Patent Description:
A refrigerator is a home appliance that is equipped with a main body having a storage chamber, a cold air supply device provided to supply cold air to the storage chamber, and a door provided to open and close the storage chamber so that food is kept in a fresh state. The storage chamber includes a refrigerating chamber maintained at about <NUM> to <NUM> to store food refrigerated, and a freezing chamber maintained at about <NUM> to -<NUM> to store food frozen.

The refrigerator may be classified according to the positions of the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber into a Bottom Mounted Freezer (BMF)-type refrigerator provided with a freezing chamber at the lower side and a refrigerating chamber formed at the upper side, a Top Mounted Freezer (TMP)-type refrigerator provided with a freezing chamber formed at the upper side and a refrigerating chamber formed at the lower side, and a Side By Side (SBS)-type refrigerator provided with the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber laterally arranged in a left-right direction. Further, the refrigerator may be classified according to the number of doors into a two-door refrigerator, a three-door refrigerator, and a four-door refrigerator.

In order to supply cold air to the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber, an evaporator may be installed in each of the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber. In addition, cold air may be supplied to the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber through a single evaporator.

Exemplary embodiments of refrigerators of the prior art are disclosed in <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>and <CIT>.

The present invention is directed to providing a refrigerator in which cold air is supplied to a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber through a single evaporator so that a cold air supply device is provided with a simple structure.

The present invention is directed to providing a refrigerator having an improved structure in which a damper provided to maintain a temperature difference between a refrigerating chamber and a refrigerating chamber duct is arranged inside a freezing chamber.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a damper arranged between a refrigerating chamber duct and a freezing chamber duct is arranged on a side of the freezing chamber so that the capacity of the refrigerating chamber can be increased. With respect to dew condensation that may occur due to the duct being arranged on the side of the freezing chamber, the damper is slantingly arranged with respect to the vertical direction so that condensate water can be easily drained to prevent dew condensation.

The terms including ordinal numbers like "first" and "second" may be used to explain various components, but the components are not limited by the terms. The terms are only for the purpose of distinguishing a component from another. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the disclosure. Descriptions shall be understood as to include any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items when the items are described by using the conjunctive term "~ and/or ~," or the like.

The terms "front", "rear", "upper", "lower", "top", and "bottom" as herein used are defined with respect to the drawings, but the terms may not restrict the shape and position of the respective components.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure, <FIG> is a front view illustrating a part of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure, <FIG> is a side cross-sectional view taken along line AA' shown in <FIG>, <FIG> is a side cross-sectional view taken along line BB' shown in <FIG>, and <FIG> is a view illustrating inner cases of a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber and a connection duct, which is viewed from the rear, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, <FIG> is a view illustrating inner cases of a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber, which is viewed from the rear, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, a refrigerator includes a main body <NUM>, which is also referred to as an outer case) forming the external appearance, a storage chamber <NUM> inside the main body <NUM> having a front side thereof openable and accommodating a storage box <NUM>, and the like, and a door <NUM> rotatably coupled to the main body <NUM> to open and close the front open side of the storage chamber <NUM>.

The main body <NUM> includes an inner case <NUM> forming the storage chamber <NUM> and a cold air supply device configured to supply cold air to the storage chamber <NUM>.

The cold air supply device may include a compressor C, a condenser (not shown), an expansion valve (not shown), and an evaporator (E), and between the main body <NUM> and the inner case <NUM> and inside the door <NUM>, heat insulating material <NUM> is foamed and filled to prevent cold air from leaking out of the storage chamber <NUM>.

The storage chamber <NUM> is provided inside the main body <NUM> and has a front side that is openable, and the opened front side is opened and closed by the door <NUM>.

The storage chamber <NUM> may be divided into a plurality of storage chambers by a partition wall <NUM>. The storage chamber <NUM> may include a freezing chamber <NUM> and a refrigerating chamber <NUM> partitioned in the left-right direction by the partition wall <NUM>.

The inner case <NUM> may include a freezing chamber inner case <NUM> forming the freezing chamber <NUM> and a refrigerating chamber inner case <NUM> forming the refrigerating chamber <NUM>. The freezing chamber inner case <NUM> and the refrigerating chamber inner case <NUM> may be arranged on the left side and right side with respect to the partition wall <NUM>.

The storage chamber <NUM> is provided at a rear lower side thereof with a machine room <NUM> in which a compressor C for compressing a refrigerant and a condenser (not shown) for condensing the compressed refrigerant are installed.

The storage chamber <NUM> may be provided therein with a plurality of shelves <NUM> and a storage box <NUM> to store food and the like.

The door <NUM> is rotatably coupled to the main body <NUM> to open and close the open front side of the storage chamber <NUM>. The freezing chamber <NUM> and the refrigerating chamber <NUM> may be opened and closed by a first door <NUM> and a second door <NUM> rotatably coupled to the main body <NUM>, respectively.

Although the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be provided as a double-door type refrigerator, the refrigerator may be provided as a Top Mounted Freezer (TMF) type refrigerator in which the freezing chamber <NUM> and the refrigerating chamber <NUM> are arranged on the upper side and the lower side, respectively, or as a bottom mounted freezer (BMF) in which the refrigerating chamber <NUM> and the freezing chamber <NUM> are arranged on the upper side and the lower side, respectively.

In addition, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the storage chamber <NUM> may be divided into three or more chambers by the partition wall <NUM>.

A plurality of door guards <NUM> capable of accommodating food and the like may be provided on the rear surface of the door <NUM>.

The freezing chamber <NUM> may be provided at an inner side thereof with a freezing chamber duct <NUM> configured to supply cold air to the freezing chamber <NUM>. The refrigerating chamber <NUM> may be provided at an inner side thereof with a refrigerating chamber duct <NUM> configured to supply cold air to the refrigerating chamber <NUM>.

The freezing chamber duct <NUM> may be arranged on the upper end of the rear side of the freezing chamber <NUM>. At the lower side of the freezing chamber duct <NUM>, a separating plate <NUM> that forms the rear surface of the freezing chamber <NUM> together with the freezing chamber duct <NUM> may be arranged.

The freezing chamber duct <NUM> and the separating plate <NUM> may be arranged forward than a freezing chamber inner case rear surface 41a. Accordingly, a cooling space <NUM> may be formed by the freezing chamber duct <NUM>, the separating plate <NUM>, and the freezing chamber inner case rear surface 41a.

An evaporator E may be arranged in the cooling space <NUM>. In addition, a passage through which cold air generated in the evaporator E flows to the freezing chamber duct <NUM> may be formed.

The freezing chamber <NUM> may be formed by an inner surface of the freezing chamber inner case <NUM>, a front surface <NUM> of a duct plate <NUM> of the freezing chamber duct <NUM>, and the separating plate <NUM>. That is, the rear surface of the freezing chamber <NUM> may be formed by the front surface <NUM> of the duct plate <NUM> of the freezing chamber duct <NUM> and the separating plate <NUM>, and the side surfaces of the freezing chamber <NUM> may be formed by inner surfaces of the freezing chamber inner case <NUM>.

The freezing chamber duct <NUM> may include the duct plate <NUM> and a duct cover <NUM> that covers a rear surface <NUM> of the duct plate <NUM> from the rear of the duct plate <NUM>. In addition, the freezing chamber duct <NUM> may include an internal space <NUM> formed between the duct plate <NUM> and the duct cover <NUM>.

The freezing chamber duct <NUM> may include a blower fan <NUM> arranged on the rear surface <NUM> of the duct plate <NUM> and provided so that the cold air formed in the cooling space <NUM> is introduced into the freezing chamber duct <NUM>.

Cold air in the cooling space <NUM> may flow upward by the blower fan <NUM> and may be introduced into the freezing chamber duct <NUM> through the blower fan <NUM>.

The cold air introduced into the internal space <NUM> may be discharged to the freezing chamber <NUM> through freezing chamber discharge ports <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> of the freezing chamber duct <NUM> by the blower fan <NUM>.

The cold air formed in the cooling space <NUM> may be formed at approximately -<NUM> degrees, and may be directly discharged to the freezing chamber <NUM> by the blower fan <NUM> to cool the freezing chamber <NUM>.

The refrigerating chamber duct <NUM> may be arranged at an upper end of the rear side of the refrigerating chamber <NUM>. At a lower side of the refrigerating chamber duct <NUM>, a refrigerating chamber inner case rear surface 42a forming the rear surface of the refrigerating chamber <NUM> together with the refrigerating chamber duct <NUM> may be arranged.

The refrigerating chamber <NUM> may be formed by an inner surface of the refrigerating chamber inner case <NUM>, a front surface <NUM> of a duct plate <NUM> of the refrigerating chamber duct <NUM>, and a rear surface 42a of the refrigerating chamber inner case. That is, the rear surface of the refrigerating chamber <NUM> may be formed by the front surface <NUM> of the duct plate <NUM> of the refrigerating chamber duct <NUM> and the refrigerating chamber inner case rear surface 42a, and the side surfaces of the refrigerating chamber <NUM> may formed by the inner surfaces of the refrigerating chamber inner case <NUM>.

A space may be formed between the duct plate <NUM> of the refrigerating chamber duct <NUM> and the refrigerating chamber inner case rear surface 42a. In the space, a passage for air introduced into the refrigerating chamber duct <NUM> may be formed.

The refrigerating chamber duct <NUM> does not additionally include an evaporator for supplying cold air. Therefore, cold air generated by the evaporator E communicating with the freezing chamber duct <NUM> flows into the refrigerating chamber duct <NUM> through the freezing chamber duct <NUM> and then is discharged from the refrigerating chamber duct <NUM> to keep the refrigerating chamber <NUM> at a low temperature.

On the front surface <NUM> of the duct plate <NUM> of the refrigerating chamber duct <NUM>, discharge ports <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are provided for cold air flowing in an internal space <NUM> of the refrigerating chamber duct <NUM> to be discharged to the refrigerating chamber <NUM>.

A circulation passage <NUM> communicated with the machine room <NUM> and provided to introduce circulated cold air into the machine room <NUM> may be arranged at a lower side of the freezing chamber inner case <NUM>.

A second circulation passage (not shown) that is directly connected to the storage chamber <NUM> or communicates with the lower side of the freezing chamber inner case <NUM> may be arranged at a lower side of the refrigerating chamber inner case <NUM>.

The cold air circulated in the freezing chamber <NUM> and the refrigerating chamber <NUM> through the circulation passage <NUM> and the second circulation passage (not shown) flows back into the machine chamber <NUM> so that the cold air is supplied to the freezing chamber <NUM> and the refrigerating chamber <NUM> through a single evaporator E.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, between the freezing chamber duct <NUM> and the refrigerating chamber duct <NUM>, a connection duct <NUM> for connecting the freezing chamber duct <NUM> to the refrigerating chamber duct <NUM> so that the cold air inside the freezing chamber duct <NUM> flows to the refrigerating chamber duct <NUM> may be provided.

The connection duct <NUM> has one end <NUM> connected to an outlet <NUM> of the freezing chamber duct <NUM> through which cold air in the freezing chamber duct <NUM> flows out, and an other end <NUM> connected to a connector <NUM> of the refrigerating chamber duct <NUM> that is connected to the connection duct <NUM> so that cold air is introduced from the freezing chamber duct <NUM>.

The air cooled in the cooling space <NUM> by the blower fan <NUM> may flow into the freezing chamber duct <NUM>, and a part of the cold air introduced into the freezing chamber duct <NUM> may be discharged through the discharge ports <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> of the freezing chamber duct <NUM> into the freezing chamber <NUM>, and the other part of the cold air may be introduced into the refrigerating chamber duct <NUM> through the connection duct <NUM>.

As described above, the cold air formed in the cooling space <NUM> maintains a temperature of about -<NUM> degrees, but the refrigerating chamber <NUM> needs to maintain a temperature of about <NUM> degrees or more. Therefore, to prevent additional low-temperature cold air from flowing into the refrigerating chamber <NUM> when the internal temperature of the refrigerating chamber <NUM> is maintained at about <NUM> degrees, a damper <NUM> that selectively opens and closes the connection duct <NUM> may be provided at one end of the connection duct <NUM>.

In the conventional case, the damper is arranged on the side of the refrigerating chamber. Specifically, the damper is arranged inside the refrigerating chamber duct, and selectively opens and closes the connector of the refrigerating chamber duct such that the other end of the connection duct selectively communicates with the refrigerating chamber duct.

Accordingly, the volume of the refrigerating chamber duct increases, and in particular, the refrigerating chamber duct protrudes forward in the amount corresponding to the space in which the damper is arranged, and thus the aesthetics of the refrigerating chamber is deteriorated, and the capacity of the refrigerating chamber is reduced, thereby reducing the efficiency of the refrigerator.

In order to solve the limitation, the damper <NUM> of the refrigerator <NUM> according to an embodiment of the disclosure is arranged inside the freezing chamber duct <NUM> to secure a wider space in the refrigerating chamber <NUM>.

The freezing chamber duct <NUM> may be arranged forward than the refrigerating chamber duct <NUM>. This is because the cooling space <NUM> in which the evaporator E is arranged is formed between the rear surface of the main body <NUM> and the freezing chamber <NUM>.

That is, the length of the freezing chamber <NUM> in the front-rear direction X may be formed shorter than the length of the refrigerating chamber <NUM> in the front-rear direction X, and accordingly, the duct plate <NUM> of the freezing chamber duct <NUM> is arranged forward than the duct plate <NUM> of the refrigerating chamber duct <NUM>.

As the duct plate <NUM> of the freezing chamber duct <NUM> is arranged forward than the duct plate <NUM> of the refrigerating chamber duct <NUM>, the internal space <NUM> of the freezing chamber duct <NUM> has a larger width in the front-rear direction X than that of the internal space of the refrigerating chamber duct <NUM>.

Accordingly, when the damper <NUM> is formed in the internal space <NUM> of the freezing chamber duct <NUM>, the capacity loss of the freezing chamber <NUM> and the refrigerating chamber <NUM> may not occur.

In particular, in the conventional case, as the damper <NUM> is formed inside the duct <NUM> of the refrigerating chamber <NUM>, a portion of the front surface <NUM> of the duct plate <NUM> of the refrigerating chamber duct <NUM> protrudes forward by the size of the damper <NUM>. However, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the front surface <NUM> of the duct plate <NUM> of the refrigerating chamber duct <NUM> may be provided as a flat surface without a protruding part.

The outlet <NUM> of the freezing chamber duct <NUM> connected to the one end <NUM> of the connection duct <NUM> is arranged on the side surface of the freezing chamber duct <NUM>, and communicate with an opening 41b formed on the side surface of the freezing chamber inner case <NUM>.

The connector <NUM> of the refrigerating chamber duct <NUM> connected to the other end <NUM> of the connection duct <NUM> is arranged on the rear surface of the refrigerating chamber duct <NUM>, and may communicate with an opening 42b formed on the rear surface of the refrigerating chamber inner case <NUM>.

In the conventional case, the freezing chamber duct and the refrigerating chamber duct are each connected at a side surface thereof to the connection duct, but since the connection duct <NUM> according to an embodiment of the disclosure is arranged rearward than the freezing chamber duct <NUM> without a part protruding forward from the refrigerating chamber duct <NUM>. Accordingly, the other end <NUM> of the connection duct <NUM> may be coupled to the rear surface of the refrigerating chamber duct <NUM>.

Hereinafter, the damper <NUM> will be described in detail.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a freezing chamber duct, which is viewed from the rear according to an embodiment of the disclosure from the rear, <FIG> is a rear view illustrating a state in which a duct cover is removed from a freezing chamber duct according to an embodiment of the disclosure, <FIG> is a view illustrating a state in which a damper frame is removed from <FIG>, <FIG> is a side view illustrating a state in which a duct cover is removed from a freezing chamber duct according to an embodiment of the disclosure, and <FIG> is a rear perspective view illustrating a state in which a duct cover is removed from a freezing chamber duct according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the damper <NUM> may be arranged inside the freezing chamber duct <NUM>.

The duct cover <NUM> of the freezing chamber duct <NUM> may include an inlet <NUM> that is opened to introduce air into the blower fan <NUM>.

The duct cover <NUM> may include a damper housing part <NUM> extending to the rear side of the duct cover <NUM> to cover the damper <NUM> and having a shape substantially similar to the external appearance of the damper <NUM>.

The damper housing part <NUM> is integrally formed with the duct cover <NUM>, but the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the damper housing part <NUM> may be provided as a separate part from the duct cover <NUM> and coupled to the duct cover <NUM>.

The outlet <NUM> communicating with the opening 41b of the freezing chamber inner case <NUM> may be arranged on a side surface of the damper housing part <NUM>. The damper <NUM> arranged inside the damper housing part <NUM> may selectively open and closes the outlet <NUM> to restrict the flow of cold air flowing in the freezing chamber duct <NUM> to the connection duct <NUM> to thereby restrict cold air from being supplied to the refrigerating chamber duct <NUM>.

The damper <NUM> includes a door <NUM> selectively opening and closing the outlet <NUM> or the one end <NUM> of the connection duct <NUM>, and a driving part <NUM> for driving a door frame <NUM>, to which the door <NUM> is rotatably coupled, and the door <NUM>.

The door <NUM> may be rotated about a rotation axis R. The door <NUM> may open the outlet <NUM> by rotating about the rotation axis R in a direction opposite to the connection duct <NUM> or in a direction in which the blower fan <NUM> is arranged.

In addition, the door <NUM> may close the outlet <NUM> by rotating about the rotation axis R in the direction toward the connection duct <NUM>. This is to drain condensate water that may be frozen between the door <NUM> and the door frame <NUM>. This will be described below in detail.

The driving part <NUM> may be connected to the door <NUM> in the direction of the rotation axis R to rotate the door <NUM>.

Unlike the conventional technology, since the damper <NUM> is arranged inside the freezing chamber duct <NUM>, condensate water may be frozen inside the damper <NUM>.

Different from the refrigerating chamber duct <NUM>, the freezing chamber duct <NUM> is supplied with cold air of about -<NUM> degrees so that water vapor in the air flowing inside the refrigerator <NUM> may collide with the damper <NUM> to generate condensate water, and the condensate water having collided with the damper <NUM><NUM> may be frozen inside the duct <NUM> by the low temperature formed inside the freezing chamber duct <NUM>.

In particular, when condensate water is frozen between the door <NUM> and the door frame <NUM>, the door <NUM> may be restricted in rotation and the damper <NUM> may be caused to malfunction.

Accordingly, the damper <NUM> according to an embodiment of the disclosure may arranged to be inclined with respect to an upper-lower direction Z so that when condensate water is generated inside the damper <NUM>, the condensed water is easily drained.

In detail, referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the damper <NUM> may be arranged at a predetermined angle θ1 in a left-right direction Y perpendicular to the upper-lower direction Z.

In particular, in the door frame <NUM>, one surface 410a of the door frame <NUM> arranged adjacent to the blower fan <NUM> may be arranged at a predetermined angle θ1 in the left-right direction Y perpendicular to the upper-lower direction Z. This is because, in the damper <NUM>, the one surface 410a of the door frame <NUM> facing the blower fan <NUM> is a region where the most collision with the circulated air occurs.

Accordingly, an opening <NUM> (see <FIG> ) formed on the one surface 410a of the door frame <NUM> is slantingly formed at the predetermined angle θ1 in the left-right direction Y perpendicular to the upper-lower direction Z.

Condensate water colliding with the one surface 410a of the door frame <NUM> facing the blower fan <NUM>, the area of the door frame <NUM> at an inner side of the opening <NUM> of the one surface 410a, and the door <NUM> may flow to the lower end of the door frame <NUM> due to the slope in the left-right direction Y perpendicular to the upper-lower direction Z.

As the damper <NUM> is arranged to be inclined in the left-right direction Y perpendicular to the upper-lower direction Z, the condensate water may flow to the lowermost end in the upper-lower direction Z and the left-right direction Y along the slope.

The other surface 410b arranged on the opposite side of the one surface 410a of the door frame <NUM> may be arranged parallel to the upper-lower direction Z. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the other surface 410b may be arranged parallel to the one surface 410a.

In addition, referring to <FIG>, the damper <NUM> may be additionally obliquely arranged at a predetermined angle θ2 in the front-rear direction X perpendicular to the upper-lower direction Z.

In detail, the door frame <NUM> may extend to be inclined at a predetermined angle θ2 in the front-rear direction X perpendicular to the extension direction Z of the duct plate <NUM>.

Accordingly, the openings <NUM> and <NUM> formed on the both surfaces 410a and 410b of the door frame <NUM> are all inclined at the predetermined angle θ2 in the front-rear direction X perpendicular to the extension direction Z.

Condensate water colliding with the one surface 410a and the other surface 410b of the door frame <NUM>, the area of the door frame <NUM> formed inside the opening <NUM> of the one surface 410a and the opening <NUM> of the other surface 410b, and the door <NUM> may flow to the lower end of the door frame <NUM> by the slope in the front-rear direction X perpendicular to the upper-lower direction Z.

The damper <NUM> may be arranged to be inclined with three-dimensions. Accordingly, when condensate water is generated inside the damper <NUM>, in detail, on the door <NUM> or the door frame <NUM>, the condensate water may be easily drained to the lowermost end in the front-rear direction X and left-right direction Y of the damper <NUM> along the slope.

In detail, referring to <FIG>, the door frame <NUM> may include a drain part <NUM> arranged at the lowermost end in the front-rear direction X and the left-right direction Y.

The opening <NUM> of the one surface 410a is provided at an inner side with a guide part <NUM> provided to guide the condensate water formed inside the door frame <NUM> to the drain part <NUM>.

The guide part <NUM> may be a region extending from a region in which the door <NUM> is arranged to the opening <NUM> on the one surface 410a, and may be formed to be inclined in the front-rear direction X and the left-right direction Y with respect to the upper-lower direction Z.

Accordingly, condensate water formed due to collision within the door <NUM> or the inner side of the door frame <NUM> may be gathered in the drain part <NUM> along the slope of the guide unit <NUM>.

In addition, condensate water formed by colliding with the one surface 410a of the door frame <NUM> may be gathered in the drain part <NUM> along the slope because the one surface 410a is also formed to be inclined.

The drain part <NUM> may include a shape that is cut downward such that the condensate water collected on the drain part <NUM> is fallen.

Although not shown in the drawings, the region corresponding to the position of the drain part <NUM> in the damper housing part <NUM> covering the door frame <NUM> may include a cut-out shape so that the drain part <NUM> communicates with the outside.

Accordingly, the condensate water collected in the drain part <NUM> may be drained to the outside of the damper <NUM> and the freezing chamber duct <NUM>.

As described above, the evaporator E may be arranged at a lower side of the freezing chamber duct <NUM> (see <FIG>). Accordingly, the condensate water dripping from the drain part <NUM> reaches the surface of the evaporator E, and the condensate water may be frozen on the evaporator E.

The condensate water frozen on the evaporator E may be defrosted by heat generated in the evaporator E during a defrosting process of the refrigerator <NUM>.

As described above, condensate water generated inside the damper <NUM> may be easily frozen due to the low temperature inside the freezing chamber duct <NUM>, but since the damper <NUM> is arranged to be inclined, the generated condensate water may be easily drained outside of the damper <NUM> and the freezing chamber duct <NUM> along the slope, so that the damper <NUM> may be stably driven.

Hereinafter, the connection duct <NUM> according to an embodiment of the disclosure will be described in detail.

<FIG> is an exploded perspective view illustrating a connection duct according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

The connection duct <NUM> may connect the freezing chamber duct <NUM> to the refrigerating chamber duct <NUM> as described above.

One end <NUM> of the connection duct <NUM> may be coupled to the freezing chamber inner case <NUM> and communicate with the outlet <NUM> of the freezing chamber duct <NUM> through the opening 41b of the freezing chamber inner case <NUM>.

The other end <NUM> of the connection duct <NUM> may be coupled to the refrigerating chamber inner case <NUM> and may communicate with the connector <NUM> of the refrigerating chamber duct <NUM> through the opening 42b of the refrigerating chamber inner case <NUM>.

A region between the one end <NUM> and the other end <NUM> of the connection duct <NUM> may be provided in a shape including a curved surface to facilitate the flow of air flowing in the connection duct <NUM>.

Although not shown in the drawings, each of the one end <NUM> and the other end <NUM> of the connection duct <NUM> may include an opening formed at an inside thereof and provided to communicate with the internal air passage of the connection duct <NUM>.

The connection duct <NUM> may be provided in a shape in which a first housing <NUM> and a second housing <NUM> are coupled to each other. The one end <NUM> and the other end <NUM> of the connection duct <NUM> may be formed on the second housing <NUM>.

However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the one end <NUM> and the other end <NUM> of the connection duct <NUM> may be formed by the first housing <NUM>, and may be formed by assembling the first housing <NUM> and the second housing <NUM>.

As the first housing <NUM> is coupled to the second housing <NUM>, an air flow passage may be formed between the first housing <NUM> and the second housing <NUM>.

The connection duct <NUM> may include a rib <NUM> arranged inside the air passage.

As described above, a freezing of condensate water may occur on the damper <NUM>. The freezing is a freezing that is generated by condensate water contained in air circulated by the blower fan <NUM>.

However, unlike the above, when the door <NUM> of the damper <NUM> is in a closed state, air inside the refrigerating chamber <NUM> may be reversely introduced into the side of the damper <NUM> through the connection duct <NUM>.

In this case, water vapor in the air inside the refrigerating chamber <NUM> may move toward the damper <NUM> and collide with the door <NUM> of the damper <NUM> or the other surface 410b of the door frame <NUM> to form condensate water.

In particular, when condensed water is formed between the inside of the opening <NUM> of the other surface 410b of the door <NUM> and the door <NUM> and frozen, the door <NUM> is restricted from being driven.

The connection duct <NUM> according to an embodiment of the disclosure, in order to prevent water vapor in the air flowing from the side of the refrigerating chamber <NUM> to the connection duct <NUM> from colliding with the damper <NUM> and freezing inside the damper <NUM>, may include the rib <NUM> arranged on the air passage inside the connection duct <NUM>.

The rib <NUM> may be provided in a shape, a cross-sectional area of which gradually increases from the one end <NUM> of the connection duct <NUM> to the other end <NUM> of the connection duct <NUM>.

This is to minimize the restriction of the flow of air while air flows from the freezing chamber duct <NUM> to the refrigerating chamber duct <NUM> by the blower fan <NUM>.

Conversely, when the door <NUM> is closed, the flow of air from the refrigerating chamber duct <NUM> to the freezing chamber duct <NUM> may be limited by the shape of the rib <NUM>.

The rib <NUM> may be provided in a shape extending in a direction opposite to the direction from the refrigerating chamber duct <NUM> to the freezing chamber duct <NUM>.

Accordingly, a portion of the air flowing into the freezing chamber duct <NUM> may be blocked by the rib <NUM> without reaching the damper <NUM>, but may flow back to the refrigerating chamber duct <NUM>.

In addition, the rib <NUM> may include a collecting part <NUM> capable of collecting condensate water generated due to collision of air.

Accordingly, when the air flowing into the freezing chamber duct <NUM> collides with the ribs <NUM>, the direction of the air flow may be changed, and at the same time as the collision, condensate water may be generated, and the condensate water may be collected in the collecting part <NUM>.

That is, in the case of air flowing in the refrigerating chamber duct <NUM>, the flow of the air may be switched before reaching the damper <NUM> by the rib <NUM>, or moisture in the air may be collected by the collecting part <NUM> of the rib <NUM> so that moisture is prevented from reaching the damper <NUM>.

Hereinafter, a damper <NUM> of the refrigerator <NUM> according to another embodiment of the disclosure will be described. Configurations other than the damper <NUM> described below are the same as those of the refrigerator <NUM> according to the embodiment of the disclosure described above, and thus the same descriptions will be omitted.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a damper according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

The damper <NUM> may include a heating wire <NUM> installed into a contact portion <NUM> that is in contact with a surface of the door <NUM> when the door <NUM> is closed.

Water vapor in the air collides with the contact portion <NUM> to generate condensate water, and when the door <NUM> is in a closed state, freezing may occur on the door <NUM> and the contact portion <NUM>, so that the door <NUM> may be precluded from being separated the contact portion <NUM>.

Accordingly, a malfunction may occur in the driving part <NUM> and the driving part <NUM> may be damaged, and the temperature of the refrigerating chamber <NUM> may not be controlled.

Among the limitations associated with formation of ice in the damper <NUM>, ice formation occurring between the contact portion <NUM> and the door <NUM> may be the greatest concern.

According to the embodiment of the disclosure, the damper <NUM> includes the heating wire <NUM> installed into the contact portion <NUM> to eliminate the limitation.

The heating wire <NUM> may be periodically driven to perform defrosting on the contact portion15, or when a malfunction occurs in the driving part <NUM>, the heating wire <NUM> may be driven through a controller (not shown) to defrost the contact portion <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A refrigerator comprising:
a main body (<NUM>) having an inner case (<NUM>) including a freezing chamber inner case (<NUM>) that forms a freezing chamber (<NUM>) and a refrigerating chamber inner case (<NUM>) that forms a refrigerating chamber (<NUM>), the freezing chamber (<NUM>) and the refrigerating chamber (<NUM>) being arranged in a lateral direction;
an evaporator (E) arranged in a lower portion of the freezing chamber (<NUM>) to generate cold air;
a freezing chamber duct (<NUM>) provided in the freezing chamber (<NUM>) to supply the cold air to the freezing chamber (<NUM>);
a refrigerating chamber duct (<NUM>) provided in the refrigerating chamber (<NUM>) to supply the cold air to the refrigerating chamber (<NUM>); and
a connection duct (<NUM>) configured to guide the cold air from the freezing chamber duct (<NUM>) to the refrigerating chamber duct (<NUM>),
wherein
one end (<NUM>) of the connection duct (<NUM>) is coupled to a sidewall of the freezing chamber inner case (<NUM>), and an other end (<NUM>) of the connection duct (<NUM>) is coupled to a rear wall of the refrigerating chamber inner case (<NUM>);
wherein the freezing chamber duct (<NUM>) includes an outlet (<NUM>) formed to allow the cold air of the freezing chamber duct (<NUM>) to be released to the connection duct (<NUM>), and
the refrigerating chamber duct (<NUM>) includes a connector (<NUM>) formed to allow the cold air of the freezing chamber duct (<NUM>) to be guided to the refrigerating chamber duct (<NUM>) through the connection duct (<NUM>);
characterized in that
the outlet (<NUM>) is formed on a lateral side of the freezing chamber duct (<NUM>) that is directed to the refrigerating chamber duct (<NUM>), and
the connector (<NUM>) is formed on a rear side of the refrigerating chamber duct (<NUM>).