EP2405220A1 - Refrigerator - Google Patents
Refrigerator Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2405220A1 EP2405220A1 EP10748525A EP10748525A EP2405220A1 EP 2405220 A1 EP2405220 A1 EP 2405220A1 EP 10748525 A EP10748525 A EP 10748525A EP 10748525 A EP10748525 A EP 10748525A EP 2405220 A1 EP2405220 A1 EP 2405220A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- plate
- refrigerator
- filter assembly
- liquid
- purifying device
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
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Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D23/00—General constructional features
- F25D23/12—Arrangements of compartments additional to cooling compartments; Combinations of refrigerators with other equipment, e.g. stove
- F25D23/126—Water cooler
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D25/00—Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled
- F25D25/02—Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled by shelves
- F25D25/024—Slidable shelves
- F25D25/025—Drawers
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D2323/00—General constructional features not provided for in other groups of this subclass
- F25D2323/121—General constructional features not provided for in other groups of this subclass the refrigerator is characterised by a water filter for the water/ice dispenser
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D2323/00—General constructional features not provided for in other groups of this subclass
- F25D2323/122—General constructional features not provided for in other groups of this subclass the refrigerator is characterised by a water tank for the water/ice dispenser
Definitions
- the present invention relates to refrigerators, and particularly to a refrigerator which can purify and cool a liquid such as water introduced to inside of the refrigerator.
- a refrigerator which introduces water directly from a water pipe or the like, purifies the water, stores and cools the water in a tank, and supplies the cool water or ice from a supply opening provided on a door.
- Patent Literature (PTL) 1 describes a refrigerator which includes, in a space behind a drawer inside of the refrigerator, a purifying device which purifies water, and a meander-shaped tank which stores water, and supplies water or ice from a supply opening provided on a front door of the refrigerator.
- the depth width of the drawer is decreased because the purifying device and the tank are disposed behind the drawer.
- the conventional refrigerator sacrifices an effective storage space to dispose the purifying device.
- the present invention has been conceived in view of the above-described problem and has an object to provide a refrigerator which can secure a large effective storage space regardless of the purifying device disposed inside the refrigerator.
- the refrigerator according to the present invention is a refrigerator including a main body with thermal insulation properties, a liquid cooling device which cools a liquid introduced to an inside of the main body, and a purifying device which purifies a liquid
- the refrigerator includes a plate which partitions the inside of the main body in a vertical direction, wherein the purifying device is disposed at an upper part of a storage space located below the plate.
- the purifying device is disposed just below the plate that is a storage space inside of the refrigerator but tends to be unused. Thus, it is possible to avoid wasting an effective storage space for the purifying device.
- storage items are piled up from a bottom in the storage space and storage items are usually not piled up to an upper part of the storage space.
- the purifying device disposed in the upper part of the storage space does not affect much an amount of storage items to be stored.
- the purifying device include: a connecting portion interposed in a liquid path that is a path for a liquid in the liquid cooling device; and a filter assembly which is attachable to and detachable from the connecting portion by moving the filter assembly forward or backward with respect to the refrigerator, the filter assembly including a function of purifying a liquid.
- the plate include: a maintenance opening through which the filter assembly can be passed to allow the filter assembly to be attached to and detached from the connecting portion from above the plate; and a lid which closes the maintenance opening.
- filter assembly can be replaced without bending down, allowing the filter assembly to be replaced easily. Further, since the maintenance opening is usually closed by the lid, it is possible to place storage items on the part where maintenance opening is provided.
- the refrigerator include a drawer which has an upper opening closed by the plate to block an entry of cool air from above the plate, the drawer being disposed in a space below the plate.
- an upper part of the drawer is usually not filled with storage items.
- the purifying device at the upper part of the drawer, it is possible to use the storage space effectively.
- the plate hold the purifying device.
- the connecting portion is suspended from the plate.
- the filter assembly can be attached to and detached from the connecting portion just by moving the filter assembly forward or backward with respect to the plate. Thus, it is easy to replace the filter assembly.
- the purifying device include a housing which is suspended from the plate.
- the liquid cooling apparatus include a valve device which is disposed on an outer side of a back part of the main body and controls a flow of a liquid, and the valve device and the purifying device are disposed at a substantially same height.
- a purifying device is disposed in the storage space without wasting an effective storage space.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a refrigerator.
- a refrigerator 100 is an apparatus for chilling or freezing and preserving a storage item placed inside, and includes a main body 150, a first door 111, a second door 121, a third door 112, a through hole 113, and a fourth door 122.
- the refrigerator 100 is a rectangular box-shaped body whose height is largest of height, width, and depth.
- the first door 111 is a door which covers the opening on the right when facing the main body 150, with flexibility in opening and closing.
- the first door 111 is attached to the main body 150 using a hinge (not shown) so as to turn back and forth centering on a vertical axis that extends in an anterior portion of the right-side wall of the main body 150.
- the first door 111 is in the form of a rectangle which is long in the vertical direction, and disposed so as to extend from top to bottom of the refrigerator 100, with the above axis extending along the right-edge rim of the first door 111.
- the second door 121 is a door which covers the opening on the left when facing the main body 150, with flexibility in opening and closing.
- the second door 121 is attached to the main body 150 using a hinge (not shown) so as to turn back and forth centering on a vertical axis that extends in an anterior portion of the left-side wall of the main body 150.
- the second door 121 is in the form of a rectangle which is long in the vertical direction, and disposed so as to extend from top to bottom of the refrigerator 100, with the above axis extending along the left-edge rim of the second door 121.
- the through hole 113 is a hole penetrating through the first door 111 in the thickness direction.
- the through hole 113 is a hole through which a storage item stored behind the first door 111 is taken out or through which a storage item is put for storage behind the first door 111, without opening the first door 111.
- the third door 112 is a door which covers the through hole 113 with flexibility in opening and closing.
- the third door 112 is attached to the first door 111 using a hinge (not shown) so as to turn back and forth centering on a horizontal axis that extends at the lower end of the through hole 113.
- the third door 112 is square in shape as viewed from the front (round-cornered), with the above axis extending along the lower-end rim of the third door 112.
- the fourth door 122 is a door that opens and closes at a supply opening 123 of a dispenser.
- the dispenser supplies drink such as water that is cooled by an after-mentioned liquid cooling device and ice or the like.
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of the refrigerator with the first door and the second door open.
- FIG. 2 shows also a storage item A stored in the refrigerator 100.
- the refrigerator 100 includes a first body 151, a second body 152, and an outer case 156.
- the first body 151 is a vertically-long heat-insulating body having an opening in the front face and defining a refrigerator compartment.
- the first body 151 is disposed on the right in the refrigerator 100 so as to extend entirely from top to bottom of the refrigerator 100.
- the refrigerator compartment is a compartment having a temperature inside maintained in the temperature range of no lower than 0 degree C.
- the second body 152 is a vertically-long heat-insulating body having an opening in the front face and defining a freezer compartment.
- the second body 152 is disposed on the left in the refrigerator 100 so as to extend entirely from top to bottom of the refrigerator 100.
- the freezer compartment is a compartment having a lower temperature than a temperature of the refrigerator compartment, maintained at around minus 18 degrees C, and storing a storage item such as a frozen food.
- the outer case 156 is a metal plate covering the first body 151 and the second body 152 which are arranged next to each other in the horizontal direction.
- the main body 150 in this embodiment is manufactured as follows. That is, each of the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment separated by a partition 153 is independently manufactured with resin in solid casting. Outside the inner case 157, the outer case 156 is disposed so as to cover the inner case 157 with a predetermined gap between the outer case 156 and the inner case 157. Inside the partition 153, there is also a gap which is communicated with the gap located between the outer case 156 and the inner case 157. Into the gap located between the outer case 156 and the inner case 157 and into the gap of the partition 153, rigid urethane foams or the like are injected and foamed to serve as a heat insulating material, for example. Thus, the main body 150 is manufactured.
- the wall between the first body 151 and the second body 152 is inseparable, which means that the first body 151 and the second body 152 share the partition 153 as a wall part.
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a lower part of the first body.
- the first body 151 includes a plate 172 and, below the plate 172, a drawer 170. Furthermore, the first body 151 includes, above the plate 172, a second drawer 117.
- the plate 172 is a plate-shaped member that partitions an inside of the first body 151, which is a part of the main body 150, in a vertical direction.
- the plate 172 closes an upper opening of the drawer 170, and thus prevents a cool air flow that is present above the plate 172 from directly flowing into an inside of the drawer 170.
- the plate 172 is a member provided to span across both side walls of the first body 151, and which permanently partitions the first body 151 into an upper space and a lower space.
- the plate 172 includes a flap 176 in a front.
- the flap 176 is a movable member which is provided in the front part of the plate 172 so as to extend in an entire width direction of the plate 172.
- the flap 176 is a member that rotates to allow a front part of the flap 176 to swing upwardly when the drawer 170 is pulled out. With this, storage items can be easily taken out and put in even when the drawer 170 is pulled out only a little.
- the flap 176 is formed by transparent resin, and thus the storage items in the drawer 170 can be seen through from above the drawer 170.
- the drawer 170 is a box-like member having an upper opening closed by the plate 172 when inserted in a space below the plate 172.
- the drawer 170 is detachable from the main body 150. With the plate 172, the cool air does not enter into the drawer 170 from the above. Thus the items stored in the drawer 170 are not directly exposed to the cool air that circulates inside the first body 151. Furthermore, it is possible to maintain humidity inside the drawer 170.
- the drawer 170 is suitable for storing vegetables and fruits raw, and sometimes referred to as a vegetable compartment.
- the drawer 170 is formed by transparent (translucent) resin. In this way, it is possible to increase visibility of items stored in the drawer 170.
- FIG. 4 is a cut-out perspective view showing a storage space below the plate.
- a purifying device 103 is disposed at the upper part of the storage space located below the plate 172.
- the purifying device 103 includes a filter assembly 131, a connecting portion 132, and a housing 105.
- the plate 172 includes a maintenance opening 173 to which a lid 104 is provided.
- the purifying device 103 is a device which purifies water introduced to inside of the main body 150.
- This embodiment employs, as the purifying device 103, a device which filters water with a bundle of hollow fibers and absorbs impurities by letting water flow through activated carbon.
- the connecting portion 132 is equipment interposed in a liquid path 141 which is a path for water in a liquid cooling device (described later).
- the connecting portion 132 includes a function of introducing water that passes through the liquid path 141 into the filter assembly 131, and introducing the water that has been purified by passing through the filter assembly 131 back to the liquid path 141.
- the connecting portion 132 is attached, via a mounting bracket 133 that includes a tilting mechanism using a hinge, to the housing 105. With this, the connecting portion 132 is attached such that the connecting portion 132 is suspended from the plate 172 via the mounting bracket 133.
- the filter assembly 131 is equipment which includes a function of purifying water.
- the filter assembly 131 includes the bundle of hollow fibers for filtering water and the activated carbon for absorbing impurities included in water.
- the filter assembly 131 is attachable to and detachable from the connecting portion 132 by moving the filter assembly forward or backward with respect to the refrigerator 100. Note that, after the filter assembly 131 is inserted to the connecting portion 132, the filter assembly 131 is rotated with respect to the connecting portion 132 so that a thread provided in the filter assembly 131 and a thread provided in the connecting portion 132 are engaged. Thus, the filter assembly 131 is fixed to the connecting portion 132.
- the housing 105 is a box-like member which is attached such that the housing 105 is suspended from the plate 172.
- the housing 105 is in a form that can surround the filter assembly 131 and the connecting portion 132.
- An upper part of the housing 105 is open.
- the housing 105 prevents the storage items stored in the drawer 170 from directly hitting and impacting the filter assembly 131 and the connecting portion 132 when the drawer 170 is being pulled out or inserted.
- the connecting portion 132 is attached to the housing 105 via the mounting bracket 133.
- the filter assembly 131 is attached to the connecting portion 132.
- the mounting bracket 133 is axially supported by the housing 105 with a mounting shaft 135 in a manner that allows tilting.
- the filter assembly 131 is attached to the housing 105 such that the filter assembly 131 can tilt together with the mounting bracket 133 centering the mounting shaft 135.
- FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing, from above, the plate with the lid removed.
- the maintenance opening 173 is a hole that runs through the plate 172 and is in a size through which the filter assembly 131 can be passed. Through the maintenance opening 173, the filter assembly 131 is attachable to and detachable from the connecting portion 132 from above the plate 172.
- the lid 104 fits into the maintenance opening 173 to be flush with the plate 172.
- FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing how the filter assembly is attached and detached.
- the filter assembly 131 can be easily attached to and detached from the connecting portion 132 by moving the filter assembly 131 in the direction indicated by an arrow.
- the purifying device 103 is attached such that the purifying device 103 is suspended from the plate 172.
- the purifying device 103 is disposed without affecting much the storage space inside the drawer 170.
- the maintenance opening 173 is provided in the plate 172, the filter assembly 131 can be replaced from above the plate 172.
- the maintenance opening 173 is usually closed by the lid 104.
- FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a valve device.
- a valve device 142 shown in the figure is a device which controls a flow of water introduced to an inside of the refrigerator 100, and is attached to an outer side of a back part of the main body 150.
- the valve device 142 includes: a gate valve 143 which is connected to a water pipe and can select whether or not to introduce water from the water pipe; and a three way valve 144 which can determine whether to let the introduced water to flow in a path for cooling or in a path for producing ice.
- the three way valve 144 includes an electric component 144a which is placed on the three way valve 144 and controls a flow path.
- a cover member 148 that is larger than a projected area of the three way valve 144 is disposed.
- FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing a positional relationship in terms of height between the purifying device and the valve device; (a) shows a lateral view and (b) shows a top view.
- valve device 142 and the purifying device 103 are disposed at the substantially same height. With this, even in a state where the filter assembly 131 is detached from the connecting portion 132, it possible to suppress water that remains in the liquid path 141 from spilling out from the connecting portion 132. Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in (b) in the figure, a position of the valve device 142 and the purifying device 103 in the horizontal direction is also substantially the same. With this, a length of the liquid path 141 penetrating the main body 150 is short, and thus it is possible to suppress a deterioration of thermal insulation properties of the main body 150.
- FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing the liquid cooling device.
- a liquid cooling device 140 includes a tank 145 and an ice maker 146.
- the water supplied from a water pipe W is, via the gate valve 143 located outside the refrigerator 100, supplied to the purifying device 103 located inside the refrigerator 100.
- the water purified by the purifying device 103 is introduced to the outside of the refrigerator 100 and supplied to the three way valve 144.
- a path of water is selected by the three way valve 144 and, for example, water flows through the liquid path 141 and supplied to the ice maker 146.
- the ice maker 146 transforms water purified by the purifying device 103 into ice and stores the ice.
- the stored ice can be arbitrarily taken out from the supply opening 123.
- water flows through the liquid path 147 and supplied to the tank 145.
- the tank 145 is a member which stores the water purified by the purifying device 103.
- the stored water can be arbitrarily taken out from the supply opening 123.
- FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which the drawer is removed to show the tank.
- the tank 145 is a container which has a meandering shape and thin thickness, and is disposed behind the drawer 170 inside of the main body 150.
- the cool air that flows avoiding the drawer 170 hits the tank 145 directly.
- the tank 145 does not affect capacity of the storage space so much.
- the tank 145 is in the meandering shape such that stagnation of water is suppressed and the cooled water is sequentially supplied.
- a path of the liquid path 141 which connects the tank 145 to the ice maker 146 and the supply opening 123 be selected to be short by allowing the liquid path 141 to be taken from an inside of the main body 150 to an outside, to pass the outside of the refrigerator 100 to be inserted to the hinge of the second door 121. In this way, it is possible to prevent, as much as possible, the water from freezing in the liquid path 141 and clogging the liquid path 141.
- the tank 145 may be disposed at the bottom of the first body 151, that is, below the drawer 170 as shown in FIG. 11 . In this way, it is possible to further increase a dimension of depth of the drawer 170 to increase the storage space.
- FIG. 12 is a plan view showing, from main body side, a lower part of the first door.
- the purifying device 103 is disposed at the lower part of the first door 111. Furthermore, the purifying device 103 may be covered by the housing 105. With this, the filter assembly 131 can be replaced easily in a comfortable posture without opening the drawer 170.
- the present invention is applicable to refrigerators, and particularly to a refrigerator which supplies ice and cold water and includes a plate which partitions storage space in a vertical direction.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
- Cold Air Circulating Systems And Constructional Details In Refrigerators (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to refrigerators, and particularly to a refrigerator which can purify and cool a liquid such as water introduced to inside of the refrigerator.
- Conventionally, there is a refrigerator which introduces water directly from a water pipe or the like, purifies the water, stores and cools the water in a tank, and supplies the cool water or ice from a supply opening provided on a door.
- For example, Patent Literature (PTL) 1 describes a refrigerator which includes, in a space behind a drawer inside of the refrigerator, a purifying device which purifies water, and a meander-shaped tank which stores water, and supplies water or ice from a supply opening provided on a front door of the refrigerator.
-
- [PTL 1]
US Patent No. 7,216,502 - Unfortunately, in the refrigerator according to PTL 1, the depth width of the drawer is decreased because the purifying device and the tank are disposed behind the drawer. In other words, the conventional refrigerator sacrifices an effective storage space to dispose the purifying device.
- The present invention has been conceived in view of the above-described problem and has an object to provide a refrigerator which can secure a large effective storage space regardless of the purifying device disposed inside the refrigerator.
- To solve the above-described problem, the refrigerator according to the present invention is a refrigerator including a main body with thermal insulation properties, a liquid cooling device which cools a liquid introduced to an inside of the main body, and a purifying device which purifies a liquid, and the refrigerator includes a plate which partitions the inside of the main body in a vertical direction, wherein the purifying device is disposed at an upper part of a storage space located below the plate.
- With this, the purifying device is disposed just below the plate that is a storage space inside of the refrigerator but tends to be unused. Thus, it is possible to avoid wasting an effective storage space for the purifying device. In other words, storage items are piled up from a bottom in the storage space and storage items are usually not piled up to an upper part of the storage space. Thus, the purifying device disposed in the upper part of the storage space does not affect much an amount of storage items to be stored.
- It is preferable that the purifying device include: a connecting portion interposed in a liquid path that is a path for a liquid in the liquid cooling device; and a filter assembly which is attachable to and detachable from the connecting portion by moving the filter assembly forward or backward with respect to the refrigerator, the filter assembly including a function of purifying a liquid.
- With this, by replacing only the filter assembly, it is possible to lower the maintenance cost of the purifying device.
- It is preferable that the plate include: a maintenance opening through which the filter assembly can be passed to allow the filter assembly to be attached to and detached from the connecting portion from above the plate; and a lid which closes the maintenance opening.
- With this, filter assembly can be replaced without bending down, allowing the filter assembly to be replaced easily. Further, since the maintenance opening is usually closed by the lid, it is possible to place storage items on the part where maintenance opening is provided.
- Further, it is preferable that the refrigerator include a drawer which has an upper opening closed by the plate to block an entry of cool air from above the plate, the drawer being disposed in a space below the plate.
- Particularly in the case of a drawer that is slid forward or backward to put in or take out storage items, an upper part of the drawer is usually not filled with storage items. Thus, by disposing the purifying device at the upper part of the drawer, it is possible to use the storage space effectively.
- It is preferable that the plate hold the purifying device.
- This allows an attachment of the purifying device to be easy as compared to the case where the purifying device is attached to the main body directly.
- It is preferable that the connecting portion is suspended from the plate.
- With this, the filter assembly can be attached to and detached from the connecting portion just by moving the filter assembly forward or backward with respect to the plate. Thus, it is easy to replace the filter assembly.
- It is preferable that the purifying device include a housing which is suspended from the plate.
- With this, it is possible to protect the purifying device against impact when storage items are put in to or taken out from the storage space.
- It is preferable that the liquid cooling apparatus include a valve device which is disposed on an outer side of a back part of the main body and controls a flow of a liquid, and the valve device and the purifying device are disposed at a substantially same height.
- With this, the length of the pipe that extends in the main body is short. Thus, it is possible to suppress the decrease in the thermal insulation properties of the main body.
- According to the present invention, a purifying device is disposed in the storage space without wasting an effective storage space.
-
- [
FIG. 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a refrigerator. - [
FIG. 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of the refrigerator with a first door and a second door open. - [
FIG. 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a lower part of a first body. - [
FIG. 4] FIG. 4 is a cut-out perspective view showing a storage space located below a plate. - [
FIG. 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing, from above, a plate with a lid removed. - [
FIG. 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing how a filter assembly is attached and detached. - [
FIG. 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a valve device. - [
FIG. 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing a positional relationship in terms of height between a purifying device and the valve device. - [
FIG. 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing a liquid cooling device. - [
FIG. 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which a drawer is removed to show a tank. - [
FIG. 11] FIG.11 is a perspective view showing an other example of a tank. - [
FIG. 12] FIG. 12 is a plan view showing, from main body side, a lower part of the first door. - Next, an embodiment of a refrigerator according to the present invention is described with reference to the drawings.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a refrigerator. - A
refrigerator 100 is an apparatus for chilling or freezing and preserving a storage item placed inside, and includes amain body 150, afirst door 111, asecond door 121, athird door 112, a throughhole 113, and afourth door 122. Therefrigerator 100 is a rectangular box-shaped body whose height is largest of height, width, and depth. - The
first door 111 is a door which covers the opening on the right when facing themain body 150, with flexibility in opening and closing. In this embodiment, thefirst door 111 is attached to themain body 150 using a hinge (not shown) so as to turn back and forth centering on a vertical axis that extends in an anterior portion of the right-side wall of themain body 150. In addition, thefirst door 111 is in the form of a rectangle which is long in the vertical direction, and disposed so as to extend from top to bottom of therefrigerator 100, with the above axis extending along the right-edge rim of thefirst door 111. - The
second door 121 is a door which covers the opening on the left when facing themain body 150, with flexibility in opening and closing. In this embodiment, thesecond door 121 is attached to themain body 150 using a hinge (not shown) so as to turn back and forth centering on a vertical axis that extends in an anterior portion of the left-side wall of themain body 150. In addition, thesecond door 121 is in the form of a rectangle which is long in the vertical direction, and disposed so as to extend from top to bottom of therefrigerator 100, with the above axis extending along the left-edge rim of thesecond door 121. - The through
hole 113 is a hole penetrating through thefirst door 111 in the thickness direction. The throughhole 113 is a hole through which a storage item stored behind thefirst door 111 is taken out or through which a storage item is put for storage behind thefirst door 111, without opening thefirst door 111. - The
third door 112 is a door which covers the throughhole 113 with flexibility in opening and closing. In this embodiment, thethird door 112 is attached to thefirst door 111 using a hinge (not shown) so as to turn back and forth centering on a horizontal axis that extends at the lower end of the throughhole 113. In addition, thethird door 112 is square in shape as viewed from the front (round-cornered), with the above axis extending along the lower-end rim of thethird door 112. - The
fourth door 122 is a door that opens and closes at asupply opening 123 of a dispenser. The dispenser supplies drink such as water that is cooled by an after-mentioned liquid cooling device and ice or the like. -
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of the refrigerator with the first door and the second door open. -
FIG. 2 shows also a storage item A stored in therefrigerator 100. - As shown in these figures, the
refrigerator 100 includes afirst body 151, asecond body 152, and anouter case 156. - The
first body 151 is a vertically-long heat-insulating body having an opening in the front face and defining a refrigerator compartment. In this embodiment, thefirst body 151 is disposed on the right in therefrigerator 100 so as to extend entirely from top to bottom of therefrigerator 100. The refrigerator compartment is a compartment having a temperature inside maintained in the temperature range of no lower than 0 degree C. - The
second body 152 is a vertically-long heat-insulating body having an opening in the front face and defining a freezer compartment. In this embodiment, thesecond body 152 is disposed on the left in therefrigerator 100 so as to extend entirely from top to bottom of therefrigerator 100. The freezer compartment is a compartment having a lower temperature than a temperature of the refrigerator compartment, maintained at around minus 18 degrees C, and storing a storage item such as a frozen food. - The
outer case 156 is a metal plate covering thefirst body 151 and thesecond body 152 which are arranged next to each other in the horizontal direction. - The
main body 150 in this embodiment is manufactured as follows. That is, each of the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment separated by apartition 153 is independently manufactured with resin in solid casting. Outside theinner case 157, theouter case 156 is disposed so as to cover theinner case 157 with a predetermined gap between theouter case 156 and theinner case 157. Inside thepartition 153, there is also a gap which is communicated with the gap located between theouter case 156 and theinner case 157. Into the gap located between theouter case 156 and theinner case 157 and into the gap of thepartition 153, rigid urethane foams or the like are injected and foamed to serve as a heat insulating material, for example. Thus, themain body 150 is manufactured. - Consequently, in this embodiment, the wall between the
first body 151 and thesecond body 152 is inseparable, which means that thefirst body 151 and thesecond body 152 share thepartition 153 as a wall part. -
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a lower part of the first body. - As shown in
FIG. 2 andFIG. 3 , thefirst body 151 includes aplate 172 and, below theplate 172, adrawer 170. Furthermore, thefirst body 151 includes, above theplate 172, asecond drawer 117. - The
plate 172 is a plate-shaped member that partitions an inside of thefirst body 151, which is a part of themain body 150, in a vertical direction. Theplate 172 closes an upper opening of thedrawer 170, and thus prevents a cool air flow that is present above theplate 172 from directly flowing into an inside of thedrawer 170. Theplate 172 is a member provided to span across both side walls of thefirst body 151, and which permanently partitions thefirst body 151 into an upper space and a lower space. - In this embodiment, the
plate 172 includes aflap 176 in a front. Theflap 176 is a movable member which is provided in the front part of theplate 172 so as to extend in an entire width direction of theplate 172. Theflap 176 is a member that rotates to allow a front part of theflap 176 to swing upwardly when thedrawer 170 is pulled out. With this, storage items can be easily taken out and put in even when thedrawer 170 is pulled out only a little. Furthermore, theflap 176 is formed by transparent resin, and thus the storage items in thedrawer 170 can be seen through from above thedrawer 170. - The
drawer 170 is a box-like member having an upper opening closed by theplate 172 when inserted in a space below theplate 172. Thedrawer 170 is detachable from themain body 150. With theplate 172, the cool air does not enter into thedrawer 170 from the above. Thus the items stored in thedrawer 170 are not directly exposed to the cool air that circulates inside thefirst body 151. Furthermore, it is possible to maintain humidity inside thedrawer 170. Thus, thedrawer 170 is suitable for storing vegetables and fruits raw, and sometimes referred to as a vegetable compartment. In this embodiment, thedrawer 170 is formed by transparent (translucent) resin. In this way, it is possible to increase visibility of items stored in thedrawer 170. -
FIG. 4 is a cut-out perspective view showing a storage space below the plate. - As shown in the figure, at the upper part of the storage space located below the
plate 172, apurifying device 103 is disposed. Thepurifying device 103 includes afilter assembly 131, a connectingportion 132, and ahousing 105. Furthermore, theplate 172 includes amaintenance opening 173 to which alid 104 is provided. - The
purifying device 103 is a device which purifies water introduced to inside of themain body 150. This embodiment employs, as thepurifying device 103, a device which filters water with a bundle of hollow fibers and absorbs impurities by letting water flow through activated carbon. - The connecting
portion 132 is equipment interposed in aliquid path 141 which is a path for water in a liquid cooling device (described later). The connectingportion 132 includes a function of introducing water that passes through theliquid path 141 into thefilter assembly 131, and introducing the water that has been purified by passing through thefilter assembly 131 back to theliquid path 141. In addition, the connectingportion 132 is attached, via a mountingbracket 133 that includes a tilting mechanism using a hinge, to thehousing 105. With this, the connectingportion 132 is attached such that the connectingportion 132 is suspended from theplate 172 via the mountingbracket 133. - The
filter assembly 131 is equipment which includes a function of purifying water. In this embodiment, thefilter assembly 131 includes the bundle of hollow fibers for filtering water and the activated carbon for absorbing impurities included in water. Furthermore, thefilter assembly 131 is attachable to and detachable from the connectingportion 132 by moving the filter assembly forward or backward with respect to therefrigerator 100. Note that, after thefilter assembly 131 is inserted to the connectingportion 132, thefilter assembly 131 is rotated with respect to the connectingportion 132 so that a thread provided in thefilter assembly 131 and a thread provided in the connectingportion 132 are engaged. Thus, thefilter assembly 131 is fixed to the connectingportion 132. - The
housing 105 is a box-like member which is attached such that thehousing 105 is suspended from theplate 172. In this embodiment, thehousing 105 is in a form that can surround thefilter assembly 131 and the connectingportion 132. An upper part of thehousing 105 is open. Thehousing 105 prevents the storage items stored in thedrawer 170 from directly hitting and impacting thefilter assembly 131 and the connectingportion 132 when thedrawer 170 is being pulled out or inserted. In addition, the connectingportion 132 is attached to thehousing 105 via the mountingbracket 133. Thefilter assembly 131 is attached to the connectingportion 132. Furthermore, the mountingbracket 133 is axially supported by thehousing 105 with a mountingshaft 135 in a manner that allows tilting. Thus, thefilter assembly 131 is attached to thehousing 105 such that thefilter assembly 131 can tilt together with the mountingbracket 133 centering the mountingshaft 135. -
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing, from above, the plate with the lid removed. - As shown in the figure, the
maintenance opening 173 is a hole that runs through theplate 172 and is in a size through which thefilter assembly 131 can be passed. Through themaintenance opening 173, thefilter assembly 131 is attachable to and detachable from the connectingportion 132 from above theplate 172. - The
lid 104 fits into themaintenance opening 173 to be flush with theplate 172. -
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing how the filter assembly is attached and detached. - As shown in the figure, when a tip of the
filter assembly 131 is lifted upwardly, the mountingbracket 133 is also lifted up due to hinge mechanism of the mountingshaft 135, and a tip of thefilter assembly 131 protrudes above theplate 172. Thus, thefilter assembly 131 can be easily attached to and detached from the connectingportion 132 by moving thefilter assembly 131 in the direction indicated by an arrow. - As described, the
purifying device 103 is attached such that thepurifying device 103 is suspended from theplate 172. Thus, thepurifying device 103 is disposed without affecting much the storage space inside thedrawer 170. Furthermore, since themaintenance opening 173 is provided in theplate 172, thefilter assembly 131 can be replaced from above theplate 172. Thus, it is possible to replace thefilter assembly 131 in a comfortable posture. Furthermore, themaintenance opening 173 is usually closed by thelid 104. Thus, it is possible to place storage items on theplate 172 and thelid 104. -
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a valve device. - A
valve device 142 shown in the figure is a device which controls a flow of water introduced to an inside of therefrigerator 100, and is attached to an outer side of a back part of themain body 150. In this embodiment, thevalve device 142 includes: agate valve 143 which is connected to a water pipe and can select whether or not to introduce water from the water pipe; and a threeway valve 144 which can determine whether to let the introduced water to flow in a path for cooling or in a path for producing ice. The threeway valve 144 includes anelectric component 144a which is placed on the threeway valve 144 and controls a flow path. Furthermore, in an upper part of connecting portions where theliquid paths way valve 144, acover member 148 that is larger than a projected area of the threeway valve 144 is disposed. Thus, even when water leakage occurs at the connecting portions, thecover member 148 prevents water from spilling onto theelectric component 144a, and thus safety is enhanced. -
FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing a positional relationship in terms of height between the purifying device and the valve device; (a) shows a lateral view and (b) shows a top view. - As shown in (a) in the figure, the
valve device 142 and thepurifying device 103 are disposed at the substantially same height. With this, even in a state where thefilter assembly 131 is detached from the connectingportion 132, it possible to suppress water that remains in theliquid path 141 from spilling out from the connectingportion 132. Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in (b) in the figure, a position of thevalve device 142 and thepurifying device 103 in the horizontal direction is also substantially the same. With this, a length of theliquid path 141 penetrating themain body 150 is short, and thus it is possible to suppress a deterioration of thermal insulation properties of themain body 150. -
FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing the liquid cooling device. - As shown in the figure, a
liquid cooling device 140 includes atank 145 and anice maker 146. - The water supplied from a water pipe W is, via the
gate valve 143 located outside therefrigerator 100, supplied to thepurifying device 103 located inside therefrigerator 100. The water purified by thepurifying device 103 is introduced to the outside of therefrigerator 100 and supplied to the threeway valve 144. A path of water is selected by the threeway valve 144 and, for example, water flows through theliquid path 141 and supplied to theice maker 146. Theice maker 146 transforms water purified by thepurifying device 103 into ice and stores the ice. The stored ice can be arbitrarily taken out from thesupply opening 123. On the other hand, water flows through theliquid path 147 and supplied to thetank 145. Thetank 145 is a member which stores the water purified by thepurifying device 103. The stored water can be arbitrarily taken out from thesupply opening 123. -
FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which the drawer is removed to show the tank. - As shown in the figure, the
tank 145 is a container which has a meandering shape and thin thickness, and is disposed behind thedrawer 170 inside of themain body 150. When thetank 145 is disposed in the thus described position, the cool air that flows avoiding thedrawer 170 hits thetank 145 directly. As a result, the water stored in thetank 145 can be efficiently cooled. Furthermore, because a depth of thetank 145 is thin as compared to thepurifying device 103, thetank 145 does not affect capacity of the storage space so much. Furthermore, thetank 145 is in the meandering shape such that stagnation of water is suppressed and the cooled water is sequentially supplied. - As shown in the figure, it is preferable that a path of the
liquid path 141 which connects thetank 145 to theice maker 146 and thesupply opening 123 be selected to be short by allowing theliquid path 141 to be taken from an inside of themain body 150 to an outside, to pass the outside of therefrigerator 100 to be inserted to the hinge of thesecond door 121. In this way, it is possible to prevent, as much as possible, the water from freezing in theliquid path 141 and clogging theliquid path 141. - Note that, alternatively, the
tank 145 may be disposed at the bottom of thefirst body 151, that is, below thedrawer 170 as shown inFIG. 11 . In this way, it is possible to further increase a dimension of depth of thedrawer 170 to increase the storage space. -
FIG. 12 is a plan view showing, from main body side, a lower part of the first door. - As shown in the figure, the
purifying device 103 is disposed at the lower part of thefirst door 111. Furthermore, thepurifying device 103 may be covered by thehousing 105. With this, thefilter assembly 131 can be replaced easily in a comfortable posture without opening thedrawer 170. - The present invention is applicable to refrigerators, and particularly to a refrigerator which supplies ice and cold water and includes a plate which partitions storage space in a vertical direction.
-
- 100 Refrigerator
- 103 Purifying device
- 104 Lid
- 105 Housing
- 111 First door
- 112 Third door
- 113 Through hole
- 117 Second drawer
- 121 Second door
- 122 Fourth door
- 123 Supply opening
- 131 Filter assembly
- 132 Connecting portion
- 133 Mounting bracket
- 135 Mounting shaft
- 140 Liquid cooling device
- 141 Liquid path
- 142 Valve device
- 143 Gate valve
- 144 Three way valve
- 144a Electric component
- 145 Tank
- 146 Ice maker
- 147 Liquid path
- 148 Cover member
- 150 Main body
- 151 First body
- 152 Second body
- 153 Partition
- 156 Outer case
- 157 Inner case
- 170 Drawer
- 172 Plate
- 173 Maintenance opening
- 176 Flap
Claims (8)
- A refrigerator which includes a main body with thermal insulation properties, a liquid cooling device which cools a liquid introduced to an inside of said main body, and a purifying device which purifies a liquid, said refrigerator comprising
a plate which partitions the inside of said main body in a vertical direction,
wherein said purifying device is disposed at an upper part of a storage space located below said plate. - The refrigerator according to Claim 1,
wherein said purifying device includes:a connecting portion interposed in a liquid path that is a path for a liquid in said liquid cooling device; anda filter assembly which is attachable to and detachable from said connecting portion by moving said filter assembly forward or backward with respect to said refrigerator, said filter assembly including a function of purifying a liquid. - The refrigerator according to Claim 2,
wherein said plate includes:a maintenance opening through which said filter assembly can be passed to allow said filter assembly to be attached to and detached from said connecting portion from above said plate; anda lid which closes said maintenance opening. - The refrigerator according to any one of Claim 1 to Claim 3, further comprising
a drawer which has an upper opening closed by said plate to block an entry of cool air from above said plate, said drawer being disposed in a space below said plate. - The refrigerator according to Claim 1,
wherein said plate holds said purifying device. - The refrigerator according to Claim 5,
wherein a connecting portion is suspended from said plate. - The refrigerator according to Claim 1,
wherein said purifying device includes
a housing which is suspended from said plate. - The refrigerator according to Claim 1,
wherein said liquid cooling device includes
a valve device which is disposed on an outer side of a back part of said main body and controls a flow of a liquid, and
said valve device and said purifying device are disposed at a substantially same height.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2009052425A JP2010203734A (en) | 2009-03-05 | 2009-03-05 | Refrigerator |
PCT/JP2010/001494 WO2010100926A1 (en) | 2009-03-05 | 2010-03-04 | Refrigerator |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2405220A1 true EP2405220A1 (en) | 2012-01-11 |
EP2405220A4 EP2405220A4 (en) | 2016-09-14 |
EP2405220B1 EP2405220B1 (en) | 2017-12-06 |
Family
ID=42709492
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP10748525.2A Not-in-force EP2405220B1 (en) | 2009-03-05 | 2010-03-04 | Refrigerator |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20110314859A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2405220B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2010203734A (en) |
CN (1) | CN102341667A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2010100926A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20180008917A1 (en) * | 2016-07-08 | 2018-01-11 | Bsh Hausgeraete Gmbh | Water filter assembly and refrigeration appliance equipped therewith |
EP3532784A4 (en) * | 2016-11-30 | 2019-10-23 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Refrigerator |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9353981B2 (en) * | 2013-01-21 | 2016-05-31 | Whirlpool Corporation | Ice maker |
EP2995889B1 (en) | 2013-04-23 | 2018-03-14 | LG Electronics Inc. | Refrigerator and control method for the same |
Family Cites Families (15)
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US5083442A (en) * | 1991-01-11 | 1992-01-28 | Mary Vlock | Refrigerator with purified water supply |
US5397462A (en) * | 1993-08-24 | 1995-03-14 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Filter with laterally removable element and valve means |
JP3063607B2 (en) * | 1995-03-31 | 2000-07-12 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Automatic ice making equipment and refrigerator |
TW330978B (en) * | 1995-03-31 | 1998-05-01 | Mitsubishi Electric Corp | Automatic ice-making device and refrigerator the invention relates to an automatic ice-making device comprising a water supply tank, an ice-making plate and a water-supply pump. |
US5813245A (en) * | 1996-10-25 | 1998-09-29 | White Consolidated Industries, Inc. | Pressure relief circuit for refrigerator contained water filter |
US6120685A (en) * | 1999-02-26 | 2000-09-19 | Maytag Corporation | Water filtering system with replaceable cartridge for a refrigerator |
AU2000274560B2 (en) * | 2000-04-19 | 2006-02-16 | Khang, Won Seog | Water purifier |
CN1922097B (en) * | 2004-01-20 | 2012-04-25 | 3M创新有限公司 | Liquid dispenser assembly for use with an appliance |
KR100597735B1 (en) * | 2004-01-28 | 2006-07-07 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Refrigerator |
US7261815B2 (en) * | 2005-10-12 | 2007-08-28 | Whirlpool Corporation | Water filter for refrigerator water dispenser |
CN101071019A (en) * | 2006-05-12 | 2007-11-14 | 泰州乐金电子冷机有限公司 | Electric refrigerator |
DE602007009293D1 (en) * | 2006-11-07 | 2010-10-28 | Koninkl Philips Electronics Nv | WATER TREATMENT DEVICE |
CN101231079A (en) * | 2007-01-24 | 2008-07-30 | 泰州乐金电子冷机有限公司 | Installation structure for water purifier of refrigerator |
WO2008150106A2 (en) * | 2007-06-04 | 2008-12-11 | Lg Electronics, Inc. | Supercooling apparatus |
US9046299B2 (en) * | 2009-01-07 | 2015-06-02 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Water filter device and refrigerator having the same |
-
2009
- 2009-03-05 JP JP2009052425A patent/JP2010203734A/en active Pending
-
2010
- 2010-03-04 CN CN2010800101657A patent/CN102341667A/en active Pending
- 2010-03-04 US US13/254,741 patent/US20110314859A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2010-03-04 WO PCT/JP2010/001494 patent/WO2010100926A1/en active Application Filing
- 2010-03-04 EP EP10748525.2A patent/EP2405220B1/en not_active Not-in-force
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See references of WO2010100926A1 * |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20180008917A1 (en) * | 2016-07-08 | 2018-01-11 | Bsh Hausgeraete Gmbh | Water filter assembly and refrigeration appliance equipped therewith |
EP3532784A4 (en) * | 2016-11-30 | 2019-10-23 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Refrigerator |
US10718563B2 (en) | 2016-11-30 | 2020-07-21 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Refrigerator |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CN102341667A (en) | 2012-02-01 |
EP2405220A4 (en) | 2016-09-14 |
EP2405220B1 (en) | 2017-12-06 |
JP2010203734A (en) | 2010-09-16 |
US20110314859A1 (en) | 2011-12-29 |
WO2010100926A1 (en) | 2010-09-10 |
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