Patent Description:
A refrigerator is an appliance to keep food fresh by including a body having a storage compartment, and a cooling air supply system to supply cooling air to the storage compartment. The storage compartment includes a refrigerating compartment kept at a temperature of approximately <NUM> ~ <NUM>, to store food in a refrigerated state, and a freezing compartment kept at a temperature of approximately -<NUM> ~ <NUM>, to store food in a frozen state.

The refrigerator may be classified by a position of the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment. Particularly, the refrigerator may be classified into a Bottom Mounted Freezer (BMF) type refrigerator in which a refrigerating compartment is formed in the upper portion and a freezing compartment is formed in the lower portion, a Top Mounted Freezer (TMF) type refrigerator in which a freezing compartment is formed in the upper portion and a refrigerating compartment is formed in the lower portion, and a Side by Side (SBS) type refrigerator in which a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment are formed side by side in the left and right direction. Further, the refrigerator may be classified by the number of the door, and thus the refrigerator may be classified into two-door type refrigerator, three-door type refrigerator, and four-door type refrigerator.

In general, the refrigerator may include a freezing compartment evaporator provided to supply cooling air to the freezing compartment, and a refrigerating compartment evaporator provided to supply cooling air to the refrigerating compartment. Recently, a refrigerator that can supply cooling air to each of the freezing compartment and the refrigerating compartment by one evaporator has been developed and popular in users.

If the refrigerator has one freezing compartment and one refrigerating compartment, there is no difficulty to cool the freezing compartment and the refrigerating compartment by one evaporator. However, when the refrigerator includes one freezing compartment and a plurality of refrigerating compartments, it may be difficult to independently control the temperatures of the plurality of refrigerating compartments through one evaporator.

<CIT> comprises all the technical features from the preamble of claim <NUM> and discloses a refrigerator in which a plurality of storing spaces partitioned into vertical and lateral segments can be preferably cooled in each of different temperature ranges.

Refrigerators with multiple storage compartments are disclosed in documents <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

Therefore, it is an aspect of the disclosure to provide a refrigerator having an improved structure to independently control the temperatures of a plurality of refrigerating compartments by one evaporator.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a refrigerator according to claim <NUM>. Further embodiments are set out in the dependent claims.

These and/or other aspects of the present invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:.

<FIG>, discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the present invention in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Hereinafter embodiments of the disclosure will be described with reference to drawings.

<FIG> illustrates a perspective view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> illustrates a front view of a portion of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> illustrates a sectional view taken along line A-A' of the refrigerator of <FIG>, and <FIG> illustrates a sectional view taken along line B-B ' of the refrigerator of <FIG>. For reference, "<NUM>" of <FIG> refers to a third cooling air inlet.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a refrigerator <NUM> according to claim <NUM> includes a body <NUM>, a plurality of storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> provided in the inside of the body <NUM>, and a plurality of doors <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> configured to open or close the plurality of storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

The body <NUM> includes a plurality of inner cases <NUM> and <NUM> and an outer case <NUM> arranged on the outside of the plurality of inner cases <NUM> and <NUM> to form the appearance of the refrigerator <NUM>. Between the plurality of inner cases <NUM>, <NUM> and the outer case <NUM>, a heat insulating material <NUM> is foamed and filled to prevent cooling air of the plurality of storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> from leaking out of the refrigerator <NUM>.

The plurality of inner cases <NUM> and <NUM> include a first inner case <NUM> and a second inner case <NUM> which are adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction Y of the refrigerator <NUM>. The first inner case <NUM> may be arranged on the left of a partition wall <NUM> in the horizontal direction Y of the refrigerator <NUM>, and the second inner case <NUM> may be arranged on the right of the partition wall <NUM> in the horizontal direction Y of the refrigerator <NUM>. Between the first inner case <NUM> and the second inner case <NUM>, a heat insulating material (not shown) may be foamed and filled to prevent heat exchange between a freezing compartment <NUM> and a plurality of refrigerating compartments <NUM> and <NUM>. That is, the partition wall <NUM> may be filled with a heat insulating material.

The plurality of storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> includes a freezing compartment <NUM> provided in the inside of the body <NUM>. The plurality of storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> includes the freezing compartment <NUM> provided in the inside of the first inner case <NUM>.

The plurality of storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> further includes a plurality of refrigerating compartments <NUM>, and <NUM> provided in the inside of the body <NUM> to be adjacent to the freezing compartment <NUM> in the horizontal direction Y of the refrigerator <NUM>. The plurality of storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> includes the plurality of refrigerating compartments <NUM>, and <NUM> provided in the inside of the second inner case <NUM>. The plurality of refrigerating compartments <NUM> and <NUM> includes a first refrigerating compartment <NUM> and a second refrigerating compartment <NUM>. The first refrigerating compartment <NUM> and the second refrigerating compartment <NUM> are arranged adjacent to each other in the vertical direction Z of the refrigerator <NUM>. The first refrigerating compartment <NUM> and the second refrigerating compartment <NUM> may be divided in the vertical direction Z of the refrigerator <NUM> by a divider <NUM> to communicate with each other. Particularly, the first refrigerating compartment <NUM> is arranged above the divider <NUM> in the vertical direction Z of the refrigerator <NUM>, and the second refrigerating compartment <NUM> is arranged below the divider <NUM> in the vertical direction Z of the refrigerator <NUM>.

The plurality of storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may include an open front surface.

A plurality of shelves <NUM> and a plurality of storage boxes <NUM> may be provided in the inside of the plurality of storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> so as to store food.

The plurality of doors <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be rotatably installed in the body <NUM> to open or close the open front surfaces of the plurality of storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. The plurality of doors <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may include a freezing compartment door <NUM> rotatably installed in the body <NUM> to open or close the freezing compartment <NUM>, a first refrigerating compartment door <NUM> rotatably installed in the body <NUM> to open or close the first refrigerating compartment <NUM>, and a second refrigerating compartment door <NUM> rotatably installed in the body <NUM> to open or close the second refrigerating compartment <NUM>.

A plurality of door guards <NUM> may be provided on the rear surfaces of the plurality of doors <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> to accommodate food.

The plurality of doors <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be provided with a dispenser <NUM> to allow a user to take out water or ice from the outside. Particularly, the dispenser <NUM> may be provided in the freezing compartment door <NUM>.

An insulating material (not shown) may be foamed and filled in the inside of the plurality of doors <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> to prevent cooling air of the plurality of storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> from leaking out of the refrigerator <NUM>.

The refrigerator <NUM> includes a cooling air supply device configured to supply cooling air to the plurality of inner cases <NUM> and <NUM>. The cooling air supply device includes a compressor <NUM>, a condenser <NUM>, an expansion valve (not shown), and an evaporator <NUM>. The compressor <NUM> configured to compress the refrigerant and the condenser <NUM> configured to condense the compressed refrigerant may be installed in a machine room <NUM> provided in the lower rear side of the plurality of storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. As an example, the compressor <NUM> may be installed in the machine room <NUM> to be located in the lower rear side of the plurality of refrigerating compartments <NUM> and <NUM>, and the condenser <NUM> may be installed in the machine room <NUM> to be located in the lower rear side of the freezing compartment <NUM>. The evaporator <NUM> is arranged in a freezing compartment cooling space <NUM> to be described later.

The refrigerator <NUM> includes a freezing compartment cooling space <NUM> arranged behind the freezing compartment <NUM> to communicate with the freezing compartment <NUM>. The freezing compartment cooling space <NUM> is provided in the inside of the first inner case <NUM> to be located behind the freezing compartment <NUM>. The freezing compartment cooling space <NUM> is formed between the first inner case <NUM> and a freezing compartment partition <NUM>. Particularly, the freezing compartment cooling space <NUM> is formed between a part of an inner wall of the first inner case <NUM> including a rear wall of the first inner case <NUM>, and the freezing compartment partition <NUM>.

The refrigerator <NUM> further includes a plurality of refrigerating compartment cooling spaces <NUM> and <NUM> arranged behind the plurality of refrigerating compartments <NUM> and <NUM> to communicate with the plurality of refrigerating compartments <NUM> and <NUM>. The plurality of refrigerating compartment cooling spaces <NUM> and <NUM> is provided in the inside of the second inner case <NUM> to be located behind the plurality of refrigerating compartments <NUM> and <NUM>. The plurality of refrigerating compartment cooling spaces <NUM> and <NUM> includes a first refrigerating compartment cooling space <NUM> positioned behind the first refrigerating compartment <NUM> and a second refrigerating compartment cooling space <NUM> positioned behind the second refrigerating compartment <NUM>. The first refrigerating compartment cooling space <NUM> is provided to communicate with the first refrigerating compartment <NUM>, and the second refrigerating compartment cooling space <NUM> is provided to communicate with the second refrigerating compartment <NUM>. The plurality of refrigerating compartment cooling spaces <NUM> and <NUM> may be formed between the second inner case <NUM> and a refrigerating compartment partition <NUM>. Particularly, the plurality of refrigerating compartment cooling spaces <NUM> and <NUM> may be formed between a part of an inner wall of the second inner case <NUM> including a rear wall of the second inner case <NUM>, and the refrigerating compartment partition <NUM>.

The refrigerator <NUM> includes the freezing compartment partition <NUM> configured to divide the first inner case <NUM> into the freezing compartment <NUM> and the freezing compartment cooling space <NUM>. The freezing compartment <NUM> is arranged in front of the freezing compartment partition <NUM> in the front and rear direction X of the refrigerator <NUM>, and the freezing compartment cooling space <NUM> is arranged behind the freezing compartment partition <NUM> in the front and rear direction X of the refrigerator <NUM>. The freezing compartment partition <NUM> includes a freezing compartment duct <NUM> and may include a separator plate <NUM>. The freezing compartment duct <NUM> may be positioned above the separator plate <NUM> in the vertical direction Z of the refrigerator <NUM>. The freezing compartment partition <NUM> may include at least one outlet <NUM> configured to allow the cooling air generated by the evaporator <NUM> to be supplied to the freezing compartment <NUM>. Particularly, at least one outlet <NUM> may be formed in a front frame <NUM> and the separator plate <NUM> of the freezing compartment duct <NUM>.

The refrigerator <NUM> includes the freezing compartment duct <NUM> configured to supply cooling air to the freezing compartment <NUM>. The freezing compartment duct <NUM> may include the front frame <NUM> forming the rear surface of the freezing compartment <NUM> and in which the at least one outlet <NUM> is formed, and a rear frame <NUM> coupled to the front frame <NUM>. In addition, the freezing compartment duct <NUM> may further include an inner space <NUM> formed between the front frame <NUM> and the rear frame <NUM>.

The separator plate <NUM> may be coupled to the freezing compartment duct <NUM> to form the rear surface of the freezing compartment <NUM> together with the front frame <NUM> of the freezing compartment duct <NUM>.

The refrigerator <NUM> may further include a blowing fan <NUM> configured to circulate the cooling air generated by the evaporator <NUM>. The blowing fan <NUM> may be arranged in the inner space <NUM> of the freezing compartment duct <NUM>. Particularly, the blowing fan <NUM> may be installed in the front frame <NUM> of the freezing compartment duct <NUM> so that the cooling air generated by the evaporator <NUM> flows into the inner space <NUM> of the freezing compartment duct <NUM> through the freezing compartment cooling space <NUM>.

The blowing fan <NUM> may be positioned above the evaporator <NUM> in the vertical direction Z of the refrigerator <NUM>. When the blowing fan <NUM> is operated, the cooling air generated by the evaporator <NUM> may flow upward and flow into the inner space <NUM> of the freezing compartment duct <NUM> through the blowing fan <NUM>, and the cooling air flowing into the inner space <NUM> of the freezing compartment duct <NUM> may be supplied to the freezing compartment <NUM> though the at least one outlet <NUM> formed in the freezing compartment partition <NUM>.

The refrigerator <NUM> may further include the refrigerating compartment partition <NUM> configured to divide the second inner case <NUM> into the plurality of refrigerating compartments <NUM> and <NUM> and the plurality of refrigerating compartment cooling spaces <NUM> and <NUM>. The plurality of refrigerating compartments <NUM> and <NUM> may be arranged in front of the refrigerating compartment partition <NUM> in the front and rear direction X of the refrigerator <NUM>, and the plurality of refrigerating compartment cooling spaces <NUM> and <NUM> may be arranged behind the refrigerating compartment partition <NUM> in the front and rear direction X of the refrigerator <NUM>. The refrigerating compartment partition <NUM> may form the rear surface of the plurality of refrigerating compartments <NUM> and <NUM>. The refrigerating compartment partition <NUM> may include at least one outlet <NUM> so that the cooling air generated in the evaporator <NUM> is supplied to the plurality of refrigerating compartments <NUM> and <NUM> by sequentially passing through the freezing compartment duct <NUM> and the plurality of refrigerating compartment cooling spaces <NUM> and <NUM>.

The refrigerator <NUM> may further include a plurality of temperature sensors (not shown). The plurality of temperature sensors may include a first temperature sensor provided in the first refrigerating compartment <NUM> to detect the temperature of the first refrigerating compartment <NUM>, and a second temperature sensor provided in the second refrigerating compartment <NUM> to detect the temperature of the second refrigerating compartment <NUM>. A plurality of dampers <NUM> and <NUM> (refer to <FIG>) to be described later may open or close a cooling air supply duct <NUM> (refer to <FIG>) based on a detection result of the plurality of temperature sensors. As an example, when the temperature detected by the plurality of temperature sensors is higher than a predetermined temperature, the plurality of dampers <NUM> and <NUM> may open the cooling air supply duct <NUM>. On the contrary, when the temperature sensed by the plurality of temperature sensors is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature, the plurality of dampers <NUM> and <NUM> may close the cooling air supply duct <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a rear view of a portion of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> illustrates a rear perspective view of a portion of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> illustrates a rear perspective view of a portion of the refrigerator when viewed from a direction different from <FIG>. For reference, in <FIG>, the cooling air supply duct <NUM> and a cooling air circulation duct <NUM> shown in <FIG> are omitted. In addition, a third duct <NUM> refers to the same configuration as the cooling air circulation duct <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the refrigerator <NUM> includes the cooling air supply duct <NUM> configured to allow the cooling air generated by the evaporator <NUM> to be supplied to the plurality of refrigerating compartments <NUM> and <NUM>.

The cooling air supply duct <NUM> may include a first duct <NUM> configured to allow the cooling air generated by the evaporator <NUM> to be supplied to the first refrigerating compartment <NUM>. The first duct <NUM> may connect the freezing compartment duct <NUM> to the first refrigerating compartment cooling space <NUM>. The first duct <NUM> may include a first unit 410a arranged in the inner space <NUM> of the freezing compartment duct <NUM>, and a second unit 410b configured to connect the first unit 410a to the first refrigerating compartment cooling space <NUM>. The first unit 410a and the second unit 410b may communicate with each other. The second unit 410b may be arranged outside the rear side of the first inner case <NUM> and the second inner case <NUM> to connect the first unit 410a to the first refrigerating compartment cooling space <NUM>. The first duct <NUM> may further include a first cooling air inlet <NUM> (refer to <FIG>). Particularly, the first cooling air inlet <NUM> may be formed at one end of the first unit 410a facing the blowing fan <NUM>. An opening <NUM> may be formed at the other end of the first unit 410a positioned opposite to one end of the first unit 410a in which the first cooling air inlet <NUM> is formed. The opening <NUM> formed at the other end of the first unit 410a may form a communication port <NUM> together with an opening formed on one wall of the rear frame <NUM> of the freezing compartment duct <NUM> and an opening <NUM> formed on one wall of the first inner case <NUM>. Cooling air flowing through the first cooling air inlet <NUM> may be discharged to the first refrigerating compartment cooling space <NUM> through a first cooling air outlet <NUM>. The first cooling air outlet <NUM> may be formed on one wall of the first refrigerating compartment cooling space <NUM>. In other words, the first cooling air outlet <NUM> may be formed on one wall of the second inner case <NUM> forming the first refrigerating compartment cooling space <NUM>. One end of the second unit 410b of the first duct <NUM> may be coupled to the first inner case <NUM> to cover the communication port <NUM>, and the other end of the second unit 410b of the first duct <NUM> may be coupled to second inner case <NUM> to cover the first cooling air outlet <NUM>.

An upper end portion 412a (refer to <FIG>) of the first cooling air inlet <NUM> may be closer to the blowing fan <NUM> than a lower end portion 421b (refer to <FIG>) of the first cooling air inlet <NUM> in the horizontal direction Y of the refrigerator <NUM>. In another aspect, a straight line L connecting the upper end portion 412a to the lower end portion 412b of the first cooling air inlet <NUM> may be inclined toward the blowing fan <NUM> with respect to a reference line R passing through the lower end portion 412b of the first cooling air inlet <NUM> and extending in the vertical line Z of the refrigerator <NUM>.

The first cooling air inlet <NUM> and the first cooling air outlet <NUM> may be formed at approximately the same position in the vertical direction Z of the refrigerator <NUM>. The size of the first cooling air inlet <NUM> may be smaller than the size of the first cooling air outlet <NUM>. However, the position and size of the first cooling air inlet <NUM> and the first cooling air outlet <NUM> are not limited thereto and thus the position and size of the first cooling air inlet <NUM> and the first cooling air outlet <NUM> may be variously changed.

The first cooling air inlet <NUM> may be positioned above a second cooling air inlet <NUM> to be described later in the vertical direction Z of the refrigerator <NUM>.

The cooling air supply duct <NUM> may further include a second duct <NUM> configured to allow cooling air generated by the evaporator <NUM> to be supplied to the second refrigerating compartment <NUM>. The second duct <NUM> may connect the freezing compartment duct <NUM> to the second refrigerating compartment cooling space <NUM>. One end of the second duct <NUM> may be coupled to the first inner case <NUM> to cover the second cooling air inlet <NUM> formed on one wall of the freezing compartment duct <NUM>. Particularly, the second cooling air inlet <NUM> may be formed on one wall of the rear frame <NUM> of the freezing compartment duct <NUM>. An opening <NUM> corresponding to the second cooling air inlet <NUM> may be formed on one wall of the first inner case <NUM>. The cooling air flowing through the second cooling air inlet <NUM> may be discharged into the second refrigerating compartment cooling space <NUM> through the second cooling air outlet <NUM>. The second cooling air outlet <NUM> may be formed in the refrigerating compartment partition <NUM> positioned in the second refrigerating compartment cooling space <NUM>. An opening 429a corresponding to the second cooling air outlet <NUM> may be formed on one wall of the second inner case <NUM>. The other end of the second duct <NUM> may be coupled to the second inner case <NUM> to cover the second cooling air outlet <NUM>.

The second duct <NUM> may include a first coupler <NUM> coupled to the first inner case <NUM> to cover the second cooling air inlet <NUM>, a second coupler <NUM> coupled to the second inner case <NUM> to cover the second cooling air outlet <NUM>, and a connector <NUM> configured to connect the first coupler <NUM> to the second coupler <NUM>. The connector <NUM> of the second duct <NUM> may elongate in the vertical direction Z of the refrigerator <NUM>. The connector <NUM> of the second duct <NUM> may have a substantially straight shape. The first coupler <NUM> of the second duct <NUM> may be bent to extend from an upper end of the connector <NUM> toward the first inner case <NUM>. The second coupler <NUM> of the second duct <NUM> may be bent to extend from a lower end of the connector <NUM> toward the second inner case <NUM>.

The second cooling air inlet <NUM> and the second cooling air outlet <NUM> may be formed to be positioned at different positions in the vertical direction Z of the refrigerator <NUM>. As an example, the second cooling air inlet <NUM> may be positioned above the second cooling air outlet <NUM> in the vertical direction Z of the refrigerator <NUM>. However, the positions of the second cooling air inlet <NUM> and the second cooling air outlet <NUM> are not limited thereto and thus the positions of the second cooling air inlet <NUM> and the second cooling air outlet <NUM> may be variously changed.

The refrigerator <NUM> may further include the cooling air circulation duct <NUM> configured to allow air, which is introduced through the first cooling air inlet <NUM> and circulated through the first refrigerating compartment <NUM>, and air, which is introduced through the second cooling air inlet <NUM> and circulated through the second refrigerating compartment <NUM>, to be supplied to the freezing compartment cooling space <NUM>. The cooling air circulation duct <NUM> may connect the second refrigerating compartment <NUM> to the freezing compartment cooling space <NUM>. A third cooling air inlet <NUM> to which one end of the cooling air circulation duct <NUM> is connected may be formed on one wall of the second refrigerating compartment <NUM>. Particularly, the third cooling air inlet <NUM> may be formed on one wall of the second inner case <NUM> forming the second refrigerating compartment <NUM>. More particularly, the second inner case <NUM> may include a side wall facing the first inner case <NUM>, and the third cooling air inlet <NUM> may be formed on a side wall of the second inner case <NUM> defining the second refrigerating compartment <NUM>. A third cooling air outlet <NUM> to which the other end of the cooling air circulation duct <NUM> is connected may be formed on one wall of the freezing compartment cooling spaces <NUM> so that the cooling air introduced through the third cooling air inlet <NUM> is discharged to the lower portion of the evaporator <NUM>. In other words, the third cooling air outlet <NUM> may be formed on one wall of the first inner case <NUM> forming the freezing compartment cooling space <NUM>.

The third cooling air inlet <NUM> and the third cooling air outlet <NUM> may be formed to be positioned at different positions in the vertical direction Z of the refrigerator <NUM>. For example, the third cooling air inlet <NUM> may be positioned above the third cooling air outlet <NUM> in the vertical direction Z of the refrigerator <NUM>. However, the positions of the third cooling air inlet <NUM> and the third cooling air outlet <NUM> are not limited thereto and thus the positions of the third cooling air inlet <NUM> and the third cooling air outlet <NUM> may be variously changed.

The cooling air circulation duct <NUM> may include a flow path <NUM> (refer to <FIG>) provided in the cooling air circulation duct <NUM> to allow the air circulated through the plurality of refrigerating compartments <NUM> and <NUM> to flow. The flow path <NUM> may include a first section <NUM> connected to the third cooling air inlet <NUM>, a second section <NUM> connected to the third cooling air outlet <NUM>, and a third section <NUM> provided to connect the first section <NUM> to the second section <NUM> and formed to be inclined. The first section <NUM> may be bent to extend from an upper end of the third section <NUM> toward the second refrigerating compartment <NUM>. The second section <NUM> may be bent to extend from the lower end of the third section <NUM> toward the freezing compartment <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a state in which a first duct is closed by a first damper in the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure, and <FIG> is a view illustrating a state in which the first duct is opened by the first damper in the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. For reference, in <FIG> and <FIG>, the second duct <NUM> is closed by a second damper <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the refrigerator <NUM> may further include a plurality of dampers <NUM> and <NUM> provided in the cooling air supply duct <NUM> to independently control whether to provide cooling air to each of the plurality of refrigerating compartments <NUM> and <NUM>. In other words, the refrigerator <NUM> may further include the plurality of dampers <NUM> and <NUM> provided in the cooling air supply duct <NUM> to independently control whether to provide cooling air to each of the plurality of refrigerating compartment cooling spaces <NUM> and <NUM>.

The freezing compartment <NUM> may be maintained at temperatures below zero. The plurality of refrigerating compartments <NUM> and <NUM> may be maintained at temperature above zero. It is appropriate that the temperatures of the plurality of refrigerating compartments <NUM> and <NUM> may be different depending on the type of food stored in the plurality of refrigerating compartments <NUM> and <NUM>. Alternatively, the temperatures of the plurality of refrigerating compartments <NUM> and <NUM> may be the same. Cooling air of about -<NUM> generated by the evaporator <NUM> may be directly supplied to the freezing compartment <NUM> through the freezing compartment duct <NUM> or supplied to the plurality of refrigerating compartments <NUM> and <NUM> through the freezing compartment duct <NUM> and the cooling air supply duct <NUM> connected to the freezing compartment duct <NUM>. The plurality of dampers <NUM> and <NUM> may be provided in the cooling air supply duct <NUM> to prevent cooling air from being additionally supplied to the plurality of refrigerating compartments <NUM> and <NUM> when the temperatures of the plurality of refrigerating compartments <NUM> and <NUM> are maintained at the predetermined temperature.

The plurality of dampers <NUM> and <NUM> may include a first damper <NUM> configured to selectively open or close the first duct <NUM>. As an example, the first damper <NUM> may be configured to selectively open or close the first cooling air inlet <NUM>. However, the first damper <NUM> may be configured to open or close the first duct <NUM> and may not necessarily be configured to open or close the first cooling air inlet <NUM>.

The first damper <NUM> may be rotatably installed in the first unit 410a of the first duct <NUM> arranged in the inner space <NUM> of the freezing compartment duct <NUM>. The first damper <NUM> may include a door <NUM> configured to selectively open or close the first duct <NUM> and a driver <NUM> configured to drive the door <NUM>. The door <NUM> of the first damper <NUM> may be rotatable about a door rotation shaft <NUM>. It is appropriate that the door <NUM> of the first damper <NUM> may be configured to selectively open or close the first cooling air inlet <NUM> of the first duct <NUM>.

The door rotation shaft <NUM> of the first damper <NUM> may be inclined toward the blowing fan <NUM> with respect to the reference line R1 passing through a lower end portion of the door rotation shaft <NUM> and extending in the vertical direction Z of the refrigerator <NUM>. In another aspect, the door rotation shaft <NUM> of the first damper <NUM> and the first cooling air inlet <NUM> of the first duct <NUM> may be inclined toward the blowing fan <NUM>. As an example, the degree of inclination of the door rotation shaft <NUM> of the first damper <NUM> and the degree of inclination of the first cooling air inlet <NUM> of the first duct <NUM> may be the same. However, the degree of inclination of the door rotation shaft <NUM> of the first damper <NUM> and the degree of inclination of the first cooling air inlet <NUM> of the first duct <NUM> are not limited thereto and thus the degree of the inclination thereof may be variously changed.

The plurality of dampers <NUM> and <NUM> may further include a second damper <NUM> configured to selectively open or close the second duct <NUM>. The second damper <NUM> may selectively open or close the second duct <NUM> independently of the first damper <NUM>. As an example, the second damper <NUM> may be configured to selectively open or close the second cooling air outlet <NUM>. However, the second damper <NUM> may be configured to open or close the second duct <NUM> and may not necessarily be configured to open or close the second cooling air outlet <NUM>.

The second damper <NUM> may be rotatably installed in the refrigerating compartment partition <NUM>. The second damper <NUM> may include a door <NUM> configured to selectively open or close the second duct <NUM>, and a driver <NUM> configured to drive the door <NUM>. The door <NUM> of the second damper <NUM> may be rotatable about a door rotation shaft <NUM>. It is appropriate that the door <NUM> of the second damper <NUM> may selectively open or close the second cooling air outlet <NUM>.

The door rotation shaft <NUM> of the second damper <NUM> may be inclined toward the inner direction of the second inner case <NUM> with respect to a reference line R2 passing through a lower end portion of the door rotation shaft <NUM> and extending in the vertical direction Z of the refrigerator <NUM>.

The plurality of dampers <NUM> and <NUM> may include an electric damper.

The first cooling air inlet <NUM> and the second cooling air inlet <NUM> are located above the evaporator <NUM>.

When the first cooling air inlet <NUM> and the second cooling air inlet <NUM> are formed adjacent to the evaporator <NUM>, various difficulties may occur. As an example, when the first cooling air inlet <NUM> and the second cooling air inlet <NUM> are formed to face the evaporator <NUM>, the first cooling air inlet <NUM> and the second cooling air inlet <NUM> may be frozen due to the low temperature of the evaporator <NUM>. When the first cooling air inlet <NUM> and the second cooling air inlet <NUM> are frozen, the cooling air generated by the evaporator <NUM> may not move to the plurality of refrigerating compartments <NUM> and <NUM>, and thus cooling efficiency of the plurality of refrigerating compartments <NUM> and <NUM> may decrease. In addition, when the first cooling air inlet <NUM> and the second cooling air inlet <NUM> are formed to face the evaporator <NUM>, the defrost heat used in the defrosting operation of the refrigerator <NUM> may be leaked through the first cooling air inlet <NUM> and the second cooling air inlet <NUM>. When the defrost heat is leaked through the first cooling air inlet <NUM> and the second cooling air inlet <NUM>, it is difficult to expect a sufficient defrosting effect on the evaporator <NUM> due to the lack of defrost heat. In addition, the defrost heat leaked through the first cooling air inlet <NUM> and the second cooling air inlet <NUM> may be introduced into the plurality of refrigerating compartments <NUM> and <NUM>, thereby increasing the temperatures of the plurality of refrigerating compartments <NUM> and <NUM>.

To alleviate the above mentioned difficulties, the first cooling air inlet <NUM> and the second cooling air inlet <NUM> are formed above the evaporator <NUM>. By designing the refrigerator <NUM> such that the first cooling air inlet <NUM> and the second cooling air inlet <NUM> are positioned above the evaporator <NUM>, it is possible to effectively prevent various difficulties due to clogging of the cooling air supply duct <NUM> caused by freezing, or due to leakage of defrost heat.

As illustrated in <FIG>, when the first duct <NUM> is closed by the first damper <NUM>, the cooling air generated by the evaporator <NUM> may not flow into the first refrigerating compartment <NUM>. Because the second duct <NUM> is closed by the second damper <NUM>, the cooling air generated by the evaporator <NUM> may be used to cool the freezing compartment <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, when the first duct <NUM> is opened by the first damper <NUM>, the cooling air generated by the evaporator <NUM> may flow into the first refrigerating compartment <NUM>. The cooling air generated by the evaporator <NUM> may be introduced into the first refrigerating compartment <NUM> through the first duct <NUM>. Because the second duct <NUM> is closed by the second damper <NUM>, the cooling air generated by the evaporator <NUM> may be used to cool the freezing compartment <NUM> and the first refrigerating compartment <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a state in which a second duct is closed by a second damper in the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, and <FIG> is a view illustrating a state in which the second duct is opened by the second damper in the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. For reference, in <FIG> and <FIG>, the first duct <NUM> is closed by the first damper <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, when the second duct <NUM> is closed by the second damper <NUM>, the cooling air generated by the evaporator <NUM> may not flow into the second refrigerating compartment <NUM>. Because the first duct <NUM> is closed by the first damper <NUM>, the cooling air generated by the evaporator <NUM> may be used to cool the freezing compartment <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, when the second duct <NUM> is opened by the second damper <NUM>, the cool air generated by the evaporator <NUM> may flow into the second refrigerating compartment <NUM>. The cooling air generated by the evaporator <NUM> may be introduced into the second refrigerating compartment <NUM> through the second duct <NUM>. Because the first duct <NUM> is closed by the first damper <NUM>, the cooling air generated by the evaporator <NUM> may be used to cool the freezing compartment <NUM> and the second refrigerating compartment <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a flow of cooling air in the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. For reference, in <FIG>, the first duct <NUM> and the second duct <NUM> are open.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the cooling air generated by one evaporator <NUM> is used to cool the freezing compartment <NUM> and the plurality of storage compartments30, and <NUM>.

The refrigerator <NUM> may include a first flow path <NUM> configured to cool the freezing compartment <NUM>. The cooling air generated by the evaporator <NUM> may be introduced into the freezing compartment <NUM> along the first flow path <NUM>. The cooling air generated by the evaporator <NUM> may be introduced into the freezing compartment duct <NUM> by the blowing fan <NUM> and then introduced into the freezing compartment <NUM> through the at least one outlet <NUM> formed in the freezing compartment partition <NUM>. The cooling air introduced into the freezing compartment <NUM> may cool the freezing compartment <NUM> while circulating the freezing compartment <NUM>. The cooling air used to cool the freezing compartment <NUM> may flow back into the freezing compartment cooling space <NUM> to exchange heat in the evaporator <NUM>.

The refrigerator <NUM> may further include a second flow path <NUM> configured to cool the first refrigerating compartment <NUM>. The cooling air generated by the evaporator <NUM> may be introduced into the first refrigerating compartment <NUM> along the second flow path <NUM>. The cooling air generated by the evaporator <NUM> may be introduced into the freezing compartment duct <NUM> by the blowing fan <NUM> and then introduced into the first refrigerating compartment cooling space <NUM> through the first duct <NUM>. The cooling air introduced into the first refrigerating compartment cooling space <NUM> may be introduced into the first refrigerating compartment <NUM> through the at least one outlet <NUM> formed on the refrigerating compartment partition <NUM>. The cooling air introduced into the first refrigerating compartment <NUM> may cool the first refrigerating compartment <NUM> while circulating the first refrigerating compartment <NUM>. After the circulation of the first refrigerating compartment <NUM> is completed, the cooling air may be discharged to the freezing compartment cooling space <NUM> through the third duct <NUM>.

The refrigerator <NUM> may further include a third flow path <NUM> configured to cool the second refrigerating compartment <NUM> independently of the first refrigerating compartment <NUM>. The cooling air generated by the evaporator <NUM> may be introduced into the second refrigerating compartment <NUM> along the third flow path <NUM>. The cooling air generated by the evaporator <NUM> may be introduced into the freezing compartment duct <NUM> by the blowing fan <NUM> and then introduced into the second refrigerating compartment cooling space <NUM> through the second duct <NUM>. The cooling air introduced into the second refrigerating compartment cooling space <NUM> may be introduced into the second refrigerating compartment <NUM> through the at least one outlet <NUM> formed in the refrigerating compartment partition <NUM>. The cooling air introduced into the second refrigerating compartment <NUM> may cool the second refrigerating compartment <NUM> while circulating the second refrigerating compartment <NUM>. After the circulation of the second refrigerating compartment <NUM> is completed, the cooling air may be discharged to the freezing compartment cooling space <NUM> through the third duct <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a rear view of a portion of a refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter a description of the same parts as those shown in <FIG> will be omitted.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a refrigerator 1a includes a cooling air supply duct 400a configured to allow cooling air generated by an evaporator <NUM> to be supplied to a plurality of refrigerating compartments <NUM> and <NUM>. The cooling air supply duct 400a includes a cooling air inlet <NUM> positioned above the evaporator <NUM>.

The cooling air introduced through the cooling air inlet <NUM> may be discharged into a first refrigerating compartment cooling space <NUM> through a first cooling air outlet <NUM>. The first cooling air outlet <NUM> may be formed on one wall of the first refrigerating compartment cooling space <NUM>.

The cooling air introduced through the cooling air inlet <NUM> may be discharged into a second refrigerating compartment cooling space <NUM> through the second cooling air outlet <NUM>. The second cooling air outlet <NUM> may be formed on a refrigerating compartment partition <NUM> positioned in a second refrigerating compartment cooling space <NUM>.

The cooling air supply duct 400a may connect the cooling air inlet <NUM>, the first cooling air outlet <NUM>, and the second cooling air outlet <NUM>. The cooling air introduced through the cooling air inlet <NUM> is branched inside the cooling air supply duct 400a. Therefore, a portion of the cooling air may be discharged into the first refrigerating compartment cooling space <NUM> through the first cooling air outlet, and the other portion of the cooling air may be discharged to the second refrigerating compartment cooling space <NUM> through the second cooling air outlet <NUM>.

That is, the cooling air supply duct may be composed of a plurality of ducts, such as the cooling air supply duct <NUM> described with reference to <FIG>, but may also be composed of one duct such as the cooling air supply duct 400a described with reference to <FIG>.

As is apparent from the above description, the refrigerator may independently control the temperature of the plurality of refrigerating compartments by installing the plurality of dampers in the cooling air supply ducts configured to allow the cooling air generated by the evaporator to be supplied to the plurality of refrigerating compartments.

Claim 1:
A refrigerator comprising:
a body (<NUM>) including a first inner case (<NUM>), a second inner case (<NUM>), and an outer case (<NUM>) arranged on the outside of the first and second inner cases (<NUM>, <NUM>);
a freezing compartment (<NUM>) provided in the inside of the first inner case (<NUM>);
a freezing compartment cooling space (<NUM>) arranged behind the freezing compartment (<NUM>) and in the inside of the first inner case (<NUM>);
a freezing compartment partition (<NUM>) configured to divide the freezing compartment (<NUM>) and the freezing compartment cooling space (<NUM>), the freezing compartment partition (<NUM>) comprising a freezing compartment duct (<NUM>);
an evaporator (<NUM>) arranged in the freezing compartment cooling space (<NUM>) and configured to generate cooling air;
a plurality of refrigerating compartments (<NUM>, <NUM>) provided in the inside of the second inner case (<NUM>) to be adjacent to the freezing compartment (<NUM>) in a horizontal direction from the freezing compartment (<NUM>), the plurality of refrigerating compartments (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising a first refrigerating compartment (<NUM>) and a second refrigerating compartment (<NUM>);
a plurality of refrigerating compartment cooling spaces (<NUM>, <NUM>) arranged behind the plurality of refrigerating compartments (<NUM>, <NUM>) and in the inside of the second inner case (<NUM>), the plurality of refrigerating compartment cooling spaces (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising a first refrigerating compartment cooling space (<NUM>) arranged behind the first refrigerating compartment (<NUM>) and a second refrigerating compartment cooling space (<NUM>) arranged behind the second refrigerating compartment (<NUM>); and
a cooling air supply duct (<NUM>, 400a) configured to allow cooling air generated by the evaporator (<NUM>) to be supplied to the plurality of refrigerating compartments (<NUM>, <NUM>),
wherein the cooling air supply duct (<NUM>, 400a) comprises a cooling air inlet (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) arranged above the evaporator (<NUM>) and behind the freezing compartment (<NUM>),
characterized in that the cooling air supply duct (<NUM>, 400a) is arranged outside of the rear side of the first and second inner cases (<NUM>,<NUM>) and inside the outer case (<NUM>).