Patent Publication Number: US-9845234-B2

Title: Refrigerator

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/988,531, filed Oct. 19, 2010, which is a 371 of International Application No. PCT/KR2009/000298, filed Jan. 20, 2009, which claims the benefit of a foreign priority application filed in Korea as Serial No. 10-2008-0038209 on Apr. 24, 2008, all of which are incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Refrigerators are electric home appliances, which maintain their inner space at lower temperature than outside temperature to store foods at low temperature close to or below zero degrees Celsius for a long time. 
     Such a refrigerator includes a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment. 
     Various foods requiring refrigeration are stored in the refrigerator compartment. When the refrigerator door is opened to take out foods in the refrigerator compartment, chilly air may be discharged to the outside and high temperature outside air may be introduced into the refrigerator. 
     To address this issue, a refrigerator is recently developed and produced in which a front surface of a refrigerator door is provided with a dispenser to dispense water stored in a refrigerator compartment to the outside without using the refrigerator door. Also, water or ice can be conveniently taken out through the dispenser. 
     The dispenser is generally provided with an operation part operated by a user, that is, with a push lever. Ice can be dispensed by pushing the push lever. 
     The ice may be dispensed from an ice bank to the outside through a discharge part of the dispenser. 
     The dispenser may also be provided with a motor electrically or mechanically connected to the push lever and providing torque so that ice can be dispensed by operation of the push lever. 
     However, while the operation of the push lever is stopped, the motor tends to further rotate before stopping because of its moment of inertia and residual magnetic flux. 
     In this case, even after the push lever is stopped, ice is further dispensed for a predetermined time, so that the ice falls out of a cup. 
     Therefore, a user feels inconvenient in using the dispenser, and reliability of a product is reduced. 
     DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     Embodiments provide a refrigerator configured to minimize the residual rotation of a motor after operation of a dispenser lever is stopped by improving the structure of a dispenser of the refrigerator. 
     Embodiments also provide a refrigerator configured to minimize the residual rotation of a motor by providing a compression member having a simple structure to a dispenser. 
     Embodiments also provide a refrigerator configured to stop dispensing water or ice simultaneously with stopping a dispenser. 
     Technical Solution 
     In one embodiment, a refrigerator includes: a main body providing a storage; a dispenser provided to the main body and configured to dispense water or ice; an operable operation part provided to the dispenser; and a dispenser motor driven according to operating the operation part, wherein the dispenser motor includes: a stator generating a magnetic field; a rotator rotatable by the magnetic field; and a compression member applying a frictional force to the rotator while rotation of the rotator is stopped. 
     In another embodiment, a refrigerator includes: an ice-making device provided with an ice bank adapted for storing ice; and a dispenser motor providing a driving force to dispense the ice from the ice bank, wherein the dispenser motor includes: a stator generating a magnetic field; a rotator rotatable by the magnetic field and closely contacting a side of the dispenser motor while rotation of the rotator is stopped; and an elastic member provided to a side of the rotator and moving the rotator in a direction while the rotation of the rotator is stopped. 
     In further another embodiment, a refrigerator includes: an ice bank configured to store ice; a dispenser provided to a side of the ice bank and configured to dispense the ice of the ice bank; an operation part provided to the dispenser and operable to dispense the ice; and a dispenser motor driven by operating the operation part, wherein the dispenser motor includes: a stator generating a magnetic field; a rotator provided to a side of the stator and movable in a direction; an elastic member applying a restoring force to the rotator; and a compression member closely contacting the rotator while the rotator stops. 
     The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     According to the embodiments, the dispenser of the refrigerator is provided with the elastic member coupled to the rotation shaft of the motor, and the rotator of the motor is easily moved to the stop position by the restoring force of the elastic member. 
     Also, one side of the rotator is provided with the compression member reducing the torque of the rotator, and the rotator is quickly stopped by the frictional force due to the compression member. 
     Also, when the operating of the dispenser lever is finished, the rotation of the rotator is quickly stopped, so as to prevent water or ice from being further dispensed. 
     Also, an accurate amount of water or ice is dispensed by a user&#39;s operation, so as to improve convenience in use and reliability of a product. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator including a dispenser according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating an inner side of a refrigerator door with a dispenser according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating configuration of an ice-making device according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a state where a dispenser motor rotates according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view illustrating configuration of a dispenser motor according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I′ of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating a state where a dispenser motor is stopped according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where a dispenser motor is stopped according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     MODE FOR THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator including a dispenser according to an embodiment.  FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating an inner side of a refrigerator door with a dispenser according to an embodiment.  FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating configuration of an ice-making device according to an embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a refrigerator  1  according to the embodiments includes a main body  10  storing chilly air, a freezer compartment door  21 , and a refrigerator compartment door  22 . The freezer compartment door  21  and the refrigerator compartment door  22  are rotatably provided to a front surface of the main body  10  and selectively open and close a freezer compartment  11  and a refrigerator compartment  12 , respectively. 
     The main body  10  is provided with the freezer compartment  11  and the refrigerator compartment  12 , and the freezer compartment  11  and the refrigerator compartment  12  may be separated by a separation part  13 . 
     Hereinafter, a side-by-side-type refrigerator, including a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment at left and right sides, will be exemplified. However, positions of a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment are not limited thereto, and a top-mount-type refrigerator in which a freezer compartment is disposed on a refrigerator compartment, or a bottom freezer-type refrigerator in which a freezer compartment is disposed under a refrigerator compartment may be provided according to other embodiments. 
     Particularly, the main body  10  is provided with a plurality of drawable storage  25  that may store an object. 
     The freezer compartment door  21  and the refrigerator compartment door  22  may be provided with a plurality of baskets  24  storing an object. 
     Particularly, the refrigerator compartment door  22  is provided with a home bar  40  allowing access to foods without opening the refrigerator compartment door  22 . The home bar  40  includes a home bar door  41 . Since the home bar door  41  selectively opens the home bar  40 , the discharge of chilly air is minimized. 
     Also, the freezer compartment door  21  is provided with a dispenser  30  to dispense drinking water. The dispenser  30  is concaved reward from the freezer compartment door  21 , and a lower portion of the dispenser  30  may be provided with a cup for receiving supplied water. 
     Particularly, the dispenser  30  includes an operation part  31  operated to dispense water from the dispenser  30 , and a drain container  33  configured to collect water discarded to the outside during operation of the dispenser  30 . 
     The operation part  31  is provided in a dispenser lever shape, and movable in a back-and-forth direction. When the operation part  31  is pressed, water or ice is dispensed. 
     When the pressing of the operation part  31  is stopped, the dispensing of the water or ice is stopped. 
     The drain container  33  is provided to the lower portion of the dispenser  30 , and is removably coupled to the freezer compartment door  21 . 
     A display part  32  configured to display operation state of the dispenser  30  is provided to the upper portion of the dispenser  30 . 
     The dispenser  30  may be coupled to an inner surface of the freezer compartment door  21 . That is, an opening having penetrated front and rear portions may be provided to a portion of the freezer compartment door  21  to which the dispenser  30  is coupled, and the dispenser  30  may be coupled to the opening. 
     An ice-making device  100  configured to provide ice to the dispenser  30  is provided to the upper side of the dispenser  30 . The ice-making device  100  may be provided to the inner surface of the freezer compartment door  21 . 
     The ice-making device  100  includes a water supply part  130  configured to receive water supplied from the outside, an ice tray  110  configured to store water supplied from the water supply part  130  and receiving chilly air to make ice, an ejector  112  guiding ice made at the ice tray  110  to be removed from the ice tray  110  to an ice bank (not shown), and a guide surface  114  efficiently guiding ice removed by the ejector  112  to the ice bank. 
     The ice bank provides a space for storing ice made at the ice tray  110  and may be provided to the lower side of the ice tray  110 . 
     The ice-making device  100  may be provided with a motor (not shown) providing a driving force for rotating the ejector  112 . The motor is disposed in a motor housing  120 . 
     A side of the ice-making device  100  is provided with a dispenser motor  150  connected to the ice bank and providing a torque for discharging ice from the ice bank to the dispenser  30 . 
     The dispenser motor  150  includes a rotation connection part  158  connected to the ice bank and rotating an auger (not shown) of the ice bank. The auger is rotatably provided to the ice bank to guide ice to be dispensed to the outside, detailed description of which is omitted. 
     Although not shown, the ice bank is disposed on a front side of the rotation connection part  158 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
     The lower side of the rotation connection part  158  is provided with an ice dispenser part  118  where ice discharged from the ice bank falls. The ice dispenser part  118  has an open hole shape and may be disposed on the upper side of the operation part  31 . The ice dispenser part  118  is located in a housing  119  that includes a first portion  119   a  and a second portion  119   b . Located behind the second portion  119   b  of the housing  119  is a rotation shaft  153  of the dispenser motor  150 . The relative distances between a plane defined by the first portion  119   a  of the housing  119  and the rotation connection part  158  and between the plane and the rotation shaft  153  are described below and illustrated in  FIGS. 4-8 . 
     The ice-making device  100  includes a plate  55 . The plate  55  defines the ice dispenser part  118 . The plate  55  includes a vertical portion  61  that defines a through hole  52  that is configured to receive the rotation connection part  158 . The plate  55  include a motor accommodation portion  58  that protrudes from a lower portion of the plate  55  and that defines a space  59  for the dispenser motor  150 . The motor accommodation portion  58  includes a first part  62  that extends horizontally from the vertical portion  61  and a second part  63  that extends down. The second part  63  of the motor accommodation portion  58  connects to the bottom of the plate  55  where the ice dispenser part  118  is located. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a state where a dispenser motor rotates according to an embodiment.  FIG. 5  is a side view illustrating configuration of a dispenser motor according to an embodiment.  FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I′ of  FIG. 4 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 to 6 , the dispenser motor  150  includes a stator  155  forming a rotating magnetic field, a rotator  151  disposed in the stator  155  and receiving a torque according to polarity of the stator  155 , and a coil  155   a  supplying a current to form a magnetic field at the stator  155 . 
     Particularly, the rotator  151  has a cylindrical shape, and may include a permanent magnet receiving a torque according to polarity of the stator  155 . 
     The stator  155  surrounds an outer surface of the rotator  151 , and polarity of a magnet is changed by an alternating current supplied to the coil  155   a.    
     The coil  155   a  may be disposed on one side of the stator  155 . Power may be applied to the coil  155   a  by operating the operation part  31 . 
     The rotator  151  is provided with a rotation shaft  153  rotating around a fixed axis  153   c  and integrally with the rotator  151 . The rotation shaft  153  passes through the center of the rotator  151  and extends toward both sides thereof. 
     Both sides of the rotation shaft  153  are provided with a shaft housing  154  in which the rotation shaft  153  is movably received. The shaft housing  154  includes a first shaft housing  154   a  provided to first shaft portion  153   a  and a second shaft housing  154   b  provided to a second shaft portion  153   b.    
     The first shaft housing  154   a  is coupled to one side of the stator  155 , and a coupling member  161  such as a screw may be employed. 
     A compression member  152  is interposed between the first shaft housing  154   a  and the rotator  151  and provides a predetermined frictional force to stop rotation of the rotator  151 . For example, the compression member  152  may include cork. The compression member  152  also defines a through part  152   a  that is located in the middle of the compression member  152  and that is configured to receive the first shaft portion  153   a.    
     One side surface of the compression member  152  corresponds to one side surface of the rotator  151 , in shape and size. The compression member  152  may be in surface contact with the rotator  151  so as to provide the frictional force. 
     The rotator  151  and the compression member  152  may be in close contact with a surface  154   c  of the first shaft housing  154   a  while the rotator  151  stops. Hereinafter, a position, where the rotator  151  and the compression member  152  are in close contact with the surface  154   c  of the first shaft housing  154   a , is referred to as a “stop position”. 
     The rotation shaft  153  is provided with an elastic member  156  to move the rotator  151  to the stop position while the rotator  151  stops. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , at least one portion of the elastic member  156  may be received in the rotator  151 . One side of the elastic member  156  may be connected to the rotator  151  so as to move the rotator  151 . 
     That is, the elastic member  156  moves the rotator  151  using a self-restoring force. 
     For example, the elastic member  156  may include a coil spring provided to the outer surface of the rotation shaft  153 . The coil spring may be a compression spring generating a restoring force in the opposite direction to a tensile direction. 
     One side of the second shaft housing  154   b  may be provided with a gear assembly  170  transmitting the torque of the rotator  151  to the rotation connection part  158 . The gear assembly  170  is received in a gear housing  157 . 
     One end of the rotation shaft  153  is provided with a shaft gear  171  that may engage with at least one gear of the gear assembly  170 . 
     Thus, the gear assembly  170  rotates according to rotation of the rotation shaft  153 , and then the rotation connection part  158  rotates according to the rotation of the gear assembly  170 . Detailed description for power transmission structure of gears will be omitted. 
     Hereinafter, operation of a rotator and a compression member will now be described according to one embodiment. 
       FIGS. 4 to 6  illustrate the rotated state of the rotator  151 . 
     When the operation part  31  is operated to apply electric power to the coil  155   a , alternating current flows trough the coil  155   a . Accordingly, a magnetic field is generated at the stator  155 . The magnetic field has the nature of the rotating magnetic field in which polarity changes according to time, due to the nature of the alternating current. 
     That is, there is an effect of rotating a magnetic pole of the stator  155  in a predetermined direction. 
     The rotator  151  is moved to a center direction of the stator  155  by the magnetic field generated at the stator  155 . That is, the rotator  151  is spaced apart from the first shaft housing  154   a  and moves to the center of the stator  155 . 
     At this point, the moving rotator  151  overcomes the elastic force of the elastic member  156 , so that the elastic member  156  is compressed. 
     The rotator  151  is rotated in the rotation direction of the magnetic pole by the rotating magnetic field of the stator  155 , that is, by the magnetic pole rotating in the predetermined direction. 
     As the rotator  151  rotates, the rotation shaft  153  rotates in the rotation direction of the rotator  151 , and the torque of the rotation shaft  153  is transmitted to the rotation connection part  158  by the gear assembly  170 . 
     When the rotation connection part  158  is rotated, the auger of the ice bank operates, and ice in the ice bank is dispensed through the ice dispenser part  118  to the dispenser  30 . 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating a state where a dispenser motor is stopped according to an embodiment.  FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken along line H-H′ of  FIG. 7 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the operation of the dispenser motor  150  stops when the operation part  31  stops, that is, when the pushing operation on the operation part  31  is finished. 
     While the rotation of the dispenser motor  150  stops, the rotator  151  is in close contact with the compression member  152 , so that the rotation of the rotator  151  quickly stops. That is, the rotator  151  stops quickly just when the operation part  31  stops, so as to minimize subsequent residual rotation. 
     Particularly, when the operation part  31  stops, the applied electric power is removed from the coil  155   a  to prevent the flow of the current. Then, the generated magnetic field is removed from the stator  155 , so as to remove the torque applied to the rotator  151 . 
     Accordingly, the force moving the rotator  151  to the center of the stator  155  is removed, and simultaneously, the restoring force of the elastic member  156  is applied to the rotator  151 . 
     Then, the rotator  151  moves to be in close contact with the first shaft housing  154   a . At this point, the compression member  152  is moved to the first shaft housing  154   a  by the rotator  151 . That is, the rotator  151  is in close contact with the compression member  152 , and the compression member  152  is in close contact with one surface of the first shaft housing  154   a.    
     Thus, the frictional force is applied between the rotator  151  and the compression member  152 , so that the rotator  151  is stopped. 
     To sum up, when the rotating magnetic field generated at the stator  155  is removed, the rotator  151  and the compression member  152  are in close contact with the first shaft housing  154   a , so that the rotator  151  is stopped. 
     After that, when current is applied to the coil  155   a  again, the rotator  151  is spaced apart from the compression member  152  and moves to the center of the rotator  151 . At this point, the elastic member  156  is compressed. 
     According to the above configuration, the rotation of the rotator  151  stops quickly when the operation part  31  stops. 
     Therefore, this is possible to minimize the limitation in the related art, i.e., the phenomenon in which a rotator further rotates because of its moment of inertia and residual magnetic flux after the operating of the operation part  31  is stopped. 
     Another embodiment is provided. 
     While dispensing ice is controlled through the dispenser  30  in the previous embodiments, the same configuration may be applied to a case of dispensing water instead of ice. 
     That is, a main body of a refrigerator is provided with a water container, and water stored in the water container is dispensed by operating an operation part. In other words, water in the water supply part  130  provided to the ice-making device  100  may be supplied directly to the dispenser  30 . 
     When the operation part is pressed, water in the water container is dispensed. When the operating of the operation part is stopped, the rotation of the rotator quickly is stopped, so that the dispensing of water is finished. 
     In addition, an additional control device may be provided to dispense water or ice according to user&#39;s selection. 
     Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     In the refrigerator configured according to the above embodiments, when the operating of the operating part is finished, the dispensing of ice is quickly stopped to improve convenience in use.