Patent Publication Number: US-2010126185-A1

Title: Refrigerator

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2008-0116143, fled in Korea on Nov. 21, 2008, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     A refrigerator is provided. More particularly, a refrigerator is provided that includes an ice making chamber provided at a door thereof. 
     2. Background 
     Refrigerators are electric appliances capable of cooling or freezing storage items using cold air generated by a phase-change of a refrigerant, or a working fluid. Such a refrigerator may include a body having refrigerator and freezer compartments capable of keeping food items at low temperatures, and refrigerator compartment and freezer compartment doors rotatably coupled to the body to open and close front openings of the refrigerator and freezer compartments, respectively. The refrigerator and freezer compartments of the refrigerator may be cooled by various components which together circulate the refrigerant through a refrigerating/freezing cycle. Reducing or eliminating frost generated by the refrigerating/freezing cycle may improve refrigerant flow and cooling efficiency. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary refrigerator, as embodied and broadly described herein; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a panel and an ice maker provided in the exemplary refrigerator shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a connection between the panel and the ice maker shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to specific embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
     In reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , an exemplary refrigerator as embodied and broadly described herein may include a body  12  that defines an exterior appearance of the refrigerator  10 . A storage room may be formed in the body  12  to receive food items. The storage room may include a refrigerator compartment (not shown) and a freezer compartment (not shown) that are partitioned by a barrier (not shown) and a partition wall (not shown). In certain embodiments, the refrigerator compartment may be provided in an upper portion of the body  12  and the freezer compartment may be provided in a lower portion of the body  12 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . Other arrangements may also be appropriate. 
     The refrigerator may also include a compressor that compresses a low temperature/pressure gaseous refrigerant to output a high temperature/pressure gaseous refrigerant, a condenser that cools and condenses the high temperature/pressure refrigerant transmitted by the compressor, using external air, a valve that controls the flow of cold air having passed through the condenser, a capillary tube that decompresses and discharges the high pressure liquid refrigerant having sequentially passed through the condenser and the valve, and an evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant drawn from the capillary tube at a low pressure into a low temperature refrigerant to absorb the generated heat. 
     One or more doors  14  may be coupled to the body  12 . In certain embodiments, the doors  14  may include first and second doors  16  and  18  that selectively open and close separate sides of the refrigerator compartment, and a third door  22  that selectively opens and closes the freezer compartment, as shown, for example, in  FIG. 1 . Simply for ease of discussion, the first, second and third doors  16 ,  18  and  22  may be referred to collectively as the door  14 . It is well understood that the features to be described may be applied to any one of the first, second or third doors  16 ,  18  and  22 . 
     An inner space  16 ′ may be formed in the first door  16 . The inner space  16 ′ may have an opening that faces the inside of the refrigerator compartment. The inner space  16 ′ may be selectively opened and closed with respect to the inside of the refrigerator compartment by a panel  40  which will be described later. An ice maker  50 , which will be described later, may be installed in the inner space  16 ′ such that the inner space  16 ′ forms an ice making chamber. That is, the inner space  16 ′ and the ice making chamber may refer to substantially the same space, for ease of discussion. In alternative embodiments, the inner space  16 ′ may be formed in the second door  18  or the third door  22 , based on the particular arrangement of the compartments. By extension, the inner space  16 ′ may be formed in various positions within the refrigerator  10  as long as an independent ice making chamber is able to be formed. 
     The first and second door  16  and  18  may rotatably open and close the refrigerator compartment, without any interference. Specifically, predetermined sides of the first and second doors  16  and  18  may be coupled to hinge parts  20  provided at edges of a front of the body  12 , such that the first and second doors  16  and  18  may rotate about the hinge parts  20 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the third door  22  may slide forward and rearward along a slide rail to open and close the freezer compartment. A handle  24  may be provided at each of the first, second and third doors  16 ,  18  and  22  to provide a grasping surface. A dispenser  26  may be provided in one of the doors  14 , and in particular, at one of the first, second or third doors  16 ,  18  and  22 . The dispenser  26  allows ice, beverages or other items which are stored inside the door  14  to be dispensed outside the door  14 . For ease of discussion, the dispenser  26  shown in this embodiment is provided at the second door  18  so as to not interfere with the inner space  16 ′ of the first door  16 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the panel  40  may be provided at an interior side of the first door  16 , and may be plate-shaped, corresponding to the shape of the inner space  16 ′ so as to cover the opening into the inner space  16 ′. A first side of the panel  40  may be rotatably coupled to the first door  16  and a second, opposite side of the panel  40  may rotate about the first side so as to selectively open and close the inner space  16 ′ of the first door  16 . The panel  40  may partition off the inner space  16 ′ from the refrigerator compartment. Thus, in certain embodiments, the panel  40  may be made of material having good heat-insulation properties. 
     An opening  42  may be formed in the panel  40  to provide for the installation of a thermoelectric-module  44  and the ice maker  50 . The thermoelectric-module  44  may be provided at the opening  42 . The thermoelectric-module  44  may be plate-shaped, corresponding to the appearance of the opening  42 . Specifically, at least one thermoelectric-module  44  may be provided at the opening  42 , with a first surface of the thermoelectric-module  44  positioned facing the inner space  16 ′ and a second, opposite surface of the thermoelectric-module  44  positioned facing the inside of the refrigerator compartment. A heat absorption part  44   a  of the thermoelectric-module  44  may be positioned facing the inner space  16 ′ so as to absorb heat, and a heat radiation part  44   b  of the thermoelectric-module  44  may be positioned facing the refrigerator compartment so as to radiate the heat absorbed at the heat absorption part  44   a.  The thermoelectric-module  44  may be inserted between a cold block  46  and a heat sink  70 , both of which will be described later. A power supply unit (not shown) may be connected with the thermoelectric-module  44 . 
     The thermoelectric-module  44  may employ a Peltier effect, in that a DC voltage may be applied to two different kinds of metals which are combined to generate endothermic and exothermic phenomena. The thermoelectric-module  44  may be formed of an extrinsic semiconductor, such as, for example, germanium, silicon, lead telluride, bismuth telluride, indium arsenic (InAs), or others as appropriate. 
     The cold block  46  may be positioned inside the panel  40 , that is, in the inner space  16 ′ of the first door  16 . The cold block  46  may be attached to the heat absorption part  44   a  of the thermoelectric-module  44 . As the heat absorption part  44   a  of the thermoelectric-module  44  gets cold, the cold block  46  may transmit the cold air to the inner space  16 ′. 
     The ice maker  50  may be provided in the inner space  16 ′, and may be connected with the cold block  46 . Here, the ice maker  50  may make ice in a heat-insulated space formed by the inner space  16 ′ using water supplied by a water supply part  53 . The ice maker  50  may be directly connected with the heat absorption part  44   a  of the thermoelectric-module  44  to receive the cold air, and not directly connected with the cold block  46 . 
     The ice maker  50  may include an ice tray  52  and a control box  56 . Ice may be made from water held in the ice tray  52  and subjected to cold air. In certain embodiments, the ice tray  52  may be approximately semi-cylindrical shaped. A plurality of ribs may project upward from an inner portion of the ice tray  52 , spaced apart from each other a predetermined distance, so as to separate the ice into separate pieces. In addition, a heater (not shown) may be provided, for example, under the ice tray  52 , to heat the surface of the ice tray  52  for a relatively short time period, such that a surface of the ice attached to the surface of the ice tray  52  may be melted enough to be separated smoothly. The water supply part  53  may be provided at a predetermined portion of the ice tray  52  to supply water to the tray  52  for making ice. 
     A transfer plate  54  may be provided at the ice tray  52 . A first surface of the cold bock  46  may closely contact the thermoelectric-module  44 , and a second surface of the cold block  46  may closely contact the transfer plate  54 . Thus, an appearance of the transfer plate  54  may correspond to the appearance of the cold block  46 . In alternative embodiments, if the transfer plate  54  is directly connected with the thermoelectric-module  44 , the appearance of the transfer plate  54  may correspond to the appearance of the thermoelectric-module  44 . The transfer plate  54  may be formed integrally with the ice tray  52 . The transfer plate  54  may receive cold air from the thermoelectric-module  44  directly or through the cold box  46  from the thermoelectric-module  44  and convey the cold air to the ice tray  52  in order to cool the ice tray  52 . Thus, the transfer plate  54  may be formed of metal material having high heat conductivity. 
     The control box  56  may be provided in the ice tray  52 , at a portion of the ice tray  52  opposite to where the water supply part  53  is provided, as shown in  FIGS. 2-3 , or other location as appropriate. The control box  56  controls operation of the ice maker  50 . A motor (not shown) may be provided in the control box  56  and an ejector (not shown) may be rotatably connected with a rotation shaft of the motor. A rotation shaft of the ejector may extend across a center of the ice tray  52 , and a plurality of ejector pins (not shown) may be spaced apart a predetermined distance along the rotation shaft of the ejector. For example, each of the ejector pins may be arranged in a corresponding space which is partitioned off by the ribs. 
     The control box  56  may include an ice amount sensing arm  58  that senses an amount of ice collected in an ice bank (not shown) provided beneath the ice tray  52 . The ice amount sensing arm  58  may be movable vertically upward and downward, and may be connected with a controller mounted in the control box  56 . The ice maker  50  may determine whether additional ice will be made according to the operation, and in particular, a position, of the ice amount sensing part  58  and the controller. 
     A fan  60  may be installed in the inner space  16 ′ of the first door  16 . The fan  60  may circulate cold air inside the inner space  16 ′. In this embodiment, the fan  60  is provided at a side of the control box  56 . The fan  60  may face an upper or lower portion of the ice tray  52  to improve ice making speed. That is, the fan  60  may increase the amount of cold air in contact with the ice tray  52 , thus increasing the cooling speed of the ice tray  52 . 
     The heat sink  70  may be provided at the surface of the thermoelectric-module  44  facing the refrigerator compartment. The heat sink  70  may expand a heat radiation area of the thermoelectric-module  44 , and may be positioned opposite the cold block  46 . That is, the heat sink  70  may be installed toward the refrigerator compartment and closely contact the heat radiation part  44   b  of the thermoelectric-module  44 . As a result, the heat sink  70  may absorb heat generated from the thermoelectric-module  44  and discharge the absorbed heat into the refrigerator compartment. That is, as the heat sink  70  is exposed to the inside of the refrigerator compartment, the heat sink  70  is cooled and the heat radiation part  44   b  of the thermoelectric-module  44  is cooled relatively fast. As a result, if the cooling period of the thermoelectric-module  44  is reduced, the cooling efficiency of the thermoelectric-module  44  may be improved. 
     A cooling fan  80  may be installed at a surface of the panel  40  which faces the inside of the refrigerator compartment. The cooling fan  80  may face the surface of the thermoelectric-module  44  or the surface of the heat sink  70  that faces the refrigerator compartment. The cooling fan  80  may be directly installed at the thermoelectric-module  44  or the heat sink  70 . The cooling fan  80  may blow cold air of the refrigerator compartment onto the thermoelectric-module  44  or the heat sink  70  to increase the heat radiation capacity of the heat sink  70 . 
     In certain embodiments, heat conductive material  45  may be coated between respective mating surfaces of the transfer plate  54 , the cold block  46 , the thermoelectric-module  44  and the heat sink  70 . The heat conductive material may expand respective contact areas between these components to maximize a heat conduction effect. The heat conductive material may be, for example, thermal grease, thermal powder, or other material as appropriate. 
     The cold block  46  may be secured to the heat sink  70  by a securing member  47  that passes through the transfer plate  54  and the cold block  46  sequentially. Alternatively, the securing member  47  may pass through the panel  40  to directly secure the cold block  46  and the heat sink  70  to the panel  40 . 
     Next, an operation of the refrigerator having the above configuration will be described. 
     First, the thermoelectric-module  44  and the ice maker  50  are installed on the panel  40 . The panel  40  is then installed on an interior side of the door  16  to selectively open and close the opening into the inner space  16 ′ of the first door  16 . That is, the inner space  16 ′ is formed by the first door  16  and the panel  40 . As a result, the inner space  16 ′ is separated from the refrigerator compartment and forms the ice making chamber. 
     The at least one thermoelectric-module  44  is attached to a first surface of the cold block  46  and the transfer plate  54  is attached to a second surface of the cold block  46  opposite the first surface. The heat sink  70  is attached to a surface of the thermoelectric-module  44  opposite the cold block  46 . At this time, the cold block  46  closely contacts the heat absorption part  44   a  of the thermoelectric-module  44  and the heat sink  70  closely contacts the heat radiation part  44   b  of the thermoelectric-module  44 , thus forming heat transfer means. As mentioned above, heat conductive material is coated between the transfer plate  54  and the cold block  46  before they are attached to each other. 
     The securing member is then passed through the transfer plate  54 , the cold block  46  and the panel  40  sequentially, to be secured to the heat sink  70 . The securing member is tightly fastened to the heat sink  70  so that the thermoelectric-module  44  may be securely inserted between the cold block  46  and the heat sink  70 .  FIG. 3  illustrates the ice maker  50  and the thermoelectric-module  44  secured to the panel  40 . The fan  60  is installed in/on the control box  56  and the cooling fan  80  is installed at the heat sink  70  to control the flow of cold air in the inner space  16 ′. 
     Next, a process will be described in which the ice maker  50  and the thermoelectric-module  44  are operated. 
     If power is applied to the thermoelectric-module  44 , the ice tray  52  having been filled up with water by the water supply part  53 , the heat absorption part  44   a  of the thermoelectric-module  44  absorbs heat and the heat radiation part  44   b  radiates the absorbed heat. That is, the heat absorption part  44   a  of the thermoelectric-module  44  absorbs the heat of the transfer plate  54  through the cold block  46 . As the surface of the cold block  46  gets cold, the cold air is transferred to the transfer plate  54  and next to the ice tray  52 . Then, as the ice tray  52  is cooled, the ice making process is performed in the ice maker  50 . 
     At this time, the heat sink  70  absorbs the heat generated from the heat radiation part  44   b  of the thermoelectric-module  44  and radiates heat into the refrigerator compartment. Then, the cooling fan  80  installed at the heat sink  70  blows cold air from the refrigerator compartment onto the thermoelectric-module  44  and the heat sink  70  to improve the cooling efficiency of the thermoelectric-module  44 . 
     As the heat radiation part  44   b  of the thermoelectric-module  44  radiates heat quickly, the operation of the heat absorption part  44   a  may be performed smoothly. As a result, if the heat radiation part  44   b  of the thermoelectric-module  44  is cooled by the cold air of the refrigerator compartment, the speed of the heat absorption performed at the heat absorption part  44   a  may be increased, and thus the cooling efficiency of the thermoelectric-module  44  may be improved. 
     If the cooling system of the thermoelectric-module  44  is applied to the inner space  16 ′ which forms the ice making chamber as described above, a separate cold air duct that transfers cold air does not have to be provided in the door. As a result, a refrigerator as embodied and broadly described herein may have a simple structure, and a capacity of the refrigerator may be increased by the volume of the cold air duct which is no longer required. In addition, the thermoelectric-module  44  does not generate frost, and thus cooling efficiency may be improved. 
     The ice making chamber having a thermoelectric-module  44  as embodied and broadly described herein may form a cooling space, separated from the refrigerator and freezer compartments. As a result, even if a failure of the operation of one of the compartments of the refrigerator occurs, the ice making chamber may be operated independently. 
     Embodiments as broadly described herein may be applicable to a three-door bottom freezer type refrigerator in which refrigerator and freezer compartments are provided vertically, with two doors coupled to right and left sides of the refrigerator compartment, to a two-door bottom freezer type refrigerator having two doors coupled to the refrigerator and freezer compartments, respectively, to a top mount type refrigerator having the refrigerator and freezer compartments provided vertically, and to a side by side type refrigerator having the refrigerator and freezer compartments provided next to each other. 
     In accordance with embodiments as broadly described herein, a thermoelectric-module requiring no cold air ducts, having a simple structure, may be used to cool an ice making chamber. As a result, utilization of space may be improved and a capacity of the refrigerator may be improved. In addition, energy efficiency may be enhanced because a heater is not required to remove frost from the cold air duct. 
     Furthermore, in embodiments as broadly described herein, it may be possible to operate a thermoelectric-module fast and there is an advantage of improved cooling efficiency, because the heat radiation part of the thermoelectric-module is cooled by the cold air of the refrigerator compartment. Still further, the ice making chamber may be formed at a variety of positions because the ice making chamber has independent cooling by using the thermoelectric-module separated from the refrigerator and freezer compartments. 
     A freezing cycle of a refrigerator may include, for example, a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator. The compressor compresses low temperature/pressure gaseous refrigerant into a high temperature/pressure gaseous refrigerant. The condenser condenses the refrigerant drawn from the compressor, using external air. The expansion valve may have a relatively narrow diameter so as to expand the refrigerant drawn from the condenser. The evaporator absorbs heat generated while the refrigerant which has passed through the expansion valve is evaporated at a low pressure. 
     Refrigerators may be categorized into top mount types and side by side types. In the top mount type, a refrigerator or freezer compartment is mounted one on top of the other, and refrigerator and freezer doors are respectively coupled to the compartments to open and close the compartments. In the side by side type, the refrigerator and freezer compartments are provided side by side, with refrigerator and freezer compartment doors rotatably coupled to two opposite sides of the refrigerator to respectively open and close the compartments. 
     Various kinds of convenience devices, such as, for example, a home bar or dispenser that allows items received in an interior side of the door to be withdrawn without opening the doors. 
     Refrigerators may also include an ice making chamber in the refrigerator or freezer compartment to make ice. Cold air generated in a cold air generation chamber may be moved into the ice making chamber via a cold air duct. However, in some circumstances, cold air having different temperatures may be mixed, thus generating frost at an outlet of the cold air duct that is in communication with the ice making chamber. Frost generated at an inner circumferential surface of the cold air duct may deteriorate refrigerant flow and thus cooling efficiency. 
     A refrigerator is provided. 
     A refrigerator as embodied and broadly described herein may be capable of supplying cold air to an ice making chamber using a thermoelectric-module. 
     A refrigerator as embodied and broadly described herein may be capable of cooling a heat absorption part of the thermoelectric-module substantially fast. 
     A refrigerator as embodied and broadly described herein may include a body having a storage room; an ice making chamber formed separately from the storage room; and a thermoelectric-module provided in the ice making chamber to generate cold air. 
     The refrigerator may also include a door rotatably coupled to the body, the door having the ice making chamber. 
     The refrigerator may also include a panel rotatably coupled to the door to open and close the ice making chamber selectively. 
     The refrigerator may also include an ice maker provided in the panel to make or eject ice inside the ice making chamber. 
     The thermoelectric-module may be provided in the panel to supply cold air to the ice maker and to discharge generated heat to the storage room formed in the body. 
     An opening may be formed at the panel to communicate the ice making chamber with the storage room and the thermoelectric-module may be positioned at the opening, with a surface toward the ice making chamber and the other opposite surface toward the storage room. 
     The refrigerator may also include a transfer plate, corresponding to the thermoelectric-module, provided in the ice maker to receive cold air from the thermoelectric-module. 
     The refrigerator may also include a cooling fan guiding cold air inside the storage room to the thermoelectric-module. 
     The refrigerator may also include a cold block having a surface in close contact with the transfer plate and the other opposite surface in close contact with at least one thermoelectric-module. 
     The refrigerator may also include a heat sink in close contact with the thermoelectric-module to expand a heat radiation area of the thermoelectric-module. 
     Heat conductive material may be coated between adjacent two of the transfer plate, the cold block, the thermoelectric-module and the heat sink. 
     The heat conductive material may be thermal grease or thermal powder. 
     The thermoelectric-module may be pressed between the cold block and the heat sink. 
     The cold block may be secured with the heat sink by a securing member passing the transfer plate and the cold block and the heat sink sequentially. 
     The transfer plate may be integrally formed with an ice tray provided in the ice maker. 
     The refrigerator may also include a fan provided in the ice making chamber to circulate cold air. 
     The fan may be toward a lower portion or upper portion of the ice tray. 
     Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” “alternative embodiment,” certain embodiment,” etc., means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments. 
     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, numerous 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.