Patent Publication Number: US-2020284493-A1

Title: Refrigerator

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0026466, filed on Mar. 7, 2019, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The disclosure relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator having an improved structure to control temperatures of a plurality of storage compartments by one evaporator. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A refrigerator is an appliance to keep food fresh by including a body having a storage compartment, and a cooling air supply system to supply cooling air to the storage compartment. The storage compartment includes a refrigerating compartment kept at a temperature of approximately 0° C.˜5° C., to store food in a refrigerated state, and a freezing compartment kept at a temperature of approximately −30° C.˜0° C., to store food in a frozen state. 
     The refrigerator may be classified by a position of the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment. Particularly, the refrigerator may be classified into a Bottom Mounted Freezer (BMF) type refrigerator in which a refrigerating compartment is formed in the upper portion and a freezing compartment is formed in the lower portion, a Top Mounted Freezer (TMF) type refrigerator in which a freezing compartment is formed in the upper portion and a refrigerating compartment is formed in the lower portion, and a Side by Side (SBS) type refrigerator in which a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment are formed side by side in the left and right direction. Further, the refrigerator may be classified by the number of the door, and thus the refrigerator may be classified into two-door type refrigerator, three-door type refrigerator, and four-door type refrigerator. 
     In general, the refrigerator may include a freezing compartment evaporator provided to supply cooling air to the freezing compartment, and a refrigerating compartment evaporator provided to supply cooling air to the refrigerating compartment. Recently, a refrigerator that can supply cooling air to each of the freezing compartment and the refrigerating compartment by one evaporator has been developed and popular in users. 
     If the refrigerator has one freezing compartment and one refrigerating compartment, there is no difficulty to cool the freezing compartment and the refrigerating compartment by one evaporator. However, when the refrigerator includes one freezing compartment and a plurality of refrigerating compartments, it may be difficult to independently control the temperatures of the plurality of refrigerating compartments through one evaporator. 
     SUMMARY 
     Therefore, it is an aspect of the disclosure to provide a refrigerator having an improved structure to independently control the temperatures of a plurality of refrigerating compartments by one evaporator. 
     Additional aspects of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, a refrigerator includes a body, a freezing compartment provided in the inside of the body, a plurality of refrigerating compartments provided in the inside of the body to be adjacent to the freezing compartment in a horizontal direction, and including a first refrigerating compartment and a second refrigerating compartment, a freezing compartment cooling space arranged behind the freezing compartment to communicate with the freezing compartment, a freezing compartment partition configured to divide the freezing compartment and the freezing compartment cooling space and including a freezing compartment duct, an evaporator arranged in the freezing compartment cooling space to generate cooling air, a first duct configured to allow the cooling air generated by the evaporator to be supplied to the first refrigerating compartment and including a first cooling air inlet, and a second duct configured to allow the cooling air generated by the evaporator to be supplied to the second refrigerating compartment through a second cooling air inlet formed on one wall of the freezing compartment duct. The first cooling air inlet and the second cooling air inlet are arranged above the evaporator. 
     The first refrigerating compartment and the second refrigerating compartment may be divided in a vertical direction by a divider while communicating with each other. 
     The refrigerator may further include a plurality of refrigerating compartment cooling spaces arranged behind the plurality of refrigerating compartments while communicating with the plurality of refrigerating compartments. The plurality of refrigerating compartment cooling spaces may include a first refrigerating compartment cooling space provided to communicate with the first refrigerating compartment and a second refrigerating compartment cooling space provided to communicate with the second refrigerating compartment. 
     The first duct may connect the freezing compartment duct to the first refrigerating compartment cooling space, and the second duct may connect the freezing compartment duct to the second refrigerating compartment cooling space. 
     The refrigerator may further include a first damper configured to selectively open or close the first duct, and a second damper configured to selectively open or close the second duct independently of the first damper. 
     The first damper may be configured to selectively open or close the first cooling air inlet. 
     Cooling air introduced through the first cooling air inlet may be discharged into the first refrigerating compartment cooling space through a first cooling air outlet, and cooling air introduced through the second cooling air inlet may be discharged into the second refrigerating compartment cooling space through a second cooling air outlet. The refrigerator further may include a first damper configured to selectively open or close the first cooling air outlet, and a second damper configured to selectively open or close the second cooling air outlet. 
     The second cooling air inlet may be arranged above the second cooling air outlet. 
     The refrigerator may further include a third duct configured to allow air, which is introduced through the first cooling air inlet and circulated through the first refrigerating compartment, and air, which is introduced through the second cooling air inlet and circulated through the second refrigerating compartment, to be supplied to the freezing compartment cooling space. 
     The third duct may connect the second refrigerating compartment to the freezing compartment cooling space. 
     The third duct may connect a third cooling air inlet formed on one wall of the second refrigerating compartment to a third cooling air outlet formed on one wall of the freezing compartment cooling space to allow cooling air, which is introduced through the third cooling air inlet, to be discharged to the lower side of the evaporator. 
     The third cooling air inlet may be arranged above the third cooling air outlet. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, a refrigerator includes a body, a freezing compartment provided in the inside of the body, a freezing compartment cooling space arranged behind the freezing compartment, a freezing compartment partition configured to divide the freezing compartment and the freezing compartment cooling space and including a freezing compartment duct, an evaporator arranged in the freezing compartment cooling space to generate cooling air, a plurality of refrigerating compartments provided in the inside of the body to be adjacent to the freezing compartment in a horizontal direction, and including a first refrigerating compartment and a second refrigerating compartment, a plurality of refrigerating compartment cooling spaces arranged behind the plurality of refrigerating compartments and including a first refrigerating compartment cooling space arranged behind the first refrigerating compartment and a second refrigerating compartment cooling space arranged behind the second refrigerating compartment; and a cooling air supply duct configured to allow cooling air generated by the evaporator to be supplied to the plurality of refrigerating compartments and including a cooling air inlet arranged above the evaporator. 
     The refrigerator may further include a divider configured to divide the first refrigerating compartment and the second refrigerating compartment in a vertical direction to communicate with each other such that the first refrigerating compartment is placed above the second refrigerating compartment. 
     Cooling air introduced through the cooling air inlet may be discharged into the first refrigerating compartment cooling space through a first cooling air outlet formed on one wall of the first refrigerating compartment cooling space, and cooling air introduced through the cooling air inlet may be discharged into the second refrigerating compartment cooling space through a second cooling air outlet formed on one wall of the second refrigerating compartment cooling space. 
     The cooling air supply duct may connect the cooling air inlet, the first cooling air outlet, and the second cooling air outlet. The cooling air introduced through the cooling air inlet may be branched inside the cooling air supply duct and thus a part of the cooling air may be discharged into the first refrigerating compartment cooling space through the first cooling air outlet, and the other part of the cooling air may be discharged into the second refrigerating compartment cooling space through the second cooling air outlet. 
     The cooling air inlet may include a first cooling air inlet and a second cooling air inlet arranged below the first cooling air inlet. The cooling air supply duct may include a first duct configured to allow cooling air, which is introduced through the first cooling air inlet, to be discharged to the first refrigerating compartment cooling space through the first cooling air outlet, and a second duct configured to allow cooling air, which is introduced through the second cooling air inlet, to be discharged to the second refrigerating compartment cooling space through the second cooling air outlet. 
     The freezing compartment partition may include at least one outlet configured to allow cooling air generated by the evaporator to be supplied to the freezing compartment. The refrigerator may further include a refrigerating compartment partition arranged to divide the plurality of refrigerating compartments and the plurality of refrigerating compartment cooling spaces, and including at least one outlet configured to allow cooling air passing through the cooling air supply duct to be supplied to the plurality of refrigerating compartments. 
     The refrigerator may further include a plurality of dampers arranged in the cooling air supply duct to independently control whether to provide cooling air to each of the plurality of refrigerating compartment cooling spaces. 
     The refrigerator may further include a cooling air circulation duct configured to allow air, which is introduced through the cooling air inlet and circulated through the first refrigerating compartment and the second refrigerating compartment, to be supplied to the freezing compartment cooling space. The cooling air circulation duct may connect the second refrigerating compartment to the freezing compartment cooling space. 
     Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document: the terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term “or,” is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like; and the term “controller” means any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one operation, such a device may be implemented in hardware, firmware or software, or some combination of at least two of the same. It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. 
     Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that in many, if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior, as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a front view of a portion of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a sectional view taken along line A-A′ of the refrigerator of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a sectional view taken along line B-B′ of the refrigerator of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a rear view of a portion of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 6A  illustrates a rear perspective view of a portion of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 6B  illustrates a rear perspective view of a portion of the refrigerator when viewed from a direction different from  FIG. 6A ; 
         FIG. 7A  is a view illustrating a state in which a first duct is closed by a first damper in the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 7B  is a view illustrating a state in which the first duct is opened by the first damper in the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 8A  is a view illustrating a state in which a second duct is closed by a second damper in the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 8B  is a view illustrating a state in which the second duct is opened by the second damper in the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 9  is a view illustrating a flow of cooling air in the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure; and 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a rear view of a portion of a refrigerator according to another embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1 through 10 , discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented in any suitably arranged system or device. 
     Hereinafter embodiments of the disclosure will be described with reference to drawings. In the following detailed description, the terms of “front end”, “rear end”, “upper portion”, “lower portion”, “upper end”, “lower end” and the like may be defined by the drawings, but the shape and the location of the component is not limited by the term. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure,  FIG. 2  illustrates a front view of a portion of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure,  FIG. 3  illustrates a sectional view taken along line A-A′ of the refrigerator of  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 4  illustrates a sectional view taken along line B-B′ of the refrigerator of  FIG. 2 . For reference, “ 512 ” of  FIG. 4  refers to a third cooling air inlet. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , a refrigerator  1  may include a body  10 , a plurality of storage compartments  20 ,  30 , and  40  provided in the inside of the body  10 , and a plurality of doors  70 ,  80 , and  90  configured to open or close the plurality of storage compartments  20 ,  30 , and  40 . 
     The body  10  may include a plurality of inner cases  11  and  12  and an outer case  14  arranged on the outside of the plurality of inner cases  11  and  12  to form the appearance of the refrigerator  1 . Between the plurality of inner cases  11 ,  12  and the outer case  14 , a heat insulating material  15  is foamed and filled to prevent cooling air of the plurality of storage compartments  20 ,  30 , and  40  from leaking out of the refrigerator  1 . 
     The plurality of inner cases  11  and  12  may include a first inner case  11  and a second inner case  12  which are adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction Y of the refrigerator  1 . The first inner case  11  may be arranged on the left of a partition wall  13  in the horizontal direction Y of the refrigerator  1 , and the second inner case  12  may be arranged on the right of the partition wall  13  in the horizontal direction Y of the refrigerator  1 . Between the first inner case  11  and the second inner case  12 , a heat insulating material (not shown) may be foamed and filled to prevent heat exchange between a freezing compartment  20  and a plurality of refrigerating compartments  30  and  40 . That is, the partition wall  13  may be filled with a heat insulating material. 
     The plurality of storage compartments  20 ,  30 , and  40  may include the freezing compartment  20  provided in the inside of the body  10 . Particularly, the plurality of storage compartments  20 ,  30 , and  40  may include the freezing compartment  20  provided in the inside of the first inner case  11 . 
     The plurality of storage compartments  20 ,  30 , and  40  may further include the plurality of refrigerating compartments  30 , and  40  provided in the inside of the body  10  to be adjacent to the freezing compartment  20  in the horizontal direction Y of the refrigerator  1 . Particularly, the plurality of storage compartments  20 ,  30 , and  40  may further include the plurality of refrigerating compartments  30 , and  40  provided in the inside of the second inner case  12 . The plurality of refrigerating compartments  30  and  40  may include a first refrigerating compartment  30  and a second refrigerating compartment  40 . The first refrigerating compartment  30  and the second refrigerating compartment  40  may be arranged adjacent to each other in the vertical direction Z of the refrigerator  1 . The first refrigerating compartment  30  and the second refrigerating compartment  40  may be divided in the vertical direction Z of the refrigerator  1  by a divider  50  to communicate with each other. Particularly, the first refrigerating compartment  30  is arranged above the divider  50  in the vertical direction Z of the refrigerator  1 , and the second refrigerating compartment  40  is arranged below the divider  50  in the vertical direction Z of the refrigerator  1 . 
     The plurality of storage compartments  20 ,  30 , and  40  may include an open front surface. 
     A plurality of shelves  62  and a plurality of storage boxes  65  may be provided in the inside of the plurality of storage compartments  20 ,  30 , and  40  so as to store food. 
     The plurality of doors  70 ,  80 , and  90  may be rotatably installed in the body  10  to open or close the open front surfaces of the plurality of storage compartments  20 ,  30 , and  40 . The plurality of doors  70 ,  80 , and  90  may include a freezing compartment door  70  rotatably installed in the body  10  to open or close the freezing compartment  20 , a first refrigerating compartment door  80  rotatably installed in the body  10  to open or close the first refrigerating compartment  30 , and a second refrigerating compartment door  90  rotatably installed in the body  10  to open or close the second refrigerating compartment  40 . 
     A plurality of door guards  95  may be provided on the rear surfaces of the plurality of doors  70 ,  80 , and  90  to accommodate food. 
     The plurality of doors  70 ,  80 , and  90  may be provided with a dispenser  97  to allow a user to take out water or ice from the outside. Particularly, the dispenser  97  may be provided in the freezing compartment door  70 . 
     An insulating material (not shown) may be foamed and filled in the inside of the plurality of doors  70 ,  80 , and  90  to prevent cooling air of the plurality of storage compartments  20 ,  30 , and  40  from leaking out of the refrigerator  1 . 
     The refrigerator  1  may further include a cooling air supply device configured to supply cooling air to the plurality of inner cases  11  and  12 . The cooling air supply device may include a compressor  110 , a condenser  120 , an expansion valve (not shown), and an evaporator  130 . The compressor  110  configured to compress the refrigerant and the condenser  120  configured to condense the compressed refrigerant may be installed in a machine room  100  provided in the lower rear side of the plurality of storage compartments  20 ,  30 , and  40 . As an example, the compressor  110  may be installed in the machine room  100  to be located in the lower rear side of the plurality of refrigerating compartments  30  and  40 , and the condenser  120  may be installed in the machine room  100  to be located in the lower rear side of the freezing compartment  20 . The evaporator  130  may be arranged in a freezing compartment cooling space  210  to be described later. 
     The refrigerator  1  may further include the freezing compartment cooling space  210  arranged behind the freezing compartment  20  to communicate with the freezing compartment  20 . The freezing compartment cooling space  210  may be provided in the inside of the first inner case  11  to be located behind the freezing compartment  20 . The freezing compartment cooling space  210  may be formed between the first inner case  11  and a freezing compartment partition  220 . Particularly, the freezing compartment cooling space  210  may be formed between a part of an inner wall of the first inner case  11  including a rear wall of the first inner case  11 , and the freezing compartment partition  220 . 
     The refrigerator  1  may further include a plurality of refrigerating compartment cooling spaces  310  and  320  arranged behind the plurality of refrigerating compartments  30  and  40  to communicate with the plurality of refrigerating compartments  30  and  40 . The plurality of refrigerating compartment cooling spaces  310  and  320  may be provided in the inside of the second inner case  12  to be located behind the plurality of refrigerating compartments  30  and  40 . The plurality of refrigerating compartment cooling spaces  310  and  320  may include a first refrigerating compartment cooling space  310  positioned behind the first refrigerating compartment  30  and a second refrigerating compartment cooling space  320  positioned behind the second refrigerating compartment  40 . The first refrigerating compartment cooling space  310  may be provided to communicate with the first refrigerating compartment  30 , and the second refrigerating compartment cooling space  320  may be provided to communicate with the second refrigerating compartment  40 . The plurality of refrigerating compartment cooling spaces  310  and  320  may be formed between the second inner case  12  and a refrigerating compartment partition  330 . Particularly, the plurality of refrigerating compartment cooling spaces  310  and  320  may be formed between a part of an inner wall of the second inner case  12  including a rear wall of the second inner case  12 , and the refrigerating compartment partition  330 . 
     The refrigerator  1  may further include the freezing compartment partition  220  configured to divide the first inner case  11  into the freezing compartment  20  and the freezing compartment cooling space  210 . The freezing compartment  20  may be arranged in front of the freezing compartment partition  220  in the front and rear direction X of the refrigerator  1 , and the freezing compartment cooling space  210  may be arranged behind the freezing compartment partition  220  in the front and rear direction X of the refrigerator  1 . The freezing compartment partition  220  may include a freezing compartment duct  230  and a separator plate  240 . The freezing compartment duct  230  may be positioned above the separator plate  240  in the vertical direction Z of the refrigerator  1 . The freezing compartment partition  220  may include at least one outlet  222  configured to allow the cooling air generated by the evaporator  130  to be supplied to the freezing compartment  20 . Particularly, at least one outlet  222  may be formed in a front frame  231  and the separator plate  240  of the freezing compartment duct  230 . 
     The refrigerator  1  may further include the freezing compartment duct  230  configured to supply cooling air to the freezing compartment  20 . The freezing compartment duct  230  may include the front frame  231  forming the rear surface of the freezing compartment  20  and in which the at least one outlet  222  is formed, and a rear frame  232  coupled to the front frame  231 . In addition, the freezing compartment duct  230  may further include an inner space  233  formed between the front frame  231  and the rear frame  232 . 
     The separator plate  240  may be coupled to the freezing compartment duct  230  to form the rear surface of the freezing compartment  20  together with the front frame  231  of the freezing compartment duct  230 . 
     The refrigerator  1  may further include a blowing fan  250  configured to circulate the cooling air generated by the evaporator  130 . The blowing fan  250  may be arranged in the inner space  233  of the freezing compartment duct  230 . Particularly, the blowing fan  250  may be installed in the front frame  231  of the freezing compartment duct  230  so that the cooling air generated by the evaporator  130  flows into the inner space  233  of the freezing compartment duct  230  through the freezing compartment cooling space  210 . 
     The blowing fan  250  may be positioned above the evaporator  130  in the vertical direction Z of the refrigerator  1 . When the blowing fan  250  is operated, the cooling air generated by the evaporator  130  may flow upward and flow into the inner space  233  of the freezing compartment duct  230  through the blowing fan  250 , and the cooling air flowing into the inner space  233  of the freezing compartment duct  230  may be supplied to the freezing compartment  20  though the at least one outlet  222  formed in the freezing compartment partition  220 . 
     The refrigerator  1  may further include the refrigerating compartment partition  330  configured to divide the second inner case  12  into the plurality of refrigerating compartments  30  and  40  and the plurality of refrigerating compartment cooling spaces  310  and  320 . The plurality of refrigerating compartments  30  and  40  may be arranged in front of the refrigerating compartment partition  330  in the front and rear direction X of the refrigerator  1 , and the plurality of refrigerating compartment cooling spaces  310  and  320  may be arranged behind the refrigerating compartment partition  330  in the front and rear direction X of the refrigerator  1 . The refrigerating compartment partition  330  may form the rear surface of the plurality of refrigerating compartments  30  and  40 . The refrigerating compartment partition  330  may include at least one outlet  333  so that the cooling air generated in the evaporator  130  is supplied to the plurality of refrigerating compartments  30  and  40  by sequentially passing through the freezing compartment duct  230  and the plurality of refrigerating compartment cooling spaces  310  and  320 . 
     The refrigerator  1  may further include a plurality of temperature sensors (not shown). The plurality of temperature sensors may include a first temperature sensor provided in the first refrigerating compartment  30  to detect the temperature of the first refrigerating compartment  30 , and a second temperature sensor provided in the second refrigerating compartment  40  to detect the temperature of the second refrigerating compartment  40 . A plurality of dampers  600  and  700  (refer to  FIG. 5 ) to be described later may open or close a cooling air supply duct  400  (refer to  FIG. 5 ) based on a detection result of the plurality of temperature sensors. As an example, when the temperature detected by the plurality of temperature sensors is higher than a predetermined temperature, the plurality of dampers  600  and  700  may open the cooling air supply duct  400 . On the contrary, when the temperature sensed by the plurality of temperature sensors is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature, the plurality of dampers  600  and  700  may close the cooling air supply duct  400 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a rear view of a portion of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure,  FIG. 6A  illustrates a rear perspective view of a portion of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure.  FIG. 6B  illustrates a rear perspective view of a portion of the refrigerator when viewed from a direction different from  FIG. 6A . For reference, in  FIG. 6B , the cooling air supply duct  400  and a cooling air circulation duct  500  shown in  FIG. 6A  are omitted. In addition, a third duct  500  refers to the same configuration as the cooling air circulation duct  500 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 to 6B , the refrigerator  1  may further include the cooling air supply duct  400  configured to allow the cooling air generated by the evaporator  130  to be supplied to the plurality of refrigerating compartments  30  and  40 . 
     The cooling air supply duct  400  may include a first duct  410  configured to allow the cooling air generated by the evaporator  130  to be supplied to the first refrigerating compartment  30 . The first duct  410  may connect the freezing compartment duct  230  to the first refrigerating compartment cooling space  310 . The first duct  410  may include a first unit  410   a  arranged in the inner space  233  of the freezing compartment duct  230 , and a second unit  410   b  configured to connect the first unit  410   a  to the first refrigerating compartment cooling space  310 . The first unit  410   a  and the second unit  410   b  may communicate with each other. The second unit  410   b  may be arranged outside the rear side of the first inner case  11  and the second inner case  12  to connect the first unit  410   a  to the first refrigerating compartment cooling space  310 . The first duct  410  may further include a first cooling air inlet  412  (refer to  FIG. 7A ). Particularly, the first cooling air inlet  412  may be formed at one end of the first unit  410   a  facing the blowing fan  250 . An opening  414  may be formed at the other end of the first unit  410   a  positioned opposite to one end of the first unit  410   a  in which the first cooling air inlet  412  is formed. The opening  414  formed at the other end of the first unit  410   a  may form a communication port  418  together with an opening formed on one wall of the rear frame  232  of the freezing compartment duct  230  and an opening  416  formed on one wall of the first inner case  11 . Cooling air flowing through the first cooling air inlet  412  may be discharged to the first refrigerating compartment cooling space  310  through a first cooling air outlet  419 . The first cooling air outlet  419  may be formed on one wall of the first refrigerating compartment cooling space  310 . In other words, the first cooling air outlet  419  may be formed on one wall of the second inner case  12  forming the first refrigerating compartment cooling space  310 . One end of the second unit  410   b  of the first duct  410  may be coupled to the first inner case  11  to cover the communication port  418 , and the other end of the second unit  410   b  of the first duct  410  may be coupled to second inner case  12  to cover the first cooling air outlet  419 . 
     An upper end portion  412   a  (refer to  FIG. 7A ) of the first cooling air inlet  412  may be closer to the blowing fan  250  than a lower end portion  421   b  (refer to  FIG. 7A ) of the first cooling air inlet  412  in the horizontal direction Y of the refrigerator  1 . In another aspect, a straight line L connecting the upper end portion  412   a  to the lower end portion  412   b  of the first cooling air inlet  412  may be inclined toward the blowing fan  250  with respect to a reference line R passing through the lower end portion  412   b  of the first cooling air inlet  412  and extending in the vertical line Z of the refrigerator  1 . 
     The first cooling air inlet  412  and the first cooling air outlet  419  may be formed at approximately the same position in the vertical direction Z of the refrigerator  1 . The size of the first cooling air inlet  412  may be smaller than the size of the first cooling air outlet  419 . However, the position and size of the first cooling air inlet  412  and the first cooling air outlet  419  are not limited thereto and thus the position and size of the first cooling air inlet  412  and the first cooling air outlet  419  may be variously changed. 
     The first cooling air inlet  412  may be positioned above a second cooling air inlet  422  to be described later in the vertical direction Z of the refrigerator  1 . 
     The cooling air supply duct  400  may further include a second duct  420  configured to allow cooling air generated by the evaporator  130  to be supplied to the second refrigerating compartment  40 . The second duct  420  may connect the freezing compartment duct  230  to the second refrigerating compartment cooling space  320 . One end of the second duct  420  may be coupled to the first inner case  11  to cover the second cooling air inlet  422  formed on one wall of the freezing compartment duct  230 . Particularly, the second cooling air inlet  422  may be formed on one wall of the rear frame  232  of the freezing compartment duct  230 . An opening  426  corresponding to the second cooling air inlet  422  may be formed on one wall of the first inner case  11 . The cooling air flowing through the second cooling air inlet  422  may be discharged into the second refrigerating compartment cooling space  320  through the second cooling air outlet  429 . The second cooling air outlet  429  may be formed in the refrigerating compartment partition  330  positioned in the second refrigerating compartment cooling space  320 . An opening  429   a  corresponding to the second cooling air outlet  429  may be formed on one wall of the second inner case  12 . The other end of the second duct  420  may be coupled to the second inner case  12  to cover the second cooling air outlet  429 . 
     The second duct  420  may include a first coupler  431  coupled to the first inner case  11  to cover the second cooling air inlet  422 , a second coupler  432  coupled to the second inner case  12  to cover the second cooling air outlet  429 , and a connector  433  configured to connect the first coupler  431  to the second coupler  432 . The connector  433  of the second duct  420  may elongate in the vertical direction Z of the refrigerator  1 . The connector  433  of the second duct  420  may have a substantially straight shape. The first coupler  431  of the second duct  420  may be bent to extend from an upper end of the connector  433  toward the first inner case  11 . The second coupler  432  of the second duct  420  may be bent to extend from a lower end of the connector  433  toward the second inner case  12 . 
     The second cooling air inlet  422  and the second cooling air outlet  429  may be formed to be positioned at different positions in the vertical direction Z of the refrigerator  1 . As an example, the second cooling air inlet  422  may be positioned above the second cooling air outlet  429  in the vertical direction Z of the refrigerator  1 . However, the positions of the second cooling air inlet  422  and the second cooling air outlet  429  are not limited thereto and thus the positions of the second cooling air inlet  422  and the second cooling air outlet  429  may be variously changed. 
     The refrigerator  1  may further include the cooling air circulation duct  500  configured to allow air, which is introduced through the first cooling air inlet  412  and circulated through the first refrigerating compartment  30 , and air, which is introduced through the second cooling air inlet  422  and circulated through the second refrigerating compartment  40 , to be supplied to the freezing compartment cooling space  210 . The cooling air circulation duct  500  may connect the second refrigerating compartment  40  to the freezing compartment cooling space  210 . A third cooling air inlet  512  to which one end of the cooling air circulation duct  500  is connected may be formed on one wall of the second refrigerating compartment  40 . Particularly, the third cooling air inlet  512  may be formed on one wall of the second inner case  12  forming the second refrigerating compartment  40 . More particularly, the second inner case  12  may include a side wall facing the first inner case  11 , and the third cooling air inlet  512  may be formed on a side wall of the second inner case  12  defining the second refrigerating compartment  40 . A third cooling air outlet  519  to which the other end of the cooling air circulation duct  500  is connected may be formed on one wall of the freezing compartment cooling spaces  210  so that the cooling air introduced through the third cooling air inlet  512  is discharged to the lower portion of the evaporator  130 . In other words, the third cooling air outlet  519  may be formed on one wall of the first inner case  11  forming the freezing compartment cooling space  210 . 
     The third cooling air inlet  512  and the third cooling air outlet  519  may be formed to be positioned at different positions in the vertical direction Z of the refrigerator  1 . For example, the third cooling air inlet  512  may be positioned above the third cooling air outlet  519  in the vertical direction Z of the refrigerator  1 . However, the positions of the third cooling air inlet  512  and the third cooling air outlet  519  are not limited thereto and thus the positions of the third cooling air inlet  512  and the third cooling air outlet  519  may be variously changed. 
     The cooling air circulation duct  500  may include a flow path  520  (refer to  FIG. 7A ) provided in the cooling air circulation duct  500  to allow the air circulated through the plurality of refrigerating compartments  30  and  40  to flow. The flow path  520  may include a first section  521  connected to the third cooling air inlet  512 , a second section  522  connected to the third cooling air outlet  519 , and a third section  523  provided to connect the first section  521  to the second section  522  and formed to be inclined. The first section  521  may be bent to extend from an upper end of the third section  523  toward the second refrigerating compartment  40 . The second section  522  may be bent to extend from the lower end of the third section  523  toward the freezing compartment  20 . 
       FIG. 7A  is a view illustrating a state in which a first duct is closed by a first damper in the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure, and  FIG. 7B  is a view illustrating a state in which the first duct is opened by the first damper in the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure. For reference, in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the second duct  420  is closed by a second damper  700 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the refrigerator  1  may further include a plurality of dampers  600  and  700  provided in the cooling air supply duct  400  to independently control whether to provide cooling air to each of the plurality of refrigerating compartments  30  and  40 . In other words, the refrigerator  1  may further include the plurality of dampers  600  and  700  provided in the cooling air supply duct  400  to independently control whether to provide cooling air to each of the plurality of refrigerating compartment cooling spaces  310  and  320 . 
     The freezing compartment  20  may be maintained at temperatures below zero. The plurality of refrigerating compartments  30  and  40  may be maintained at temperature above zero. It is appropriate that the temperatures of the plurality of refrigerating compartments  30  and  40  may be different depending on the type of food stored in the plurality of refrigerating compartments  30  and  40 . Alternatively, the temperatures of the plurality of refrigerating compartments  30  and  40  may be the same. Cooling air of about −20° C. generated by the evaporator  130  may be directly supplied to the freezing compartment  20  through the freezing compartment duct  230  or supplied to the plurality of refrigerating compartments  30  and  40  through the freezing compartment duct  230  and the cooling air supply duct  400  connected to the freezing compartment duct  230 . The plurality of dampers  600  and  700  may be provided in the cooling air supply duct  400  to prevent cooling air from being additionally supplied to the plurality of refrigerating compartments  30  and  40  when the temperatures of the plurality of refrigerating compartments  30  and  40  are maintained at the predetermined temperature. 
     The plurality of dampers  600  and  700  may include a first damper  600  configured to selectively open or close the first duct  410 . As an example, the first damper  600  may be configured to selectively open or close the first cooling air inlet  412 . However, the first damper  600  may be configured to open or close the first duct  410  and may not necessarily be configured to open or close the first cooling air inlet  412 . 
     The first damper  600  may be rotatably installed in the first unit  410   a  of the first duct  410  arranged in the inner space  233  of the freezing compartment duct  230 . The first damper  600  may include a door  610  configured to selectively open or close the first duct  410  and a driver  620  configured to drive the door  610 . The door  610  of the first damper  600  may be rotatable about a door rotation shaft  630 . It is appropriate that the door  610  of the first damper  600  may be configured to selectively open or close the first cooling air inlet  412  of the first duct  410 . 
     The door rotation shaft  630  of the first damper  600  may be inclined toward the blowing fan  250  with respect to the reference line R 1  passing through a lower end portion of the door rotation shaft  630  and extending in the vertical direction Z of the refrigerator  1 . In another aspect, the door rotation shaft  630  of the first damper  600  and the first cooling air inlet  412  of the first duct  410  may be inclined toward the blowing fan  250 . As an example, the degree of inclination of the door rotation shaft  630  of the first damper  600  and the degree of inclination of the first cooling air inlet  412  of the first duct  410  may be the same. However, the degree of inclination of the door rotation shaft  630  of the first damper  600  and the degree of inclination of the first cooling air inlet  412  of the first duct  410  are not limited thereto and thus the degree of the inclination thereof may be variously changed. 
     The plurality of dampers  600  and  700  may further include a second damper  700  configured to selectively open or close the second duct  420 . The second damper  700  may selectively open or close the second duct  420  independently of the first damper  600 . As an example, the second damper  700  may be configured to selectively open or close the second cooling air outlet  429 . However, the second damper  700  may be configured to open or close the second duct  420  and may not necessarily be configured to open or close the second cooling air outlet  429 . 
     The second damper  700  may be rotatably installed in the refrigerating compartment partition  330 . The second damper  700  may include a door  710  configured to selectively open or close the second duct  420 , and a driver  720  configured to drive the door  710 . The door  710  of the second damper  700  may be rotatable about a door rotation shaft  730 . It is appropriate that the door  710  of the second damper  700  may selectively open or close the second cooling air outlet  429 . 
     The door rotation shaft  730  of the second damper  700  may be inclined toward the inner direction of the second inner case  12  with respect to a reference line R 2  passing through a lower end portion of the door rotation shaft  730  and extending in the vertical direction Z of the refrigerator  1 . 
     The plurality of dampers  600  and  700  may include an electric damper. 
     The first cooling air inlet  412  and the second cooling air inlet  422  may be located above the evaporator  130 . 
     When the first cooling air inlet  412  and the second cooling air inlet  422  are formed adjacent to the evaporator  130 , various difficulties may occur. As an example, when the first cooling air inlet  412  and the second cooling air inlet  422  are formed to face the evaporator  130 , the first cooling air inlet  412  and the second cooling air inlet  422  may be frozen due to the low temperature of the evaporator  130 . When the first cooling air inlet  412  and the second cooling air inlet  422  are frozen, the cooling air generated by the evaporator  130  may not move to the plurality of refrigerating compartments  30  and  40 , and thus cooling efficiency of the plurality of refrigerating compartments  30  and  40  may decrease. In addition, when the first cooling air inlet  412  and the second cooling air inlet  422  are formed to face the evaporator  130 , the defrost heat used in the defrosting operation of the refrigerator  1  may be leaked through the first cooling air inlet  412  and the second cooling air inlet  422 . When the defrost heat is leaked through the first cooling air inlet  412  and the second cooling air inlet  422 , it is difficult to expect a sufficient defrosting effect on the evaporator  130  due to the lack of defrost heat. In addition, the defrost heat leaked through the first cooling air inlet  412  and the second cooling air inlet  422  may be introduced into the plurality of refrigerating compartments  30  and  40 , thereby increasing the temperatures of the plurality of refrigerating compartments  30  and  40 . 
     To alleviate the above mentioned difficulties, the first cooling air inlet  412  and the second cooling air inlet  422  may be formed above the evaporator  130 . By designing the refrigerator  1  such that the first cooling air inlet  412  and the second cooling air inlet  422  are positioned above the evaporator  130 , it is possible to effectively prevent various difficulties due to clogging of the cooling air supply duct  400  caused by freezing, or due to leakage of defrost heat. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7A , when the first duct  410  is closed by the first damper  600 , the cooling air generated by the evaporator  130  may not flow into the first refrigerating compartment  30 . Because the second duct  420  is closed by the second damper  700 , the cooling air generated by the evaporator  130  may be used to cool the freezing compartment  20 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7B , when the first duct  410  is opened by the first damper  600 , the cooling air generated by the evaporator  130  may flow into the first refrigerating compartment  30 . The cooling air generated by the evaporator  130  may be introduced into the first refrigerating compartment  30  through the first duct  410 . Because the second duct  420  is closed by the second damper  700 , the cooling air generated by the evaporator  130  may be used to cool the freezing compartment  20  and the first refrigerating compartment  30 . 
       FIG. 8A  is a view illustrating a state in which a second duct is closed by a second damper in the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure and  FIG. 8B  is a view illustrating a state in which the second duct is opened by the second damper in the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure. For reference, in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , the first duct  410  is closed by the first damper  600 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8A , when the second duct  420  is closed by the second damper  700 , the cooling air generated by the evaporator  130  may not flow into the second refrigerating compartment  40 . Because the first duct  410  is closed by the first damper  600 , the cooling air generated by the evaporator  130  may be used to cool the freezing compartment  20 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8B , when the second duct  420  is opened by the second damper  700 , the cool air generated by the evaporator  130  may flow into the second refrigerating compartment  40 . The cooling air generated by the evaporator  130  may be introduced into the second refrigerating compartment  40  through the second duct  420 . Because the first duct  410  is closed by the first damper  600 , the cooling air generated by the evaporator  130  may be used to cool the freezing compartment  20  and the second refrigerating compartment  40 . 
       FIG. 9  is a view illustrating a flow of cooling air in the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure. For reference, in  FIG. 9 , the first duct  410  and the second duct  420  are open. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the cooling air generated by one evaporator  130  may be used to cool the freezing compartment  20  and the plurality of storage compartments  20 ,  30 , and  40 . 
     The refrigerator  1  may include a first flow path  810  configured to cool the freezing compartment  20 . The cooling air generated by the evaporator  130  may be introduced into the freezing compartment  20  along the first flow path  810 . The cooling air generated by the evaporator  130  may be introduced into the freezing compartment duct  230  by the blowing fan  250  and then introduced into the freezing compartment  20  through the at least one outlet  222  formed in the freezing compartment partition  220 . The cooling air introduced into the freezing compartment  20  may cool the freezing compartment  20  while circulating the freezing compartment  20 . The cooling air used to cool the freezing compartment  20  may flow back into the freezing compartment cooling space  210  to exchange heat in the evaporator  130 . 
     The refrigerator  1  may further include a second flow path  820  configured to cool the first refrigerating compartment  30 . The cooling air generated by the evaporator  130  may be introduced into the first refrigerating compartment  30  along the second flow path  820 . The cooling air generated by the evaporator  130  may be introduced into the freezing compartment duct  230  by the blowing fan  250  and then introduced into the first refrigerating compartment cooling space  310  through the first duct  410 . The cooling air introduced into the first refrigerating compartment cooling space  310  may be introduced into the first refrigerating compartment  30  through the at least one outlet  333  formed on the refrigerating compartment partition  330 . The cooling air introduced into the first refrigerating compartment  30  may cool the first refrigerating compartment  30  while circulating the first refrigerating compartment  30 . After the circulation of the first refrigerating compartment  30  is completed, the cooling air may be discharged to the freezing compartment cooling space  210  through the third duct  500 . 
     The refrigerator  1  may further include a third flow path  830  configured to cool the second refrigerating compartment  40  independently of the first refrigerating compartment  30 . The cooling air generated by the evaporator  130  may be introduced into the second refrigerating compartment  40  along the third flow path  830 . The cooling air generated by the evaporator  130  may be introduced into the freezing compartment duct  230  by the blowing fan  250  and then introduced into the second refrigerating compartment cooling space  320  through the second duct  420 . The cooling air introduced into the second refrigerating compartment cooling space  320  may be introduced into the second refrigerating compartment  40  through the at least one outlet  333  formed in the refrigerating compartment partition  330 . The cooling air introduced into the second refrigerating compartment  40  may cool the second refrigerating compartment  40  while circulating the second refrigerating compartment  40 . After the circulation of the second refrigerating compartment  40  is completed, the cooling air may be discharged to the freezing compartment cooling space  210  through the third duct  500 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a rear view of a portion of a refrigerator according to another embodiment of the disclosure. Hereinafter a description of the same parts as those shown in  FIGS. 1 to 9  will be omitted. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , a refrigerator  1   a  may include a cooling air supply duct  400   a  configured to allow cooling air generated by an evaporator  130  to be supplied to a plurality of refrigerating compartments  30  and  40 . The cooling air supply duct  400   a  may include a cooling air inlet  900  positioned above the evaporator  130 . 
     The cooling air introduced through the cooling air inlet  900  may be discharged into a first refrigerating compartment cooling space  310  through a first cooling air outlet  419 . The first cooling air outlet  419  may be formed on one wall of the first refrigerating compartment cooling space  310 . 
     The cooling air introduced through the cooling air inlet  900  may be discharged into a second refrigerating compartment cooling space  320  through the second cooling air outlet  429 . The second cooling air outlet  429  may be formed on a refrigerating compartment partition  330  positioned in a second refrigerating compartment cooling space  320 . 
     The cooling air supply duct  400   a  may connect the cooling air inlet  900 , the first cooling air outlet  419 , and the second cooling air outlet  429 . The cooling air introduced through the cooling air inlet  900  is branched inside the cooling air supply duct  400   a . Therefore, a portion of the cooling air may be discharged into the first refrigerating compartment cooling space  310  through the first cooling air outlet, and the other portion of the cooling air may be discharged to the second refrigerating compartment cooling space  320  through the second cooling air outlet  429 . 
     That is, the cooling air supply duct may be composed of a plurality of ducts, such as the cooling air supply duct  400  described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 9 , but may also be composed of one duct such as the cooling air supply duct  400   a  described with reference to  FIG. 10 . 
     The disclosure may be applied to various types of refrigerators. That is, the disclosure may be applied to a refrigerator having a freezing compartment and a plurality of refrigerating compartments regardless of the arrangement of the freezing compartment and the plurality of refrigerating compartments. 
     As is apparent from the above description, the refrigerator may independently control the temperature of the plurality of refrigerating compartments by installing the plurality of dampers in the cooling air supply ducts configured to allow the cooling air generated by the evaporator to be supplied to the plurality of refrigerating compartments. 
     Although a few embodiments of the disclosure have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents. 
     Although the present disclosure has been described with various embodiments, various changes and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art. It is intended that the present disclosure encompass such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.