Patent Description:
A refrigerator is a home appliance including a main body having a storage compartment and a cold air supply device for supplying cold air to the storage compartment to keep food fresh.

A refrigerator may be provided with a dispenser configured to allow a user to receive water from the outside of the refrigerator by operating an operating lever without opening a door.

However, the dispenser may discharge water only while the user depresses the operating lever. Therefore, the user may not receive a large amount of water at once and is required to keep pressing the operating lever until water collects in a bucket when the user needs a large amount of water.

When the bucket is mounted in a bucket mounting space, an automatic water supply device may detect a water level in the bucket and supply water to fill the bucket with a predetermined amount of water.

<CIT> discloses a refrigerator according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

<CIT> disclose a refrigerator including an automatic water supply device. <CIT> discloses a refrigerator including water dispenser.

In accordance with the invention , a refrigerator is provided as defined in claim <NUM>. The dyke may include a dyke bead protruding toward the accommodation space, and the water supply case may include a case bead groove formed such that the dyke bead is inserted.

The refrigerator may further include a fastening member provided to fasten the water supply case to the dyke in a state in which the dyke bead is inserted into the case bead groove.

The dyke may include an upper dyke part, a lower dyke part, and opposite side dyke parts forming an upper surface, a lower surface, and opposite side surfaces of the accommodation space, respectively, and the fastening member may include a first fastening member provided to fasten the water supply case to one of the opposite side dyke parts, and a second fastening member provided to fasten the water supply case to the lower dyke part.

The case bead may be formed on a first surface of the water supply case, and the case bead groove may be formed on a second surface opposite to the first surface of the water supply case.

The water supply case may include a main case including a bucket mounting space in which the bucket is mounted, and a bucket support formed below the bucket mounting space to support the bucket, and a tray provided at a lower portion of the main case to collect water flowing out of the bucket.

The tray may include a drain hole provided to discharge water collected in the tray to the outside, and a plug provided to open and close the drain hole.

The main case may include a stopper of a rubber material provided on an upper side of the bucket mounting space to reduce the movement of the bucket supported by the bucket support.

The refrigerator may further include a water supply flow path provided to guide water supplied from a water supply source to the bucket, and a control valve provided to open and close the water supply flow path depending on the water level in the bucket detected by the water level sensor.

The automatic water supply device may further include a fitting member connected to the water supply flow path to guide water supplied from the water supply flow path to the bucket, and the fitting member may be disposed on an upper surface of the main case to pass through a water outlet hole formed on the main case.

The automatic water supply device may further include a check valve installed inside the fitting member to check for clogging and leak of the water supply flow path.

The check valve may include a valve housing installed inside the fitting member and having a valve flow path therein, and a valve body movably disposed inside the valve flow path to open and close the valve flow path depending on a pressure in the water supply flow path.

A refrigerator includes a main body having a storage compartment, a door rotatably provided on the main body to open and close the storage compartment, a door basket provided on a rear surface of the door to store food, and an automatic water supply device including a water supply case provided on the rear surface of the door, a bucket detachably mounted on the water supply case, and a water level sensor provided to detect a water level in the bucket, the automatic water supply device being configured to supply water to the bucket depending on the water level in the bucket, wherein the water supply case supports the door basket so that the door basket is positioned at one side of the water supply case.

The door basket includes a basket bead groove formed on one side of the door basket, and the water supply case includes a case bead protruding from the water supply case to support the door basket by being inserted into the basket bead groove.

A refrigerator includes a main body having a storage compartment, a door rotatably provided on the main body to open and close the storage compartment, and an automatic water supply device including a water supply case, a bucket detachably mounted on the water supply case, and a water level sensor provided to detect a water level in the bucket, the automatic water supply device being configured to supply water to the bucket depending on the water level in the bucket, wherein the bucket includes a bucket body having a bucket space provided to store water and a bucket opening formed on an upper side thereof to be in communication with the bucket space, an infuser provided to accommodate and brew tea leaves, and an infuser mount detachably coupled to the bucket opening to support the infuser.

The infuser mount may include a mount frame including a mount opening into which the infuser is inserted and an elastic hook elastically coupled to the bucket opening, and a mount handle protruding from the mount frame to be gripped by a user.

The infuser may include a sidewall having infuser holes formed to allow water to pass through, a bottom forming a space for accommodating tea leaves together with the sidewall, and an infuser rim protruding radially outward from an upper end of the sidewall to be supported on an upper surface of the mount frame.

The bucket may further include a bucket cover coupled to an upper portion of the bucket body, and the bucket body may include an inlet formed to allow water to be introduced into the bucket space, and a guide formed to be inclined to guide water introduced through the inlet toward the sidewall of the infuser.

According to the invention , an automatic water supply device can be easily and firmly installed on a door of a refrigerator.

Further, according to the invention, the usability of the automatic water supply device can be improved.

The singular expressions herein may include plural expressions, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, the terms "comprises" and "has" are intended to indicate that there are features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, parts, or combinations thereof.

It will be understood that although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various components, these components should not be limited by these terms, and the terms are only used to distinguish one component from another.

The terms "front end," "rear end," "upper portion," "lower portion," "upper end" and "lower end" used in the following description are defined with reference to the drawings, and the shape and position of each component are not limited by these terms.

It is foreseen to provide a refrigerator including an automatic water supply device capable of supplying water to a bucket until the bucket is filled with a predetermined amount of water when the bucket is mounted.

It is foreseen to provide a refrigerator including an automatic water supply device capable of being easily installed.

It is foreseen to provide a refrigerator including an automatic water supply device with improved usability.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating an exterior of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure, <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a state in which doors of the refrigerator are opened according to an embodiment of the disclosure, and <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a bucket is separated from an automatic water supply device of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, a refrigerator <NUM> according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include a main body <NUM>, storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> formed inside the main body <NUM>, doors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> to open and close the storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, and a cold air supply device (not shown) to supply cold air to the storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

The main body <NUM> may include an inner case <NUM> forming the storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, an outer case <NUM> coupled to the outside of the inner case <NUM> to form an outer appearance, and an insulation material (not shown) provided between the inner case <NUM> and the outer case <NUM> to insulate the storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

A plurality of the storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be partitioned by a horizontal partition wall <NUM> and a vertical partition wall <NUM>. The storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be partitioned into the upper storage compartment <NUM> and the lower storage compartments <NUM> and <NUM> by the horizontal partition wall <NUM>, and the lower storage compartments <NUM> and <NUM> may be partitioned into the lower left storage compartment <NUM> and the lower right storage compartment <NUM> by the vertical partition wall <NUM>.

The upper storage compartment <NUM> may be used as a refrigerating compartment, and the lower storage compartments <NUM> and <NUM> may be used as a freezing compartment. An ice maker <NUM> to make ice may be provided in either of the lower storage compartments <NUM> and <NUM>. However, the division and use of the storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> as described above are only an example, and are not limited thereto.

Unlike the present embodiment, the refrigerator may be a side by side (SBS) type refrigerator in which storage compartments are partitioned into the left and right by a vertical partition wall, a French Door Refrigerator (FDR) in which storage compartments are partitioned into an upper storage compartment and a lower storage compartment by a horizontal partition wall, or a one-door type refrigerator having one storage compartment and one door.

A shelf <NUM> to place food and a storage container <NUM> to store food may be provided inside each of the storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

The cold air supply device may generate cold air using a cold air circulation cycle through which a refrigerant is compressed, condensed, expanded, and evaporated, and may supply the generated cold air to the storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

The upper storage compartment <NUM> may be opened and closed by a pair of the doors <NUM> and <NUM>. Each of the doors <NUM> and <NUM> may be rotatably coupled to the main body <NUM> by an upper hinge <NUM> and an intermediate hinge <NUM>. A filler (not shown) to prevent cold air in the storage compartment <NUM> from leaking between the pair of doors <NUM> and <NUM> when the pair of doors <NUM> and <NUM> are closed may be provided on one of the door <NUM> of the pair of doors <NUM> and <NUM>.

The lower left storage compartment <NUM> may be opened and closed by the door <NUM>, and the lower right storage compartment <NUM> may be opened and closed by the door <NUM>. Each of the door <NUM> and the door <NUM> may be rotatably coupled to the main body <NUM> by the intermediate hinge <NUM> and a lower hinge <NUM>.

A gasket <NUM> to be in close contact with a front surface of the main body <NUM> may be provided on a rear surface of each of the doors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> to seal the storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. Each of the doors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may include door baskets <NUM> and <NUM> having a door storage space to store food. The door baskets <NUM> and <NUM> are provided on the rear surfaces of the doors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> and may be cooled by cold air in the storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

An automatic water supply device <NUM> may be provided on the rear surface of the door <NUM>. The automatic water supply device <NUM> may include a water supply case <NUM> having a bucket mounting space <NUM>, a bucket <NUM> detachably mounted in the bucket mounting space <NUM>, and a water level sensor <NUM> (<FIG>) to detect a water level in the bucket <NUM> mounted in the bucket mounting space <NUM>. The automatic water supply device <NUM> may detect the water level in the bucket <NUM> mounted in the bucket mounting space <NUM> and supply water to the bucket <NUM> so that the bucket <NUM> is filled with a predetermined amount of water. That is, the automatic water supply device <NUM> may perform an auto-fill function.

<FIG> is a schematic view illustrating a water supply flow path of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the refrigerator <NUM> may include a water filter <NUM>. The water filter <NUM> may purify water supplied from a water supply source <NUM>.

The refrigerator <NUM> may include a water supply flow path <NUM> to guide water supplied from the water supply source <NUM> to the bucket <NUM> of the automatic water supply device <NUM>, and an ice maker flow path <NUM> to guide the water supplied from the water supply source <NUM> to the ice maker <NUM>.

The water supply flow path <NUM> and the ice maker flow path <NUM> are formed to branch at one point, and a flow path switching valve <NUM> may be provided at the branch point so that water supplied from the water supply source <NUM> is selectively supplied to the bucket <NUM> or the ice maker <NUM>. Water in the water supply source <NUM> may be supplied to the bucket <NUM> or the ice maker <NUM> by a water pressure in the water supply source <NUM> and control of the flow path switching valve <NUM>.

The water supply flow path <NUM> and the ice maker flow path <NUM> may be provided to extend from the water filter <NUM>. Accordingly, water in the water supply source <NUM> may be purified by the water filter <NUM> and then supplied to the bucket <NUM> and the ice maker <NUM>.

A control valve <NUM> may be provided on the water supply flow path <NUM>. The control valve <NUM> may allow or block water supply from the water supply source <NUM> to the bucket <NUM>. A flow sensor <NUM> is provided on the water supply flow path <NUM> to measure an amount of water supplied to the bucket <NUM>.

<FIG> is an exploded view illustrating the door and the automatic water supply device of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure. <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a water supply case of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure. <FIG> is a view illustrating a coupling structure between the water supply case and the door of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure. <FIG> is a view illustrating a tray of the water supply case of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure. <FIG> is a view showing a coupling structure of a door basket of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure. <FIG> is a side cross-sectional view of the automatic water supply device on which a bucket of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure is mounted. <FIG> is a side cross-sectional view of the automatic water supply device from which the bucket of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure is separated. <FIG> is a control block diagram of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

The automatic water supply device <NUM> is mounted on the door <NUM>, but unlike this, the automatic water supply device <NUM> may be mounted on the another door <NUM> to open and close the refrigerating compartment. That is, the automatic water supply device <NUM> may be mounted on one of the doors <NUM> and <NUM> to open and close the refrigerating compartment. Therefore, water stored in the bucket <NUM> of the automatic water supply device <NUM> may be cooled by cold air in the refrigerating compartment.

The door <NUM> may include a front plate <NUM>, a rear plate <NUM>, an upper cap <NUM>, and a lower cap <NUM>. An insulation space is formed between the front plate <NUM>, the rear plate <NUM>, the upper cap <NUM>, and the lower cap <NUM>, and the insulation material (not shown) may be disposed in the insulation space. A foam insulation material made of urethane may be used as the insulation material. Also, a vacuum insulation material may be used together with the foam insulation material as the insulation material.

The front plate <NUM> may form a front surface and opposite surfaces of the door <NUM>. The rear plate <NUM> may form a rear surface <NUM> of the door <NUM>. The rear surface <NUM> of the rear plate <NUM> may face the storage compartment <NUM>.

The rear plate <NUM> includes a dyke <NUM> protruding from an edge of the rear surface <NUM> toward the storage compartment <NUM> to form an accommodation space <NUM>. The dyke <NUM> may include an upper dyke part <NUM> formed at an upper edge thereof, a lower dyke part <NUM> formed at a lower edge thereof, a first side dyke part <NUM> and a second side dyke part <NUM> formed at opposite side edges thereof.

By the rear surface <NUM> of the door <NUM>, an inner surface 51a of the upper dyke part <NUM>, an inner surface 52a of the lower dyke part <NUM>, an inner surface 53a of the first side dyke part <NUM>, and an inner surface 54a of the second side dyke part <NUM>, the accommodation space <NUM> may be formed such that a rear side thereof is open.

A dyke bead 56a for coupling of the door basket <NUM> and a dyke bead 57a for coupling of the water supply case <NUM> is formed to protrude on the inner surface 53a of the first side dyke part <NUM>. A side fastening hole <NUM> to which a first fastening member S1 for coupling with the water supply case <NUM> is fastened may be formed on the inner surface 53a of the first side dyke part <NUM>. Also, a passing hole <NUM> (<FIG>) to allow an electric wire and a hose connected to the automatic water supply device <NUM> to pass may be formed on the inner surface 53a of the first side dyke part <NUM>.

A dyke bead 56b for coupling of the door basket <NUM> and a dyke bead 57b for coupling of the door basket <NUM> (<FIG>) may be formed to protrude on the inner surface 54a of the second side dyke part <NUM>.

A lower fastening hole <NUM> to which a second fastening member S2 for coupling with the water supply case <NUM> is fastened may be formed on the inner surface 52a of the lower dyke part <NUM>.

The upper dyke part <NUM>, the lower dyke part <NUM>, the first side dyke part <NUM>, and the second side dyke part <NUM> protrude from the rear surface <NUM> to different lengths, but unlike this, they may protrude from the rear surface <NUM> to the same length.

The water supply case <NUM> of the automatic water supply device <NUM> may be accommodated in the accommodation space <NUM>. The water supply case <NUM> may be coupled to the dyke <NUM> to be accommodated in the accommodation space <NUM>. Specifically, the water supply case <NUM> may be coupled to the first side dyke part <NUM> and the lower dyke part <NUM> of the dyke <NUM>.

The water supply case <NUM> may be temporarily fixed to the dyke <NUM> through the dyke bead 57b, and then may be firmly coupled to the dyke <NUM> through the first fastening member S1 and the second fastening member S2. A coupling structure of the water supply case <NUM> will be described later.

The water supply case <NUM> may include a main case <NUM>, a case cover <NUM> coupled to an upper portion of the main case <NUM>, and a tray <NUM> coupled to a lower portion of the main case <NUM>.

The bucket mounting space <NUM> in which the bucket <NUM> is detachably mounted may be formed in the main case <NUM>. The bucket mounting space <NUM> may be formed to be recessed so that one side is open. A bucket support <NUM> to support the bucket <NUM> may be formed below the bucket mounting space <NUM> of the main case <NUM>.

An upper fastening hole <NUM> for coupling with the case cover <NUM> may be formed at an upper part <NUM> of the main case <NUM>. A cover fastening hole <NUM> corresponding to the upper fastening hole <NUM> is formed on the case cover <NUM>, and a fastening member S3 may be fastened to the upper fastening hole <NUM> and the cover fastening hole <NUM>. An upper fastening cap <NUM> may be coupled to the cover fastening hole <NUM> to prevent the fastening member S3 from being exposed.

A bucket sensor <NUM> to detect whether the bucket <NUM> is mounted in the bucket mounting space <NUM> may be provided at the upper portion <NUM> of the main case <NUM>. The bucket sensor <NUM> may be configured as a Hall sensor. The bucket sensor <NUM> may detect a magnet <NUM> (<FIG>) provided in the bucket <NUM>. The bucket sensor <NUM> may not be exposed to the outside by being covered by the case cover <NUM>.

The bucket sensor <NUM> may detect whether the bucket <NUM> is mounted in the bucket mounting space <NUM>, and may transmit a signal for controlling the control valve <NUM> to block water supply to the bucket <NUM> to the controller <NUM> when the bucket <NUM> is not mounted. Accordingly, the water supply to the bucket <NUM> may be prevented from proceeding in a state in which the bucket <NUM> is not mounted.

A fitting member <NUM> connected to the water supply flow path <NUM> to guide water supplied from the water supply flow path <NUM> to the bucket <NUM> may be provided at the upper portion <NUM> of the main case <NUM>. A water outlet hole <NUM> (<FIG>) through which the fitting member <NUM> passes may be formed at the upper portion <NUM> of the main case <NUM>. The fitting member <NUM> may not be exposed to the outside by being covered by the case cover <NUM>.

The main case <NUM> may include a stopper <NUM> provided above the bucket mounting space <NUM> to reduce the movement of the bucket <NUM> supported on the bucket support <NUM>. The stopper <NUM> is formed of a rubber material to buffer the movement of the bucket <NUM>.

The water level sensor <NUM> may be installed at a rear portion <NUM> of the main case <NUM>. However, the position of the water level sensor <NUM> is not limited thereto, and the water level sensor <NUM> may be disposed at any position as long as the water level sensor <NUM> may detect the water level in the bucket <NUM>.

The water level sensor <NUM> may be provided as a capacitive sensor capable of detecting a water level in the bucket <NUM> by detecting a capacitance changing depending on a liquid level in the bucket <NUM>. The water level sensor <NUM> as above may detect the water level in the bucket <NUM> by being in contact with the bucket <NUM> without being in contact with the liquid in the bucket <NUM>.

The water level sensor <NUM> may include a sensor bracket <NUM> fixed to the main case <NUM>, a sensor part <NUM> to detect a water level in the bucket <NUM>, and an elastic member <NUM> to press the sensor part <NUM> toward the bucket <NUM>.

The sensor part <NUM> may be disposed to come into contact with the bucket <NUM> when the bucket <NUM> is mounted in the bucket mounting space <NUM>. The sensor part <NUM> may be provided to be movable in a front-rear direction with respect to the sensor bracket <NUM>.

The water level sensor <NUM> may transmit a signal for controlling the control valve <NUM> to block the water supply to the bucket <NUM> to the controller <NUM> (<FIG>) when water is stored in the bucket <NUM> in a predetermined amount. On the other hand, the water level sensor <NUM> may transmit a signal for controlling the control valve <NUM> to proceed with the water supply to the bucket <NUM> to the controller <NUM> when water less than the predetermined amount is stored in the bucket <NUM>.

The tray <NUM> may be provided at the lower portion of the main case <NUM>. The tray <NUM> may collect water flowing out of the bucket <NUM>. That is, when water is excessively supplied to the bucket <NUM> and the bucket <NUM> overflows with water, the tray <NUM> may collect the water overflowed from the bucket <NUM>.

When water overflows from the bucket <NUM>, the water overflowed from the bucket <NUM> may be guided to the tray <NUM> through a drain guide hole <NUM> (<FIG>) of the main case <NUM>.

The tray <NUM> may be provided with an overflow sensor <NUM> to detect water collected in the tray <NUM>. The overflow sensor <NUM> may transmit a signal for controlling the control valve <NUM> to block the water supply to the bucket <NUM> to the controller <NUM> when detecting that the predetermined amount of water is collected in the tray <NUM>.

A drain hole <NUM> to discharge water collected in the tray <NUM> to the outside may be formed on the tray <NUM>. The drain hole <NUM> may be provided with a plug <NUM> to open and close the drain hole <NUM>. The plug <NUM> is provided to close the drain hole <NUM> in a normal state, and when the plug <NUM> is separated from the drain hole <NUM>, the water collected in the tray <NUM> may be discharged to the outside.

A case bead groove <NUM> (<FIG>) may be formed on one side portion <NUM> of the main case <NUM>. The dyke bead 57a of the first side dyke part <NUM> may be inserted and supported in the case bead groove <NUM>. That is, as the dyke bead 57a is inserted and supported in the case bead groove <NUM>, the water supply case <NUM> may be temporarily fixed to the dyke <NUM>.

A first fastening part <NUM> on which a first fastening hole <NUM> is formed may be provided at one side of the upper portion <NUM> of the main case <NUM>. The first fastening hole <NUM> is formed at a position corresponding to the side fastening hole <NUM> formed on the inner surface 53a of the first side dyke part <NUM>, and the first fastening member S1 may be fastened to the first fastening hole <NUM> and the side fastening hole <NUM>.

When the case cover <NUM> is coupled to the upper portion of the main case <NUM>, the first fastening member S1 may not be exposed to the outside by being covered by the case cover <NUM>.

A second fastening part <NUM> on which a second fastening hole <NUM> is formed may be provided at one side of the lower portion of the main case <NUM>. The second fastening hole <NUM> is formed at a position corresponding to the lower fastening hole <NUM> formed on the inner surface 52a of the lower dyke part <NUM>, and the second fastening member S2 may be fastened to the second fastening hole <NUM> and the lower fastening hole <NUM>. A lower fastening part cap <NUM> may be coupled to the second fastening part <NUM> to prevent the second fastening member S2 from being exposed to the outside.

In this way, the water supply case <NUM> may be temporarily fixed by the coupling of the case bead groove <NUM> and the dyke bead 57a and then may be firmly fixed in place by the fastening of the plurality of fastening members S1 and S2.

A case bead <NUM> (<FIG>) for coupling the door basket <NUM> protrudes from a side portion <NUM> of the main case <NUM> opposite to the side portion <NUM> on which the case bead groove <NUM> is formed. The case bead <NUM> may be inserted into a basket bead groove 63a of the door basket <NUM>.

That is, the door basket <NUM> is provided with the basket bead groove 63a and a basket bead groove 63b on opposite sides, respectively, the basket bead groove 63a on one side is supported by the case bead <NUM> of the water supply case <NUM>, and the basket bead groove 63b on the other side may be supported by the dyke bead 57b of the dyke <NUM>.

With this configuration, the door basket <NUM> is disposed adjacent to one side of the water supply case <NUM> of the automatic water supply device <NUM>, and a space inside the rear surface of the door <NUM> may be efficiently utilized. In addition, the door basket <NUM> may be easily mounted.

The other door basket <NUM> may be mounted above the automatic water supply device <NUM>. The door basket <NUM> is provided with a basket bead groove 61a and a basket bead groove 61b on opposite sides, respectively, and the basket bead grooves 61a and 61b may be coupled to the dyke beads 56a and 56b of the dyke <NUM>, respectively.

<FIG> is an exploded view illustrating the bucket of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure. <FIG> is a view illustrating an infuser mount of the bucket of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure. <FIG> is a view illustrating a cross section of the bucket of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating a bucket handle of the bucket of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure. <FIG> is a view illustrating a process in which water is guided by a guide of the bucket of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the bucket <NUM> may include a bucket body <NUM> to store water, a bucket cover <NUM> coupled to an upper side of the bucket body <NUM>, an infuser <NUM> provided to accommodate and brew tea leaves, tea bags, or the like, and an infuser mount <NUM> to easily attach and detach the infuser <NUM> to and from the bucket body <NUM>.

The bucket body <NUM> may include a bucket main body <NUM> having a bucket space <NUM> to store water, and a bucket upper body <NUM> coupled to an upper side of the bucket main body <NUM> and having a bucket opening <NUM> in communication with the bucket space <NUM>.

The bucket main body <NUM> may be formed of a transparent material so that water stored therein may be seen. The bucket main body <NUM> may be provided with a bucket handle <NUM> so that a user may easily grip the bucket handle <NUM> to attach or detach the bucket main body <NUM> to or from the water supply case <NUM>. The bucket handle <NUM> may be formed integrally with the bucket main body <NUM>.

A handle cover <NUM> may be coupled to the bucket handle <NUM>, and for this purpose, locking protrusions <NUM> are formed at opposite ends of the bucket handle <NUM>, and an outer rib <NUM> formed to be caught on the outside of the locking protrusion <NUM> and an inner rib <NUM> formed to be caught on the inside of the locking protrusion <NUM> may be formed on the handle cover <NUM>.

The bucket upper body <NUM> may be coupled to the bucket main body <NUM> in a force-fitting manner. A sealing member <NUM> may be provided between the bucket main body <NUM> and the bucket upper body <NUM> to prevent a leak of stored water. The sealing member <NUM> may be formed of a material having elasticity such as rubber.

The bucket upper body <NUM> may include the bucket opening <NUM> in communication with the bucket space <NUM>. The infuser <NUM> may be inserted into the bucket space <NUM> through the bucket opening <NUM>. A support part <NUM> on which the infuser mount <NUM> is seated may be formed around the bucket opening <NUM>. The bucket upper body <NUM> may have an open upper side to facilitate mounting of the infuser <NUM>.

The infuser <NUM> may be formed to accommodate tea leaves, tea bags, or the like. The infuser <NUM> may include a sidewall <NUM> having a cylindrical shape and a bottom <NUM> formed on a lower end of the sidewall <NUM>. Infuser holes <NUM> may be formed on the sidewall <NUM> to allow water to pass through the sidewall <NUM>. An infuser rim <NUM> may be formed on an upper end of the sidewall <NUM> to protrude outward in a radial direction.

The infuser mount <NUM> may include a mount frame <NUM> having a mount opening <NUM> into which the infuser <NUM> is inserted, and a mount handle <NUM> protruding from the mount frame <NUM>. When the infuser <NUM> is inserted into the mount opening <NUM> of the infuser mount <NUM> from the top to the bottom, a lower surface of the infuser rim <NUM> may be seated on an upper surface of the mount frame <NUM>.

The mount frame <NUM> may be elastically coupled to the support part <NUM> of the bucket body <NUM> to prevent the infuser mount <NUM> from being easily separated from the bucket body <NUM>. To this end, an elastic hook <NUM> coupled to the support part <NUM> of the bucket body <NUM> may be formed on the mount frame <NUM>.

As the user holds the mount handle <NUM> of the infuser mount <NUM> in a state in which the infuser <NUM> is seated on the infuser mount <NUM> and seats the mount frame <NUM> of the infuser mount <NUM> on the support part <NUM> of the bucket upper body <NUM>, the infuser <NUM> may be mounted on the bucket <NUM>. Even when separating the infuser <NUM> from the bucket <NUM>, the user may easily separate the infuser <NUM> after holding the mount handle <NUM> of the infuser mount <NUM>.

The bucket cover <NUM> may be formed to cover the open upper side of the bucket upper body <NUM>. The bucket cover <NUM> may include an inlet <NUM> to allow water to be introduced into the bucket body <NUM>. When the bucket <NUM> is mounted in the bucket mounting space <NUM>, the inlet <NUM> may be positioned to correspond to the water outlet hole <NUM> formed on an upper surface of the main case <NUM> and an outlet <NUM> of the fitting member <NUM> (<FIG>).

The bucket cover <NUM> may include a guide <NUM> formed to be inclined to guide water introduced through the inlet <NUM> toward the sidewall <NUM> of the infuser <NUM>. The guide <NUM> may be formed below the inlet <NUM>.

Water introduced through the inlet <NUM> may be guided to the sidewall <NUM> of the infuser <NUM> by the guide <NUM> or may be guided to a sidewall of the bucket body <NUM> through the infuser holes <NUM>. Accordingly, the water introduced through the inlet <NUM> may be prevented from directly falling to the bottom <NUM>. Therefore, noise generated when the water introduced through the inlet <NUM> falls directly to the bottom <NUM> may be prevented.

The magnet <NUM> may be mounted on a bottom of the bucket cover <NUM>. The magnet <NUM> may be disposed at a position corresponding to the bucket sensor <NUM> when the bucket <NUM> is mounted in the bucket mounting space <NUM>.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating a fitting member of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

The fitting member <NUM> may be connected to the water supply flow path <NUM> to guide water supplied from the water supply flow path <NUM> to the bucket <NUM>. The water supply flow path <NUM> may be formed of a hose or tube.

The fitting member <NUM> may have a substantially L shape. The fitting member <NUM> may include a fitting body <NUM>, a connection part <NUM> to which the water supply flow path <NUM> is connected, a first <NUM>-ring <NUM> to seal between the water supply flow path <NUM> and the connection part <NUM>, a second <NUM>-ring <NUM> to seal between the connection part <NUM> and the fitting body <NUM>, and the outlet <NUM> to guide water introduced into the fitting member <NUM> to the bucket <NUM>. A separate part such as a nozzle is not coupled to the outlet <NUM>, and water flowing out from the outlet <NUM> may fall down and be supplied to the bucket <NUM>.

A check valve <NUM> may be installed inside the fitting member <NUM> to check for clogging and leak of the water supply flow path <NUM>.

The check valve <NUM> may be provided as a mechanical type valve operated by a hydraulic pressure. That is, the check valve <NUM> may include valve housings 161a and 161b installed inside the fitting member <NUM> and having a valve flow path <NUM> therein, a valve body <NUM> movably disposed inside the valve flow path <NUM> so as to open and close the valve flow path <NUM> depending on a pressure in the water supply flow path <NUM>, a valve seat <NUM> on which the valve body <NUM> is seated, and an elastic member <NUM> to elastically support the valve body <NUM> so that the valve body <NUM> closes the valve flow path <NUM>.

When water or air is supplied to the water supply flow path <NUM>, the pressure in the water supply flow path <NUM> increases and the valve body <NUM> moves toward the outlet <NUM>, so that the valve flow path <NUM> may be opened. Conversely, when the pressure in the water supply flow path <NUM> is equal to or less than an external pressure, the valve body <NUM> may move toward the connection part <NUM> by an elastic force of the elastic member <NUM>, so that the valve flow path <NUM> may be closed.

By applying a positive pressure and a negative pressure to the water supply flow path <NUM>, the water supply flow path <NUM> may be checked for clogging and leak.

That is, when a positive pressure is applied to an inlet of the water supply flow path <NUM> for a predetermined time in a state in which the flow path switching valve <NUM> and the control valve <NUM> on the water supply flow path <NUM> are opened and then the pressure in the water supply flow path <NUM> increases above the reference value or the reference speed, it may be determined that there is a clogging portion in the water supply flow path <NUM>.

Contrary, when a negative pressure is applied to the inlet of the water supply flow path <NUM> for a predetermined time in the state in which the flow path switching valve <NUM> and the control valve <NUM> on the water supply flow path <NUM> are opened and then the pressure in the water supply flow path <NUM> decreases above a reference value or a reference speed, it may be determined that there is a leak portion in the water supply flow path <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A refrigerator (<NUM>) comprising:
a main body (<NUM>) having a storage compartment (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>);
a door (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) rotatable with respect to the main body (<NUM>) to open and close the storage compartment (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>);
an automatic water supply device (<NUM>) including a water supply case (<NUM>), a bucket (<NUM>) attachable to and detachable from the water supply case (<NUM>), and a water level sensor (<NUM>) provided to detect a level of water in the bucket (<NUM>), the automatic water supply device (<NUM>) being configured to supply water to the bucket (<NUM>) while the bucket (<NUM>) is attached to the water supply case (<NUM>) depending on the level of the water in the bucket (<NUM>) detected by the water level sensor (<NUM>), and
a door basket ( <NUM>) provided on a rear surface (<NUM>) of the door (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) to store food,
wherein the door (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) includes a dyke (<NUM>) formed to protrude from the rear surface (<NUM>) of the door (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) to form an accommodation space (<NUM>) in which the water supply case (<NUM>) is accommodated while the water supply case (<NUM>) is coupled to the dyke (<NUM>),
characterized in that
the water supply case (<NUM>) supports the door basket ( <NUM>) so that the door basket (<NUM>) is positioned at one side of the water supply case (<NUM>), and
wherein the door basket (<NUM>) comprises a basket bead groove ( 63a,) formed on one side of the door basket (<NUM>), and
the water supply case (<NUM>) comprises a case bead (<NUM>) formed to protrude from the water supply case (<NUM>) to support the door basket ( <NUM>) while the case bead (<NUM>) is inserted into the basket bead groove (63a,) of the door basket ( <NUM>).