EP2320176A1

EP2320176A1 - Refrigerator

Info

Publication number: EP2320176A1
Application number: EP09768805A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Dongning Wang; Minghua Zhao; Jie Ma; Lei Chen; Hongyan Yang
Original assignee: Haier Group Corp; Qingdao Haier Co Ltd
Current assignee: Haier Group Corp; Qingdao Haier Co Ltd
Priority date: 2008-06-26
Filing date: 2009-06-26
Publication date: 2011-05-11
Anticipated expiration: 2029-06-26
Also published as: US20110259035A1; CN101307977A; WO2009155880A1; RU2500958C2; CN101307977B; EP2320176B1; MA32504B1; RU2011104044A; EP2320176A4

Abstract

A refrigerator comprises a shell body (1) divided into a refrigerating chamber (2) and a freezing chamber (3), and a door body (20) selectively opening and closing the refrigerating chamber (2) and the freezing chamber (3), and further comprises an ice-making chamber (21) and movable supporting mechanisms (213, 214) connecting the ice-making chamber (21) and the inner wall of the shell body (1).

Description

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a refrigerating equipment field, and in particular to a refrigerator.

Background of the Invention

Following people's demands, the functions of refrigerator get more diversity gradually, among which the function of ice-making has increasingly become a factor people consider when selecting a refrigerator.
The equipment that ice-making relies on is an ice maker. The positioning of the ice makers in the existing refrigerators generally comprises two modes as follows.
First one is, the ice maker is placed in the refrigerating chamber. In this solution, as the ice maker is fixed in the refrigerating chamber, the space of the refrigerating chamber behind the ice maker can hardly be effectively used. Even if it is barely used, it is quite inconvenient for a user to take out and place articles behind the ice maker.
Second one is, the ice maker is placed in the door body. In this solution, as the ice maker is integrated into the door body, the weight of the door body per se is thus increased, which thus increases the bearing of the joint of the door body and reduces its service life.
Moreover, in both of the solutions above, when a user opens the door body to take out and place articles on the door body, the cold quantity in the refrigerating chamber will be lost and a lot of energy will be consumed.

Summary of the Invention

The technical problem to be addressed by the present invention is to provide a refrigerator with an ice maker, capable of utilizing the space in the refrigerator effectively and facilitating placing and taking out articles.
In order to address the above technical problem, the present invention provides a refrigerator, comprising a shell body divided into a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber, and a door body selectively opening and closing the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber, and further comprising an ice-making chamber and movable supporting mechanisms connecting the ice-making chamber and the inner wall of the shell body.
In the above, the movable supporting mechanism is a rotating shaft connecting the inner wall of the shell body and the ice-making chamber, and the ice-making chamber is rotatable with respect to the shell body around the axis of the rotating shaft.
Specifically, the rotating shaft comprises upper shaft and lower shaft which are opposite to each other, both upper shaft and lower shaft connecting the inner wall of the shell body and the ice-making chamber.
In the above, the rotating mechanism is a hinge, with its one end connected with the ice-making chamber, and the other end connected with the inner wall of the shell body.
In the above, the inner wall of the shell body is the inner wall of the shell body of the refrigerating chamber.
In addition, the ice-making chamber is provided at an opening of the refrigerating chamber.
In the above, the ice-making chamber comprises an outer shell of the ice-making chamber, in which there are an ice maker and an ice storage container below the ice maker; and an air inlet and an air outlet are further provided on the outer shell of the ice-making chamber.
.In the above, the air inlet or air outlet is provided on a top portion or side portion of the outer shell of the ice-making chamber.
In addition, it is further comprised a first pipeline which guides cold air around an evaporator to the ice-making chamber and is provided in a wall of the shell body.
In the above, the evaporator is provided in the freezing chamber, and the ice-making chamber is provided in the refrigerating chamber; and the first pipeline is provided in a rear wall and a side wall of the shell body, or in a rear wall and a top wall.
On the other hand, further comprised is at least a fan which is located near an inlet of the first pipeline around the evaporator, or at an outlet of the first pipeline, or near the air inlet within the ice-making chamber.
In the above, further comprised is a second pipeline which communicates the ice-making chamber and the freezing chamber, to form a cold air loop of the ice-making chamber.
In addition, the door body comprises an ice-distributing chamber with an ice-distributing mechanism provided therein, wherein the ice-distributing chamber is provided with an ice-receiving opening that correspondingly contacts an ice-discharging opening of the ice-making chamber to receive ice.
In the above, the ice-distributing chamber is located at a lower portion of the door body, the ice-making chamber corresponds to an upper portion of the door body; the ice-receiving opening is provided at a top portion of the ice-distributing chamber, and the ice-discharging opening is provided at a bottom portion of the ice-making chamber.
In the present invention, it further comprises a first pipeline guiding cold air around the evaporator to the ice-making chamber, an inlet end of which is provided around the evaporator and an outlet end of which communicates with the air inlet.
It further comprises a second pipeline, an inlet end of which communicates with the air outlet, and an outlet end of which communicates with the freezing chamber.
The first pipeline and the second pipeline constitute a cold air loop of the ice-making chamber.
In the present invention, as the movable supporting mechanisms are provided between the ice-making chamber and the shell body of the refrigerator, the ice-making chamber is capable of rotating with respect to the shell body, such that the storage space behind the ice-making chamber is exposed. Therefore, the space is more sufficiently utilized and it is more convenient for a user to store and take out articles.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic structure view of the refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a side view of an example of the refrigerating chamber according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is an A-A direction sectional view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is an exploded local perspective view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 5 is a schematic structure view of the embodiment of the ice-making chamber in the embodiment shown in Fig. 2; and
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1.

Detailed Description of Embodiments

The present invention will be illustrated in detail with reference to the drawings.
Firstly, the principle of the present invention is illustrated briefly. In the present invention, the ice-making chamber and the shell body are designed to be movably connected in order to avoid that the space behind the ice-making chamber can not be utilized and inconvenience of storing and taking out articles in use. When articles need to be stored and taken out, the rear space can be exposed merely by rotating the ice-making chamber out from the refrigerating chamber/freezing chamber, which facilitates storing and taking out articles and makes the space sufficiently used.
Moreover, the weight of the door body per se is reduced and the service life of the joint between the door body and the shell body is prolonged as the ice-making chamber is separate from the door body. And such separation arrangement also effectively decreases the cold quantity loss of the refrigerating chamber when the door body is open to take out or place articles.
Reference is made to Fig. 1 showing a schematic structure view of an embodiment of the refrigerator of the present invention. As shown in the figure, a shell body 1 is comprised and the shell body 1 is divided into a refrigerating chamber 2 at the upper portion and a freezing chamber 3 at the lower portion. And it further comprises a door body selectively opening and closing the refrigerating chamber 2 and the freezing chamber 3. In addition, the door body of the refrigerating chamber 2 is further provided with an ice-taking opening 4.
The freezing chamber 3 is provided with an evaporator therein supplying cold air to the freezing chamber 3 for refrigeration and at the same time supplying cold air to the refrigerating chamber 2 as well for refrigeration. Moreover, the refrigerating chamber 2 is also provided therein with the ice-making chamber which also uses the cold air by the evaporator in the freezing chamber 3 for refrigeration. The ice blocks produced will be supplied to the user through the ice-taking opening 4 when the ice-making chamber finishes the ice making.
The ice-making chamber is provided at an opening in the refrigerating chamber 2, preferably, at the upper left portion or the upper right portion of the refrigerating chamber in the direction facing the refrigerating chamber. And it further comprises movable supporting mechanisms which movably connect the ice-making chamber to the inner wall of the shell body. (The related description of the embodiment shown in Fig. 5 can be referred to for an embodiment of the movable supporting mechanisms)
The shell body 1 comprises an inner shell, an outer shell and a heat insulation layer between the inner and outer shells. The inner wall of the shell body in the present embodiment refers to the inner wall of the inner shell.
Reference is made to Fig. 2 showing a side view of an embodiment of the refrigerating chamber in the embodiment shown in Figure 1. As shown in the figure, an ice-making chamber 21, an inner shell 11, a water supply pipeline 60, a first pipeline 51, a third pipeline 53 and a second pipeline 52 are comprised.
Moreover, the present embodiment only shows the inner shell 11 of the shell body 1, while the outer shell and the heat insulation layer in-between are not shown as the inventive gist of the present invention needs to be illustrated by stripping off the outer shell and the heat insulation layer.
The first pipeline 51 is an air-intake pipeline which is provided in the heat insulation layer and between the inner shell 11 and the outer shell. Specifically, the first pipeline 51 has the inlet which is provided around the evaporator to import and supply cold wind/air to the ice-making chamber 21 and the outlet which, as shown in the figure, runs through the inner shell 11 and communicates with the ice-making chamber 21. (Fig. 3 can be referred to for more detailed illustration)
The second pipeline 52 is an air-outtake pipeline which is also provided in the heat insulation layer and between the inner shell 11 and the outer shell. Specifically, the second pipeline 52 has the inlet which runs through the inner shell 11 and communicates with the ice-making chamber 21, and the outlet which is led to the freezing chamber (not shown in the figure). (Fig. 3 can be referred to for more detailed illustration)
The outlet of the first pipeline 51 and the inlet of the second pipeline 52 are all run through the inner shell 11 and connected with the side wall of the ice-making chamber 21 to further communicate with the ice-making chamber 21. Due to the presence of the first pipeline 51 and the second pipeline 52, a cold air loop including the ice-making chamber 21 therein is formed, so as to carry out the ice-making operation of the ice maker 21.
The third pipeline 53 is also an air-intake pipeline which is provided in the heat insulation layer and between the inner shell 11 and the outer shell. Specifically, the third pipeline 53 has the inlet which is provided around the evaporator to import and supply cold wind/air to the ice-making chamber 21 and the outlet which, as shown in the figure, runs through the inner shell 11 and communicates with the ice-making chamber 21. More particularly, it is connected with a top wall of the ice-making chamber 21 to communicate with the ice-making chamber 21. (Fig. 3 can be referred to for more detailed illustration)
As shown in Fig. 2, the first pipeline 51 and the second pipeline 52 are provided in a side wall of the shell body where the refrigerating chamber 2 is located. That is, the side wall are laid with pipelines; and the third pipeline 53 is provided in a rear wall and a top wall of the shell body where the refrigerating chamber 2 is located, i.e. the rear wall and top wall are laid with the pipeline.
The water supply pipeline 60 also communicates with the ice-making chamber 21. One end thereof is led to a water tank/source (not shown in the figure) and the other end is led to an ice box in the ice-making chamber 21.
The related description hereinafter can be referred to for the connection structures between the air-intake/air-outtake pipelines and the ice-making chamber 21.
It should be indicated that two air-intake pipelines (the first pipeline 51 and the third pipeline 53) and one air-outtake pipeline (the second pipeline 52) comprised in the present embodiment can be used simultaneously to speed up ice making by increasing the amount of cold air in circulation.
Alternatively, a set of cold air loop is constructed by choosing any one of the two air-intake pipelines to combine with the air-outtake pipeline. Particularly, a set of cold air loop can be constructed in two ways, including the combination of the first pipeline 51 with the second pipeline 52, and the combination of the third pipeline 53 with the second pipeline 52.
Reference is made to Fig. 3 showing an A-A direction sectional view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 2. As shown in the figure, the first pipeline 51, the second pipeline 52, the third pipeline 53, the ice-making chamber 21 and the inner shell 11 are comprised.
In the above, as for the first pipeline 51, the second pipeline 52 and the third pipeline 53, one could refer to the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, and they will not be introduced herein.
As shown in the figure, the ice-making chamber 21 is provided in the upper left portion (the front direction when facing the figure, same as below) of the refrigerating chamber, with the side wall thereof provided with an air inlet and an air outlet respectively which communicate with the outlet of the first pipeline 51 and the inlet of the second pipeline 52 to import and deliver the cold air/wind.
The top portion of the ice-making chamber 21 is further provided with an air inlet which communicates with the outlet of the third pipeline 53 to import the cold air/wind.
The left side wall of the ice-making chamber 21 is connected with the inner wall of the inner shell 11 though the movable supporting mechanism, and the ice-making chamber 21 thereby can move relatively to the shell body. As for an embodiment of the movable supporting mechanism, one can refer to related descriptions to the embodiment shown in Fig. 5.
As shown in Fig. 3, the ice-making chamber 21 comprises an outer housing, and an ice maker and an ice storage container provided therein. The ice maker is provided in the upper portion of the ice-making chamber 21, and the ice storage container is provided in the lower portion of the ice-making chamber 21. The ice maker is turned over after the ice making is completed, so as to unload the ice blocks into the ice storage container.
Reference is made to Fig. 4 showing an exploded local perspective view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1. As shown in the figure, the door body 20, the ice-making chamber 21, an ice-distributing chamber 22, the water supply pipeline 60, the first pipeline 51 and the second pipeline 52 are comprised.
In the above, the present embodiment illustrates the state of the exploded local perspective view in which the door body 20 is closed. From the figure it can be seen that the side wall of the ice-making chamber 21 is connected with the first pipeline 51 and the second pipeline 52 to form a cold air loop containing the ice-making chamber 21.
The ice-distributing chamber 22 is located on the door body 20 at the lower portion. The outside of the door body 20 is provided with the ice-taking opening 4 in Fig. 1 correspondingly. The ice-making chamber 21 is spatially located above the ice-distributing chamber 22, and the bottom portion of the ice-making chamber 21 is provided with an ice-discharging opening. An ice-feeding opening is provided on the top portion of the ice-distributing chamber 22 at the position corresponding to the ice-discharging opening. The ice blocks are transported from the ice-discharging opening to the ice-feeding opening and finally taken out through the ice-taking opening 4. (Fig. 6 and its related description can be referred to for more detailed illustration of this part)
The internal distributing mechanism of the ice-distributing chamber 22 will not be described in detail as it is not the inventive gist of the present invention and can apply any existing solutions.
The outlet of the first pipeline 51 is provided at the upper portion of the ice-making chamber 21, and the inlet of the second pipeline 52 is provided at the lower portion of the ice-making chamber 21.
Reference is made to Fig. 5 showing a schematic structure view of an embodiment of the ice-making chamber in the embodiment shown in Fig. 2. As shown in the figure, the ice maker 21 comprises an outer housing 210, an upper shaft 213, a lower shaft 214, an air inlet 211, an air outlet 212 and an air inlet 215.
In the above, the upper shaft 213 is provided at the top portion of the ice-making chamber 21; and the upper shaft 213 has one end connected onto the inner wall of the inner shell 11, and the other end which, as shown in the figure, is fixed onto the outer shell of the top portion of the ice-making chamber 21 by means of an upper seat.
The lower shaft 214 is provided at the bottom portion of the ice-making chamber 21; the lower shaft 214 has one end connected onto a side wall of the inner shell 11 by means of a lower seat, and the other end which, as shown in the figure, is also connected to a shaft hole in the outer shell of the bottom portion of the ice-making chamber 21 by means of a rotating shaft.
The cooperation between the upper shaft 213 and the lower shaft 214 enables the ice-making chamber 21 to rotate relatively to the shell body around the axis defined by the upper shaft 213 and the lower shaft 214, wherein the upper shaft 213 and the lower shaft 214 preferably are coaxial.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the movable supporting mechanism is in form of a hinge-type structure. That is, the ice maker 21 is hinged to the inner wall of the inner shell 11 by a hinge. Both ends of the hinge are connected onto the outer shell of the ice maker 21 and the inner wall of the inner shell 11, respectively.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the movable support mechanism is in form of a through-going shaft, that is, this shaft runs through the ice-making chamber and both ends thereof are connected to the inner wall of the shell body.
It should be indicated that the number of the shaft and the hinge can both be one or two, and in the present exemplary embodiment, it only illustrates the case of two shafts or two hinges. When there is one shaft or one hinge, it can be provided at the top portion of the ice-making chamber 21 or at one side (this side is close to the inner shell 11) of the outer shell of the ice-making chamber 21, etc. Detailed explanations will not be given herein as positions and structures thereof absolutely can be inferred by the person skilled in the art.
Moreover, in the case of including the upper shaft and lower shaft, they can also be provided on the outer shell of one side of the ice-making chamber 21 closest to the inner shell 11, or at some other suitable locations. The location of the shaft or hinge will not limit the present invention.
The air inlet 211 communicates with the outlet end of the first pipeline 51 so as to receive cold air. The air inlet 215 communicates with the outlet end of the third pipeline 53 so as to receive cold air. The air outlet 212 communicates with the inlet end of the second pipeline 52 so as to realize the recirculation of cold air. The air inlet 215 is placed on the outer housing of the top portion of the ice-making chamber 21. The air inlet 211 and air outlet 212 are provided on the outer shell of one side of the ice-making chamber 21 closest to the inner shell 11, and the air inlet 211 is provided above the air outlet 212 so as to realize good refrigeration by circulating cold air sufficiently.
Reference is made to Fig. 6 showing a perspective view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1. In the figure, the door body of the refrigerating chamber is in an open state, and a big drawer in the freezing chamber is removed so as to illustrate the interval structure of the freezing chamber more clearly.
As shown in the figure, it comprises the shell body 1 divided into the refrigerating chamber 2 at the upper portion and the freezing chamber 3 at the lower portion and the door body 20 for opening or closing the refrigerating chamber 2.
An ice-making chamber 21 rotatablely connected to the shell body 1 is further comprised. The lower portion of the door body 20 is provided with an ice-distributing chamber 22 which is positioned spatially below the ice-making chamber 21. Moreover, the top portion of the ice-distributing chamber 22 is provided wit an ice-feeding opening 221 whose location corresponds to the position of the ice-discharging opening provided on the bottom portion of the ice-making chamber 21, so as to receive ice blocks made from the ice-making chamber 21.
In addition, it can be seen from the figure that an air returning opening 62 is provided on the side wall of the freezing chamber 3. The air returning opening 62 communicates with the air outlet of the second pipeline 52 and the second pipeline 52 is used for allowing cold air to flow back to the freezing chamber 3 after circulation in the ice-making chamber 21.
On the other hand, the refrigerator according to the present invention further comprises at least a fan that can be installed near the air inlet 211 in the ice-making chamber 21 or at the outlet of the first pipeline 51, or at the outlet of the third pipeline 53, or at the inlet of the first pipeline 51 or the third pipeline 53 and so on. Alternatively, it is possible to simultaneously install a plurality of fans at several positions mentioned above. The presence of the fan(s) speeds up the cold air flow and shortens the time period of ice making.
Besides the modes of shaft or hinge as described above, the movable supporting mechanism can also be in the mode of slide rail. That is, the ice-making chamber is connected to the inner wall of the shell body by means of slide rail so that it is convenient for taking out and placing articles as the ice-making chamber is movable likewise.
The description above is made only for preferable embodiments of the present invention, which are not used to restrict the present invention. Any amendments, equivalent substitutions, improvements etc. within the spirit and principle of the present invention are all concluded in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

A refrigerator, comprising a shell body divided into a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber and a door body selectively opening and closing the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber, characterized by further comprising an ice-making chamber and movable supporting mechanisms, the movable supporting mechanisms connecting the ice-making chamber and the inner wall of the shell body.
The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the movable supporting mechanism is a rotating shaft connecting the inner wall of the shell body and the ice-making chamber, and the ice-making chamber is rotatable relatively to the shell body around the axis of the rotating shaft.
The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the rotating shaft comprises an upper shaft and a lower shaft opposite to each other; and the upper shaft and lower shaft connect the inner wall of the shell body and the ice-making chamber.
The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the rotating mechanism is a hinge, one end of which is connected with the ice-making chamber and the other end of which is connected with the inner wall of the shell body.
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the inner wall of the shell body is the inner wall of the shell body of the refrigerating chamber.
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the ice-making chamber is provided at an opening of the refrigerating chamber.
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the ice-making chamber comprises an outer shell of the ice-making chamber, in which there are an ice maker and an ice storage container below the ice maker provided; and an air inlet and an air outlet are further provided on the outer shell of the ice-making chamber.
The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the air inlet or air outlet is provided on a top portion or a side portion of the outer shell of the ice-making chamber.
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1-4, further comprising a first pipeline which guides cold air around an evaporator to the ice-making chamber and is provided in a wall of the shell body.
The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the evaporator is provided in the freezing chamber, and the ice-making chamber is provided in the refrigerating chamber; and the first pipeline is provided in a rear wall and a side wall of the shell body, or in a rear wall and a top wall thereof.
The refrigerator according to claim 10, further comprising at least a fan which is located near an inlet of the first pipeline around the evaporator, or at an outlet of the first pipeline, or near the air inlet in the ice-making chamber.
The refrigerator according to claim 10, further comprising a second pipeline which communicates the ice-making chamber and the freezing chamber to form a cold air loop of the ice-making chamber.
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the door body comprises an ice-distributing chamber with an ice-distributing mechanism provided therein; the ice-distributing chamber is provided with an ice-receiving opening which correspondingly contacts an ice-discharging opening of the ice-making chamber to receive ice.
The refrigerator according to claim 13, wherein the ice-distributing chamber is located at a lower portion of the door body, the ice-making chamber corresponds to an upper portion of the door body; the ice-receiving opening is provided at a top portion of the ice-distributing chamber, and the ice-discharging opening is provided at a bottom portion of the ice-making chamber.
The refrigerator according to claim 7, further comprising: a first pipeline, which guides cold air around an evaporator to the ice-making chamber, wherein the first pipeline has an inlet end provided around the evaporator and an outlet end communicating with the air inlet; and
a second pipeline, which has an inlet end communicating with the air outlet and an outlet end communicating with the freezing chamber,
wherein the first pipeline and the second pipeline construct a cold air loop of the ice-making chamber.