  81 . 
         [0064]    Also, pairs of first supports  100   a  and pairs of second supports  100   b  are alternately extended from the opposite sides of the separators  100  to the edges of the openings  51 ,  52 ,  61 ,  62 , and  81 , to support the separators  100 . The orientation of the first supports  100   a  is different from the orientation of the pairs&#39; second supports  100   b.  In more detail, as shown in the drawings, the first supports  100   a  support the left and right sides of the separators  100 . Meanwhile, the second supports  100   b  support the lower and upper sides of the separators  100 . According to this arrangement of the first and second supports  100   a  and  100   b,  the adjacent separators  100  separate the discharged cool air in different directions. That is, the separators  100  separate the cool air into lower and upper flow directions with the first supports  100   a,  and separate the cool air into left and right flow directions with the second supports  100   b.    
         [0065]    Vortexes are generated at the lower and upper sides of the separators  100  by the first supports  100   a,  and then the cool air is oscillated up and down, and is discharged through the openings  51 ,  52 ,  61 ,  62 , and  81 . Also, vortexes are generated at the left and right sides of the separators  100  by the second supports  100   b,  and then the cool air is oscillated to the left and right sides, and is discharged through the openings. 
         [0066]    Accordingly, the turbulent intensity of the flowing air firstly heightens in the ducts  50 ,  60 , and  80 , so that the oscillation of the cool air becomes greater. Also, the separators  100  oscillate the cool air in different directions, for example, at perpendicular directions. Thus, after the adjacent passages of the flowing air are discharged, the adjacent passages of the flowing air instantly interfere and mix with one another, thereby forming a severe turbulent flow. As a result, the discharged cool air is uniformly diffused in the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber. 
         [0067]    As mentioned above, a refrigerator according to the present invention has many advantages. In a refrigerator according to the present invention, the separators oscillate the discharged cool air, so that the discharged cool air is uniformly diffused in the freezing chamber, the refrigerating chamber, and at the evaporator. Accordingly, it is possible to perform the heat exchange in the refrigerating/freezing chambers in a short period of time, thereby improving the efficiency in the refrigerator. 
         [0068]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.