Abstract:
A cool-air supplying apparatus of a refrigerator includes a fan that has a body and a plurality of blades mounted around a circumference of the body. A motor of the cool-air supplying apparatus is mounted at least partially in a recess formed within the fan body. A rotor of the motor is coupled to the inner surface of the recess so that the fan and rotor rotate together as one body. Because the motor is mounted within a recess of the fan body, an overall height of the combined fan and motor is smaller than in conventional cool-air supplying devices. As a result, when the cool-air supplying apparatus is mounted within a cool-air supply duct of a refrigerator, more space within the refrigerator can be devoted to the storage space, which increases the internal capacity of the refrigerator. In addition, less room within the cool-air supply duct is consumed by the motor, which increases the flow of cool air through the duct.

Description:
[0001]    The application claims priority to Korean Application No. 10-2006-0064113, filed on Jul. 7, 2006, which is herein expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a cool-air supplying apparatus for a refrigerator which is capable of increasing an amount of cool air supplied to a storage chamber of the refrigerator. The device also increases an internal volume of storage chamber by minimizing a space occupied by a driving motor of the cool-air supplying apparatus. 
         [0004]    2. Background 
         [0005]    Generally, a refrigerator is provided with a cooling system which supplies cool air to a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber which are separated by a partition wall. A cool-air supplying apparatus, in the form of a fan, is typically used to move the cool air from the refrigerating apparatus into the storage chambers. 
         [0006]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a conventional art cool-air supplying apparatus of a refrigerator.  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of illustrating a connection structure between a fan and a motor.  FIG. 2  is a lateral cross section view illustrating the cool-air supplying apparatus of  FIG. 1  installed in a refrigerator. 
         [0007]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a conventional art cool-air supplying apparatus of a refrigerator is provided with a fan  220  comprising a body  223 , a plurality of blades  221  and a fan-shroud  222 . The body  223  has a motor-axis insertion hole  224  of a protruding shape which is coupled with a shaft  251  of a motor  250 . The plurality of blades  221  are provided around the circumference of the body  223 . The fan-shroud  222  is connected with the upper side of the blades  221  so as to support the upper sides of the blades  221 . 
         [0008]    The motor-axis insertion hole  224  is provided in the center of the body  223  of the fan  220 . Once the shaft  251  of the motor  250  is inserted into the motor-axis insertion hole  224 , a driving force of the motor  250  is transmitted to the fan  220 , which allows the fan assembly to blow cool air. 
         [0009]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the fan  220  is provided between a shroud  260  and a grill  270  located adjacent a storage space of a refrigerator. The motor  250  is mounted on a rear wall  110  of the refrigerator. The shroud  260  is provided with an orifice  261  to guide the cool air to an inlet of the fan  220 . Also, the grill  270  is provided with cool-air discharge holes  280  to discharge the cool air into the storage space. The motor  250  is positioned within the cool air duct  112  opposite to the fan  220 . As a result, the motor  250  partially obstructs the flow of cool air through the cool air duct  112 . Also, because the motor  250  and the fan  220  occupy a relatively large space, the internal cooling space of refrigerator is decreased by a height (L 1 ) of the motor  250  and fan  220 . 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements, and wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of illustrating a connection structure between a fan and a motor provided in a conventional art cool-air supplying apparatus; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a lateral cross section view illustrating a conventional art refrigerator having the cool-air supplying apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a cross section view illustrating an inner structure of a refrigerator having a cool-air supplying apparatus; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a cross section view taken along line IV-IV of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5A  is a perspective view illustrating a connection structure between a fan and a motor; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5B  is a cross section view taken along line V-V of  FIG. 5A ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a plan view illustrating a shape of a fan provided in a cool-air supplying apparatus; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a side view illustrating a shape of a fan provided in a cool-air supplying apparatus; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8A  is a graph illustrating a power consumption based on a blade height of a fan as shown in  FIG. 7 , and  FIG. 8B  is a graph illustrating a noise change based on a blade height of a fan as shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9A  is a graph illustrating a power consumption based on an inside diameter of a fan-shroud as shown in  FIG. 7 , and  FIG. 9B  is a graph of illustrating a noise change based on an inside diameter of a fan-shroud as shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10A  is a graph illustrating a power consumption based on an inside diameter formed by a blade, and  FIG. 10B  is a graph illustrating a noise change based on an inside diameter formed by a blade; 
           [0022]      FIG. 11A  is a graph illustrating a power consumption based on an inlet angle of a blade of a fan as shown in  FIG. 6 , and  FIG. 11B  is a graph illustrating a noise change based on an inlet angle of a blade of a fan as shown in  FIG. 6 ; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 12A  is a graph illustrating a power consumption based on an outlet angle of a blade of a fan as shown in  FIG. 6 , and  FIG. 11B  is a graph of illustrating a noise change based on an outlet angle of a blade of a fan as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a refrigerator  100  including fans  500  and  700  is provided with cool-air inlets  240  and  340  and a cooling system. The refrigerator  100  has an inner space including a freezing chamber  200  and a refrigerating chamber  300  divided by a partition wall  400 . In this embodiment, separate refrigerator systems are provided for the refrigerating chamber  300  and the freezing chamber  200 . In other embodiments, a single refrigerating system would supply cool air to both chambers. In still other embodiments, only a freezing chamber, or only a refrigerating chamber would be provided. 
         [0025]    The cooling systems are provided with evaporators  230  and  330 , cool-air ducts  210  and  310 , and fans  500  and  700 . The fans  550 ,  700  draw air from the storage chambers via the cool air inlets  240 ,  350 . The cool air is drawn across the evaporators  230 ,  330 , which cools the air. The fans then blow the cooled air into the cool air ducts  210  and  310 , which supply the cool air to the storage spaces. The fans  500  and  700  are located in the cool-air ducts  210  and  310 , to thereby supply the cool air to the storage spaces. 
         [0026]    A cool-air supplying apparatus of the freezing chamber  200  is basically identical to that of the refrigerating chamber  300 . Hereinafter, the cool-air supplying apparatus of the freezing chamber  200  will be explained in detail. 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the cool-air duct  210  is divided into two areas ‘A’ and ‘B’ with respect to an orifice  261 . An inlet of the fan  500 , or an upper portion of a fan-shroud  520 , is in communication with the orifice  261 . The cool air is drawn into the ‘A’ area after passing across the evaporator  230 . The cool air is then supplied to the inside of the storage space through the orifice  261  and the ‘B’ area by the rotation of the fan  500  provided in the ‘B’ area. 
         [0028]    The fan  500  is provided with a plurality of blades  510 , a body  530 , the fan-shroud  520 , and a motor  600 . The plurality of blades  510  are arranged around the circumference of the fan  500 . The body  530  is rotated together with the blades  510  since the body  530  is connected with the blades  510 . The body  530  has a recessed part  531  provided in a height direction of the fan  500 . The fan-shroud  520  is provided so as to fix and support the plurality of blades  510 . Also, at least one portion of the motor  600  is inserted into the recessed part  531  of the body  530 , and the motor  600  drives the fan  500 . 
         [0029]    Preferably, the fan  500  and the rotor of the motor  600  are attached to each other so that the fan  500  and the rotor of the motor  600  are rotated together. By locating the motor inside the recessed part  531  of the fan, it is possible to decrease the space occupied by the fan  500  and the motor  600 , thereby increasing the internal volume available in the refrigerator. 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the motor  600  includes a stator  620 , a rotor  630  positioned at a predetermined interval from the stator  620  and provided outside the stator  620 , and magnets  631  provided on an inner surface of the rotor  630 . The outer surface of the rotor  630  is coupled to the inner surface  532  of the recessed part  531 , so that the fan  500  and the rotor of the motor  600  are rotated together. That is, because the inner surface  532  of the recessed part  531  is coupled to the outer surface of the rotor  630 , it is possible to decrease the length of the rotation axis  632  which connects the motor  600  and the fan  500  with each other. As a result, the total height of the fan  500  and the motor  600  is decreased. 
         [0031]    In some embodiments, the rotor  630  may be formed as one body with the inner surface  532  of the recessed part  531 . In this instance, the magnets would simply be directly attached to the inner surface  532  of the recessed part  531  of the fan. 
         [0032]    Each blade  510  has a predetermined height and width. Also, the blades  510  are slantways provided with a predetermined angle relative to the circumference of the fan  500 . The fan-shroud  520  is provided at one end of each of the blades  510  such that the blades  510  are stably combined with the fan-shroud  520 . The body  530  is combined with the lower end of each of the blades  510 . Thus, the blades  510  are held between the body  530  and the shroud  520 . 
         [0033]    In the central portion of the body  530 , there is the inner space into which the motor  600  is inserted. Also, the body  530  has the recessed part  531  which is coupled with the motor  600  through an opening thereof. At least one portion of the motor  600  is combined with the inner surface  532  of the recessed part  531  so that the fan  500  and the rotor of the motor  600  are coupled together. As a result, it is possible to decrease the total height (L 2 ) of the motor  600  and the fan  500 . 
         [0034]    The cool-air duct  210  of the refrigerator is divided into two areas ‘A’ and ‘B’ by the shroud  260 . The orifice  261  allows cool air to pass from the ‘A’ side to the ‘B’ side. The inlet of the fan  500  or the fan-shroud  520  is provided in the circumference of the orifice  261 . 
         [0035]    The fan  500  is provided between the orifice  261  and a grill  270 . The motor  600  is provided in the ‘B’ area adjacent to the grill and the storage space. That is, the fan  500  and the motor  600  are provided in the ‘B’ area, which is adjacent to the storage space. Thus, the inlet of the fan  500  or the fan-shroud  520  is in communication with the orifice  261 , so the motor  600  doesn&#39;t obstruct the passage of cool air through the cool-air duct  210 . As a result, the cool air flows smoothly through the cool-air duct. 
         [0036]    The shroud  260 , including the orifice  261 , is provided at a predetermined interval from the rear wall  110  of the refrigerator, to thereby form the “A” side of the cool-air duct  210 . The grill  270  is provided at a predetermined interval from the shroud  260 . The motor  600  can be attached to the grill  270 , and more particularly, is positioned between the shroud  260  and the grill  270 . 
         [0037]    It is possible to optimize the design of the fan  500  to thereby maximize the flow of cool air blown into storage space, to minimize power consumption, and to minimize the amount of noise generated when the fan  500  and the motor  600  are rotated together. Hereinafter, the power consumption and the noise generated in the refrigerator  100  based on the detailed shape of the fan and the optimal design will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 6 to 12 . 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , each blade  510  provided in the fan  500  has a predetermined height (H) and a predetermined width. The plurality of blades  510  are provided between the fan-shroud  520  and body  530  along the circumference of the fan  500 . The blades  510  are formed so that the inner edges of the blades form an angle ‘θ 1 ’ with respect to a tangential surface of a circle formed along an inner diameter Di formed by the blades. The outer edges of the blades also form an angle ‘θ 2 ’ with respect to a tangential surface of the fan-shroud  520 . 
         [0039]    Preferably, the inside diameter (Di) of the circle formed by the inner edges of the plurality of blades  510  is 55% to 62% of the outside diameter (Do) of the fan  500 . 
         [0040]    Preferably, the inlet angle ‘θ 1 ’ between the inner edges of the blades  510  and a tangent line of the above-mentioned circle has an angle of 31 to 33 degrees. 
         [0041]    Preferably, the outlet angle ‘θ 2 ’ between the outer edges of the blades  510  and a tangent line of the outside diameter of the fan  500  has an angle of 33 to 35 degrees. 
         [0042]    The values of the inside diameter (Di), the inlet angle ‘θ 1 ’, and the outlet angle ‘θ 2 ’ according to the shape of the blades  510  are determined based on the optimal design of the fan  500 , which will be explained with reference to graphs shown in  FIGS. 8 to 12 . 
         [0043]    First, as shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , the power consumption and the noise generated by the fan  500  are the lowest when the height (H) of the blade is about 19% to 23% of the outside diameter (Do) of the fan. 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIGS. 9A and 9B , the power consumption and the noise are the lowest when the inside diameter (Ds) of the fan-shroud  520  is about 70% to 85% of the outside diameter (Do) of the fan. 
         [0045]    As shown in  FIGS. 10A and 10B , the power consumption and the noise are the lowest when the inside diameter (Di) is about 55% to 62% of the outside diameter (Do) of the fan. 
         [0046]    As shown in  FIGS. 11A and 11B , the power consumption and the noise are the lowest when the inlet angle ‘θ 2 ’ has an angle of 31 to 33 degrees with respect to the outside of the fan  500 . 
         [0047]    As shown in  FIGS. 12A and 12B , the power consumption and the noise are the lowest when the outlet angle ‘θ 1 ’ has an angle of 33 to 35 degrees with respect to the inside of the fan  500 . 
         [0048]    By forming the fan so that it has dimensions that fall within the above-listed optimal parameters, it is possible to minimize the noise generated by the fan. In addition, the optical design ensures a good flow of cool air. 
         [0049]    A cool-air supplying apparatus as described above has several advantages. Because the fan and the motor are formed as one body, and are rotated together, the space occupied by the fan and the motor is decreased. This allows the internal volume of the refrigerator to be increased. Furthermore, it also improves the flow of cool air because the motor does not impede the flow of cool air. Also, by optimizing certain characteristics of the fan, as explained above, the noise and power consumption can be reduced. 
         [0050]    As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims. All changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalents of such metes and bounds, are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims. 
         [0051]    Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example 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 embodiments. 
         [0052]    Although a number of illustrative embodiments have been described, 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, 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.