KR20060056185A - Water supply tube of dispenser for refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a water supply pipe of a dispenser for a refrigerator, wherein water is introduced from the external water supply to the upper end of the door of the refrigerator through an inlet pipe, and the water introduced into the inlet pipe is inserted into the inside of the refrigerator door. The water flowing into the distribution pipe is supplied to an ice maker installed on the inner side of the door through the first water discharge pipe branched from the upper portion of the distribution pipe, and the water flows to reach the bottom of the distribution pipe. It is introduced into the water tank connected to the end of the distribution pipe is cooled first, and the water cooled in this water tank is distributed to the cold water of the dispenser through the second water discharge pipe connected to the end of the water tank. .

Refrigerator, dispenser

Description

Water supply pipe of the dispenser for refrigerators {WATER SUPPLY TUBE OF DISPENSER FOR REFRIGERATOR}             

1 and 2 are a perspective view of a refrigerator according to the present invention,

3 is a cross-sectional view of main parts of the dispenser according to the present invention.

<Description of Major Symbols in Drawing>

10-refrigerator 11-door

12-Freezer 13-Refrigerator

14-Hinge 15-Hinge Shaft

20-Dispenser 21-Ice Dispenser

22-chiller 30-housing

31-Ice Maker 40-Water Tank

50-Water Supply Pipe 51-Inlet Pipe

52-Distribution pipe 53-First water discharge pipe

54-Second Water Jet

The present invention relates to a water supply pipe of a refrigerator dispenser, and more particularly, to a water supply pipe of a refrigerator dispenser installed in a freezer compartment and / or a refrigerator compartment door of a refrigerator in which a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment are arranged in a left / right direction.

In general, a refrigerator is provided with a refrigerator compartment for storing food at a low temperature and a freezer compartment for freezing food at a low temperature, and the refrigerator includes the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment arranged up / down or left / right. It is universal to be formed.

In addition, the refrigerator is provided with a dispenser on the outer surface of the door of the refrigerator to easily discharge the beverage, such as water refrigerated or frozen inside the refrigerator to the outside of the refrigerator without opening the door of the refrigerator. There is a case.

In addition, the dispenser is generally configured with a cold water to discharge the beverage, such as water cooled in the refrigerator from the outside of the door of the refrigerator, and in recent years to discharge ice frozen water or the like inside the refrigerator from the outside of the refrigerator door There is an increasing trend to install the ice discharger together with the cold water.

Here, the conventional dispenser equipped with the cold water and ice discharger is connected to the water supply pipe from the external water supply through the rear portion of the refrigerator, the water introduced through the water supply pipe is formed in the rear portion of the refrigerator or the lower part of the refrigerator compartment of the refrigerator Filled with a water tank, the water filled in the water tank is connected to the water tank and the cold water, and is formed extending from the rear portion of the refrigerator to the front portion and discharged to the front of the refrigerator again inserted into the door Water is supplied to the cold water through the water tank and the water supply pipe connected to the ice maker to supply water to the ice maker to generate ice in the ice maker and to move the generated ice to the ice discharger to the dispenser outside the door. Was configured to discharge water and ice.

In this case, a water supply pipe connected to the water tank at the rear of the refrigerator and the cold water machine, and a water supply pipe connected to the ice maker in the water tank, were generally composed of separate parts arranged in the lower and upper portions of the refrigerator. Installation of the array becomes difficult, and there is a problem in that the volume inside the refrigerator is reduced due to the arrangement of the refrigerator in the water supply pipe.

In addition, there has been a case in which a water tank for supplying water to the cold water is conventionally installed inside the door so as to directly connect the cold water to the cold water. However, a water pipe connected to the rear of the refrigerator is branched from the rear of the refrigerator, A water supply pipe is connected to the ice maker, and another water supply pipe is connected to a water tank installed inside the refrigerator door, and problems such as complexity of arrangement of the water supply pipe inside the refrigerator or reduction of the volume inside the refrigerator due to the water supply pipe Still remained.

Therefore, in recent years, the development of a dispenser having a water tank for supplying water to both the ice maker and the cold water cooler on the door of the refrigerator has been made. Accordingly, the water tank installed in the refrigerator door is connected to the ice maker and the cold water cooler, respectively. There was a demand for a water supply pipe.

An object of the present invention is to provide a water supply pipe connected to both the water tank, the ice maker and the cold water dispenser in the dispenser in which both the water tank, the ice maker and the cold water machine are installed in the refrigerator door as described above.

Another object of the present invention, the water of the refrigerator dispenser to reduce the energy required for cooling the water in the cold water by supplying a cold water after the first cooling the water at room temperature introduced from the external water source in the water tank first In providing a supply line.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a water supply pipe for a refrigerator dispenser, which can simplify arrangement of a water supply pipe connected to a water tank, an ice maker, and a cold water machine, as well as reduce the connection length thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to install a dispenser consisting of a water tank, an ice maker, a cold water machine, and a water supply pipe connected thereto to simplify the configuration of the entire refrigerator, as well as to the components of the dispenser. It is to provide a water supply pipe of the refrigerator dispenser to minimize the interference between components of the refrigerator.

Another object of the present invention, the water tank, the ice maker, the cold water and the water supply pipe is installed in the door can be configured as a separate part containing a dispenser to improve the usability of the door, as well as replacement of the door It is to provide a water supply pipe for a refrigerator dispenser, which allows the dispenser to be installed in an existing refrigerator.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a water supply pipe of a dispenser for a refrigerator, which facilitates installation and repair of a water supply pipe connected to a water tank, an ice maker, and a cold water machine.

The present invention for achieving the above object, the water tank and the ice maker and the cold water is installed inside the door of the refrigerator, characterized in that the water tank, the ice maker and the cold water is connected through a water supply pipe.

Another feature of the present invention is characterized in that the water supply pipe comprises an inlet pipe, a distribution pipe, a first water discharge pipe, and a second water discharge pipe.

Still another feature of the present invention is characterized in that a water tank connected to an external water source and a water supply pipe is installed on an inner surface of a refrigerator door capable of cooling by refrigerator cold air.

Another feature of the invention is characterized in that the water tank and the cold water is connected through the distribution pipe and the second water discharge pipe.

Another feature of the present invention is characterized in that the water tank and the ice maker are connected through a distribution pipe and a first water discharge pipe.

Another feature of the invention is characterized in that the inlet pipe is inserted into the interior of the door through the top of the door.                     

Another feature of the invention is characterized in that the distribution pipe is integrally connected to the end of the inlet pipe, the distribution pipe is formed to extend from the inside of the door to reach from the top to the bottom of the door.

Another feature of the present invention is characterized in that the first water discharge pipe is formed to extend from the upper portion of the distribution pipe to the central upper portion of the ice maker.

Another feature of the invention is characterized in that the water tank fastened to the inner surface of the door is connected to the lower end of the distribution pipe.

Another feature of the invention is characterized in that the second water discharge pipe is connected to reach the cold water at the other end of the water tank.

Another feature of the invention is characterized in that the inlet pipe is inserted into the interior of the door through the hinge shaft hollow of the hinge installed on the top of the door.

Another feature of the present invention is characterized in that the housing is further provided to cover the ice maker and the water tank installed on the inner surface of the door.

In still another aspect of the present invention, the distribution pipe is formed to extend into the interior of the door and protrudes from the upper side of the door to the inner side of the door and is connected to an ice maker and a water tank fastened to the inner side of the door. It is characterized by.

Another feature of the invention is characterized in that the distribution pipe, the first water discharge pipe and the second water discharge pipe is arranged inside the housing fastened to the inner surface of the door.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 illustrates a dispenser 20 installed in a door 11 of a refrigerator 10 of a refrigerator 10 according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 illustrates a door 11 of a refrigerator compartment 13 in which a dispenser 20 according to the present invention is installed. ) Shows an open state, Figure 3 shows a schematic configuration of the dispenser 20 according to the present invention.

The present invention comprises a refrigerating chamber 13 door 11 and a dispenser 20.

The refrigerator 10 is configured as a refrigerator 10 in which the freezing compartment 12 and the refrigerating compartment 13 are arranged in left and right directions in this embodiment.

The door 11 is formed to form a plate shape to cover the open surface of the refrigerator compartment (13) of the refrigerator 10 to block the outside of the refrigerator compartment 13, the hinge 14 on one side of the refrigerator compartment (13) It is rotatably combined through). In addition, the door 11 is composed of a conventional refrigerator door filled with a heat insulating material therein so as to prevent the heat and cold air inside the refrigerator 10 is heat exchanged. In addition, in this embodiment, the inner surface of the door 11 in which the dispenser 20 is installed consists of one surface of the door 11 facing the freezing chamber 12 and the refrigerating chamber 13 of the refrigerator 10. .

The dispenser 20 is formed to discharge ice and cold water through the ice discharger 21 and the cold water 22 exposed to the outer surface of the door 11, the water tank 40, and the ice maker. 31, an ice ejector 21, a cold water machine 22, and a water supply pipe 50 are configured.

The water tank 40 is formed to form and coupled to the inner surface of the refrigerating chamber 13, the door 11 is formed so that the two hollow cylinders are mutually circulated. Here, the water tank 40 is installed in a shape in which one surface is fixed to the inner surface of the door 11 so as to be inserted into the refrigerating chamber 13 by closing the door 11. .

The ice maker 31 is installed above the inner surface of the upper door 11 of the water tank 40, and the water flowing into the inner surface of the upper door 11 of the water tank 40 for a predetermined time. It is configured to receive the cold air of the refrigerating chamber 13 and to cool the stored water with ice and to discharge the cooled ice to an ice reservoir installed under the ice maker 31.

The ice discharger 21 communicates with the ice reservoir to reach the outer portion of the door 11 so that the ice stored in the ice reservoir is discharged to the outside of the door 11 according to a user's selective operation. And a control device configured to control opening / closing.

The cold water machine 22 is such that the cold water cooled in the water tank 40 reaches the outside of the door 11 in the water tank 40 so as to be discharged to the outside of the door 11 according to a user's selective manipulation. And a control device such as a nozzle connected to the connected water supply pipe and an opening / closing control of the entrance of the water supply pipe.

The water supply pipe 50 includes an inlet pipe 51, a distribution pipe 52, a first water discharge pipe 53, and a second water discharge pipe 54.

One end of the inlet pipe 51 is connected to a water supply source outside the refrigerator 10, and the other end thereof is inserted into the inside of the door 11 through an upper end of the door 11 of the refrigerating compartment 13. It is formed into a water flow tube. In addition, the inlet pipe 51 is inserted into the interior of the door 11 through the upper hinge 14 of the refrigerating compartment 13 of the door 11, the inlet pipe (inserted into the interior of the door 11 ( 51 is integrally connected to the distribution pipe 52 which will be described later.

Here, the inlet pipe 51 is inserted into the hollow portion through which the opening through the axial direction in the center of the hinge shaft 15 of the hinge 14 fastened to one side of the upper end of the refrigerator 10 is inserted into the hinge shaft 15 Is inserted into the inner door 11.

In addition, the inlet pipe 51 is installed to directly enter through the upper hinge 14 of the door 11 from the external water supply, as well as inserted through the rear portion of the refrigerator 10 and the refrigerating compartment 13 Arranged through the lower portion of the refrigerating chamber 13 can be inserted into the interior of the door 11 through the hinge 14 connected to the top of the refrigerating chamber 13 and the door 11, of course. .

The distribution pipe 52 is integrally connected to the end of the inlet pipe 51 inserted into the door through the upper hinge 14 of the door 11, as shown in Figure 3, The distribution pipe 52 reaching the position of the ice maker 31 and the inner side of the door 11 are formed to extend into the door 11 so as to reach a position where the ice maker 31 is installed at an upper portion thereof. Protruding to the inside of the door 11 through, the distribution pipe 52 protruding into the inside of the door 11 is formed to extend from the inside of the door 11 to the lower portion of the door 11.

In addition, the distribution pipe 52 formed to reach the lower portion of the door 11 is connected to communicate with one end of the water tank 40 fastened to the lower inner surface of the door (11).

The first water discharge pipe 53 is formed to extend in the direction of the ice maker 31 from the upper portion of the distribution pipe 52, the first water discharge pipe 53 extending to reach the upper end of the ice maker 31 is The water supply unit of the ice maker 31 is connected.

The second water discharge pipe 54 is a pipe connected to reach the cold water cooler 22 installed in the dispenser 20 from the other side of the water tank 40 fastened to the lower inner surface of the door 11. It is composed.

In addition, the water tank 40, the ice maker 31, the distribution pipe 52, the first water discharge pipe 53 and the second water discharge pipe 54 are inside and inside the door 11 of the refrigerating chamber 13; In addition to being fastened to the housing is preferably accommodated in the interior of the housing 30 to accommodate all of the members.

Here, the housing 30 is configured to cover all the components of the dispenser 20 such as the ice maker 31 and the water tank 40 so as to achieve separate cooling with the refrigerating chamber 13 for the respective components.

In addition, although the inlet pipe 51 is arranged inside the door 11, the distribution pipe 52, the first water discharge pipe 53 and the second water discharge pipe 54 of the door 11 The inner tank 30 is connected to the water tank 40, the ice maker 31, and the cold water heater 22, respectively.

Next, the operation of the water supply pipe of the refrigerator dispenser according to the present invention configured as described above will be described.

According to the operation of the refrigerator 10 and the water supply of the external water source, the water from the water supply source is introduced into the interior through the top of the refrigerating compartment 13 of the refrigerator 11 of the refrigerator 10 through the inlet pipe 51.

Water introduced into the upper side of the door 11 through the inlet pipe 51 flows into the distribution pipe 52 integrally connected to the inlet pipe 51, and flows into the distribution pipe 52. As the distribution pipe 52 protrudes into the door 11, the water protrudes into the door 11 and is accommodated in the housing 30 installed inside the door 11. It flows while exchanging heat with cold inside the housing 30.

In addition, some of the water flowing into the distribution pipe 52 flows into the first water discharge pipe 53 branched from the upper portion of the distribution pipe 52.

Water flowing into the first water discharge pipe 53 supplies water to the ice maker 31 at a water supply part of the ice maker 31 to which the first water discharge pipe 53 is connected or a water receiving part of the ice maker 31. Is achieved.

In addition, water other than the water flowing into the ice maker 31 is formed to extend through the distribution pipe 52 so that the distribution pipe 52 reaches the lower part of the door 11. The water flows to the bottom and the water flows to the bottom of the door 11 is introduced into the water tank 40 to which the end of the distribution pipe 52 is connected.

Water filled into the water tank 40 is heat exchanged with the cold of the refrigerating chamber 13 as the water tank 40 is located inside the refrigerating chamber 13 with the door 11 closed. Cooling to a predetermined temperature in the water tank 40 while forming a.                     

The water cooled in the water tank 40 flows to the upper portion of the water tank 40 by the water pressure of the water supply source continuously introduced through the inlet pipe 51 and the distribution pipe 52, and the Water flowing to the upper portion of the water tank 40 flows to the second water discharge pipe 54 connected to the upper portion of the other side of the water tank 40.

The water flowing into the second water discharge pipe 54 flows upward in the inner housing 30 of the door 11 along the shape of the second water discharge pipe 54, and the second soil water flows upward. The water pipe 54 flows to the connected chilled water 22.

Accordingly, the water flowing into the first water discharge pipe 53 is supplied to the ice maker 31 connected to the outlet of the first water discharge pipe 53 through the outlet of the first water discharge pipe 53 and the ice maker 31 ) Is received in the water receiving portion of the cooling chamber 13 receives the cold air of the refrigerator compartment 13 is cooled by ice.

In addition, the water contained in the water tank 40 is first cooled to a predetermined temperature by the cold air filled in the housing 30, the first cooled water is passed through the second water discharge pipe (54) It flows to the chiller 22.

Therefore, the ice cooled in the ice maker 31 is dropped into the ice storage container installed in the lower part of the ice maker 31 according to the control operation of the ice maker 31 or the user's selective operation, and the ice dropped into the ice storage container is According to a user's selective operation, it is discharged and used through the ice ejector 21 installed outside the door 11.

In addition, in accordance with the operation of the cold water machine 22 of the dispenser 20 in the state that the water contained in the water tank 40 is primarily cooled in the water tank 40, the water through the cold water machine 22 It is discharged to the outside of the refrigerator 10 and used.                     

In addition, when repair and repair of the distribution pipe 52, the first water discharge pipe 53, and the second water discharge pipe 54 are required, the housing 30 is removed from the inner side of the door 11. A distribution pipe 52 which is connected to the water tank 40, the ice maker 31, and the cold water machine 22, and which is exposed to the outside from the inner surface of the door 11, and the first water discharge pipe 53 and the first container. 2 Repair work on the water discharge pipe (54).

As described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described specific preferred embodiments, and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the gist of the present invention claimed in the claims. Of course, such changes are within the scope of the claims.

As described above, according to the present invention, all the components of the dispenser including the ice maker, the cold water machine, the water tank, and the water supply pipe are installed in the refrigerator door, so that the dispenser is composed of a single assembly in which the door is a unit. And as well as easy to assemble, there is an effect that it is easy to store and manage.

Another effect of the present invention is that the components of the dispenser according to the present invention are all installed on the door to minimize interference with other parts of the refrigerator, and the use of the internal space of the refrigerator is abolished, so that the space utilization of the refrigerator is eliminated. It is effective to improve.

Another effect of the present invention is that the water tank is positioned inside the refrigerating chamber to cool the water inside the water tank, so that a separate cooling device for cooling the water supplied to the cold water is abolished.

Another effect of the present invention, as the distribution pipe constituting the water supply pipe and the first water discharge pipe and the second water discharge pipe is to be expressed on the inner surface of the door, there is an effect that the maintenance work of each of the water supply pipe more easily.

Claims (3)

In the water supply pipe of the refrigerator dispenser is installed in the refrigerator compartment door of the refrigerator in which the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment are arranged in the left and right directions, In addition to being connected to an external water source, the tubular inlet pipe inserted into the inside of the door through the upper side of the refrigerating compartment door; A tubular distribution pipe connected to the end of the inlet pipe and arranged to be connected to one end of the water tank installed in the lower side of the inner surface of the refrigerating compartment door to protrude into the refrigerating compartment door; A first water discharge pipe branched from an upper portion of the distribution pipe to be connected to an ice maker installed on an inner surface of the refrigerating compartment door; A tubular second water discharge pipe connected from the other end of the water tank to a water cooler installed in the front dispenser of the refrigerating compartment door; Water supply pipe of the refrigerator dispenser, characterized in that consisting of. The method of claim 1, The water supply pipe of the refrigerator dispenser, characterized in that the inlet pipe is inserted into the interior of the door through a hollow formed in the hinge shaft of the upper hinge of the refrigerating compartment door. The method of claim 1, The inlet pipe is inserted into the upper end of the refrigerating compartment door and arranged inside the door, The distribution pipe, the first water discharge pipe and the second water discharge pipe are arranged to be connected to the water tank, the ice maker, and the water cooler in a housing that is covered with a box shape on the inner surface of the door to cover the water tank, the ice maker, and the water cooler. Water supply pipe of the refrigerator dispenser, characterized in that the.

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