Patent Description:
Generally, a refrigerator is an apparatus configured to freshly store food by providing a storage compartment and a cold air supply device configured to supply cold air to the storage compartment.

The storage compartment is maintained at a temperature within a predetermined range required to freshly store the food.

The storage compartment of the refrigerator is provided to have an open front surface, and the open front surface is closed by a door to maintain a stable temperature of the storage compartment.

The storage compartment is divided by a partition into a freezer compartment on a right side and a refrigerator compartment on a left side, and the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment are opened or closed by a freezer compartment door and a refrigerator compartment door, respectively.

A temperature of an inside of the storage compartment is maintained by receiving cold air from the cold air supply device, and the cold air supply device includes an evaporator configured to generate the cold air, a blower configured to supply the cold air generated from the evaporator to the storage compartment, and a cold air duct configured to receive the cold air supplied from the blower and discharge the cold air into the storage compartment.

The blower includes a suction member having a cold air suction hole through which the cold air is introduced, and a fan unit configured to supply the cold air introduced through the suction member to the storage compartment.

The fan unit includes a motor and blades rotated by the motor, and the blades are provided so that an end portion of each of the blades and the cold air suction hole are separated by a distance greater than or equal to a predetermined distance to prevent interference between the blade and the suction member.

When cold air below zero temperatures, which is generated by the evaporator, is circulated, dew is frozen and ice is generated on the end portions of the blades and an edge of the cold air suction hole such that the end portions of the blades have to be provided to be separated as far as possible from the cold air suction hole so that the ice generated on the end portions of the blades and the edge of the cold air suction hole does not interfere with rotation of the blades.

However, since a size of the blade has to be reduced to increase a separation distance between the end of the blade and the cold air suction hole, there is a problem in that efficiency of the blower is reduced.

<CIT> discloses a box-shaped fan used for supplying cold air wherein coatings of high water repellent paint are formed on the outer surfaces of an outer periphery frame, stay members and blades.

Therefore, it is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide a blower capable of improving efficiency thereof by allowing a separation distance between an end of the blade and a cold air suction hole to be minimized, and a refrigerator having the same.

According to the invention, there is provided a refrigerator as set out in claim <NUM>.

The fan unit may include a motor, a hub connected to the motor by a rotary shaft, a plurality of blades provided to extend in a circumferential direction of the hub from the hub, and the interference prevention portion may be provided on an end portion of each of the blades.

The water repellent member may be provided to be divided into a plurality of water repellent members, and each of the water repellent members may be attached to the edge of the cold air suction hole.

The water repellent portion may be provided so that an edge of the cold air suction hole adjacent to the interference prevention portion is coated with a water repellent material.

The fan unit, may include a motor, a base having a hub connected to the motor by a rotary shaft, a ring member in a ring shape, which is provided to be separated from the base in an axial direction of the rotary shaft and has an opening in a center portion thereof, a plurality of blades provided between the base and the ring member, and a base plate on which the motor is mounted.

The interference prevention portion may include a first interference prevention portion provided on the ring member adjacent to the suction member, and a second interference prevention portion provided on the base adjacent to the base plate.

The water repellent portion may include a first water repellent portion provided with the water repellent member which is treated with a water repellent material and attached to the surface of the suction member adjacent to the first interference prevention portion, and a second water repellent portion provided with the water repellent member which is treated with a water repellent material and attached to a surface of the base plate adjacent to the second interference prevention portion.

The first water repellent portion and the second water repellent portion may be provided so that the water repellent member is divided into a plurality of water repellent members and attached to the first water repellent portion and the second water repellent portion.

The water repellent portion may include a first water repellent portion provided such that a water repellent material is coated on the surface of the suction member adjacent to the first interference prevention portion, and a second water repellent portion provided such a water repellent material is coated on the surface of the base plate adjacent to the second interference prevention portion.

The fan unit may include a motor, a hub connected to the motor by a rotary shaft, a plurality of blades provided on an outer circumferential surface of the hub, and a base plate on which the motor is mounted.

The interference prevention portion may include a first interference prevention portion provided on end portion of the blade adjacent to the suction member and a second interference prevention portion provided on the hub adjacent to the base plate.

The water repellent portion may include a first water repellent portion provided with the water repellent member, which is treated with a water repellent material and attached to the surface of the suction member adjacent to the first interference prevention portion, and a second water repellent portion provided with the water repellent member which is treated with a water repellent material and attached to a surface of the base plate adjacent to the second interference prevention portion.

The first water repellent portion may be provided such that the water repellent member is divided into a plurality of water repellent members and attached to the first water repellent portion.

The water repellent portion may include a first water repellent portion provided such that a water repellent material is coated on the surface of the suction member adjacent to the first interference prevention portion, and a second water repellent portion provided such that a water repellent material is coated on the surface of the base plate adjacent to the second interference prevention portion.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a blower includes a suction member having an air suction hole through which air is introduced, and a fan unit configured to induce the air introduced through the air suction hole to be discharged in a direction except for a direction of the air suction hole and having an interference prevention portion separated from the suction member to prevent interference with the suction member, wherein a water repellent portion treated with a water repellent material is provided on a surface of the suction member adjacent to the interference prevention portion.

The fan unit may include a motor, a hub connected to the motor by a rotary shaft, and a plurality of blades provided to extend in a circumferential direction of the hub from the hub, and the interference prevention portion may be provided on an end portion of each of the blades.

The fan unit may include a motor, a fan connected to the motor by a rotary shaft, a base plate, and a base plate on which the motor is mounted, and the interference prevention may include a first interference prevention portion provided to be adjacent to the suction member, and a second interference prevention portion provided to be adjacent to the base plate.

The water repellent portion may include a first water repellent portion provided on the surface of the suction member adjacent to the first interference prevention portion and a second water repellent portion provided on a surface of the base plate adjacent to the second interference prevention.

Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a refrigerator in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, and <FIG> is a side sectional view of the refrigerator in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in <FIG>, the refrigerator includes a body <NUM> forming an exterior thereof, a storage compartment <NUM> provided in the body <NUM> and having an open front surface, a door <NUM> pivotally coupled to the body <NUM> so that the open front surface of the storage compartment <NUM> is opened or closed, and a hinge module <NUM> including an upper hinge <NUM> and a lower hinge <NUM> so that the door <NUM> is rotatably coupled to the body <NUM>.

The body <NUM> includes an inner case <NUM> forming the storage compartment <NUM> and an outer case <NUM> forming the exterior, and an insulating material is foamed between the inner case <NUM> and the outer case <NUM> to prevent a discharge of cold air in the storage compartment <NUM>.

Also, the body <NUM> includes a partition <NUM> configured to divide the storage compartment <NUM> into a refrigerator compartment <NUM> and a freezer compartment <NUM> located on left and right sides, and a machine room <NUM>, in which a compressor <NUM> configured to compress a refrigerant and a condenser (not shown) configured to condense the compressed refrigerant are mounted, is provided in a lower rear part of the body <NUM>.

The storage compartment <NUM> is laterally divided by the partition <NUM>, and the refrigerator compartment <NUM> is provided on the right side of the body <NUM> and the freezer compartment <NUM> is provided on the left side of the body <NUM>.

A plurality of shelves <NUM> and containers <NUM> may be provided in the storage compartment <NUM> to store food and the like.

The storage compartment <NUM> is opened and closed by the door <NUM> pivotably coupled to the body <NUM>, and the refrigerator compartment <NUM> and the freezer compartment <NUM> laterally separated by the partition <NUM> are opened and closed by a refrigerator compartment door <NUM> and a freezer compartment door <NUM>, respectively.

The refrigerator compartment door <NUM> and the freezer compartment door <NUM> may be pivotably coupled to the body <NUM> by the hinge module <NUM> including the upper hinge <NUM> provided on an upper portion of the body <NUM> and the lower hinge <NUM> provided on a lower portion of the body <NUM>.

A plurality of door guards <NUM> are provided on rear surfaces of the refrigerator compartment door <NUM> and the freezer compartment door <NUM> to store food and the like.

A cold air supply device may include the compressor <NUM> and the condenser mounted in the machine room <NUM>, an evaporator <NUM> mounted on a rear surface of the storage compartment <NUM> and configured to generate cold air, a blower <NUM> configured to supply the cold air generated by the evaporator <NUM> into the storage compartment <NUM>, a cold air duct <NUM> having a plurality of cold air discharge holes <NUM> through which the cold air induced by the blower <NUM> is discharged into the storage compartment <NUM>, etc..

<FIG> is a perspective view of a blower in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, <FIG> is a front view of the blower in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, and <FIG> is a side sectional view of the blower in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in <FIG>, the blower <NUM> may be provided as an axial flow fan including a suction member <NUM> into which cold air is introduced and a fan unit <NUM> configured to supply the cold air introduced through the suction member <NUM> to the storage compartment <NUM> (see <FIG>).

A cold air suction hole <NUM> in a ring shape, through which cold air is introduced, is provided in the suction member <NUM>, and the fan unit <NUM> is provided to be separated from the cold air suction hole <NUM> by a distance greater than or equal to a predetermined distance so that interference between the fan unit <NUM> and the cold air suction hole <NUM> is prevented.

Although a ring shape opening provided in the suction member <NUM> through which cold air is introduced into the suction member <NUM> is referred to as the cold air suction hole <NUM> when the blower <NUM> is used in the refrigerator, the ring shape opening provided in the suction member <NUM> may be referred to as an air suction hole when the blower <NUM> is used in a product in which air is introduced into the suction member <NUM> other than the refrigerator.

The fan unit <NUM> includes a motor <NUM>, a hub <NUM> connected to the motor <NUM> by a rotary shaft <NUM>, and a plurality of blades <NUM> provided to extend in a circumferential direction of the hub <NUM> from the hub <NUM>.

The hub <NUM> located at the center of the plurality of blades <NUM> is connected to the motor <NUM> by the rotary shaft <NUM>, and rotary power of the motor <NUM> is transmitted to the hub <NUM> through the rotary shaft <NUM> such that the hub <NUM> and the blades <NUM> rotate around the rotary shaft <NUM>.

Cold air is introduced into the cold air suction hole <NUM> of the suction member <NUM> due to rotation of the blades <NUM>, and the introduced cold air is discharged through the cold air discharge holes <NUM> provided in the cold air duct <NUM> and is supplied to the storage compartment <NUM> (see <FIG>).

Interference prevention portions <NUM> provided to be separated from the cold air suction hole <NUM> by a distance greater than or equal to the predetermined distance are provided on end portions of the blades <NUM> rotated by the motor so that interference between the blades <NUM> and the cold air suction hole <NUM> is prevented.

When cold air below zero temperatures, which is generated by the evaporator <NUM>, is circulated, dew may be frozen and ice may be generated on the interference prevention portions <NUM> of the blades <NUM> and an edge of the cold air suction hole <NUM>.

Particularly, since a temperature of cold air generated by the evaporator <NUM> is lower when the cold air is supplied to the freezer compartment <NUM> among the storage compartments <NUM> by the blower <NUM> than when the cold air is supplied to the refrigerator compartment <NUM>, when the cold air supplied to the freezer compartment <NUM> is circulated, dew may be easily frozen and ice may be generated on the interference prevention portions <NUM> of the blades <NUM> and the edge of the cold air suction hole <NUM> (see <FIG>).

When ice is generated on the interference prevention portions <NUM> of the blades <NUM> and the edge of the cold air suction hole <NUM>, the cold air suction hole <NUM> interferes with the rotation of the blades <NUM> due to the ice and efficiency of the blower <NUM> is reduced.

Accordingly, the interference prevention portion <NUM> and the edge of the cold air suction hole <NUM> have to be provided to be separated by a sufficient distance so that the cold air suction hole <NUM> does not interfere with the rotation of the blades <NUM> due to the ice generated on the interference prevention portions <NUM> of the blades <NUM> and the edge of the cold air suction hole <NUM>.

Since a size of the blade <NUM> has to be reduced when a separation distance between the interference prevention portion <NUM> and the edge of the cold air suction hole <NUM> is increased so that the cold air suction hole <NUM> does not interfere with the rotation of the blades <NUM>, the efficiency of the blower <NUM> is reduced.

A water repellent portion <NUM> treated with a water repellent is provided on the edge of the cold air suction hole <NUM> adjacent to the interference prevention portion <NUM> so that the distance between the interference prevention portion <NUM> of the blade <NUM> and the edge of the cold air suction hole <NUM> is minimized and the cold air suction hole <NUM> does not interfere with the rotation of the blades <NUM> due to the ice generated on the interference prevention portions <NUM> and the edge of the cold air suction hole <NUM>.

When the water repellent portion <NUM> treated with the water repellent is provided on the edge of the cold air suction hole <NUM>, since dew formed on the water repellent portion <NUM> flows more easily down than dew formed on a surface not treated with the water repellent, little dew is formed on the water repellent portion <NUM> and an amount of ice is small even when the dew is frozen and the ice is generated.

Since the amount of ice generated between the interference prevention portion <NUM> of the blade <NUM> and the edge of the cold air suction hole <NUM> is small, a distance H1 between the interference prevention portion <NUM> of the blade <NUM> and the edge of the cold air suction hole <NUM> may be minimized.

Since the distance H1 between the interference prevention portion <NUM> of the blade <NUM> and the edge of the cold air suction hole <NUM> can be minimized, the size of the blade <NUM> can be increased and the efficiency of the blower <NUM> can be improved.

The water repellent portion <NUM> provided on the edge of the cold air suction hole <NUM> is provided with a water repellent member <NUM> which is treated with a water repellent material and attached to the water repellent portion <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating that a water repellent portion is provided to be divided into a plurality of water repellent members in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in <FIG>, when the water repellent portion <NUM> is provided with the water repellent member <NUM> which is treated with a water repellent material and attached to the water repellent portion <NUM>, since the water repellent member <NUM> may be provided on and attached to only necessary portions to be divided into a plurality of water repellent members <NUM> and each of the plurality of divided water repellent members <NUM> is attached to the edge of the cold air suction hole <NUM>, the water repellent member <NUM> may be easily attached to the water repellent portion <NUM>.

Although the water repellent member <NUM> is shown to be divided into two, three, or four water repellent members <NUM> in <FIG>, the embodiments are not limited thereto.

<FIG> is a view illustrating that the water repellent portion in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure is provided to be coated with a water repellent material.

As shown in <FIG>, the water repellent portion <NUM> coated with a water repellent material <NUM> may be provided on the edge of the cold air suction hole <NUM>.

Next, a blower according to another embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is an exploded perspective view of a blower in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the blower in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a blower <NUM> may be provided as a centrifugal fan including a suction member <NUM> into which cold air is introduced and a fan unit <NUM> configured to supply the cold air introduced through the suction member <NUM> to the storage compartment <NUM> (see <FIG>).

A cold air suction hole <NUM> in a ring shape, through which the cold air is introduced, is provided in the suction member <NUM>.

Although a ring shape opening provided in the suction member <NUM> through which cold air is introduced into the suction member <NUM> is referred to as the cold air suction hole <NUM> when the blower <NUM> is used in a refrigerator, the ring shape opening provided in the suction member <NUM> may be referred to as an air suction hole when the blower <NUM> is used in a product in which air is introduced into the suction member <NUM> other than the refrigerator.

The fan unit <NUM> includes a motor <NUM>, a base <NUM> having a hub <NUM> connected to the motor <NUM> by a rotary shaft <NUM>, a ring member <NUM> in a ring shape, which is provided to be separated from the base <NUM> in an axial direction of the rotary shaft <NUM> and has an opening in a center portion thereof, a plurality of blades <NUM> provided between the base <NUM> and the ring member <NUM>, and a base plate <NUM> on which the motor <NUM> is mounted.

A plurality of couplers <NUM> may be provided on the base plate <NUM> so that the base plate <NUM> may be coupled to other devices.

The hub <NUM> of the base <NUM> located at the center of the plurality of blades <NUM> is connected to the motor <NUM> by the rotary shaft <NUM>, and rotary power of the motor <NUM> is transmitted to hub <NUM> through the rotary shaft <NUM> so that the base <NUM>, ring member <NUM> and the blades <NUM> rotate around the rotary shaft <NUM>.

Cold air is introduced into the cold air suction hole <NUM> of the suction member <NUM> due to rotation of the blades <NUM>, and the introduced cold air is discharged through the cold air discharge holes <NUM> provided in the cold air duct <NUM> and may be supplied to the storage compartment <NUM>.

Among the base <NUM>, the ring member <NUM> and the blades <NUM> rotated by the motor <NUM>, the ring member <NUM> is provided to be adjacent to the suction member <NUM>, and the base <NUM> is provided to be adjacent to the base plate <NUM>.

In the ring member <NUM> and the base <NUM> disposed adjacent to the suction member <NUM> and the base plate <NUM>, respectively, interference prevention portions <NUM> and <NUM> are provided on one surface of the ring member <NUM> opposite the suction member <NUM> and one surface of the base <NUM> opposite the base plate <NUM>, respectively, to prevent interference between the suction member <NUM> and the base plate <NUM>.

The interference prevention portions <NUM> and <NUM> include the first interference prevention portion <NUM> provided on the one surface of the ring member <NUM> and the second interference prevention portion <NUM> provided on the one surface of the base <NUM>.

When cold air below zero temperatures, which is generated by the evaporator <NUM>, is circulated, dew may be frozen and ice may be generated on the first interference prevention portion <NUM>, one surface of the suction member <NUM> opposite the first interference prevention portion <NUM>, the second interference prevention portion <NUM>, and one surface of the base plate <NUM> opposite the second interference prevention portion <NUM>.

Particularly, since a temperature of cold air generated by the evaporator <NUM> is lower when the cold air is supplied to the freezer compartment <NUM> among the storage compartments <NUM> by the blower <NUM> than when the cold air is supplied to the refrigerator compartment <NUM>, when the cold air supplied to the freezer compartment <NUM> is circulated, dew may be easily frozen and ice may be generated on the first interference prevention portion <NUM>, the one surface of the suction member <NUM> opposite the first interference prevention portion <NUM>, the second interference prevention portion <NUM>, and the one surface of the base plate <NUM> opposite the second interference prevention portion <NUM> (see <FIG>).

When ice is generated between the first interference prevention portion <NUM> and the suction member <NUM> and generated between the second interference prevention portion <NUM> and the base plate <NUM>, the suction member <NUM> and the base plate <NUM> interfere with rotation of the fan unit <NUM> due to the ice, and efficiency of the blower <NUM> is reduced.

Accordingly, distances between the first interference prevention portion <NUM> and the suction member <NUM> and between the second interference prevention portion <NUM> and the base plate <NUM> have to be adequately provided so that the ice generated between the first interference prevention portion <NUM> and the suction member <NUM> and between the second interference prevention portion <NUM> and the base plate <NUM> does not interfere with the rotation of the fan unit <NUM>.

Since a size of the blade <NUM> has to be reduced when the separation distances between the first interference prevention portion <NUM> and suction member <NUM> and between the second interference prevention portion <NUM> and the base plate <NUM> are increased so that the suction member <NUM> and the base plate <NUM> do not interfere with the rotation of the fan unit <NUM>, the efficiency of the blower <NUM> is reduced.

Also, cold air introduced in the axial direction of the rotary shaft <NUM> is discharged in a circumferential direction of the rotary shaft <NUM>, and some of the discharged cold air is reintroduced through separation gaps between the first interference prevention portion <NUM> and the suction member <NUM> and between the second interference prevention portion <NUM> and the base plate <NUM> such that the efficiency of the blower <NUM> is reduced.

Since the amount of reintroduced cold air is increased when the separation gaps between the first interference prevention portion <NUM> and the suction member <NUM> and between the second interference prevention portion <NUM> and the base plate <NUM> are widened, the efficiency of the blower <NUM> is further reduced.

Water repellent portions <NUM> and <NUM> treated with a water repellent are provided on the one surface of the suction member <NUM> opposite the first interference prevention portion <NUM> and the one surface of the base plate <NUM> opposite the second interference prevention portion <NUM> so that the distances between the first interference prevention portion <NUM> and suction member <NUM> and between the second interference prevention portion <NUM> and the base plate <NUM> are minimized and ice generated on the first interference prevention portion <NUM>, the suction member <NUM>, the second interference prevention portion <NUM>, and the base plate <NUM> does not interfere with the rotation of the fan unit <NUM>.

The water repellent portions <NUM> and <NUM> include the first water repellent portion <NUM> provided on the one surface of the suction member <NUM> opposite the first interference prevention portion <NUM> and the second water repellent portion <NUM> provided on the one surface of the base plate <NUM> opposite the second interference prevention portion <NUM>.

When the water repellent portions <NUM> and <NUM> treated with the water repellent are provided on the one surface of the suction member <NUM> opposite the first interference prevention portion <NUM> and the one surface of the base plate <NUM> opposite the second interference prevention portion <NUM>, since dew formed on the water repellent portions <NUM> and <NUM> flows more easily down than dew formed on a surface not treated with the water repellent, little dew is formed on the water repellent portions <NUM> and <NUM> so that an amount of ice is small even when the dew is frozen and the ice is generated.

Since the amount of ice generated on the water repellent portions <NUM> and <NUM> is small, a distance H2 between the first water repellent portion <NUM> and the first interference prevention portion <NUM> and a distance H3 between second water repellent portion <NUM> and the second interference prevention portion <NUM> may be minimized.

Since the distance H2 between the first water repellent portion <NUM> and the first interference prevention portion <NUM> and the distance H3 between second water repellent portion <NUM> and the second interference prevention portion <NUM> may be minimized, the size of the blade <NUM> may be increased and the efficiency of the blower <NUM> can be improved.

The first water repellent portion <NUM> and the second water repellent portion <NUM> are respectively provided with water repellent members <NUM> and <NUM> which are treated with a water repellent and attached to the first water repellent portion <NUM> and the second water repellent portion <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating that a first water repellent portion is provided to be divided into a plurality of water repellent members in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, and <FIG> is a view illustrating that a second water repellent portion is provided to be divided into a plurality of water repellent members in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, when a first water repellent portion <NUM> and a second water repellent portion <NUM> are respectively provided with water repellent members <NUM> and <NUM> which are treated with a water repellent material and attached to the first water repellent portion <NUM> and the second water repellent portion <NUM>, since the water repellent members <NUM> and <NUM> may be attached to and provided on only necessary portions to be divided into a plurality of water repellent members <NUM> and <NUM> and the plurality of divided water repellent members <NUM> and <NUM> is attached to a suction member <NUM> or a base plate <NUM>, the water repellent members <NUM> and <NUM> may be easily attached to the suction member <NUM> or the base plate <NUM>.

Although the water repellent member <NUM> is shown to be divided into two, three, and four water repellent members <NUM> in <FIG> and the water repellent member <NUM> is shown to be divided into two, three, and four water repellent members <NUM> in <FIG>, the embodiments are not limited thereto.

<FIG> is a view illustrating that the first water repellent portion and the second water repellent portion in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure are provided to be coated with water repellent materials.

As shown in <FIG>, a first water repellent portion <NUM> and a second water repellent portion <NUM> which are coated with water repellent materials <NUM> and <NUM> may be provided.

Although both the first water repellent portion <NUM> and the second water repellent portion <NUM> are shown to be coated with the water repellent materials <NUM> and <NUM> and provided in the drawing, only one of the first water repellent portion <NUM> and the second water repellent portion <NUM> may be coated with the water repellent material and provided and the other water repellent portion may be provided with a water repellent member treated with a water repellent.

Next, a blower according to still another embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is an exploded perspective view of a blower in accordance with still another embodiment of the present disclosure, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the blower in accordance with still another embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a blower <NUM> may be provided as a mixed flow fan including a suction member <NUM> into which cold air is introduced and a fan unit <NUM> configured to supply the cold air introduced through the suction member <NUM> to a storage compartment <NUM> (see <FIG>).

A ring shape cold air suction hole <NUM> through which cold air is introduced is provided in the suction member <NUM>.

The fan unit <NUM> includes a motor <NUM>, a hub <NUM> connected to the motor <NUM> by a rotary shaft <NUM>, a plurality of blades <NUM> provided on an outer circumferential surface of the hub <NUM>, and a base plate <NUM> on which the motor <NUM> is mounted.

When rotary power of the motor <NUM> is transmitted to the hub <NUM> and the hub <NUM> rotates around the rotary shaft <NUM>, the blades <NUM> formed on the outer circumferential surface of the hub <NUM> are also rotated together with the hub <NUM>.

An end portion of the blade <NUM> rotated by the motor <NUM> is provided to be adjacent to the suction member <NUM>, and a surface opposite a surface of the hub <NUM> on which the blades <NUM> are provided is provided to be adjacent to the base plate <NUM>.

Interference prevention portions <NUM> and <NUM> are respectively provided on the end portion of the blade <NUM>, which is disposed adjacent to the suction member <NUM> and the base plate <NUM>, and the surface opposite the surface of the hub <NUM> on which the blades <NUM> are provided so that the end portion of the blade <NUM>, which is disposed adjacent to the suction member <NUM> and the base plate <NUM>, and the surface opposite the surface of the hub <NUM> on which the blades <NUM> are provided are provided to prevent interference between the suction member <NUM> and the base plate <NUM>.

The interference prevention portions <NUM> and <NUM> include the first interference prevention portion <NUM> provided on the end portion of the blade <NUM> and the second interference prevention portion <NUM> provided on one surface of the hub <NUM>.

Particularly, as a temperature of cold air generated by the evaporator <NUM> is lower when the cold air is supplied to a freezer compartment <NUM> among the storage compartments <NUM> by the blower <NUM> than when the cold air is supplied to a refrigerator compartment <NUM>, when the cold air supplied to the freezer compartment <NUM> is circulated, dew may be easily frozen and ice may be generated on the first interference prevention portion <NUM>, the one surface of the suction member <NUM> opposite the first interference prevention portion <NUM>, the second interference prevention portion <NUM>, and the one surface of the base plate <NUM> opposite the second interference prevention portion <NUM> (see <FIG>).

Distances between the first interference prevention portion <NUM> and the suction member <NUM> and between the second interference prevention portion <NUM> and the base plate <NUM> have to be adequately provided so that the ice generated between the first interference prevention portion <NUM> and suction member <NUM> and between the second interference prevention portion <NUM> and the base plate <NUM> does not interfere with rotation of the fan unit <NUM>.

Water repellent portions <NUM> and <NUM> treated with a water repellent are provided on the one surface of the suction member <NUM> opposite the first interference prevention portion <NUM> and the one surface of the base plate <NUM> opposite the second interference prevention portion <NUM> so that the distances between the first interference prevention portion <NUM> and suction member <NUM> and between the second interference prevention portion <NUM> and the base plate <NUM> are minimized and ice generated on the first interference prevention portion <NUM>, suction member <NUM>, the second interference prevention portion <NUM>, and the base plate <NUM> does not interfere with the rotation of the fan unit <NUM>.

When the water repellent portions <NUM> and <NUM> treated with the water repellent are provided on the one surface of the suction member <NUM> opposite the first interference prevention portion <NUM> and the one surface of the base plate <NUM> opposite the second interference prevention portion <NUM>, as dew formed on the water repellent portions <NUM> and <NUM> flows more easily down than dew formed on a surface not treated with the water repellent, little dew is formed on the water repellent portions <NUM> and <NUM> such that an amount of ice is small even when the dew is frozen and the ice is generated.

Since the amount of ice generated on the water repellent portions <NUM> and <NUM> is small, a distance H4 between the first water repellent portion <NUM> and the first interference prevention portion <NUM> and a distance H5 between second water repellent portion <NUM> and the second interference prevention portion <NUM> may be minimized.

Since the distance H4 between the first water repellent portion <NUM> and the first interference prevention portion <NUM> and the distance H5 between second water repellent portion <NUM> and the second interference prevention portion <NUM> may be minimized, the size of the blade <NUM> can be increased and the efficiency of the blower <NUM> can be improved.

<FIG> is a view illustrating that a first water repellent portion is provided to be divided into a plurality of water repellent members in an axial direction of a rotary shaft in accordance with still another embodiment of the present disclosure, and <FIG> is a view illustrating that the first water repellent portion in accordance with still another embodiment of the present disclosure is provided to be divided into a plurality of water repellent members in a radial direction of the rotary shaft.

When a first water repellent portion <NUM> is provided with a water repellent member <NUM> treated with a water repellent, the water repellent member <NUM> is provided to be divided into a plurality of water repellent members <NUM> in a shaft direction of the rotary shaft <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, or the water repellent member <NUM> is provided to be divided into a plurality of water repellent members <NUM> in a radial direction of the rotary shaft <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>.

Since the first water repellent portion <NUM> may be provided on and attached to only necessary portions to be divided into a plurality of water repellent portions <NUM> and each of the plurality of divided water repellent members <NUM> is attached to the suction member <NUM> and the base plate <NUM>, the first water repellent portion <NUM> may be easily attached to the suction member <NUM> and the base plate <NUM>.

Although the water repellent member <NUM> is shown to be divided into two and three water repellent members <NUM> in <FIG> and the water repellent member <NUM> is shown to be divided into two, three, and four water repellent members <NUM> in <FIG>, the embodiments are not limited thereto.

<FIG> a view illustrating that the first water repellent portion and a second water repellent portion are provided to be coated with water repellent materials in accordance with still another embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in <FIG>, a first water repellent portion <NUM> and a second water repellent portion <NUM> coated with water repellent materials <NUM> and <NUM> may be provided.

Although both the first water repellent portion <NUM> and the second water repellent portion <NUM> are shown as being coated with the water repellent materials <NUM> and <NUM> and provided in the drawing, only one of the first water repellent portion <NUM> and the second water repellent portion <NUM> may be coated with the water repellent material and provided and the other one of the water repellent portions may be provided with a water repellent member treated with a water repellent.

As is apparent from the above description, efficiency of a blower can be improved so that a separation distance between an end of the blade and a suction member can be minimized.

Claim 1:
A refrigerator comprising:
a body (<NUM>) including a freezer compartment (<NUM>);
an evaporator (<NUM>) provided outside the freezer compartment (<NUM>) and configured to generate cold air; and
a blower (<NUM>) configured to supply the cold air generated by the evaporator (<NUM>) into the freezer compartment (<NUM>),
wherein the blower (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) includes:
a suction member (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) having a body and a cold air suction hole (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) formed in the body, wherein the body is configured to guide air to the cold air suction hole (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>); and
a fan (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) configured to supply the cold air, generated by the evaporator (<NUM>) and introduced through the cold air suction hole (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), into the freezer compartment (<NUM>), and the fan (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) having a first interference prevention portion located at a portion of the fan (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) closest to the suction member and provided to be separated from the suction member (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) by a distance greater than or equal to a predetermined distance to prevent interference between the fan (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and the suction member (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>),
characterized in that
the suction member (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) further includes a first water repellent portion (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) provided with a water repellent member (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) which is treated with a water repellent material and attached to one surface of the suction member (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) opposite the fan (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and adjacent to the first interference prevention portion of the fan to reduce an amount of ice formed on the water repellent member (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>).