Patent Description:
In general, a refrigerator is a home appliance to store food at a low temperature and includes a refrigerating space to store food in a refrigerated state at about <NUM> and a freezer space to store food in a frozen state at about -<NUM>.

However, when food such as meat or seafood is stored in the freezer space in the frozen state, moisture in cells of the meat or the seafood is discharged out of the cells while the food is frozen at -<NUM>. In this case, a cell destruction phenomenon occurs, and during defrosting, a texture change phenomenon occurs.

The temperature condition of the storage space is adjusted to be in a cryogenic state in which a temperature is significantly lower than a current temperature of the freezer space. So, when a state of the food is changed to a frozen state, the food passes through a freezing point temperature range, thereby minimizing the cell destruction. Therefore, there is an advantage in that the quality of meat and the texture of food may be returned to a state closer to a state before freezing even after defrosting. The cryogenic temperature may be understood as referring to a temperature within the range of -<NUM> to -<NUM>.

For this reason, in recent years, the demand for a refrigerator defining a deep-freezing portion maintaining a temperature lower than that of the freezer space is increasing.

As there is a limitation to cooling using existing refrigerant, there has been an attempt to lower the temperature of the deep-freezing portion to a cryogenic temperature using a thermoelectric module (TEM) to satisfy the demand for the deep-freezing portion.

Related art patent document <CIT> discloses a refrigerator capable of maintaining a low storage temperature using a thermoelectric element. Related art patent document <CIT> discloses a refrigerator using a thermoelectric element for cooling of an ice-making room instead of using a cold air duct. Related art patent document <CIT> discloses a refrigerator to improve an area where heat is not sufficiently exchanged with a heat sink behind a hub of an axial fan. The related art patent documents do not disclose structural changes to the cold air flow inside a deep-freezing portion.

In order to maintain an inner temperature of the deep-freezing portion at a cryogenic temperature, the cold air supplied by a thermoelectric element module has to be circulated smoothly inside the deep-freezing portion and a flow path has to be provided to circulate the cold air. If the flow path is additionally defined in the deep-freezing portion, it is difficult to effectively use the storage space in the deep-freezing portion. Manufacturing thereof is difficult and durability thereof is degraded due to a complicated structure in the deep freezing portion.

Accordingly, one of various objects of the present disclosure is to provide a refrigerator defining a flow path on an inner surface of a deep-freezing portion to circulate cold air without defining an additional flow path inside the deep-freezing portion.

One of the various objects of the present invention describes a refrigerator in which a basket of the deep-freezing portion is connected to an inner surface of a door and a flow path for the circulation of cold air is defined in a gap between the deep-freezing portion basket and a bottom surface of the deep-freezing portion.

One of the various objects of the present invention describes a refrigerator capable of preventing the cold air supplied from and discharged to a rear surface of the deep-freezing portion from leaking to an outside of the deep-freezing portion when the deep-freezing portion is disposed inside the freezer space.

One of the various objects of the present invention describes a refrigerator in which a flow path is defined to expand an inner space of the deep-freezing portion.

To address the various problems of the present disclosure, an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure describes a refrigerator defining a stepped flow path in an inner surface of housing to provide a movement path of cold air.

An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure describes a refrigerator in which a basket is coupled to a deep-freezing portion door at a height spaced apart from an inner bottom surface of the deep-freezing portion by a predetermined distance to provide a movement flow of cold air by a gap between the basket and the bottom surface thereof.

An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure describes a refrigerator in which a flow path includes a bending portion and an inclined portion to smoothly discharge the cold air.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a refrigerator includes a freezer space defining a storage space; and a deep-freezing portion disposed in the freezer space and defining a deep-freeze space that is partitioned from the storage space thereof; a thermoelectric element module including a thermoelectric module having a heat absorbing surface and a heating surface and configured to generate cold air introduced into the deep-freezing portion; a fan facing the heat absorbing surface of the thermoelectric module and configured to introduce the cold air into the deep-freezing portion; and an accommodator configured to accommodate the fan and that protrudes from an inner surface of the freezer space, the deep-freezing portion includes housing having an opening at a front surface thereof and an opening at a rear surface thereof to receive the accommodator, and defining an inner space of the deep-freezing portion; a door configured to open and close the front surface of the housing; and the accommodator includes a guide disposed at one side of the accommodator and configured to guide flow of the cold air, the housing includes a flow path defined at a portion of an inner surface of the housing and the flow path has a step at the inner surface of the housing. In addition, the flow path may flow cold air introduced into the deep-freezing portion by the fan.

Preferably, the housing may define the flow path at a portion of an upper surface thereof and the flow path may expand the deep-freeze space in the housing. Specifically, the flow path has a recess shape, is concaved upward from the portion of the upper surface of the housing, and may expand the deep-freeze space.

The flow path may include vertical portions having a width of the flow path, that are spaced apart from each other, and extend in a longitudinal direction of the deep-freezing portion; and a horizontal portion connecting the vertical portions at a first side of the vertical portion.

In addition, the width of the flow path is decreased along the longitudinal direction of the deep-freezing portion, a second side of the vertical portion communicates with the guide, and a width of the vertical portion at the second side thereof may be the same as the guide.

The width of the flow path is decreased along the longitudinal direction of the deep-freezing portion or is maintained constantly in a certain section along the longitudinal direction of the deep-freezing portion and then is decreased.

Meanwhile, the flow path may be inclined downward from an upper surface of the housing to a rear surface of the housing, the flow path may include a vertical portion having a width of the flow path, that are spaced apart from each other, and extend in a longitudinal direction of the deep-freezing portion; and a horizontal portion connecting the vertical portions at a first side of the vertical portion.

In addition, the flow path may further include a bending portion that extends in a direction of decreasing the width of the flow path at a second side of the vertical portion, the flow path may have inclination at the bending portion, and the bending portion may extend from the vertical portion to a position corresponding to a width of the guide.

Meanwhile, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a refrigerator includes a freezer space defining a storage space; a deep-freezing portion disposed in the freezer space and defining a deep-freeze space that is partitioned from the storage space thereof; a thermoelectric element module including a thermoelectric module having a heat absorbing surface and a heating surface and configured to generate cold air introduced into the deep-freezing portion; a fan facing the heat absorbing surface of the thermoelectric module and configured to introduce the cold air into the deep-freezing portion; andan accommodator configured to accommodate the fan and that protrudes from an inner surface of the freezer space, the deep-freezing portion includes: housing having an opening at a front surface thereof and an opening at a rear surface thereof to receive the accommodator, and defining an inner space of the deep-freezing portion; a door configured to open and close the front surface of the housing; and a basket coupled to the door and drawn out to an outside of the deep-freezing portion as the door opens and closes the front surface of the housing, the accommodator includes a guide disposed at one side of the accommodator and configured to guide flow of the cold air, and the housing includes a first flow path defining a step recessed from a portion of the inner surface of the housing; and a second flow path defined in a space between the portion of the inner surface of the housing and the basket. The first flow path and the second flow path flow cold air introduced into the deep-freezing portion by the fan.

Preferably, the first flow path may be defined at a portion of an upper surface of the housing, the second flow path may be defined in a space between a bottom surface of the housing and the basket, the first flow path may be defined in a direction of expanding the deep-freeze space in the housing, and the first flow path may include: a vertical portion having a width of the first flow path, that are spaced apart from each other, and extend in a longitudinal direction of the deep-freezing portion; a horizontal portion connecting the vertical portions at one side of the vertical portion; and a bending portion that extends from a second side of the vertical portion in a direction of decreasing the width of the first flow path.

In addition, the first flow path may further include an inclined portion that is inclined downward from a portion of an upper surface of the housing toward the rear surface of the housing and the inclined portion may be disposed in the first flow path along the bending portion.

Meanwhile, a height of the basket is smaller than a height of the housing and the basket may be coupled to an inner surface of the door at a position spaced apart from each of the upper surface and the lower surface of the housing by a predetermined distance, and a grill may be disposed on a surface facing the rear surface of the housing among surfaces of the basket.

In addition, the first flow path may communicate with the guide when the accommodator is inserted into the opening.

The guide includes an upper flow path that communicates with the first flow path, the upper flow path may have a guide inclined portion, and the guide inclined portion may be inclined downward from a lower surface of the upper flow path along a path through which the cold air moves.

Features of the above-described embodiments may be combined with other embodiments unless the features are contradictory or exclusive to other embodiments.

According to the present disclosure, an inner space of a deep-freezing portion may be expanded and a flow path of cold air moving in the deep-freezing portion may be defined.

In addition, when the deep freezer portion is disposed in a refrigerator, the deep-freezing portion is coupled in a state in which a rear surface of the deep-freezing portion contacts an inside of the refrigerator and a flow path defined in the deep-freezing portion communicates with a grill fan assembly, thereby preventing leaking out of cold air.

In addition, the deep-freezing portion defines a step in an upper surface thereof to provide a flow path and a bottom surface thereof is spaced apart from a deep-freezing portion basket by a predetermined distance to define a flow path. As a component to define an additional flow path is not needed, there is an advantage in that a process is simplified, a storage space in a deep-freezing portion may be obtained, durability of the deep-freezing portion may be obtained, and maintenance may be facilitated.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present disclosure are described with reference to drawings. The following detailed description is provided to help a comprehensive understanding of a method, an apparatus, and/or a system described herein. However, this is merely an example and the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

Description of well-known technology relating to the present disclosure may be omitted if it unnecessarily obscures the gist of the present disclosure. In addition, terms described below are defined in consideration of functions in the embodiments of the present disclosure, which may vary according to intentions or customs of users and operators. Therefore, the definition should be made based on the contents throughout the specification. The terminology used in the detailed description is for the purpose of describing embodiments of the present disclosure only and is not intended to limit the disclosure. Singular expressions used in the present disclosure include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In the present disclosure, terms such as "including" or "comprising" specify features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and a portion or a combination thereof, but do not preclude a presence or a possibility of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and a portion or a combination thereof in addition to what has been described above.

In addition, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b) and the like may be used herein when describing elements of the present disclosure. These terms are intended to distinguish one element from other elements, and the essence, order, or sequence of corresponding elements is not limited by these terms.

<FIG> shows open doors of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> shows a deep-freezing portion in <FIG>. <FIG> shows a thermoelectric element module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> shows a refrigeration cycle used in a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a refrigerator <NUM> includes a refrigerator body <NUM> having a rectangular shape and a refrigerator door to open and close each space of the refrigerator <NUM> from the front of the body <NUM>. According to the present disclosure, the refrigerator <NUM> has a bottom freezer structure in which a refrigerating space <NUM> is defined at an upper portion thereof and a freezer space <NUM> is defined at a lower portion thereof. The refrigerating space <NUM> and the freezer space <NUM> each have a side-by-side type door that is opened based on rotation about a hinge <NUM> disposed at both ends thereof.

However, the present disclosure is not limited to the refrigerator having the bottom-freezer structure. If the refrigerator has a deep-freezing portion in the freezer space, a side-by-side type refrigerator in which the refrigerating space and a freezer space are arranged horizontally and a top mount-type refrigerator in which a freezer space is defined on the refrigerating space may be used as examples of the refrigerator.

The refrigerator body <NUM> includes an outer case <NUM> defining an outer appearance and an inner case <NUM> that is spaced apart from the outer case <NUM> by a predetermined space and defining an inner appearance of the refrigerating space <NUM> and the freezer space <NUM>. The space between the outer case <NUM> and the inner case <NUM> is filled with insulating material by foaming to insulate the refrigerating space <NUM> and the freezer space <NUM> from an indoor space.

The refrigerating space <NUM> and the freezer space <NUM> accommodate a shelf <NUM> and a drawer <NUM> in storage spaces thereof to store food by increasing space utilization efficiency. The shelf <NUM> and the drawer <NUM> may be disposed in the storage spaces thereof and may be guided along rails <NUM> disposed at both sides thereof. As shown, the refrigerating space door <NUM> and the freezer space door <NUM> each include a door basket <NUM> to suitably store containers containing beverages.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a deep-freezing portion <NUM> is disposed in the freezer space <NUM>. The space of the freezer space <NUM> is divided into a left portion and a right portion for efficient use by a partition wall <NUM> that extends vertically and disposed at a center of the freezer space. Referring to <FIG>, the partition wall <NUM> is inserted into the freezer space from a front of the cabinet and may be supported by an installation guide <NUM> disposed on a bottom of the refrigerator in the freezer space <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, it is exemplified that the deep-freezing portion <NUM> is disposed at an upper portion of the right side of the freezer space <NUM>. However, the deep-freezing portion <NUM> of the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to be disposed in the freezer space. That is, the deep-freezing portion <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be disposed in the refrigerating space <NUM>. However, if the deep-freezing portion <NUM> is disposed in the freezer space <NUM>, a temperature difference between an inside of the deep-freezing portion <NUM> and an outside (in the atmosphere of the freezer space) of the deep-freezing portion <NUM> is smaller. Therefore, the freezer space <NUM> may advantageously include the deep-freezing portion <NUM> from the viewpoint of preventing leakage of cold air or heat insulation.

Meanwhile, the thermoelectric element module <NUM> is an assembly in which a cold sink <NUM>, a thermoelectric module <NUM>, a heat insulation material <NUM>, and a heat sink <NUM> are stacked and accommodated in module housing <NUM> to form a module.

The thermoelectric module <NUM> uses a Peltier effect. The Peltier effect refers to a phenomenon in which, when a DC voltage is applied to both ends of two different materials, heat is absorbed at one side thereof and is emitted at the other side thereof according to a current direction.

The thermoelectric module includes n-type semiconductor material using an electron as a main carrier and p-type semiconductor material using a hole as a carrier that are alternately connected in series. An electrode is disposed on a first surface thereof to flow current from the p-type semiconductor material to the n-type semiconductor material and an electrode is disposed on a second surface thereof to flow current from the n-type semiconductor material to the p-type semiconductor material according to one of current directions. In this case, when the current is supplied in a first direction, a first surface is a heat absorbing surface and the second surface is a heating surface, and when a current is supplied in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, the first surface is a heating surface and the second surface is a heat absorbing surface.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as the thermoelectric element module <NUM> is inserted into a front side of the grill fan assembly <NUM> from a rear side thereof, is coupled to the front side of the grill fan assembly <NUM>, and the deep-freezing portion <NUM> is disposed in front of the thermoelectric element module <NUM>, heat absorption may occur at a front surface of the thermoelectric module <NUM>, that is, a surface facing the deep-freezing portion <NUM> and heat generation may occur on a rear surface of the thermoelectric module, that is, a surface against the deep-freezing portion <NUM> or an opposite surface to a surface directing toward the deep-freezing portion <NUM>. In addition, when the current is supplied in the first direction in which the heat absorption occurs at the surface of the thermoelectric module <NUM> facing the deep-freezing portion <NUM> and the heat generation occurs at the opposite surface thereto, the deep-freezing portion <NUM> may be frozen.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, it is exemplified that the thermoelectric module <NUM> has a flat plate shape with the front surface and the rear surface, and the front surface thereof is the heat absorbing surface 230a and the rear surface thereof is the heating surface 230b. The DC power is supplied to the thermoelectric module <NUM> and causes the Peltier effect, thereby transferring a heat generated on the heat absorbing surface 230a of the thermoelectric module <NUM> to the heating surface 230b. Therefore, the front surface of the thermoelectric module <NUM> becomes a cold surface and the rear surface thereof becomes a heat generating portion. That is, it simplifies that the heat inside the deep-freezing portion <NUM> is discharged to an outside of the deep-freezing portion <NUM>. Power is supplied to the thermoelectric module <NUM> through a conducting wire of the thermoelectric module <NUM>.

The cold sink <NUM> is stacked in contact with the front surface of the thermoelectric module <NUM>, that is, the heat absorbing surface 230a facing the deep-freezing portion <NUM>. The cold sink <NUM> may be made of metal such as aluminum having high thermal conductivity or an alloy and includes a plurality of heat exchange fins <NUM> on a front surface thereof. The plurality of heat exchange fins <NUM> extend vertically and are spaced apart from one another in a horizontal direction. The heat exchange fin <NUM> preferably extends vertically and longitudinally and has a continuous shape without interruption. This shape is configured such that water which has been melted at a time of defrosting the cold sink <NUM> easily flows down from the cold sink in the direction of gravity along the heat exchange fin <NUM> having the continuous shape and that extends vertically. A distance between the heat exchange fins <NUM> is preferably a distance to prevent water formed between the two neighboring heat exchange fins <NUM> from flowing down by surface tension.

In the cold sink <NUM> attached to the heat absorbing surface of the thermoelectric module, air inside the deep-freezing portion <NUM> flows and exchanges heat. In this case, a phenomenon occurs in which food stored in the deep-freezing portion <NUM> is cooled and moisture with air is frozen on the surface of the cold sink <NUM>, which is colder. To remove the frozen water, power is applied in the above-described current supply direction, that is, in a second direction opposite to the first direction. In this case, the heat absorbing surface and the heating surface of the thermoelectric element module <NUM> are changed to each other in contrast to the power applied in the first direction. In this case, the surface of the thermoelectric module contacting the heat sink is a heat absorbing surface and the surface contacting the cold sink <NUM> is a heating surface. Therefore, the water frozen on the cold sink <NUM> is melted and flows down in the direction of gravity, thereby occurring defrost. That is, according to the present disclosure, when dew condensation occurs on the cold sink <NUM> and defrost is required, defrost may occur by applying the current in the second direction opposite to the first direction, which is the direction of the current applied for deep cooling.

The heat sink <NUM> is stacked in contact with the rear surface of the thermoelectric module <NUM>, that is, the heating surface 230b provided in a direction opposite to an arrangement direction of the deep-freezing portion <NUM>. The heat sink <NUM> rapidly dissipates or discharges heat generated on the heating surface 230b by the Peltier effect and may include an evaporator <NUM> of a refrigeration cycle cooling device <NUM> used to cool the refrigerator. That is, when low-temperature and low-pressure liquid refrigerant that has passed through an expansion device <NUM> in the refrigeration cycle absorbs the heat or evaporates while absorbing the heat in the heat sink <NUM>, the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle absorbs or evaporates while absorbing the heat generated on the heating surface 230b of the thermoelectric module <NUM> to immediately cool the heat generated on the heating surface 230b.

As the above-described cold sink <NUM> and heat sink <NUM> are stacked and the thermoelectric module <NUM> having the flat shape is disposed between the cold sink <NUM> and the heat sink <NUM>, it is necessary to isolate heat between them. Therefore, the thermoelectric element module <NUM> of this embodiment includes the heat insulating material <NUM> that surrounds a circumference of the thermoelectric module <NUM> and to fill a gap between the cold sink <NUM> and the heat sink <NUM>. That is, an area of the cold sink <NUM> is larger than that of the thermoelectric module <NUM> and is substantially the same as the heat insulating material <NUM>. Similarly, an area of the heat sink <NUM> is larger than that of the thermoelectric module <NUM> and is substantially the same as the heat insulating material <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the cold sink <NUM> and the heat sink <NUM> do not need to have the same size as each other and the size of the heat sink <NUM> may be larger to effectively dissipate the heat.

According to this embodiment, for immediate and reliable heat dissipation from the heat sink <NUM>, an inlet pipe <NUM> and an outlet pipe <NUM> pass through the heat sink <NUM> to flow the refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle cooling device <NUM>. The refrigerant evaporates in the heat sink <NUM> and rapidly absorbs the heat from the heating surface of the thermoelectric module <NUM> as evaporation heat by defining a flow path of the refrigerant over an entire area of the heat sink <NUM>. In addition, the module housing <NUM> includes a pipe through-hole <NUM> to pass the inlet pipe <NUM> and the outlet pipe <NUM>.

That is, the heat sink <NUM> in this embodiment is designed to have a size sufficient to immediately absorb and discharge the heat generated by the thermoelectric module <NUM> and the cold sink <NUM> may have a smaller size than that of the heat sink <NUM>. However, in this embodiment, heat exchange efficiency of the cold sink <NUM> is improved by increasing the size of the cold sink <NUM> considering that the cold sink <NUM> exchanges heat between gas and solid while the heat sink <NUM> exchanges heat between liquid and solid. A degree of increasing the size of the cold sink is exemplified as follows. In this embodiment, the cold sink is designed to have a size corresponding to that of the heat sink in consideration of a compact size of the thermoelectric module. However, the size of the cold sink may be larger than that of the heat sink to improve the heat exchange efficiency of the cold sink.

Meanwhile, the module housing <NUM> includes an accommodator <NUM> and a fixer <NUM>. The accommodator <NUM> accommodates the cold sink <NUM>, the thermoelectric module <NUM>, the heat insulating material <NUM>, and the heat sink <NUM> in the stacked state. The fixer <NUM> is disposed on an opposite surface to a surface of the module housing <NUM> having the accommodator <NUM> and couples the module housing <NUM> to the inner case <NUM>. In addition, the accommodator <NUM> defines a fastening boss <NUM>, and the cold sink <NUM>, the heat insulating material <NUM>, and the heat sink <NUM> each include a through-hole at a position corresponding to that of the fastening boss <NUM>. When the fastening member <NUM> is coupled to the fastening boss <NUM> through the through-holes thereof, the cold sink <NUM>, the thermoelectric module <NUM>, the heat insulating material <NUM>, and the heat sink <NUM> in the stacked state may be coupled to the accommodator <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the refrigeration cycle cooling device <NUM> of the refrigerator according to this embodiment discharges heat from the inside of the freezer space to an outside of the refrigerator using refrigerant that circulates in a thermodynamic cycle including evaporation, compression, condensation, and expansion. A compressor <NUM> and a condenser <NUM> of the cooling device <NUM> are disposed in a machine room defined at a lower portion of a rear side of the freezer space <NUM> and isolated from the freezer space <NUM>. A grill fan assembly <NUM> including a grill fan defining the rear wall of the freezer space and a shroud coupled to a rear side of the grill fan to distribute cold air in the freezer space is disposed between the freezer space and the rear wall of the inner case <NUM>.

In addition, the evaporator <NUM> of the refrigeration cycle cooling device <NUM> is disposed in a predetermined space between the grill fan assembly <NUM> and the rear wall of the inner case <NUM>. When the refrigerant inside the evaporator <NUM> is evaporated, the evaporating refrigerant exchanges heat with the air flowing in the inner space of the freezer space <NUM>, and the air cooled by the heat exchange is distributed in a cold air distribution space defined by the grill fan and the shroud and flows in the freezer space <NUM>, thereby cooling the freezer space <NUM>.

The refrigeration cycle cooling device of the present disclosure includes an evaporator <NUM> to evaporate by heat exchanging liquid refrigerant in a low-pressure atmosphere with air in the cooling space (the space between the grill fan assembly and the inner housing), a compressor <NUM> to pressurize gaseous refrigerant vaporized by the evaporator and discharge high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant, a condenser <NUM> to heat-exchange the high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged from the compressor with air outside of the refrigerator (the machine room) and condense to discharge heat, and an expansion device <NUM> such as a capillary tube to reduce a pressure of the refrigerant condensed by the condenser <NUM> in the low-temperature atmosphere. The low-temperature and low-pressure liquid refrigerant with the pressure being lowered by the expansion device <NUM> is introduced into the evaporator again.

According to the present disclosure, as the heat of the heat sink <NUM> of the thermoelectric element module <NUM> has to be rapidly cooled, the low-temperature and low-pressure liquid refrigerant with the pressure and the temperature being lowered through the expansion device <NUM> is introduced into the heat sink <NUM> of the thermoelectric element module <NUM> before the low-temperature and low-pressure liquid refrigerant is introduced into the evaporator <NUM>.

More specifically, the compressor <NUM> pressurizes the high-temperature and low-pressure gaseous refrigerant to discharge the high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant. In addition, the refrigerant generates heat in the condenser <NUM> and is condensed, that is, liquefied. As described above, the compressor <NUM> and the condenser <NUM> are each disposed in the machine room of the refrigerator.

Low-temperature and high-pressure liquid refrigerant liquefied by the condenser <NUM> passes through a device such as the expansion valve, for example, the capillary tube and flows into the evaporator <NUM> with the pressure being lowered. In the evaporator <NUM>, the refrigerant is evaporated while absorbing surrounding heat. According to this embodiment, after the refrigerant passes through the condenser <NUM>, the refrigerant is branched into a refrigerating space evaporator 37b or a freezer space evaporator 37a. In this case, the heat sink <NUM> of the thermoelectric element module <NUM> is disposed in front of the freezer space evaporator 37a and is disposed behind the expansion device <NUM> in the flow path of the refrigerant.

The deep-freezing portion <NUM> has to maintain a maximum temperature of minus <NUM> degrees Celsius. When the heating surface 230b of the thermoelectric module <NUM> maintains a cold state, the heat absorbing surface 230a easily maintains a colder state. Accordingly, a coldest state thereof may be maintained by disposing the heat sink <NUM> through which the refrigerant passes in front of the freezer space evaporator 37a in the flow path of refrigerant. In particular, as the heat sink <NUM> directly contacts the thermoelectric module <NUM> and absorbs heat from the thermoelectric module <NUM> in a conductive manner using a thermal conductor such as metal, the heating surface 230b of the thermoelectric module <NUM> may definitely be cooled.

Meanwhile, if a user does not want to cool the deep-freezing portion <NUM> to minus <NUM> degrees Celsius, but want to use it at about minus <NUM> degrees Celsius like a normal freezer space, the deep-freezing portion <NUM> may be used as a general freezer portion by not supplying a power to the thermoelectric module <NUM>. If the power is not supplied to the thermoelectric module <NUM> as described above, heat absorption and heat generation do not occur in the heat sink <NUM> stacked on the thermoelectric module <NUM>. Accordingly, the refrigerant passing through the heat sink <NUM> does not absorb heat and flows into the freezer space evaporator 37a in a state of liquid that is not evaporated.

Hereinafter, in this embodiment, complete opening of the freezer space door <NUM> refers that the door basket <NUM> of the freezer space door <NUM> is disposed outside of a front side of the freezer space <NUM> as shown in <FIG> and incomplete opening thereof refers that a portion of the door basket <NUM> is disposed at the front side of the freezer space <NUM>.

In addition, in various embodiments of the disclosure described below in this document, the front of the deep-freezing portion, the front of the housing, the front of the freezer space, or in the same context, the front refer to a side facing the door of the refrigerator, and the rear of the deep-freezing portion, the rear of the housing, the rear of the freezer space, or in the same context, the rear refers to a side opposite to the front side, that is, a portion facing the refrigerator door.

In addition, some components use the same name, but the components are different from each other and are described differently throughout the specification using different reference numerals. For example, a guide rail <NUM> described in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> and a guide rail <NUM> described in <FIG> and <FIG> are different components and are clearly differently described through the specification as different components using the different reference numerals.

<FIG> shows a deep-freezing portion separated from a freezer space according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. (a) of <FIG> is an enlarged view of a guide rail disposed on the inner wall of a freezer space. (b) of <FIG> is a rear view of the deep-freezing portion in <FIG>. <FIG> of <FIG> show a deep-freezing portion coupled to a freezer space. <FIG> and <FIG> are perspective view of the deep-freezing portion in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the refrigerator of this embodiment includes a refrigerating space <NUM> defining an opening at a front side thereof and a freezer space <NUM> partitioned from the refrigerating space <NUM> and defining an opening at a front side thereof, the freezer space <NUM> may include a deep-freezing portion <NUM> forming a separated additional space and disposed inide of the freezer space <NUM>. The deep-freezing portion <NUM> may be detachably provided inside the freezer space <NUM> for maintenance.

In detail, an inner portion of the freezer space <NUM> may be divided by the partition wall fitted onto the installation guide <NUM> and the deep-freezing portion <NUM> may be inserted into any one of the partitioned spaces. The guide rail <NUM> is disposed on the inner side wall of the freezer space <NUM> and a guide member slidable along the guide rail <NUM> is disposed on the outer side wall of the housing <NUM>. The guide member is moved along the guide rail <NUM> to insert and draw out the deep-freezing portion <NUM> into and from any one of the partitioned inner spaces of the freezer space <NUM>.

A freezing and evaporating space may be disposed at a rear side of the freezer space <NUM>, the refrigeration cycle cooling device <NUM> may be disposed in the freezing and evaporating space, and the freezing and evaporating space and the freezer space <NUM> may be partitioned by the grill fan assembly <NUM> and the inner case <NUM>.

The grill fan assembly <NUM> includes a grill fan defining a rear surface of the freezer space, a shroud and a fan <NUM> defining a flow path to supply cold air generated in the freezing and evaporating space to the freezer space <NUM> and may define the rear surface of the freezer space <NUM>. The grill fan includes an upper flow path 18a and a lower flow path 18b on and under the fan <NUM> to provide a flow path through which air discharged from the fan <NUM> and introduced into the deep-freezing portion <NUM> circulates inside the deep-freezing portion <NUM>. The flow path provided inside the deep-freezing portion <NUM> is described below.

Meanwhile, the thermoelectric element module <NUM> is disposed between the shroud and the inner case <NUM>, the fan <NUM> is disposed on the front surface of the thermoelectric element module <NUM>, and the deep-freezing portion <NUM> is disposed on the front surface of the fan <NUM>. Here, the front surface refers to a surface facing the inside of the freezer space <NUM> from the inner case <NUM> of the freezer space <NUM> and the rear surface refers to a surface facing the inner case <NUM> of the freezer space <NUM> from the inside of the freezer space <NUM>.

That is, the fan <NUM> supplies, to the deep-freezing portion <NUM>, cold air having 'deep temperature' by the thermoelectric element module <NUM> and may be provided separately from a fan to supply cold air to the freezer space <NUM>.

In addition, the housing <NUM> defines an opening 111F opened and closed by the door <NUM> and an opening 111R in which the thermoelectric element module <NUM>, the fan <NUM>, and the like may be disposed. The opening 111F is defined on the front surface of the housing <NUM> and is described below as an open portion on the front surface of the housing, and the opening 111R is described below as an open portion on the rear surface of the housing.

Meanwhile, a conducting wire (L) is drawn out through one side of the housing <NUM> to supply power to a heating wire <NUM> disposed along a circumference of the opening 111F that is open and defined on the front surface of the housing <NUM>. As the housing <NUM> has a large temperature difference between an inside of the housing <NUM> and an outside of the housing <NUM>, a phenomenon in which liquid freezes around the opening 111F and the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> may occur. The heating wire is provided to melt the frozen liquid. In addition, the deep-freezing portion <NUM> may be more tightly closed by supplying an induced current to a portion of the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> using the conducting wire (L). That is, the conducting wire (L) may supply power to a load that may be provided in the deep-freezing portion <NUM>.

The conducting wire (L) is disposed along the guide rail <NUM> and may be guided together when the deep-freezing portion <NUM> is inserted and is drawn out along the guide rail <NUM>. If the conducting wire (L) is caught in a gap between the housing <NUM> and the side surface of the freezer space <NUM>, the deep-freezing portion <NUM> may be not easily inserted and drawn out, and furthermore, coating of the conducting wire (L) is peeled off, which causes malfunction and exposure to a risk of accident. Therefore, the conducting wire (L) may be guided in a groove of the guide rail <NUM>.

Referring to the enlarged view of a side surface of a lower portion of the housing <NUM> in <FIG>, a guide member protrudes from the lower portion of the housing <NUM>, includes a hole <NUM> at one side thereof, and the conducting wire (L) may be drawn out to the outside of the housing <NUM> through the hole <NUM>. To prevent the conducting wire (L) from being caught in the gap between the housing <NUM> and the side surface of the freezer space <NUM>, a cover <NUM> may be disposed above the hole <NUM> to cover at least a portion of the hole <NUM> and may be spaced apart from the hole <NUM> by a predetermined distance.

Meanwhile, with respect to the structure in which the deep-freezing portion <NUM> is separated from the inside of the freezer space <NUM>, the freezer space <NUM> defines a space with an open front side, includes the guide rail <NUM> that extends from a front side thereof to a rear side thereof, and the guide rail <NUM> may include a fixing member <NUM> inserted into a fitting groove <NUM> of the housing <NUM> on a rear surface of the freezer space <NUM>.

The deep-freezing portion <NUM> may be disposed inside the freezer space <NUM> by sliding along the guide rail <NUM>. When the deep-freezing portion <NUM> is disposed in the freezer space <NUM>, the fan <NUM> and the thermoelectric element module <NUM> are each disposed behind the deep-freezing portion <NUM>.

When the deep-freezing portion <NUM> is disposed in the freezer space <NUM>, if the fan <NUM> and the thermoelectric element module <NUM> are misaligned with the opening 111R or a gap is formed, cold air introduced into the deep-freezing portion <NUM> may leak. Therefore, the user may check that the deep-freezing portion <NUM> is disposed in the freezer space <NUM> at a right position by physical coupling between the fitting groove <NUM> and the fixing member <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the fitting groove <NUM> may be defined closer to the rear surface of the housing <NUM> and the fixing member <NUM> may be disposed closer to the rear surface of the freezer space <NUM> on the guide rail <NUM> to intuitively notify, to the user, that there is no gap between the rear surface of the deep-freezing portion <NUM> and the thermoelectric element module <NUM>. However, the fitting groove <NUM> and the fixing member <NUM> are not limited by the positional limitations. The fitting groove <NUM> may be defined at a portion of the outer surface of the housing <NUM> and the fixing member <NUM> may be provided outside of a movement path of the deep-freezing portion <NUM> on the guide rail <NUM>.

Accordingly, the fixing member <NUM> may be coupled to the fitting groove <NUM> when the rear surface of the deep-freezing portion <NUM> contacts the rear surface of the freezer space <NUM>. In this case, the rear surface of the deep-freezing portion <NUM> may refer to a surface defining the opening 111R of the housing <NUM> and the rear surface of the freezer space <NUM> may refer to a surface of the grill fan assembly <NUM>.

As described above, the front surface and the rear surface refer to the front surface opened and closed by the door in front of the freezer space with respect to the storage space of the freezer space and the rear surface facing the front surface and the standards are not interpreted differently depending on components.

The fixing member <NUM> is elastically supported on the guide rail <NUM>, and when the fixing member <NUM> is coupled to the fitting groove <NUM>, the fixing member <NUM> may be elastically deformed and then restored. The elastic deformation and restoration refers that the degree of protrusion of the fixing member <NUM> from the upper side of the guide rail <NUM> is elastically deformed, and the degree of protrusion may be restored by an elastic force when the fixing member <NUM> is coupled to the fitting groove <NUM>.

In detail, the fixing member <NUM> has a semicircular shape with a curvature and may protrude from the upper surface of the guide rail <NUM> at the position close to the rear surface of the freezer space <NUM>. A first side of the guide rail <NUM> may be disposed at the front surface of the freezer space <NUM>, a second side of the guide rail <NUM> may be disposed at the rear surface of the freezer space <NUM>, the guide rail <NUM> may extend from the front surface of the freezer space <NUM> to the rear surface of the freezer space <NUM>, and the fixing member <NUM> may protrude from the upper surface of the second side of the guide rail <NUM>.

If the fixing member <NUM> is disposed at the first side (a portion facing the front surface of the freezer space) of the guide rail <NUM>, interference due to friction may occur when the deep-freezing portion <NUM> is inserted into and is drawn out from the freezer space <NUM>. The rear surface of the deep-freezing portion <NUM> contacts the grill fan assembly <NUM> to prevent the cold air generated from the thermoelectric element module <NUM> from leaking into the freezer space <NUM>. Therefore, the fixing member <NUM> is preferably disposed close to the rear surface of the freezer space <NUM>.

Furthermore, the fitting groove <NUM> may have a shape corresponding to an outer shape of the fixing member <NUM> such that the fixing member <NUM> is in surface contact with the fitting groove <NUM>. The fixing member <NUM> of this embodiment has the semicircular shape with the curvature, and accordingly, the fitting groove <NUM> may have a semicircular shape corresponding to the curvature.

Therefore, when the user draws out the deep-freezing portion door <NUM>, the housing <NUM> may be prevented from being drawn out from the freezer space <NUM> by the coupling between the fixing member <NUM> and the fitting groove <NUM>. When the user draws out the housing <NUM>, the user has to pull the housing <NUM> by elastically deforming the protruding portion of the fixing member <NUM>.

That is, when the user draws out the stored material from the housing <NUM> by pulling out the deep freezer potion door <NUM> to draw out the stored materials from the inside of the deep-freezing portion <NUM>, the deep-freezing portion <NUM> may be fixed inside the freezer space <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, a configuration of the deep-freezing portion <NUM> is described. The deep-freezing portion <NUM> may include housing <NUM> defining an opening 111F at a front surface thereof and providing a deep-freeze space <NUM> and a deep-freezing portion door <NUM> slidable with respect to the housing <NUM> and to open and close the opening 111F defined on the front surface of the deep-freezing portion.

In more detail, a guide member <NUM> is disposed at a lower portion of the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> and is movable along a guide rail <NUM> of the housing <NUM> to slide the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> to the inner space of the housing <NUM>. The configurations of the guide rail <NUM> and the guide member <NUM> are described below with reference to <FIG>.

As the door <NUM> rotates, the open front portion of the freezer space <NUM> may be opened and closed. Based on the opening of the front surface of the freezer space by the rotation of the door <NUM>, the deep-freezing portion <NUM> is opened. The door <NUM> slides to the housing <NUM> to open and close the opening 111F of the housing. Based on the opening and closing thereof, the basket <NUM> may be inserted into and drawn out from the housing <NUM> to store or draw out food in or from the deep freezer potion <NUM>.

Meanwhile, protrusion members <NUM> protrude from a front side of the opening 111F and are disposed at both sides of the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> to prevent shaking of the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> when the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> closes the opening in contact with the opening 111F.

That is, the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> has a width that is smaller than that of the housing <NUM> and may be less interfered with the door basket <NUM> disposed inside the freezer space door <NUM> by a difference between the width of the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> and the width of the housing <NUM> when the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> is drawn out.

Meanwhile, a fastener may be disposed on at least one of the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> or the front surface of the housing of this embodiment and may include a first fastener <NUM> and a hook <NUM> disposed on the front surface of the housing and the door <NUM>, facing each other, and to provide a magnetic force, and a second fastener including a coupling groove <NUM> into which the hook <NUM> is inserted.

The first fastener <NUM> may include a magnet having magnetism and the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> may open and close the front open space 111F of the housing by the magnetic force. Further, the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> may include the hook <NUM> that protrudes toward the opening 111F defined on the front surface thereof and the hook <NUM> may be inserted into the coupling groove <NUM> defined at a portion of the opening 111F proivided on the front surface thereof to couple the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> to the front surface of the housing.

As the inside of the deep-freezing portion <NUM> is maintained at 'deep-temperature' which is lower than that of the inside of the freezer space, it is necessary to prevent the cold air from leaking from the inside of the deep-freezing portion <NUM>. Therefore, as described above, the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> may open and close the opening 111F in contact with the opening 111F. That is, the door <NUM> is coupled to the housing <NUM> by the first fastener and the second fastener using a multiple fastening structure, thereby effectively preventing the cold air from leaking from the inside of the deep-freezing portion.

Meanwhile, the first fastener <NUM> may be made of material having magnetism by itself, or material having the magnetism when a current flows, and may receive a current by a conducting wire (L) drawn out to the outside of the deep-freezing portion <NUM>. The user may adjust the magnetism based on an amount of current supply to adjust a degree of closing thereof by contacting the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> with the opening 111F.

In addition, the first fastener <NUM> may be disposed on the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> or the opening 111F as described above or the first fasteners <NUM> may be disposed on the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> and the opening 111F at positions corresponding to each other and may be coupled by an attraction force. If the first fastener <NUM> is disposed only in either one of the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> or the opening 111F, the part where the first fastener <NUM> is not disposed has to be made of material such as iron to attach to the magnet. In this case, the weight, the production cost, and the like of the deep-freezing portion <NUM> may be increased. Therefore, as described in the above example, when the magnets are disposed in the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> and the opening 111F and are coupled to each other by the attractive force, there is an advantage in that material of the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> or the opening 111F may be selected as an optimal material for insulation.

Meanwhile, the hook <NUM> protrudes from the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> toward the opening 111F. The hook <NUM> is elastically supported by the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> in the direction of gravity to elastically deform and restore the position of the hook <NUM> when the hook <NUM> is inserted into the coupling groove <NUM>.

The elastic deformation and restoration refers that, when the hook <NUM> is inserted into the coupling groove <NUM>, the hook <NUM> is moved while receiving an elastic force in an upward direction, and when the hook <NUM> is coupled to the coupling groove <NUM>, the position of the hook <NUM> is restored.

The hook <NUM> may be elastically deformed and then restored as described above, or may be coupled to or uncoupled from the coupling groove <NUM> by a switch and a button disposed on one side of the deep-freezing portion door <NUM>.

Meanwhile, in addition to opening and closing of the opening 111F by the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> based on coupling between the hook <NUM>, the coupling groove <NUM>, and the magnet <NUM>, the door <NUM> may include a gasket <NUM> along a circumference of an inner surface thereof to prevent leakage of the cold air in the deep-freezing portion <NUM> to outside. The hook <NUM>, the coupling groove <NUM>, and the magnet <NUM> may be disposed in the area out of the circumference formed by the gasket <NUM>. If the hook <NUM>, the coupling groove <NUM>, and the magnet <NUM> are disposed in an area overlapping with the gasket <NUM>, the effect of preventing the outflow of the cold air by the gasket <NUM> may be significantly reduced. Therefore, as described above, the hook <NUM>, the coupling groove <NUM>, and the magnet <NUM> are each preferably disposed in the area out of the circumference of the gasket <NUM>.

Meanwhile, a heating wire <NUM> may be disposed along the circumference of the opening 111F and may receive a power from the conducting wire (L) drawn out to an outside of the deep-freezing portion <NUM>. The housing <NUM> includes a hole <NUM> at one side thereof and the conducting wire (L) may be drawn out to outside through the deep-freezing portion <NUM> via the hole <NUM>.

The deep-freezing portion <NUM> includes the hole <NUM> at the lower portion thereof as described above and protruding members disposed at both sides of the lower portion of the deep-freezing portion <NUM> are provided in a path guided by a guide rail <NUM> of the freezer space. Therefore, the deep-freezing portion <NUM> may not interfere with the protruding members when the deep-freezing portion <NUM> is inserted into and is drawn out from the freezer space. In addition, a cover member <NUM> may be disposed at one side of the hole <NUM> and covers an upper portion of the hole <NUM> to prevent an accident such as peeling off of covering of the conducting wire (L) due to caught of the conducting wire (L) between the deep-freezing portion <NUM> and the inner wall of the freezer space <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> show a deep-freezing portion door and a basket.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the deep-freezing portion <NUM> may include a basket <NUM> that may be inserted into and drawn out from the deep-freezing portion <NUM> as the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> is opened and closed, the deep-freezing portion basket <NUM> includes a fixing member <NUM> that protrudes from one side of the deep-freezing portion basket <NUM>, and the fixing member <NUM> may be inserted into a groove <NUM> defined on an inner surface of the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> to couple the deep-freezing portion basket <NUM> to the deep-freezing portion door <NUM>.

The fixing member <NUM> has various shapes such that the fixing member <NUM> is inserted into the groove <NUM>, and in this embodiment, the fixing member <NUM> has a hook shape.

That is, the deep-freezing portion basket <NUM> may be provided separately from the deep-freezing portion door <NUM>, include a first surface <NUM> facing an inner surface of the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> and a second surface <NUM> facing the first surface <NUM> and on which the grill is placed, and the fixing member <NUM> may be disposed on the first surface <NUM>.

In addition, a first support member <NUM> protrudes from a lower side of the first surface <NUM> to contact the inner surface of the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> and a second support member <NUM> protrudes from a lower side of the second surface <NUM> to contact a bottom surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM>.

The fixing member <NUM> and the first support member <NUM> eacy protrude from the first surface <NUM> of the basket <NUM>, the fixing member <NUM> may be disposed on the first surface <NUM>, and the first support member <NUM> may be disposed under the first surface <NUM>. The fixing member <NUM> and the first support member <NUM> have a relative difference in height from the first surface <NUM>. The first support member <NUM> contacts the inner surface of the door <NUM> to support a rotational moment generated from the basket <NUM> with respect to the fixing member <NUM>, thereby stably gripping the basket <NUM> on the inner surface of the door <NUM>.

In addition, the basket <NUM> is detachably coupled to the door <NUM> and may be provided at a height spaced apart from the guide member <NUM> by a predetermined distance. The basket <NUM> is directly coupled to the inner surface of the door <NUM> to connect the guide member <NUM> to the lower side of the door <NUM>. Therefore, the inner space of the housing <NUM> may be widely used.

If the basket <NUM> is not gripped by the door <NUM>, the basket <NUM> has to be drawn out based on the opening and closing of the door <NUM>, so the basket <NUM> has to be supported on the guide member <NUM>. In this case, the guide member <NUM> is inevitably slidable in the inner space of the housing <NUM>, which is an element reducing the inner space of the housing <NUM>.

To maximize the use of the inner space of the housing <NUM>, the guide member <NUM> is connected to the lower side of the door <NUM> and slides on the housing <NUM> at the outside of the inner space of the housing <NUM>, the basket <NUM> has to be gripped on other configurations than the guide member <NUM> and may be drawn out based on the opening and closing of the door <NUM>. Therefore, according to the configuration described in this embodiment, the basket <NUM> may be stably gripped on the inner surface of the door <NUM> at the height spaced apart from the guide member <NUM> by the predetermined distance.

Meanwhile, the second surface <NUM> may be referred to as the surface on which the grill is disposed, and the grill <NUM> may define an inlet through which cold air generated from the thermoelectric element module <NUM> disposed at the rear of the deep-freezing portion <NUM> is introduced.

In addition, the second support member <NUM> protrudes from the lower surface of the grill <NUM> and contacts the bottom surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. The housing <NUM> define openings 111F and 111R at the front surface and the rear surface thereof and has the bottom surface <NUM>, an upper surface <NUM>, and a side surface. The bottom surface <NUM> forms an inner bottom surface of the housing <NUM>. The upper surface <NUM> forms an inner upper surface of the housing <NUM>. The rear surface forms an inner rear surface of the housing <NUM> and defines an open space accommodating the fan <NUM> to introduce cold air of the thermoelectric element module <NUM> into the housing <NUM>. The side surface extends from a front side of the housing <NUM> to a rear side of the housing <NUM> in a depth direction.

In this embodiment, the deep-freezing portion basket <NUM> includes the fixing member <NUM> disposed on the first surface <NUM> and inserted into the groove <NUM> of the deep-freezing portion door and rotates clockwise about the contact portion between the groove <NUM> and the fixing member <NUM>. Therefore, the first support member <NUM> may be disposed under the first surface <NUM>, that is, at an opposite side to an upper side of the first surface <NUM> at which the fixing member <NUM> is disposed, protrudes toward the inner surface of the deep temperature portion door <NUM>, and contacts the inner surface of the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> to fix a horizontal position of the deep-freezing portion basket <NUM> and firmly couple to the deep-freezing portion door <NUM>.

In addition, the grill <NUM> may include a second support member <NUM> that protrudes from a lower surface of the grill <NUM> and contacting the bottom surface <NUM> of the housing to prevent the deep-freezing portion basket <NUM> from contact with the bottom surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM> as the deep-freezing portion basket <NUM> is tilted as described above. In addition, a contact member <NUM> is disposed in the second support member <NUM> and protrudes from the support member <NUM> in the direction of gravity to directly contact the bottom surface <NUM> of the housing.

That is, the basket <NUM> may include the first support member <NUM> and the second support member <NUM> disposed at the same height. In detail, the first support member <NUM> may be disposed at the lower portion of the basket <NUM> to support the rotational moment generated as the fixing member <NUM> is disposed at the upper portion of the basket <NUM> and the second support member <NUM> may be disposed at the lower portion of the basket <NUM> to prevent the basket <NUM> from being damaged due to the contact of the basket <NUM> with the bottom surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the contact member <NUM> is additionally provided in the second support member <NUM> that protrudes from the second surface <NUM>, and for the provision, the second support member <NUM> may include a groove into which the contact member <NUM> is inserted. The contact member <NUM> may be injection molded by a series of processes using the same material as the deep-freezing portion basket <NUM> by directly contacting the contact member <NUM> with the bottom surface <NUM> of the housing, thereby simplifying a process. The contact member <NUM> is made of additional material having high strength, hardness, and rigidity including POM material and may be fitted into the second support member <NUM>.

<FIG> is a rear perspective view of a deep-freezing portion. <FIG> is a side cross-sectional view of <FIG>. <FIG> is a state view in which a deep-freezing portion door is inserted. <FIG> shows a structure to limit a withdrawal distance of a deep-freezing portion door and a structure to prevent removal thereof.

Referring to <FIG>, a deep-freezing portion <NUM> of this embodiment includes housing <NUM> defining an opening at a front side thereof and providing a deep-freeze space <NUM> having a predetermined length from the front side thereof to a rear side thereof, a guide rail <NUM> that extends from one side of the housing <NUM> in a longitudinal direction of the housing <NUM>, a guide member <NUM> movable along the guide rail <NUM>, and a door <NUM> connected to the guide member <NUM> to open and close the front side of the housing, and the guide rail <NUM> may extend longer than a length of the deep-freeze space <NUM>.

The deep-freeze space <NUM> is defined inside the housing <NUM>, is partitioned from the inner storage space of the freezer space, and maintains a temperature lower than that of the storage space. A boundary of the deep-freeze space <NUM> is defined by an inner front surface, an inner rear surface, and an inner side surface of the housing <NUM>. A length of the deep-freeze space <NUM> may refer to a length from the inner front surface of the housing <NUM> to the inner rear surface of the housing <NUM>. In addition, as the inside of the deep-freeze space <NUM> is maintained at a cryogenic temperature, the housing <NUM> may have a predetermined thickness for thermal insulation.

In this configuration, the guide rail <NUM> may extend longer than the length of the deep-freeze space <NUM> and an extending length of the guide rail <NUM> may be close to a distance from an outer front surface of the housing to an outer rear surface of the housing. Referring to <FIG>, the guide rail <NUM> of this embodiment may be recessed from the outer lower surface of the housing <NUM> along a longitudinal direction of the housing <NUM> (may extend from the outer front surface of the housing to the outer rear surface of the housing).

The outer front surface of the housing <NUM> may be described as an outer surface defining an opening 111F of the housing and the outer rear surface of the housing <NUM> refers the outer surface of the housing <NUM> in contact with a grill fan assembly <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> is slidably provided on the guide rail <NUM> disposed under the housing <NUM> and is inserted and is drawn out based on sliding of the guide member <NUM> inserted into the guide rail <NUM>. A general freezer space maintains a temperature of about <NUM> degrees Celsius, but the deep-freezing portion <NUM> of this embodiment maintains a temperature of <NUM> degrees Celsius or less, which is 'deep-temperature'. The guide rail <NUM> is disposed outside of the space where the temperature of <NUM> degrees Celsius or less is maintained and enables sliding of the deep-freezing portion door <NUM>.

If the guide rail is disposed inside the housing <NUM>, there is a fear that more cold air may leak to outside when the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> is opened and closed, and furthermore, freezing occurs between the guide rail and a guide, thereby degrading sliding of the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> and weakening durability thereof. Therefore, the guide rail <NUM> of this embodiment is disposed at a lower side of the outer portion of the housing <NUM> and the guide member <NUM> is connected to a lower side of the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> to slide the deep-freezing portion door <NUM>.

When the guide member <NUM> is connected to the lower side of the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> as described above, the deep-freezing portion basket <NUM> may not be supported by the guide member <NUM>. That is, as the inside of the deep-freezing portion <NUM> is maintained at 'the deep-temperature', the deep-freezing portion <NUM> has the thickness for internal insulation thereof. In addition, the guide rail <NUM> is disposed at the lower side of the outer portion of the housing <NUM> and the inner bottom surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM> is spaced apart from the guide rail <NUM> by an outer thickness of the housing <NUM>. Therefore, the deep-freezing portion basket <NUM> has to be fixed at a position spaced apart from the guide member <NUM> by a predetermined height.

Therefore, the deep-freezing portion basket <NUM> may not be supported by and coupled to the guide member <NUM> and has to be coupled to the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> at the height spaced apart from the guide member <NUM> by the predetermined distance. For the coupling, the deep-freezing portion basket <NUM> includes a fixing member <NUM> and the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> includes a groove <NUM> on an inner surface thereof. Also, the first support member <NUM> protrudes from the first surface <NUM> of the deep-freezing portion basket to stably support the deep-freezing portion basket <NUM>. In addition, a second support member <NUM> may protrude from under a grill <NUM> to prevent wear of the deep-freezing portion basket <NUM> due to contact with the bottom surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM> and application of an external force to food stored in the deep-freezing portion basket <NUM> by friction on the deep-freezing portion basket <NUM>.

Meanwhile, a first side of the guide member <NUM> is connected to the door <NUM>, and when the door <NUM> closes the front opening 111F of the housing <NUM>, a second side of the guide member <NUM> may be disposed behind the deep-freeze space <NUM>. In addition, the guide rail <NUM> may communication a front side thereof with a rear side thereof, and when the door <NUM> closes the front surface of the housing <NUM>, the guide member <NUM> may protrude from a rear end of the guide rail <NUM>.

The rear surface of the housing <NUM> is disposed inside a freezer space in contact with a grill fan assembly <NUM> defining the rear surface of the storage space of the freezer space in the freezer space. If the second side of the guide member <NUM> protrudes from the rear side of the guide rail <NUM>, the door <NUM> may not completely close the front surface of the housing <NUM> due to the contact with the grill fan assembly <NUM>.

The grill fan assembly <NUM> may include a recess 15a to accommodate the guide rail <NUM>. A sliding movement distance of the guide member <NUM> is increased based on a recessed depth of the recess 15a and the length of the guide rail <NUM>, thereby obtaining a longer withdrawal distance of the door <NUM>.

That is, the guide rail <NUM> extends from the front side of the outer lower surface of the housing <NUM> to the rear side of the outer lower surface of the housing <NUM> to obtain the withdrawal distance of the guide member <NUM>, and the guide member <NUM> extends longer than the length of the deep-freezing portion basket <NUM> in the longitudinal direction of the housing and may be inserted into the guide rail <NUM>.

If a rail defines a plurality of steps such as two or three steps to obtain the withdrawal distance of the deep-freezing portion basket <NUM>, the durability of the guide rail may be weakened. In addition, a guide rail has to be disposed under the deep-freezing portion to accommodate the rail having the plurality of steps and occupies larger volume than that of the guide rail <NUM> to accommodate the guide member <NUM> of this embodiment, thereby reducing space utilization of the deep-freeze space.

Therefore, the guide rail <NUM> is disposed below the housing <NUM> to obtain the withdrawal distance of the one-step guide member <NUM> in this embodiment and extends from the outer front surface of the housing <NUM> to the outer rear surface of the housing <NUM> to obtain the withdrawal distance of the deep-freezing portion door <NUM>.

In addition, the guide member <NUM> includes a roller <NUM> at one end thereof to slide the guide member <NUM> inside the guide rail <NUM> while minimizing friction.

Meanwhile, the guide member <NUM> includes an engaging member <NUM> to limit a sliding distance of the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> and the guide rail <NUM> includes a stopper <NUM> disposed at one side thereof. The sliding distance of the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> may be limited by contacting the engaging member <NUM> with the stopper <NUM>.

More specifically, the engaging member <NUM> is disposed in front of the roller <NUM> in the guide member <NUM>, and the front refers to a portion toward the door <NUM> with respect to the housing <NUM> as described above. That is, a first end of the guide member <NUM> is connected to the door <NUM> and the roller <NUM> is disposed at a second end thereof. Therefore, the engaging member <NUM> may be disposed in front of the roller <NUM> in the guide member <NUM>.

The stopper <NUM> is disposed close to the opening 111F of the housing <NUM> in the guide rail <NUM> and the engaging member <NUM> may be disposed in front of the roller <NUM> provided at one side of the guide member <NUM>. That is, the guide rail <NUM> may include the stopper <NUM> at the front side of the outer lower surface of the housing <NUM> and the engaging member <NUM> may be provided at a portion of the guide member <NUM> that extends further from the deep-freezing portion basket <NUM>.

When the deep-freezing portion basket <NUM> is removed from the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> and is drawn out to outside, to obtain a distance corresponding to a depth direction (a direction toward an inner space of the housing from the deep-freezing portion door) of the deep-freezing portion basket <NUM> in the housing <NUM>, a sliding distance of the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> may be limited by contacting the engaging member <NUM> with the stopper <NUM>. If the sliding distance of the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> is not limited, there is a risk in that the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> is separated from and fall down from the housing <NUM>.

In addition, when the engaging member <NUM> contacts the stopper <NUM> and the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> is drawn out at a maximum level, a rotational moment is generated based on the withdrawal distance of the deep-freezing portion door <NUM>. In this case, there is a risk in that the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> is separated from and falls down from the housing <NUM>. The guide rail <NUM> further includes a rib <NUM> that protrudes from one side thereof to prevent separation of the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> by contact with the guide member <NUM> when the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> is rotated in the direction of gravity.

In detail, the rib <NUM> may be disposed at an inner portion of the guide rail <NUM> than the stopper <NUM>, and when the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> rotates by receiving the moment, the rib <NUM> may contact the upper surface of the guide member <NUM>. In this case, the guide member <NUM> may include the roller <NUM> at the lower portion thereof and an upper portion of the guide member <NUM> may extend shorter than the lower portion of the guide member <NUM>.

That is, the guide member <NUM> may have a rod shape, the upper portion thereof and the lower portion thereof are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance and extend. The engaging member <NUM> is disposed at the upper side of the guide member <NUM> and contacts the stopper <NUM> disposed between the upper side and the lower side of the guide member <NUM> to limit the withdrawal distance of the deep-freezing portion door <NUM>. The lower side of the guide member <NUM> extends further than the upper side of the guide member <NUM> in the length (depth) direction of the housing <NUM> from the deep-freezing portion door <NUM> and the roller <NUM> may be disposed at the extending portion thereof.

In addition, the guide rail <NUM> may provide a slidable space of the guide member <NUM> under the housing <NUM> and support the guide member <NUM>, or is recessed from the outer surface of the housing <NUM>. A rail cover <NUM> is connected to the guide rail <NUM> to support the guide member <NUM> and may move and support the guide member <NUM> simultaneously.

That is, when the guide rail <NUM> is recessed from the lower surface of the housing and defines an opening at one side thereof, the rail cover <NUM> covers the open portion thereof to define a path with four surfaces, support the load of the guide member <NUM>, and moves the guide member <NUM> along the guide rail <NUM>.

If the guide rail <NUM> is disposed under the lower surface of the housing <NUM> as the path with the four surfaces, a thickness of the housing <NUM> is increased, thereby reducing one of the storage space in the freezer space or the deep-freeze space of the deep-freezing portion or not facilitating the injection molding during the manufacturing of the housing <NUM>.

In addition, the housing <NUM> may be made of insulating material to maintain the inside thereof at the cryogenic temperature, but it is not easy to manufacture the guide rail <NUM> having all surfaces made of the insulating material and defining a path with the four surfaces.

Therefore, the housing <NUM> may be easily manufactured by disposing, under the housing <NUM>, the guide rail <NUM> defining the opening at one side thereof and having the recessed shape and covering, by the rail cover <NUM>, the open portion of the guide rail <NUM>.

In addition, the rail cover <NUM> includes a fixer <NUM>. The fixer <NUM> may couple the rail cover <NUM> to the housing <NUM> and may include various shapes such that the rail cover <NUM> is coupled to the housing <NUM>.

Meanwhile, as described above, the rail cover <NUM> is connected to the guide rail <NUM> to form the path through which the guide member <NUM> may move and in which a front side thereof communicates with a rear side thereof. When the door <NUM> closes the front opening 111F of the housing <NUM>, the second end of the guide member <NUM> may be disposed behind the rear end of the rail cover <NUM>. Therefore, the rail cover <NUM> does not need to have a length corresponding to that of the guide rail <NUM> and may have a length shorter than that of the guide rail <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the deep-freezing portion basket <NUM> may define a space to store food and include an additional shelf <NUM> to partition the storage space inside the deep freezer space basket <NUM>.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of a flow of cold air inside a deep-freezing portion. (a) of <FIG> is a side cross-sectional view of a deep-freezing portion. (b) of <FIG> is an inner top view of a deep-freezing portion. (a) of <FIG> is a side cross-sectional view of a freezer space. (b) of <FIG> is a side cross-sectional view of a grill fan assembly. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of air flow inside a deep-freezing portion.

Referring to <FIG>, a thermoelectric element module <NUM> of this embodiment includes a thermoelectric module <NUM> having a heat absorbing surface 230a and a heating surface 230b. In addition, a fan <NUM> faces the heat absorbing surface 230a of the thermoelectric module and introduces cold air into the deep-freezing portion <NUM>. An accommodator <NUM> accommodates the fan <NUM>, protrudes from an inner surface of the freezer space and includes a guide <NUM> disposed at one side of the accommodator <NUM> and to guide flow of the cold air. The housing <NUM> provides a flow path <NUM> defined at a portion of an inner surface of the housing and stepped from the inner surface of the housing.

The guide <NUM> may include an upper path 18a defined at an upper portion of the accommodator <NUM> and a lower path 18b defined at a lower portion of the accommodator <NUM>.

As described above, the housing <NUM> defines the openings 111F and 111R on the front surface and the rear surface, respectively, and an inner space of the housing <NUM> may include a bottom surface <NUM> facing a lower side of the deep-freezing portion basket <NUM> and defining the bottom surface of the housing <NUM>, an upper surface <NUM> facing the bottom surface <NUM>, and side surfaces connecting the upper surface <NUM>, the bottom surface <NUM>, a front surface, and a rear surface to divide the inner space thereof to have a cube shape.

In addition, the upper surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM> may define a stepped flow path <NUM> at a portion thereof. The flow path <NUM> may extend in direction of expanding the deep-freeze space <NUM> in the housing <NUM>. Specifically, the flow path <NUM> has a recess shape and is concaved upward from a portion of an upper surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM> to expand the deep-freeze space <NUM>.

The flow path <NUM> includes vertical portions 1141a having a width of the flow path and spaced apart from each other, and that extends in a longitudinal direction of the deep-freezing portion and a horizontal portion 1141b connecting one sides of the vertical portions. The flow path <NUM> may be defined on the upper surface <NUM> and may have a U-shape.

The vertical portion 1141a extends in a direction of decreasing the width of the flow path <NUM> along the longitudinal direction of the deep-freezing portion. In this case, the width between one sides of the vertical portions 1141a corresponds to a length of the horizontal portion 114b and a width (W) of second sides of the vertical portions 1141a may be shorter than that of the horizontal portion 1141b.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the vertical portion 1141a with the width of the flow path <NUM> has a shape as described in an embodiment in (b) of <FIG>. According to the invention, the width of the flow path <NUM> is maintained constantly in a certain section in the longitudinal direction of the deep-freezing portion (in a direction from a side of the vertical portion 1141a to a second side of the vertical portion 1141a) and is decreased at a portion defining the second side of the vertical portion 1141a.

In addition, the second side of the vertical portion 1141a may communicate with the guide <NUM> and the width (W) between the second sides of the vertical portions 1141a may be the same as the guide <NUM>.

In addition, the flow path <NUM> may be inclined downward from the upper surface <NUM> of the housing toward the rear surface of the housing.

That is, the cold air introduced into the housing <NUM> through the flow path <NUM> having the various shapes may be guided toward the guide <NUM> and may be discharged to the outside of the housing <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the vertical portions 1141a extend in parallel while maintaining the width of the horizontal portion 1141b at one side thereof and then extend in a direction of decreasing the width of the vertical portions at a predetermined area of the second side of the vertical portion 1141a. A bending portion <NUM> may decrease the width of the vertical portions. The flow path <NUM> may have inclination at the bending portion <NUM>. The step of the flow path <NUM> defines a flow path through which cold air flows inside the housing. The bending portion <NUM> and an inclined portion <NUM> may be disposed at the second side of the vertical portion 1141a to obtain an area of the flow path and guide the cold air to the guide <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the deep-freezing portion basket <NUM> is spaced apart from the bottom surface <NUM> by a predetermined height and a second flow path <NUM> may be defined in a space between the bottom surface <NUM> and the basket <NUM>. When the flow paths are respectively defined on the upper surface <NUM> and the bottom surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM> as described above, the flow path <NUM> defined on the upper surface of the housing refers to a first flow path.

A height of the basket <NUM> is smaller than that of the housing <NUM> and the basket <NUM> may be coupled to the inner surface of the door <NUM> at a position spaced apart from each of the upper surface <NUM> and the bottom surface <NUM> of the housing.

The movement path of cold air by the above configuration is described. The cold air is introduced into the housing by a thermoelectric module and a fan accommodated in the accommodator <NUM> and the introduced cold air passes through a grill disposed on the rear surface of the basket <NUM>. That is, the cold air moves from the rear surface of the housing <NUM> to the front surface of the housing and a flow of the cold air from the front surface of the housing <NUM> to the rear surface of the housing <NUM> is divided into an upper flow of the housing <NUM> and a lower flow of the housing <NUM> at the front surface thereof.

In detail, referring to <FIG>, a flow (f1) of cold air flowing into the housing through the thermoelectric element module and the fan directs the front surface of the housing from the rear surface of the housing, and the flow circulating to the rear surface of the housing from the front surface of the housing may be divided into a flow (f2) guided along the first flow path <NUM> of the housing and a flow (f3) guided along the second flow path <NUM>.

The first flow path <NUM> communicates with the upper flow path 18a, may provide a space sufficient to move the cold air by the horizontal portion 1141b and the vertical portion 1141a as described above and may easily introduce the cold air to the upper flow path 18a by the bending portion <NUM> and the inclined portion <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the upper flow path 18a may include a guide inclined portion 181a to guide flow of the cold air to minimize an element that may act as a resistance to the flow of the cold air moving along the bending portion <NUM> and the inclined portion <NUM>. The guide inclined portion 181a may be inclined downward from the lower portion of the upper flow path 18a along the flow path through which the cold air moves and may prevent interruption of flow that may occur at the communication portion between the first flow path <NUM> and the upper flow path 18a.

The second flow path <NUM> communicates with the lower flow path 18b. In this case, the second flow path <NUM> and the lower flow path 18b do not form a step. Preferably, the second flow path <NUM> and the lower flow path 18b may form a parallel surface and communicate with each other. That is, a height of the lower flow path 18b may correspond to a height between the lower surface of the basket <NUM> and the bottom surface <NUM>.

In addition, the flow path and the guide communicate with each other when the housing <NUM> is coupled to the inner side of the freezer space, that is, when the accommodator <NUM> is inserted into and coupled to the opening 111R defined on the rear surface of the housing <NUM>.

Meanwhile, as the bending portion <NUM> is defined at the second side of the vertical portion 1141a and is bent in the direction of decreasing the width of the first flow path <NUM>, the inclined portion <NUM> may be defined radially along the boundary surface of the bending portion <NUM>. Even in this case, a width (W) determined by the bending portions <NUM> has to correspond to the width of the upper flow path 18a.

Hereinabove, representative embodiments of the present disclosure are described. However, a person having ordinary knowledge in the art to which the present disclosure pertains will understand that various modifications can be made to the above-described embodiments within the scope that does not deviate from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be defined based on claims described below.

Claim 1:
A refrigerator, comprising:
a freezer space (<NUM>) defining a storage space; and
a deep-freezing portion (<NUM>) disposed in the freezer space (<NUM>) and defining a deep-freeze space (<NUM>) that is partitioned from the storage space thereof;
a thermoelectric element module (<NUM>) comprising a thermoelectric module (<NUM>) having a heat absorbing surface (230a) and a heating surface (230b) and configured to generate cold air introduced into the deep-freezing portion (<NUM>);
a fan (<NUM>) facing the heat absorbing surface (230a) of the thermoelectric module (<NUM>) and configured to introduce the cold air into the deep-freezing portion (<NUM>); and
an accommodator (<NUM>) accommodating the fan (<NUM>) and protruding from an inner surface of the freezer space (<NUM>),
wherein the deep-freezing portion (<NUM>) comprises:
a housing (<NUM>) having an opening (111F) at a front surface thereof and an opening (111R) at a rear surface thereof to receive the accommodator (<NUM>), and defining an inner space of the deep-freezing portion (<NUM>);
a door (<NUM>) configured to open and close the front surface of the housing (<NUM>); and
wherein the accommodator (<NUM>) comprises a guide (<NUM>) disposed at one side of the accommodator (<NUM>) and configured to guide flow of the cold air,
wherein the housing (<NUM>) comprises a flow path (<NUM>) defined at a portion of an inner surface of the housing (<NUM>) and allowing to flow cold air introduced into the deep-freezing portion (<NUM>) by the fan (<NUM>), and
wherein the flow path (<NUM>) has a step at the inner surface of the housing (<NUM>); characterized in that a width of the flow path (<NUM>) is decreased along the longitudinal direction of the deep-freezing portion (<NUM>) or is maintained constantly in a certain section along the longitudinal direction of the deep-freezing portion (<NUM>) and then is decreased.