AU2019429350B2

AU2019429350B2 - Refrigerator

Info

Publication number: AU2019429350B2
Application number: AU2019429350A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Yukako HAYASHI; Hayato MIZUNO; Takanori TANIKAWA
Original assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Current assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Priority date: 2019-02-15
Filing date: 2019-02-15
Publication date: 2023-03-30
Anticipated expiration: 2039-02-15
Also published as: SG11202106026QA; AU2019429350A1; JP6972396B2; JPWO2020166059A1; CN113412404B; WO2020166059A1; CN113412404A; MY191881A; TW202032072A; TWI717950B

Abstract

This refrigerator comprises: a thermally insulated box having a refrigeration chamber and a cooler chamber provided therein; a cooler disposed in the cooler chamber, the cooler cooling air supplied to the refrigeration chamber; a refrigeration chamber duct that forms a portion of a wind passage through which cooled air cooled by the cooler is guided from the cooler chamber to the refrigeration chamber; a refrigeration chamber floor component that is provided to the lower side of the refrigeration chamber duct and that constitutes a floor surface of the refrigeration chamber; and a damper arranged inside the wind passage, the damper adjusting the flow rate of cooled air flowing through the wind passage. In the refrigeration chamber floor component, a refrigeration chamber return wind passage opening, which is an inlet of a refrigeration chamber return wind passage through which air that has cooled the refrigeration chamber passes when returning to the cooler chamber, is formed in a side of the refrigeration chamber duct, and a groove extending from directly below the refrigeration chamber duct to the refrigeration chamber return wind passage opening is also formed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001]

The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator, and in particular to a drainage structure. Background

[0002]

In general, a refrigerator cools foods by generating cold air in a cooler compartment provided on the rear side of the refrigerator body and circulating the cold air in a refrigerator compartment by a cooling fan. The amount of cold air supplied to the refrigerator compartment is adjusted by opening and closing the refrigerator compartment damper installed in an air passage, and the temperature of the refrigerator compartment is controlled by controlling the opening and closing of the refrigerator

compartment damper.

[0003] Cold air flowing into the refrigerator compartment is distributed into the

refrigerator compartment through an air passage in the refrigerator compartment duct

on the rear side of the refrigerator compartment. In Patent Literature 1, a refrigerator

compartment damper is provided in the air passage at a lower part of the refrigerator compartment duct.

Citation List

Patent Literature

[0004]

Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.

2018-109501

[0005]

In the technology described in Patent Literature 1, a refrigerator compartment

damper is installed at a position above joint surfaces between the refrigerator compartment duct and the partition plate that forms a floor of the refrigerator compartment, and a drainage member is installed at a position above the refrigerator compartment damper. With this configuration, the condensation water does not reach the vicinity of the refrigerator compartment damper in the process of flowing downward from above by gravity, but is guided to flow to other harmless places, such as the cooler compartment.

[0006] If the refrigerator compartment damper is installed below the floor surface of the

refrigerator compartment, for example, in one corner of the cooler compartment cover, it

cannot prevent condensation water generated below the drainage member from entering the air passage through the joint surfaces between the refrigerator compartment duct and the partition plate and adhering to the refrigerator compartment

damper. Therefore, the installation position of the refrigerator compartment damper is

restricted to the inside of the refrigerator compartment duct above the floor of the

refrigeratorcompartment.

[0007]

Considering factors such as easy routing of wires for power supply to the damper as well as control wires, easy assembly of air passage components, easy repair, and a large food storage space inside the refrigerator compartment, installing the refrigerator

compartment damper in an air passage located below the refrigerator compartment duct, separately from the refrigerator compartment duct, tends to result in a refrigerator

that is flexible in design and easy to use. However, related-art technologies only allow the refrigerator compartment damper to be installed in the refrigerator compartment

duct, which may require some compromises such as reducing the food storage space inside the refrigerator compartment. Additionally, since the drainage member in

related-art technologies is an independent part, additional material and manufacturing

costs are required for mounting of such a drainage member.

[0008] It is desired to address or ameliorate one or more disadvantages or limitations associated with the prior art, or to at least provide a useful alternative.

Summary

[0009] The refrigerator according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure is a refrigerator comprising: a heat-insulating box including therein a refrigerator

compartment and a cooler compartment; a cooler disposed in the cooler compartment, the cooler being configured to cool air supplied to the refrigerator compartment; a refrigerator compartment duct defining a part of an air passage that guides air cooled by the cooler from the cooler compartment to the refrigerator compartment; a refrigerator

compartment floor part disposed below the refrigerator compartment duct and forming a floor of the refrigerator compartment; and a damper installed in the air passage, the

damper being configured to regulate a flow rate of cold air flowing in the air passage, wherein the refrigerator compartment floor part includes: a refrigerator compartment air

return passage port that is positioned lateral to the refrigerator compartment duct and serves as an inlet of a refrigerator compartment air return passage through which air is

allowed to pass to return to the cooler compartment after the air cools the refrigerator

compartment; and a groove extending from directly below the refrigerator compartment

duct to the refrigerator compartment air return passage port. The groove is a drainage channel and is formed with the refrigerator compartment floor.

Advantageous Effects of Embodiments

[0010]

In the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the refrigerator compartment floor part forming the floor of the refrigerator compartment is

formed with the groove extending from directly below the refrigerator compartment duct

to the refrigerator compartment air return passage port. In other words, the groove

defines a drainage channel from directly below the refrigerator compartment duct to the

refrigerator compartment air return passage. Consequently, even when the damper is installed in the air passage located below the refrigerator compartment floor part, condensation water on the joining surfaces between the refrigerator compartment duct and the refrigerator compartment floor part flows along the groove and is discharged into the refrigerator compartment air return passage, which is outside of the air passage in which the damper is installed. The refrigerator can thus prevent the condensation water from entering the air passage through the joining surfaces between the refrigerator compartment duct and the refrigerator compartment floor part and adhering to the damper. Additionally, material and manufacturing costs can be reduced as the drainage groove is formed integrally with the refrigerator compartment floor part.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are hereinafter described, by

way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a schematic front view of a refrigerator according to an

embodiment of the present disclosure.

[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the refrigerator

according to the embodiment of the present disclosure as viewed from the left side.

[Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a top view of the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the

present disclosure.

[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 shows components associated with major parts inside the

refrigerator as viewed in the direction of an arrow in Fig. 3.

[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a schematic front view of the refrigerator according to the

embodiment of the present disclosure, with indications of respective sectional views.

[Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along a line Y-Y in Fig. 5.

[Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along a line X-X in Fig. 5.

[Fig. 8] Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along a line W-W in Fig. 5.

[Fig. 9] Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along a line U-U in Fig. 5.

Detailed Description

[0012]

An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. The embodiment is, however, not restrictive. Also, in the following

drawings, the relationship between the sizes of each component may differ from the

actual ones.

[0013] Embodiment

Fig. 1 is a front schematic view of a refrigerator 100 according to an embodiment

of the present disclosure. Fig. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the

refrigerator 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure as viewed from the left side. Fig. 3 is a top view of the refrigerator 100 according to an embodiment of

the present disclosure. Fig. 4 shows components associated with major parts inside the refrigerator as viewed in the direction of an arrow in Fig. 3. The dashed arrows

shown in Fig. 4 indicate the flow of condensation water.

[0014]

An entire configuration of the refrigerator 100 according to the present

embodiment with be made with reference to Figs. 1 to 4. In the following description, directional terms (e.g., "up", "down", "right", "left", "front", and "back") that may be used

when necessary to help understanding are for explanatory purposes only and not intended to be restrictive. In the present embodiment, references such as "up", "down", "right", "left", "front", and "back" are made in a state where a viewer looks the

front of the refrigerator 100.

[0015]

The refrigerator 100 of the present embodiment includes a heat-insulating box

100A, the front of which is open and a storage space is formed inside. Thisheat insulating box 1OA is composed of an outer box made of a steel plate defining an exterior of the heat-insulating box 1O0A, and an inner box made of a thin rigid resin

such as ABS resin disposed inside the outer box, between which a heat-insulating material such as rigid urethane foam is filled.

[0016]

The storage space formed inside the insulated box 1O0A is partitioned by a plurality of partition members (not shown) into a plurality of storage compartments for

storing food. The refrigerator 100 includes, as the plurality of storage compartments, a refrigerator compartment 101 arranged at an uppermost portion of the refrigerator 100,

an ice-making compartment 102 arranged below the refrigerator compartment 101, and an upper freezer compartment 103 arranged adjacent to the side of, and in parallel with the ice-making compartment 102. Further, it has a vegetable compartment 104 disposed below the ice-making compartment 102 and the upper freezer compartment 103, and a bottom freezer compartment 105 disposed below the vegetable compartment 104.

[0017]

The refrigerator compartment 101, the ice-making compartment 102, and the

upper freezer compartment 103 are divided vertically by horizontally extending partition

members. The ice-making compartment 102 and the upper freezer compartment 103

are divided into left and right sections by vertically extending partition members. The

ice-making compartment 102 and the upper freezer compartment 103 are divided vertically from the vegetable compartment 104 by horizontally extending partition

members. The vegetable compartment 104 and the freezer compartment 105 are

divided vertically by a horizontally extending partition member.

[0018]

The refrigerator compartment 101 has a swing refrigerator compartment door

101a configured to open and close an opening formed at the front of the refrigerator compartment 101. The refrigerator compartment 101 may have double doors configured to open to the right and left from the center of the opening formed at the front

of the refrigerator compartment 101. The ice-making compartment 102, the upper

freezer compartment 103, the vegetable compartment 104, and the freezer

compartment 105 each have an ice-making compartment drawer 102a, an upper freezer compartment drawer 103a, a vegetable compartment drawer 104a, and a freezer compartment drawer 105a to open and close respective openings formed at the front of these compartments.

[0019]

The refrigerator compartment 101 is a storage compartment of which the

temperature is kept at a temperature at which the stored items do not freeze. The

refrigerator compartment 101 is controlled to a temperature in the refrigeration

temperature range (e.g., about 2 to 5 degrees C). The inside of the refrigerator compartment 101 is divided into a plurality of sections by a plurality of shelves 5e. A chiller compartment (e.g., about 0 degrees C), which is lower than the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 101 (e.g., about 2 to 5 degrees C), is provided under the bottom shelf 5e in the refrigerator compartment 101. This chiller compartment is composed of an upper chiller compartment 6b and a lower chiller compartment 6c, which are separated by a chiller compartment partition 6a.

[0020]

A refrigerator compartment floor part 5f is provided below the chiller

compartment, and a top face of the refrigerator compartment floor part 5f forms a floor

of the refrigerator compartment 101.

[0021]

The ice-making compartment 102 is a storage compartment that includes therein

an ice-making machine and stores ice produced by the ice-making machine. The ice making compartment 102 has a temperature that falls within a freezing temperature

zone (e.g., about -18 degrees C). The upper freezer compartment 103 is a storage compartment whose temperature zones can be switched depending on purposes. The temperature zones of the upper freezer compartment 103 can be switched between the freezing temperature zone (e.g., about -18 degrees C) and a soft freezing temperature zone (e.g., about -7 degrees C).

[0022]

The vegetable compartment 104 is a storage compartment mainly for storing

vegetables, and a temperature of the vegetable compartment 104 is controlled within the refrigeration temperature zone (e.g., about 2 to 9 degrees C), similarly to the refrigerator compartment 101. The freezer compartment 105 is a storage compartment

whose temperature is controlled such that it falls within the freezing temperature zone

(e.g., about -18 degrees C).

[0023]

Needless to say, the above arrangement of the storage compartments is not restrictive. For example, another arrangement is possible in which the ice-making

compartment 102 and the upper freezer compartment 103 are disposed side by side with each other and below the refrigerator compartment 101 located uppermost, and the freezer compartment 105 is disposed below these ice-making compartment 102 and upper freezer compartment 103 and above the vegetable compartment 104 located lowermost. In the arrangement, which is known as middle-freezer arrangement in which the freezer compartment 105 is located between the vegetable compartment 104 and these ice-making compartment 102 and upper freezer compartment 103 disposed side by side with each other, low-temperature compartments (e.g., the ice-making compartment 102, the upper freezer compartment 103, and the freezer compartment

105) is brought to close to each other. Therefore, use of the middle-freezer arrangement to arrange the storage compartments eliminates the need for putting heat

insulators between the low-temperature compartments, and due to this arrangement, energy consumption and cost can be also reduced as it is less likely to suffer heat leak.

[0024]

The refrigerator 100 of the present embodiment has a refrigerant circuit in which

refrigerant circulates, and the refrigerant circuit is provided with a compressor 17a, a

condenser (not shown), a pressure reducing device (not shown), and a cooler 16a. The compressor 17a is disposed in a machine room 17 at the bottom of the rear side of the refrigerator 100. The cooler 16a is disposed in the cooler compartment 16 provided at the rear side of the refrigerator 100 and above the machine room 17. The

cooler compartment 16 is provided below the refrigerator compartment floor part 5f.

[0025]

With respect to the flow of refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit, the refrigerant

compressed in the compressor 17a is condensed by the condenser. The refrigerant condensed in the condenser is depressurized in a pressure reducing device such as a capillary tube or an expansion valve. The refrigerant depressurized in the pressure reducing device is evaporated in the cooler 16a. Due to an endothermic effect associated with this evaporation, air around the cooler 16a is cooled.

[0026]

A cold air circulation fan 16b is provided inside the cooler compartment 16 and near the cooler 16a. The cold air circulation fan 16b sends cold air cooled around the cooler 16a to each storage compartment through air passages (described later). Also provided inside the cooler compartment 16 is a defrost heater 16c to melt frost developed on the cooler 16a. A drip tray 16d is provided at the bottom of the cooler compartment 16. The drip tray 16d receives drops of defrosting water generated from melting of the frost on the cooler 16a.

[0027]

A water conducting pipe 17c is provided between the machine room 17 and the

cooler compartment 16 to connect the cooler compartment 16 to the machine room 17.

In addition, a drain pan 17b is provided above the compressor 17a in the machine room 17. This drain pan 17b stores the defrosting water that drips onto the drip tray 16d

through the water conducting pipe 17c. The defrosting water stored in the drain pan

17b is heated by the heat of the compressor 17a, evaporates, and is released as vapor into the atmosphere.

[0028]

The air passages configured to supply the cold air cooled by the cooler 16a from the cooler compartment 16 to each storage compartment includes a first air passage 21 formed inside a refrigerator compartment duct 5d, a second air passage 22 formed between a cooler compartment cover 16e and an inner back side of the heat-insulating box 1O0A, and a third air passage 23 formed inside a duct portion 5h provided to the refrigerator compartment floor part 5f. Air return passages for allowing air to return to

the cooler compartment 16 after the air has cooled each storage compartment include a refrigerator compartment air return passage 14 formed between a lateral side of the cooler compartment 16 and an inner lateral side of the heat-insulating box 1O0A and a

vegetable compartment air return passage (not shown). In the present embodiment, all of the above air passages and air return passages are located on the rear side of the refrigerator 100.

[0029]

The second air passage 22 is connected with a first air passage 21 through a third air passage 23 formed inside the duct portion 5h provided in the refrigerator

compartment floor part 5f that is disposed above the cooler compartment cover 16e and forms the floor of the refrigerator compartment 101. Therefore, cold air blown by the cold air circulation fan 16b from the second air passage 22 passes through the first air passage 21 after passing through the third air passage 23, and is distributed and supplied into the refrigerator compartment 101.

[0030] A damper 5c is provided in the air passage from the cold air circulation fan 16b for circulating cold air to the refrigerator compartment 101. By opening and closing the

damper 5c, the flow rate of the cold air flowing through the air passage is adjusted, and the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 101 is adjusted. The warmed air after

cooling the refrigerator compartment 101 returns to the cooler compartment 16 through

the refrigerator compartment air return passage 14. After being cooled again, the air is

redistributed to each storage compartment by the cold air circulation fan 16b.

[0031]

The damper 5c is installed in the second air passage 22, but it is not restrictive.

The damper 5c can be installed in the first air passage 21, the second air passage 22, or the third air passage 23.

[0032]

Fig. 5 is a schematic front view of the refrigerator 100 according to the

embodiment of the present disclosure, with indications of respective sectional views. Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along a line Y-Y in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a sectional view

taken along a line X-X in Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along a line W-W in

Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along a line U-U in Fig. 5. A dashed arrow in

Fig. 9 indicates a flow of condensation water.

[0033] Next, the main parts of the refrigerator 100 will be described with reference to

Figs. 3 through 9. In the related-art technologies, a gap is formed between joining surfaces of the refrigerator compartment duct 5d and the refrigerator compartment floor part 5f, and an

attempt was made to eliminate the gap as much as possible by affixing a sealing material or fixing screws. However, due to manufacturing variations or aging, minute gaps may be generated between the refrigerator compartment duct 5d and the refrigerator compartment floor part 5f. Cold air leaks from such gaps, and when this leaked cold air comes into contact with the humid air in the refrigerator compartment

101, condensation occurs. The generated condensation water accumulates on the refrigerator compartment floor part 5f, causing mold and bacteria to be generated, and such mold and bacteria adhere to electrical parts, causing failure and malfunction.

[0034]

Therefore, in the refrigerator 100 according to the present embodiment, as shown

in Fig. 4 and Figs. 6 to 9, a groove 5f-1 for drainage is formed in the refrigerator

compartment floor part 5f. Also, on the rear side of the refrigerator compartment floor

part 5f and on the right side of the refrigerator compartment duct 5d, a refrigerator

compartment air return passage port 5b, which serves as an inlet of the refrigerator

compartment air return passage 14, is formed. The groove 5f-1 extends horizontally

from just below the refrigerator compartment duct 5d toward the refrigerator

compartment air return passage port 5b. The groove 5f-1 is sloped downward from directly below the refrigerator compartment duct 5d to the refrigerator compartment air

return passage port 5b at an angle of 2 degrees or more, and this facilitates the flow of condensation water on the groove 5f-1.

[0035]

The condensation water having moved from directly below the refrigerator

compartment duct 5d to the refrigerator compartment air return passage port 5b is guided by gravity to the cooler compartment 16 through the refrigerator compartment air

return passage 14 located below the refrigerator compartment air return passage port 5b. The condensation water is eventually accumulated on the drain pan 17b together with defrosting water. The condensation water accumulated on the drain pan 17b

evaporates by being heated by the heat of the compressor 17a and is released into the atmosphere as water vapor.

[0036] As shown in Fig. 4, a connector box 5g, storing connectors for supplying power to electrical components of the refrigerator compartment 101, is located lateral to the refrigerator compartment duct 5d and opposite from the refrigerator compartment air return passage port 5b, that is, to the left side of the refrigerator compartment duct 5d.

In other words, since the connector box 5g is located away from the groove 5f-1, which

serves as a drainage passage, problems such as corrosion of electrodes and the like caused by adhesion of condensation water to the connector box 5g can be prevented.

[0037]

By configuring the refrigerator 100 as described above, even if the damper 5c is installed lower than a refrigerator compartment floor part 5f, condensation water can be

prevented from entering through joint surfaces between the refrigerator compartment

duct 5d and a refrigerator compartment floor part 5f and adhering to the damper 5c.

Therefore, the damper 5c can be installed lower than the refrigerator compartment floor

part 5f, and a highly reliable refrigerator 100 that is free from failure due to adhesion of

condensation water can be obtained without reducing the food storage space. Furthermore, since the drainage groove 5f-1 is formed integrally with the refrigerator

compartment floor part 5f, material and manufacturing costs can be reduced.

[0038] As described hereinabove, the refrigerator 100 according to the present embodiment includes the heat-insulating box 1O0A including therein the refrigerator

compartment 101 and the cooler compartment 16; and the cooler 16a disposed in the

cooler compartment 16 and configured to cool air supplied to the refrigerator compartment 101. The refrigerator 100 further includes the refrigerator compartment

duct 5d defining a part of the air passage that guides cold air cooled by the cooler 16a from the cooler compartment 16 to the refrigerator compartment 101. The refrigerator

100 further includes the refrigerator compartment floor part 5f disposed below the

refrigerator compartment duct 5d and forming the floor of the refrigerator compartment

101, and the damper 5c installed in the air passage and configured to adjust the flow rate of cold air flowing in the air passage. The refrigerator compartment floor part 5f

includes the refrigerator compartment air return passage port 5b positioned lateral to the refrigerator compartment duct 5d and serving as an inlet of the refrigerator compartment

air return passage 14 through which air is allowed to pass to return to the cooler compartment 16 after the air has cooled the refrigerator compartment 101. The refrigerator compartment floor part 5f further includes the groove 5f-1 extending from directly below the refrigerator compartment duct 5d to the refrigerator compartment air return passage port 5b.

[0039] In the refrigerator 100 according to the present embodiment, the refrigerator

compartment floor part 5f forming the floor of the refrigerator compartment 101 is

provided with the groove 5f-1 extending from directly below the refrigerator

compartment duct 5d to the refrigerator compartment air return passage port 5b. In

other words, the groove 5f-1 defines a drainage channel from directly below the

refrigerator compartment duct 5d to the refrigerator compartment air return passage 14.

As a result, even when the damper 5c is installed in the air passage below the refrigerator compartment floor part 5f, condensation water on the joining surfaces

between the refrigerator compartment duct 5d and the refrigerator compartment floor

part 5f flows along the groove 5f-1 and is discharged into the refrigerator compartment

air return passage 14, which is outside of the air passage in which the damper 5c is installed. The refrigerator 100 can thus prevent the condensation water from entering

through the joining surfaces between the refrigerator compartment duct 5d and the

refrigerator compartment floor part 5f and adhering to the damper 5c. Additionally, material and manufacturing costs can be reduced as the drainage groove 5f-1 is formed integrally with the refrigerator compartment floor part 5f.

[0040]

In the refrigerator 100 according to the present embodiment, the groove 5f-1 has

a downward slope from directly below the refrigerator compartment duct 5d to the

refrigerator compartment air return passage port 5b.

[0041]

refrigerator compartment air return passage port 5b, so that condensation water can easily flow through the groove 5f-1.

[0042]

In the refrigerator 100 according to the present embodiment, the cooler

compartment 16 is provided at its bottom with the drip tray 16d to receive drops of water

generated from melting of the frost on the cooler 16a. The machine room 17

connected to the cooler compartment 16 is provided below the cooler compartment 16, and the machine room 17 is provided with the drain pan 17b to accumulate water

dropped onto the drip tray 16d.

[0043]

In the refrigerator 100 according to the present embodiment, the machine room

17 connected to the cooler compartment 16 is provided below the cooler compartment 16, and the machine room 17 is provided with the drain pan 17b to accumulate water

dropped onto the bottom of the cooler compartment 16. Thus, condensation water flowing along the groove 5f-1 is guided to the cooler compartment 16 by way of the refrigerator compartment air return passage 14 and eventually accumulated on the drain pan 17b together with the defrosting water. As such, efficient drainage can be

realized.

[0044]

In the refrigerator 100 of the present embodiment, the connector box 5g storing

connectors for supplying power to electrical components of the refrigerator compartment 101 is disposed laterally to the refrigerator compartment duct 5d and opposite from the refrigerator compartment air return passage port 5b.

[0045]

In the refrigerator 100 according to the present embodiment, the connector box

5g is disposed laterally to the refrigerator compartment duct 5d and opposite from the refrigerator compartment air return passage port 5b, that is, away from the groove 5f-1,

which serves as a drainage passage. Therefore, it is possible to prevent occurrence of problems caused by corrosion of electrodes and the like due to condensation water adhering to the connector box 5g. Reference Signs List

[0046]

5b: refrigerator compartment air return passage port, 5c: damper, 5d: refrigerator compartment duct, 5e: shelf, 5f: refrigerator compartment floor part, 5f-1: groove, 5g:

connector box, 5h: duct portion, 6a: chiller compartment partition, 6b: upper chiller

compartment, 6c: lower chiller compartment, 14: refrigerator compartment air return

passage, 16: cooler compartment, 16a: cooler, 16b: cold air circulation fan, 16c: defrost heater, 16d: drip tray, 16e: cooler compartment cover, 17: machine room, 17a:

compressor, 17b: drain pan, 17c: water conduit pipe, 21: first air passage, 22: second air passage, 23: third air passage, 100: refrigerator, 10A: heat-insulating box, 101: refrigerator compartment, 101a: refrigerator compartment door, 102: ice-making

compartment, 102a: ice-making compartment drawer; 103: upper freezer compartment,

103a: upper freezer compartment drawer, 104: vegetable compartment, 104a: vegetable compartment drawer, 105: freezer compartment, 105a: freezer compartment

drawer.

[00047] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the

context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

[0048] The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information

derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an

acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or

information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general

knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

[Claim 1] A refrigerator comprising:

a heat-insulating box including therein a refrigerator compartment and a cooler

compartment;

a cooler disposed in the cooler compartment, the cooler being configured to cool air supplied to the refrigerator compartment;

a refrigerator compartment duct defining a part of an air passage that guides air cooled by the cooler from the cooler compartment to the refrigerator compartment; a refrigerator compartment floor part disposed below the refrigerator compartment duct and forming a floor of the refrigerator compartment; and

a damper installed in the air passage, the damper being configured to regulate a flow rate of cold air flowing in

the air passage, wherein the refrigerator compartment floor part includes:

a refrigerator compartment air return passage port that is positioned lateral to the

refrigerator compartment duct and serves as an inlet of a refrigerator compartment air

return passage through which air is allowed to pass to return to the cooler compartment after the air cools the refrigerator compartment; and

a groove extending from directly below the refrigerator compartment duct to the

refrigerator compartment air return passage port; wherein the groove is a drainage channel and is formed with the refrigerator

compartment floor.
[Claim 2]

The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein

the groove has a downward slope from directly below the refrigerator compartment duct to the refrigerator compartment air return passage port.
[Claim 3]

The refrigerator of claim 1 or 2, wherein

a machine room connected to the cooler compartment is provided below the cooler compartment, and the machine room is provided with a drain pan that accumulates water dropped onto a bottom of the cooler compartment.
[Claim 4]

The refrigerator of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein

a connector box accommodating connectors for power supply to electrical components of the refrigerator compartment is disposed lateral to the refrigerator

compartment duct and opposite from the refrigerator compartment air return passage port.