Patent Publication Number: US-8984908-B2

Title: Refrigerator

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator that is capable of easily operating a storage chamber where cooling is carried out independently from a cold chamber, thereby achieving effective operation of the refrigerator. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Generally, a refrigerator is an appliance that is capable of preserving foods at low temperature for a long time through the supply of cool air, generated by a refrigeration cycle apparatus including a compressor and a heat exchanger, to a cold chamber, such as a refrigerator compartment or a freezer compartment, defined therein. 
     For the refrigerator, an additional storage chamber is disposed in the cold chamber. The storage chamber is controlled independently from the cold chamber such that the storage chamber is given the optimum cooling conditions in which cooling is possible at various temperature zones according to the properties of objects to be cooled, and, at the same time, the properties of the objects are maintained as long as possible. 
     Technologies for independently controlling the supply of cool air to the storage chamber through the use of an additional evaporator to independently operate the storage chamber have been proposed. 
     DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     However, the provision of the evaporator and the independent control of the evaporator increase the manufacturing costs of the refrigerator. Furthermore, such complicated controlling process may lead to the malfunction of the refrigerator. 
     A cooler for operation of the cold chamber may be used to independently control the storage chamber in place of the evaporator. In this case, however, a plurality of complicated apparatuses are required, and therefore, the structure and control of the refrigerator are still complicated. 
     Technical Solution 
     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a refrigerator that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. 
     Advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. 
     To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a refrigerator includes a refrigerator body having a cold chamber defined therein and a storage chamber, of a predetermined cooling space, disposed in the cold chamber, a cool air generation chamber having a cooler and a fan for supplying cool air mounted therein, a partition plate for partitioning the cold chamber and the cool air generation chamber from each other, the partition plate having a main flow channel for guiding the cool air supplied by the fan to the cold chamber and at least one cool air hole located between the fan and the main flow channel for bypassing the cool air, and at least one bypass duct for guiding the cool air bypassed through the at least one cool air hole to the storage chamber. 
     Preferably, the refrigerator further includes a damper disposed between the main flow channel and the at least one cool air hole for selectively introducing the cool air supplied by the fan to the main flow channel. 
     Preferably, the at least one cool air hole is formed in the shape of a slot lengthened in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the cool air flows from the fan to the main flow channel. 
     Preferably, the at least one bypass duct extends from the at least one cool air hole toward the storage chamber, the at least one bypass duct being disposed at the front of the partition plate. 
     Preferably, the at least one bypass duct extends from the at least one cool air hole to the storage chamber along the side of the cold chamber. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a refrigerator includes a refrigerator body having a cold chamber defined therein and a storage chamber, of a predetermined cooling space, disposed in the cold chamber, a cool air generation chamber having a cooler and a fan for supplying cool air mounted therein, a partition plate for partitioning the cold chamber and the cool air generation chamber from each other, the partition plate having a main flow channel provided with a plurality of discharge ports for guiding the cool air supplied by the fan to the cold chamber, and at least one bypass duct for guiding the cool air discharged through at least one of the discharge ports to the storage chamber. 
     Preferably, the at least one bypass duct extends from the discharge ports to the storage chamber along the side of the cold chamber. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a refrigerator includes a refrigerator body, a cold chamber defined in the refrigerator body, a storage chamber disposed in the cold chamber, a main flow channel communicating with the cold chamber for guiding cool air to the cold chamber, and a bypass duct disposed separately from the main flow channel for guiding cool air in the direction in which the cool air flows to the storage chamber and in the direction different from the flow direction of the cool air guided by the main flow channel. 
     Preferably, the refrigerator further includes a cooler for generating cool air, a fan for blowing the cool air generated by the cooler, and a cool air generation chamber communicating the bypass duct and the main flow channel, the cooler and the fan being mounted in the cool air generation chamber. 
     Preferably, the refrigerator further includes a damper mounted in the cool air generation chamber such that the damper is disposed between the bypass duct and the main flow channel for selectively opening and closing the bypass duct and the main flow channel. 
     Preferably, the bypass duct is disposed such that the bypass duct is directed to the lower part of the cold chamber. 
     Preferably, in the bypass duct is disposed at the rear of the storage chamber. 
     Preferably, the bypass duct is disposed along the side of the cold chamber. 
     Preferably, the bypass duct is disposed such that the bypass duct communicates with the main flow channel, and therefore, some of the cool air flowing along the main flow channel flows to the bypass duct. 
     Preferably, the refrigerator further includes a communication port formed at the storage chamber for guiding the introduction of the cool air in the cold chamber to the storage chamber. 
     Preferably, the refrigerator further includes a guide hole formed at the bypass duct at a position corresponding to the communication port of the storage chamber for guiding the cool air to the communication port. 
     Preferably, the refrigerator further includes a connection channel directly interconnecting the bypass duct and the storage chamber for guiding the cool air. 
     In a further aspect of the present invention, a refrigerator includes a refrigerator body having a cold chamber defined therein and a storage chamber, of a predetermined cooling space, disposed in the cold chamber, a cool air generation chamber having a cooler and a fan for supplying cool air mounted therein, a partition plate for partitioning the cold chamber and the cool air generation chamber from each other, the partition plate having a main flow channel for guiding the cool air supplied by the fan to the cold chamber, and at least one bypass duct including a first duct part disposed in the cool air generation chamber for bypassing the cool air and a second duct part extending from the first duct part and connected to the storage chamber. 
     Preferably, the first duct part is disposed in the cool air generation chamber such that the first duct part is directed downward, and the second duct part extending from the lower end of the first duct part such that second duct part  220  is directed toward the storage chamber in the front direction. 
     Preferably, the first duct part is disposed between the partition plate and the cooler. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     As apparent from the above description, the refrigerator according to the present invention has the effect of independently operating the cold chamber and the storage chambers without the provision of an additional evaporator, and, even in this case, uniformly maintaining the interior temperature of the storage chambers without difficulty, and uniformly distributing the temperature throughout the cold chamber. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side sectional view illustrating a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side sectional view illustrating a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a side sectional view illustrating a refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a view illustrating principal components of the refrigerator according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a view illustrating a refrigerator according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6  is a view illustrating a refrigerator according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     MODE FOR THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, 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. 
     First, the structure of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a refrigerator body  1 , a cold chamber  10  disposed in the refrigerator body  1 , a cool air generation chamber  20  for supplying cool air to the cold chamber  10 , and a partition plate  100  for partitioning the cold chamber  10  and the cool air generation chamber  20  from each other. 
     In the cold chamber  10  are disposed storage chambers  30  where cooling is independently carried out. The storage chambers  30  are provided to rapidly cool objects to be cooled, stored therein, or store the objects at regular temperatures for a long time. 
     In the cool air generation chamber  20  is disposed a cooler  21  for generating cool air. The cooler  21  may be materialized by an evaporator connected to specific devices constituting a refrigeration cycle. Alternatively, the cooler  21  may be materialized by a thermoelectric device. 
     The partition plate  100  partitions the cold chamber  10  and the cool air generation chamber  20  from each other. The partition plate  100  is provided with a cool air flow channel through which cool air generated by the cooler  21  is supplied to the cold chamber  10  and the storage chambers  30 . A fan  102  is mounted in the cool air flow channel of the partition plate  100 . 
     The cool air generated by the cooler  21  is moved by the fan  102 , and is then supplied to the cold chamber  10  or the storage chambers  30  through a flow channel communicating with the cold chamber  10  and/or a flow channel communicating with the storage chambers  30 . 
     Here, the flow channel communicating with the cold chamber  10  is defined by a main flow channel  103 , and the flow channel communicating with the storage chambers  30  is defined by a bypass duct  200 . 
     The main flow channel  103  is opened or closed by a damper  105  for controlling the flow of cool air to be supplied to the cold chamber  10 . 
     The partition plate  100  has discharge ports  120  through which cool air is discharged to the cold chamber  10  and suction ports  110  through which the cool air discharged to the cold chamber  10  is suctioned to the cool air generation chamber  20 . 
     Also, the partition plate  100  has a cool air hole  201  communicating with the bypass duct  200  for allowing cool air to flow along the bypass duct  200  therethrough. 
     In this case, cool air supplied through the bypass duct  200  directly cools containers constituting the storage chambers  30 , whereby objects to be cooled, in the storage chambers  30 , are indirectly cooled. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is characterized in that the storage chambers  30  are spaced apart from the corresponding end of the bypass duct  200 , and a communication port  31  of a predetermined size is formed at each storage chamber  30  such that cool air supplied through the bypass duct  200  is introduced into the respective storage chamber  30  through the communication port  31 . 
     The bypass duct  200  has predetermined guide holes  202  such that cool air discharged through the guide holes  202  is directly introduced into the respective storage chamber  30  through the communication ports  31 . 
     In this case, the positions of the guide holes  202  preferably correspond to the positions of the communication ports  31 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is characterized in that the storage chambers  30  are directly connected to the bypass duct  200  through connection channels  203 , through which cool air, flowing along the bypass duct  200 , is directly introduced into the respective storage chambers  30 . 
     Hereinafter, principal components of the refrigerator according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to  FIG. 4 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the fan  102  is mounted at one side of the partition plate  100 . The fan is preferably a cross-flow fan. 
     That is, the fan  102  suctions cool air in the axial direction, and blows the suctioned cool air in the radial direction. 
     At this time, the cool air, moved by the fan  102 , is guided by a guide part  101  and is then supplied to the main flow channel  103  and the bypass duct  200 . 
     The guide part  101  is formed in the shape of a recess having a predetermined thickness. The edge of the guide part  101  is curved with a predetermined curvature. 
     That is, as shown in  FIG. 4 , one side of the guide part  101  is curved to be adjacent to the fan  102 , and the guide part  101  extends in a curved shape from the portion of the guide part  101  where the guide part  101  is adjacent to the fan  102 , while the guide part  101  is spaced a predetermined distance from the fan  102 , such that the guide part  101  is connected to the main flow channel  103 . 
     Between the guide part  101  and the main flow channel  103  is mounted a damper  105  for controlling the flow of cool air from the guide part  101  to the main flow channel  103 . 
     That is, the damper  105  serves to open or close the main flow channel  103 . The damper  105  may be operated in a sliding fashion or a rotating fashion. 
     Meanwhile, the cool air hole  201  is located between the damper  105  and the fan  102 . The cool air hole  201  communicates with the bypass duct  200 . 
     Consequently, when cool air is to be supplied to the storage chambers  30 , the damper  105  is operated to close the main flow channel  103 , and the fan  102  is operated to supply the cool air to the storage chambers  30  along the bypass duct  200  through the cool air hole  201 . 
     On the other hand, when cool air is to be supplied to the cold chamber  10 , the damper  105  is operated to open the main flow channel  103 , and the fan  102  is operated to supply the cool air to the main flow channel  103 . The cool air supplied to the main flow channel  103  is supplied to the cold chamber  10  through the discharge ports  120 . 
     Since the cool air hole  201  is located between the damper  105  and the fan  102 , i.e., cool air, blown from the fan  102 , passes by the cool air hole  201  before the cool air is introduced into the main flow channel  103 . 
     While the cool air, blown from the fan  102 , passes by the cool air hole  201 , some of the cool air is bypassed through the cool air hole  201  and is supplied to the storage chambers  30  through the bypass duct  200 . Most of the cool air is introduced into the main flow channel  103  and is then supplied to the cold chamber  10 . 
     If the size of the cool air hole  201  is large, the amount of the cool air introduced into the main flow channel  103  decreases. Consequently, it is preferred to form the cool air hole  201  in the shape of a slot extending horizontally. 
     That is, the cool air hole  201  is formed in the shape of a slot formed in a structure in which the length of the slot is small in the direction in which the cool air advances, and the length of the slot is large in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the cool air advances. Consequently, even when the cold chamber  10  is operated, some of the cool air is bypassed to the storage chambers  30 . 
     Meanwhile, when the guide holes  202  of the second embodiment are formed at the bypass duct  200 , it is preferred for the guide holes  202  be arranged on the front of the bypass duct  202  while the guide holes  202  are spaced a predetermined distance from each other. 
     Also, the connection channels  203  of the third embodiment may be located at positions corresponding to the guide holes  202 . 
     Hereinafter, the operation of the refrigerator according to the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 4 . 
     First, the operation of the cold chamber  10  will be described. 
     When the cooler  21  is operated to generate cool air, and the fan  102  is operated to suction cool air around the cooler  21  and blow the suctioned cool air in the radial direction. 
     The blown cool air is guided by the guide part  101 , flows along the main flow channel  103 , and is then supplied to the cold chamber  10  through the discharge ports  120 . 
     At this time, some of the cool air, blown by the fan  102 , is bypassed to the cool air hole  201  and is then supplied to the storage chambers  30  along the bypass duct  200 . 
     Consequently, the cold chamber  10  is cooled, and, at the same time, some of the cool air is supplied to the storage chamber  30  such that the storage chambers  30  can be maintained at predetermined temperatures. 
     Also, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the cool air discharged through the respective discharge ports  120  flows along a route a, and is then introduced into the suction ports  110 . The cool air discharged through the bypass duct  200  flows along a route b, and is then introduced into the suction ports  110 . 
     The cool air discharged through the discharge ports  120  may halt at the lower part of the cold chamber  10 . In the refrigerator according to the present invention, the cool air discharged through the bypass duct  200  flows along the route b as shown in  FIG. 1 . Consequently, it is possible to achieve smooth circulation of cool air without halt, and therefore, it is possible to prevent the increase in temperature deviation of the cold chamber  10 . 
     Meanwhile, when objects needed to be rapidly cooled are to be stored in the storage chambers  30 , it is required to intensively supply cool air to the storage chambers  30 . Consequently, the damper  105  is operated to close the main flow channel  103 , and the fan  102  is operated to blow cool air such that the cool air is introduced into the bypass duct  200  through the cool air hole  201 . 
     The cool air introduced into the bypass duct  200  is supplied to the storage chambers  30  along the bypass duct  200 , flows along the route b shown in  FIG. 1 , and is then introduced into the suction ports  110 , whereby the circulation of the cool air is achieved. 
     On the other hand, when the guide holes  202  are formed at the bypass duct  200  and the communication ports  31  are formed at the storage chambers  30 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , some of the cool air flowing along the bypass duct  200  may be introduced into the communication ports  31  through the corresponding guide holes  202 . 
     When the connection channels  203  are disposed between the storage chambers  30  and the bypass duct  200 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , some of the cool air in the bypass duct  200  flows downward along the bypass duct  200 , and reaches the lower part of the cold chamber  10 . 
     Also, some of the cool air moves to the storage chambers  30  along the connection channels  203 . 
     Hereinafter, a refrigerator according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 5 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the refrigerator according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention includes a refrigerator body  1 , a cold chamber  10  disposed in the refrigerator body  1 , a cool air generation chamber  20  for supplying cool air to the cold chamber  10 , and a partition plate  100  for partitioning the cold chamber  10  and the cool air generation chamber  20  from each other. 
     In the cold chamber  10  are disposed storage chambers  30  where cooling is independently carried out. The storage chambers  30  according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention are substantially identical in construction and operation to those according to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Also, the cooler  21  disposed in the cool air generation chamber  20  is substantially identical in construction and operation to that according to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , and therefore, a detailed description thereof will not be given. 
     The partition plate  100  partitions the cold chamber  10  and the cool air generation chamber  20  from each other. The partition plate  100  is provided with a cool air flow channel through which cool air generated by the cooler  21  is supplied to the cold chamber  10  and the storage chambers  30 . A fan  102  is mounted in the cool air flow channel of the partition plate  100 . 
     The cool air generated by the cooler  21  is moved by the fan  102 , and is then supplied to the cold chamber  10  or the storage chambers  30  through a flow channel communicating with the cold chamber  10  and/or flow channels communicating with the storage chambers  30 . 
     Here, the flow channel communicating with the cold chamber  10  is defined by a main flow channel  103 , and the flow channels communicating with the storage chambers  30  are defined by bypass ducts  200 . 
     The bypass ducts  200  are constructed to communicate with one or more of discharge ports  120  formed at the partition plate  100 . 
     Specifically, cool air, blown by the fan  102 , is supplied to the cold chamber  10  through the discharge ports  120 . At this time, the cool air is supplied to the storage chambers  30  along the bypass ducts  200 , since some of the discharge ports  120  communicate with the bypass ducts  200 . 
     Although not shown in  FIG. 5 , opening and closing member (not shown) may be mounted in the discharge ports  120  communicating with the bypass duct  200  for opening and closing the corresponding discharge ports  120  to selectively supply the cool air to the storage chambers  30 . 
     The bypass ducts  200  are preferably disposed at sides of the cold chamber  10  in consideration of the capacity of the cold chamber  10 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the bypass ducts  200  disposed at opposite sides of the cold chamber  10 , although a bypass duct  200  may be disposed at one side of the cold chamber  10 . 
     The cool air discharged through the discharge ports  120 , i.e., both of the cool air supplied to the cold chamber  10  and the cool air supplied to the storage chambers  30  are introduced into the cool air generation chamber  20  through the suction ports  110 , whereby the circulation of the cool air is achieved. 
     The ends of the bypass ducts  200  may be connected to the storage chambers  30  such that the cool air supplied through the bypass ducts  200  can be directly introduced into the storage chambers  30 . Alternatively, the bypass ducts  200  and the storage chambers  30  may be spaced a predetermined distance from each other, and communication holes (not shown) of a predetermined size may be formed at the storage chambers  30  such that the cool air discharged through the bypass duct  200  can be supplied to the storage chambers  30  through the communication holes (not shown). 
     Also, containers constituting the storage chambers  30  may be cooled by the cool air supplied through the bypass ducts  200  such that objects to be cooled, in the storage chambers  30 , are indirectly cooled. 
     Hereinafter, a refrigerator according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the refrigerator includes a refrigerator body  1 , a cold chamber  10  disposed in the refrigerator body  1 , a cool air generation chamber  20  for supplying cool air to the cold chamber  10 , and a partition plate  100  for partitioning the cold chamber  10  and the cool air generation chamber  20  from each other. 
     In the cold chamber  10  are disposed storage chambers  30  where cooling is independently carried out. The storage chambers  30  according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention are substantially identical in construction and operation to those according to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 . 
     Also, the cooler  21  disposed in the cool air generation chamber  20  is substantially identical in construction and operation to that according to the previous embodiments of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , and therefore, a detailed description thereof will not be given. 
     The partition plate  100  partitions the cold chamber  10  and the cool air generation chamber  20  from each other. The partition plate  100  is provided with a cool air flow channel through which cool air generated by the cooler  21  is supplied to the cold chamber  10  and the storage chambers  30 . A fan  102  is mounted in the cool air flow channel of the partition plate  100 . 
     The cool air generated by the cooler  21  is moved by the fan  102 , and is then supplied to the cold chamber  10  or the storage chambers  30  through a flow channel communicating with the cold chamber  10  and/or a flow channel communicating with the storage chambers  30 . 
     Here, the flow channel communicating with the cold chamber  10  is defined by a main flow channel  103 , and the flow channel communicating with the storage chambers  30  is defined by a bypass duct  200 . 
     The bypass ducts  200  includes a first duct part  210  communicating with the cool air generation chamber  20 , the first duct part  210  extending vertically, and a second duct part  220  integrally formed with or coupled to the first duct part  210 , the second duct part  220  extending toward the storage chambers  30 . 
     The first duct part  210  is mounted in the cool air generation chamber  20  such that the first duct part  210  is disposed between the partition plate  100  and the cooler  21 . 
     Preferably, the first duct part  210  extends in the shape of a straight line such that the first duct part  210  is directed downward, and the second duct part  220  extends from the lower end of the first duct part  210  such that second duct part  220  is directed toward the lower part of the cold chamber  10  and the storage chambers  30  in the front direction. 
     Consequently, when cool air is blown by the fan  102 , some of the cool air introduced into the main flow channel  103  is bypassed to the first duct part  210 , and is then supplied to the storage chambers  30  through the second duct part  220 . 
     At the end of the first duct part  210  may be mounted an opening and closing valve (not shown) for selectively supply cool air to the storage chambers  30 .