Abstract:
A refrigerator includes a refrigerator main body having a storage space to store foods and a machine room to accommodate a part of a refrigerant compression cycle apparatus, a condenser disposed between a bottom surface of the refrigerator main body and a lower surface of the storage space, at least one compressor disposed within the machine room, and a blow fan to form an air passage through which external air passed through the condenser is supplied into the compressor and discharged out of the machine room.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to subject matters contained in priority Korean Application Nos. 10-2010-0091235 and 10-2010-0091236, filed on Sep. 16, 2010, which are herein expressly incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This specification relates to a refrigerator, and particularly, to a refrigerator having a machine room for accommodating a refrigerant compression cycle apparatus such as a compressor and a condenser. 
         [0004]    2. Background of the Invention 
         [0005]    In general, a refrigerator includes a plurality of storage spaces for keeping foods therein, and a refrigerant compression cycle apparatus for maintaining the storage spaces in a predetermined temperature range by supplying cold air into the storage spaces. Several components of the refrigerant compression cycle apparatus are disposed in a separate space, namely, a machine room, partitioned from the storage spaces. The machine room is generally located at a lower portion of a rear surface of a refrigerant main body. 
         [0006]    The machine room accommodates a compressor to compress a refrigerant, a condenser to condense the compressed refrigerant, a blow fan and the like. For a normal operation of the refrigerant compression cycle apparatus, the inside of the machine room should be maintained within an appropriate temperature range. To this end, external air should continuously be supplied into the machine room, and the supplied external air should be smoothly drawn out. 
         [0007]    For the purpose, a machine room for a typical refrigerator has an inlet port for introduction of external air and an outlet port for discharge of air. In addition, the machine room has a blow fan to generate an air flow through the inlet port and the outlet port. 
         [0008]    Here, to make air more smoothly flow, a rotation speed (RPM) or size of the blow fan may be increased, but it may cause an increase in power consumption and generation of noise. Hence, it is necessary to optimize an air passage within the machine room such that heat within the machine room can be exhausted smoothly even by use of a small capacity blow fan. Especially, when the number of components are disposed within the machine room, for example, when two compressors are employed within the machine room, the size (capacity) of the machine room should be increased, but it may result in a decrease of a storage space. Consequently, there is a limitation in the increase in the capacity of the machine room. Therefore, air exhaust efficiency is deteriorated due to installation of many components within the limited machine room. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    Therefore, to overcome those problems of the related art, an aspect of the detailed description is to provide a refrigerator capable of minimizing an increase in a capacity of a machine room and increasing radiation efficiency. 
         [0010]    To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of this specification, as embodied and broadly described herein, a refrigerator may include a refrigerator main body having a storage space to store foods and a machine room to accommodate a part of a refrigerant compression cycle apparatus, a condenser disposed between a bottom surface of the refrigerator main body and a lower surface of the storage space, at least one compressor disposed within the machine room, and a blow fan to form an air passage through which external air passed through the condenser is supplied into the compressor and discharged out of the machine room. 
         [0011]    According to the aspect, the condenser may be installed at the bottom surface of the refrigerator main body so as to minimize a space occupied by the condenser. Also, external air may primarily be supplied to the condenser having a relatively large radiation load, thereby improving radiation efficiency. 
         [0012]    In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a refrigerator may include a refrigerator main body having a refrigerating chamber, a freezing chamber and a machine room, a condenser disposed within the lower portion of the refrigerating chamber or the freezing chamber with facing a ground surface where the refrigerator is installed, a pair of compressors disposed within the machine room along a lateral direction of the refrigerator main body, and a blow fan disposed in series with the pair of compressors, the blow fan allowing introduced external air to pass through the condenser and be discharged out of the machine room via the compressor. 
         [0013]    Further scope of applicability of the present application will become more apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
           [0015]    In the drawings: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a lower portion of a rear surface of a refrigerator in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a side view showing an inside of a machine room in the first exemplary embodiment; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a rear view showing the inside of the machine room in the first exemplary embodiment; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a condenser cover included in the first exemplary embodiment; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the condenser cover; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a view showing a lower surface of the first exemplary embodiment; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing a lower portion of a rear surface of a refrigerator in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a rear view showing an inside of a machine room in the second exemplary embodiment; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a view showing a lower surface of the second exemplary embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]    Description will now be given in detail of a refrigerator in accordance with the exemplary embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings. For the sake of brief description with reference to the drawings, the same or equivalent components will be provided with the same reference numbers, and description thereof will not be repeated. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a refrigerator in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment may include a refrigerator main body  100 , which is partitioned into a refrigerating chamber  110 , a freezing chamber  120  and a machine room  130 , and a refrigeration cycle apparatus  200  having a plurality of components, some of which are installed in the machine room  140 . 
         [0027]    The refrigerating chamber  110  and the freezing chamber  120  may be partitioned by a first barrier  131 , which is erected within the refrigerator main body  100 . The machine room  140  may be located below the refrigerating chamber  110  and the freezing chamber  120  within a rear side of the refrigerator main body  100 . 
         [0028]    Here, a lower frame  160  may be installed at the bottom of the refrigerator main body  100 . 
         [0029]    The machine room  140  may include a first region {circle around ( 1 )} located between the refrigerating chamber  110  and the lower frame  160 , and a second region {circle around ( 2 )} located below the refrigerating/freezing chamber  110 / 120 . Here, a lower surface of the refrigerating/freezing chamber  110 / 120  may be inclined such that its height can be increased towards an upper side at the right side in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0030]    The condenser  220  of the refrigeration cycle apparatus  200  may be disposed in the first region {circle around ( 1 )}, and two compressors  210  may be disposed in parallel in the second region {circle around ( 2 )}. 
         [0031]    The refrigerator main body  100  may include an insulation foam  300  for blocking heat transfer from the inner space to the exterior. The insulation foam  300  may be located between the refrigerating chamber  110  or the freezing chamber  120  and an outer surface of the main body  100 . Based on a lower portion of the main body  100 , the insulation foam  300  may be located between the refrigerating chamber  110  or the freezing chamber  120  and the lower frame  160 . The insulation foam  300  may be formed by foaming urethane, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. 
         [0032]    In the meantime, the insulation foam  300  located below the refrigerating chamber  110  may be provided with an insertion groove  310  in which the condenser  220  is inserted. The insertion groove  310  may define an approximately rectangular parallelepiped space, in which the condenser  220  may be disposed to face a ground surface of a space where the refrigerator main body  100  is installed. That is, the condenser  220  may be located in the first region {circle around ( 1 )}. 
         [0033]    Also, referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a condenser cover  400  may be installed at the lower frame  160  where the condenser  220  is located. The condenser cover  400  may open or close an opening  161  formed at the lower frame  160 , and be coupled to the lower frame  160  by bolts. 
         [0034]    Here, the condenser cover  400  may have a cover body  410  having an approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape. The cover body  410  may have inclined side walls such that its area is gradually narrowed downwardly in  FIG. 2 . A plurality of inlet ports  420  may be formed through the side walls. 
         [0035]    The inlet ports  420  may include front inlet ports  421  facing a front surface of the refrigerator, namely, a side where doors for opening or closing the refrigerating chamber  110  and the freezing chamber  120  are disposed, and side inlet ports  422  facing right and left sides of the refrigerator main body  100 . Among others, the side inlet ports  422  may not be formed all over the side walls of the cover body  410 , but formed only at a first half located at the front (i.e., corresponding front portions of the side walls, which are located close to the front). Accordingly, it is possible to prevent direct introduction of exhaust air present within a rear end region of the refrigerator main body  100 , in which the compressors  210  are located, and allow introduced air to evenly flow through the entire surface of the condenser  220 . 
         [0036]    Consequently, the inlet ports  420  may allow for formation of a passage (a), such that external air at the front of the refrigerator main body  100  can be guided into the condenser  220  via the lower portion of the refrigerator main body  100 . 
         [0037]    Hereinafter, description will be given of an arranged state of the compressors  210  in the second region {circle around ( 2 )}. First, as shown, the second region {circle around ( 2 )} may communicate with the first region {circle around ( 1 )}. 
         [0038]    The second region {circle around ( 2 )} may be shown having two compressors  210  and  212  disposed in parallel in right and left directions of the refrigerator main body  100 . The two compressors  210  and  212  may be mounted on the lower frame  160 . 
         [0039]    Also, the second region {circle around ( 2 )} may be shown having a blow fan  230  mounted at a right side of the compressor  212  (based on  FIG. 1 ). Here, the blow fan  230  may be located below the freezing chamber  120 , and fixed onto the lower frame  160 . 
         [0040]    With the configuration, when the blow fan  230  is run, external air may generate air flow of being introduced into the first region {circle around ( 1 )} through the inlet ports  420 , flowing into the second region {circle around ( 2 )} via the condenser  220 , and being discharged outside via outlet ports  151  formed at a rear cover  150 , which is installed at a rear end of the machine room  140 . 
         [0041]    Hereinafter, description will be given of an operation of the first exemplary embodiment. 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the condenser and the compressors of the refrigerant compression cycle apparatus  200  in the first exemplary embodiment, as aforementioned, are disposed within the machine room  140  partitioned into the refrigerating chamber  110  and the freezing chamber  120 . The machine room  140  may be divided into the first region {circle around ( 1 )} and the second region {circle around ( 2 )}. Here, the first region {circle around ( 1 )} may be lower than the second region {circle around ( 2 )} in height, thereby minimizing the capacity occupied by the machine room  140 . 
         [0043]    Especially, the first region {circle around ( 1 )} is formed similar to the shape of the condenser  220 . Hence, the capacity occupied by the machine room  140  can be more reduced as compared to the related art structure that the compressor and the condenser are disposed in the same region. 
         [0044]    The condenser  220  may be cooled by external air introduced via the inlet ports  420  of the condenser cover  400 , which is installed at the opening  161  of the lower frame  160 . That is, the external air introduced into the machine room initially contacts the condenser  220  to exchange heat, accordingly, the condenser  220  having a relatively great heat emission load can be effectively cooled. 
         [0045]    When the blow fan  230  is run, external air present at the front of the refrigerator main body  100  flows toward the lower portion of the refrigerator main body  100  and is then introduced into the condenser cover  400  via the inlet ports  420  of the condenser cover  400 . This structure allows for introduction of external air present at the front having a relatively low temperature than the rear surface of the refrigerator, thereby more improving heat emission efficiency. 
         [0046]    Such external air introduced via the inlet ports  420  of the condenser cover  400  may cool the condenser  220  in the first region {circle around ( 1 )}, and flow into the second region {circle around ( 2 )}. Here, a connected portion between the first region {circle around ( 1 )} and the second region {circle around ( 2 )} may have a shape like a diffuser, which is gradually increased in height. Hence, the external air can be evenly diffused into the second region {circle around ( 2 )}. 
         [0047]    The diffused external air may cool the pair of compressors  210  and  212  in a sequential manner. Here, considering heat emission efficiency, a compressor located at the upstream of the air passage may emit heat relatively smoothly. Therefore, a compressor for taking care of a region with a large cooling load, of the compressors, may be disposed at the upstream of the external air flow. 
         [0048]    The external air passed through the two compressors in the sequential manner may then flow through the blow fan  230  and thereafter be discharged to the rear side of the refrigerator main body  100  via the outlet portions  151 , which are formed through the rear cover  150  covering the machine room  140  at the rear of the refrigerator main body  100 . 
         [0049]    In the meantime, the present disclosure may not be limited to the aforementioned structure, but also applicable to a structure that the blow fan is located between the two compressors. 
         [0050]      FIGS. 7 and 8  show a second exemplary embodiment for a refrigerator. For the sake of brief description with reference to the drawings, the same or equivalent components will be provided with the same reference numbers, and description thereof will not be repeated. 
         [0051]    Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment, two compressors  210  and  212  and a blow fan  230  may be disposed within the machine room  140  in the right and left directions of the refrigerator. The blow fan  230  may be located between the two compressors  210  and  212 . When the compressors  210  and  212  are spaced apart from each other as shown in the drawings, a tasking space can be ensured upon connecting a refrigerant pipe or the like to the compressors, thereby facilitating an assembly task. The blow fan  230  may be installed after completely assembling the compressors. 
         [0052]    A first defrosted water storing container  510  may be installed between the two compressors  210  and  212 . The first defrosted water storing container  510  may serve to temporarily collect and store defrosted water generated from an evaporator, which manages cooling of the refrigerating chamber  110 . Also, as the first defrosted water storing container  510  is disposed between the two compressors  210  and  212 , a space previously ensured by installation of the blow fan  230  can be utilized, and accordingly the capacity of the machine room  140  can be more reduced. Here, the blow fan  230  may alternatively be disposed above the first defrosted water storing container  510 . 
         [0053]    A second defrosted water storing container  520  for collecting defrosted water generated from an evaporator, which manages cooling of the freezing chamber  120 , may further be disposed. The second defrosted water storing container  520  may be located above the compressor  212 . A pipe P may be disposed above each of the defrosted water storing containers  510  and  520 , so as to guide defrosted water generated from each evaporator into each of the defrosted water storing containers  510  and  520 . 
         [0054]    The water stored in the respective defrosted water storing containers may contribute to lowering an internal temperature of the machine room. That is, the defrosted water, which is transferred from the evaporators, has a relatively low temperature, so as to lower the internal temperature of the machine room. Also, the defrosted water may partially be evaporated by the external air passed through the machine room, and accordingly adsorb evaporation heat, which results in further lowering the internal temperature of the machine room. 
         [0055]    The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present disclosure. The present teachings can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. This description is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The features, structures, methods, and other characteristics of the exemplary embodiments described herein may be combined in various ways to obtain additional and/or alternative exemplary embodiments. 
         [0056]    As the present features may be embodied in several forms without departing from the characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalents of such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.