KR20110085109A

KR20110085109A - Refrigerator

Info

Publication number: KR20110085109A
Application number: KR1020100004722A
Authority: KR
Inventors: 김동석; 김주현
Original assignee: 엘지전자 주식회사
Priority date: 2010-01-19
Filing date: 2010-01-19
Publication date: 2011-07-27

Abstract

PURPOSE: A refrigerator is provided to efficiently produce ice using cold air supplied from an evaporator by changing the mounting position of the evaporator. CONSTITUTION: A refrigerator(1) comprises a cabinet(10), a barrier(100), an evaporator, a barrier cover, a freezer compartment door(22), a refrigerator compartment door(24), and an ice making unit. The cabinet has a storage space. The barrier divides the storage space into a freezer compartment(30) and a refrigerator compartment(40). A recess part with a cold air path is formed on one surface of the barrier. The evaporator is accepted in one side of the recess part. The barrier cover covers the recess part. The freezer and refrigerator compartment doors open and close the freezer and refrigerator compartments. The ice making unit is formed in the freezer compartment door and is connected to the cold air path when the freezer compartment door is closed.

Description

Refrigerator {Refrigerator}

The present invention relates to a refrigerator.

In general, a refrigerator is a home appliance that allows food to be stored at a low temperature. The refrigerator is configured to store stored foods in an optimal state by cooling the inside of the storage space using cold air generated through heat exchange with a refrigerant circulating through a refrigeration cycle. do.

Such refrigerators are becoming larger and more versatile as the dietary changes and user's preferences are diversified.

In general, the storage space inside the refrigerator is partitioned by the barrier to form a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment, and its shape may be variously configured according to the arrangement of the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment.

In particular, the side by side type of the refrigerators are arranged side by side on the left and right sides of the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment, respectively, and are configured to be individually opened and closed by the refrigerating compartment door and the freezing compartment door.

The side-by-side type refrigerator is usually configured to supply cold air to the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment by providing an evaporator at the rear of the refrigerating compartment and / or the freezing compartment. However, the internal volume of the refrigerator is reduced as much as the space where the evaporator is mounted.

The present invention has been proposed to improve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator equipped with an ice making device that changes the mounting position of the evaporator and makes ice using cold air supplied from the evaporator.

Refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object, the cabinet having a storage space; A barrier partitioning the storage space into a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment, wherein a heat insulating material is filled in the inside thereof, and a depression including a cold air passage formed at one side thereof; An evaporator accommodated on one side of the depression except for the cold air passage; A barrier cover covering the recess; A freezer compartment door and a refrigerator compartment door for opening and closing the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment, respectively; And an ice making unit provided in the freezing compartment door, wherein the cold air passage and the ice making unit are fluidly connected in a state where the freezing compartment door is closed.

According to the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration, the evaporator is accommodated in the barrier, thereby increasing the volume of the refrigerator.

Furthermore, when the ice making unit is mounted on the freezing compartment door, the cold air flow path connected to the ice making duct is shorter than before, and thus there is an advantage that the cold air loss is reduced.

1 is an external perspective view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a front perspective view showing the internal structure of the refrigerator.
3 is an exploded perspective view of the barrier according to the present embodiment.
4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II ′ of FIG. 1.
5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II 'of FIG.
6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III 'of FIG. 1;
7 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
8 is an exploded perspective view of a barrier according to the present embodiment.
9 is a plan view of the refrigerator according to the present embodiment;
10 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of a refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a front sectional view of the refrigerator, and a cross-sectional view of the same type as the one cut along the line II ′ of FIG. 1.
FIG. 12 is a side view of the refrigerator, and is a cross-sectional view of the same type as the one cut along the line III-III ′ of FIG. 1.

Hereinafter, a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is an external perspective view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a front perspective view showing the internal structure of the refrigerator.

1 and 2, a refrigerator 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention has an outer shape formed by a cabinet 10 forming a storage space and a door 20 opening and closing the storage space. .

The cabinet 10 is divided into left and right sides by the barrier 100 to form a freezing compartment 30 and a refrigerating compartment 40, respectively. A plurality of drawers and shelves are provided inside the refrigerating compartment 40 and the freezing compartment 30 so that various foods may be stored therein. The door 20 includes a refrigerator compartment door 24 and a refrigerator compartment door 22 that shield the refrigerator compartment 40 and the freezer compartment 30, respectively. The refrigerating compartment door 24 and the freezing compartment door 22 may be rotatably mounted to the cabinet 10, respectively.

In addition, a plurality of baskets for storing food may be provided on the rear surfaces of the refrigerating compartment door 24 and the freezing compartment door 22, and the refrigerator compartment door 24 and the freezing compartment door 22 may include an ice maker, a dispenser, and a home bar. Etc. can be provided as needed. In this embodiment, the ice making chamber 60 is provided inside the freezing compartment 30, the dispenser 50 is provided on the freezing compartment door 22, and the home bar is provided on the refrigerating compartment door 40. In addition, a discharge duct 23 is formed on a rear surface of the freezer compartment door 22, and the discharge duct 23 is configured to take out ice generated in the ice making chamber 60 to the dispenser 50. An ice discharge flow path 25 (see Fig. 6) is formed.

On the other hand, the barrier 100 is formed perpendicular to the storage space formed inside the cabinet 10, thereby forming the freezing chamber 30 and the refrigerating chamber 40 on both sides. In addition, the barrier 100 is filled with a heat insulating material (to be described later) so that heat exchange does not occur between the freezing chamber 30 and the refrigerating chamber 40.

Hereinafter, the barrier will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 is an exploded perspective view of the barrier according to the present embodiment, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II ′ of FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II ′ of FIG. 1, and FIG. Sectional drawing cut along III-III 'of FIG.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 6, the barrier 100 is formed to be vertically long in the cabinet 10, and an evaporator 110 and a blower unit 130 are mounted therein.

The barrier 100 has an outer shape formed by a casing 150 forming an inner space of the refrigerating chamber 40 and the freezing chamber 30, and the heat insulating material 300 is foam-filled inside the casing 150. The heat insulator 300 is evenly filled in the entire inner space of the barrier 100.

On the other hand, the depression 200 is formed on the left side of the barrier 100, that is, the surface exposed to the cold air in the freezer compartment 30. In addition, the recess 200 accommodates the evaporator 110 and the blower unit 130 to be described below.

In detail, the recess 200 is an evaporator accommodating part 210 in which an evaporator 110 for generating cold air is accommodated. And a blower unit accommodating part 220 accommodating the blower unit 130, and a cold air flow passage 230 for supplying the cold air generated by the evaporator 110 to the refrigerating chamber 40 and the freezing chamber 30. .

The evaporator accommodating part 210 is formed below the barrier 100, and is formed larger than the evaporator 110 to completely accommodate the evaporator 110, and is larger than the thickness of the evaporator 110. Deep depressions can be formed. That is, the evaporator accommodating part 210 is recessed to a sufficient depth so as not to protrude to the outside of the barrier 100 in the state in which the evaporator 110 is mounted. The evaporator 110 may be fixedly mounted to the evaporator accommodating part 210 by a separate fixing member or a fixing structure.

In addition, a cold air inlet 212 is formed at a lower end of the evaporator accommodating part 210. The cold air inlet 212 is a passage for returning the cold air inside the refrigerating chamber 40 toward the evaporator 110, and may be formed at the rear side of the evaporator accommodating part 210.

The suction grille 214 is formed at the cold air inlet 212 to prevent foreign substances introduced from the inside of the refrigerator compartment or the outside of the refrigerator from entering the evaporator accommodating portion 210.

In addition, a drain pan 120 for discharging the defrost water generated during the defrosting operation may be further formed at the bottom of the evaporator accommodating part 210. The drain pan 120 may be formed to be inclined to one side, and may be formed to communicate with the machine room of the cabinet 10.

The drain pan 120 may be provided as a separate member and mounted on a bottom of the evaporator accommodating part 210 corresponding to the lower side of the evaporator 110. If necessary, the bottom itself of the recess 200 may be inclined to perform the function of the drain pan 120.

On the other hand, the blowing unit receiving portion 220 is formed on the upper side of the evaporator receiving portion 210. The blower unit 130 disposed in the blower unit accommodation unit 220 includes a motor 132, a blower fan 134, and a shroud 136.

In detail, the motor 132 provides a rotational force for driving the blower fan 134, and an electric motor generally used may be applied. In addition, the blowing fan 134 is mounted on the rotation shaft of the motor 132. The blower fan 134 may be a centrifugal fan that introduces air in a rotational axis direction and discharges it in a radial direction, and a turbofan having excellent blowing ability may be used. By applying a turbo fan, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the barrier 100. In addition, the shroud 139 functions to guide the cold air passing through the evaporator 110 to flow into the blowing fan 134. The mounting structure of the blower unit 130 will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings below.

On the other hand, cold air guides 222 are formed on both sides of the blower unit accommodating part 220. The cold air guide 222 guides the cold air toward the evaporator accommodating part 210 toward the center of the shroud 136. To this end, the cold air guide portion 222 is formed to be narrower from the lower side toward the upper side.

In detail, the lower end of the blowing unit accommodating part 220 has the same width as the upper end of the evaporator accommodating part 210, and the upper end of the blowing unit accommodating part 220 is the lower end of the cold air flow path 230 to be described below. It is formed to have the same width as.

The cold air guide 222 may be formed to be inclined or rounded to allow cold air moving along the cold air guide 222 to be directed toward the center of the shroud 136.

In addition, the blower unit accommodating part 220 is formed to be recessed more than the evaporator accommodating part 210 and the cold air flow path 230 to be described below. Here, the inlet side surface of the shroud 136 is spaced apart from the surface of the air blowing unit accommodating part 220. Therefore, the cold air rising from the evaporator accommodating part 210 orifice 137 formed at the center of the shroud 136 through the spaced space between the blowing unit accommodating part 220 and the shroud 136. You can move smoothly toward).

Since the evaporator accommodating part 210 and the blower unit accommodating part 220 have different recessed depths, the evaporator accommodating part 210 and the blowing unit accommodating part 220 are formed to be stepped with each other. Therefore, the thickness of the heat insulating material 300 inside the barrier 100 corresponding to the evaporator accommodating part 210 and the blowing unit accommodating part 220 is also different from each other. In other words, since the evaporator accommodating part 210 is less recessed than the blowing unit accommodating part 220, the thickness of the heat insulating material 300 corresponding to the evaporator accommodating part 210 becomes relatively thicker. Therefore, the transfer of cold air toward the refrigerating compartment 40 by heat conduction from the evaporator 110 side can be effectively blocked.

In addition, the blowing unit accommodating part 220 is relatively recessed than the evaporator accommodating part 210, thereby ensuring a smooth flow path of cold air toward the blowing unit 130. In addition, although the thickness of the heat insulating material 300 corresponding to the air blowing unit accommodating part 220 is relatively thin, heat insulation of the air blowing unit 130 with a relatively higher temperature than the evaporator 110 may be sufficiently possible. Done.

On the other hand, the stepped portion of the evaporator accommodating portion 210 and the blower unit accommodating portion 220 is connected by the connecting portion 240. The connection part 240 forms a boundary between the evaporator accommodating part 210 and the blower unit 130 and is formed to be inclined. Therefore, the cool air inside the evaporator accommodating part 210 may be smoothly introduced into the blowing unit accommodating part 220.

The cold air flow path 230 is formed above the air blowing unit accommodating part 220. The cold air flow path 230 is for guiding the cold air discharged to the discharge port 139 of the shroud 136 to the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber 30, and extends to an upper portion of the barrier 100. The width of the discharge port 139 of the shroud 136 may be the same as the width of the cold air flow path 230. In addition, the cold air flow path 230 may be formed to have the same width as that of the opened upper end of the air blowing unit accommodating part 220.

In addition, the cold air flow path 230 is formed to be less recessed than the blowing unit accommodating portion 220. Therefore, the thickness of the heat insulating material 300 corresponding to the cold air flow path 230 may be formed to be thicker than the heat insulating material thickness corresponding to the air blowing unit accommodating part 220. Therefore, the cold air flowing along the cold air flow path 230 may be blocked from being transferred to the refrigerating chamber 40 by heat conduction.

The cold air flow path 230 is formed by the barrier cover 400 to be described later to form an intact cold air flow path. A cold air outlet 232 is formed at an upper end of the cold air flow path 230. The cold air outlet 232 may be located at the upper center of the barrier 100 and may be exposed to the refrigerating chamber 40. The cold air outlet 232 may further include an outlet grill 234 for guiding the direction of the discharged cold air.

Meanwhile, a cold air distribution device 140 is provided at the cold air outlet 232 side. The cold air distribution device 140 is for selectively supplying the cold air supplied from the cold air flow path 230 to the cold air outlet 232, and is formed to have a size corresponding to the cold air outlet 232. The cold air distribution device 140 may be formed in a damper-like structure, and the cold air outlet 232 may be selectively opened and closed. Therefore, when the cold air distribution device 140 is opened, a portion of the cold air guided through the cold air flow path 230 is discharged to the cold air outlet 232 and introduced into the refrigerating compartment. On the other hand, when the cold air distribution device 140 is closed, all the cold air guided through the cold air flow path 230 is discharged only to the freezing chamber 30 side.

On the other hand, the depression 200 is shielded by the barrier cover 400. The barrier cover 400 is formed in a plate shape and shields the recess 200 to form a part of the left side surface of the barrier 100, that is, a part of the inner wall surface of the freezing chamber 30. In addition, the barrier cover 400 forms the same plane as the side surface of the barrier 100 in a state in which the barrier cover 400 is mounted on the barrier 100.

The barrier cover 400 may be entirely formed of one plate, but may be divided into a plurality of parts as necessary. For example, the evaporator accommodating part 210 may be divided into a portion covering the blower unit 130 and the cold air flow path 230.

In addition, the right side of the barrier 100 facing the surface on which the barrier cover 400 is mounted also has a smooth plane without protruding to the outside, thereby forming a part of the inner wall surface of the refrigerating chamber 40. Accordingly, both sides of the barrier 100 may be formed flat.

In addition, a mounting guide 420 having a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the evaporator 110 is formed on a rear surface of the barrier cover 400 corresponding to the evaporator 110 to assist the fixing of the evaporator 110. You may.

Meanwhile, a cold air inlet 430 is formed at a lower end of the barrier cover 400 corresponding to the evaporator accommodating part 210. The cold air inlet 430 is a portion into which freezer cold air flows, and guides the cold air of the freezer compartment 30 to the evaporator accommodating part 210.

In addition, a plurality of cold air outlets 410 are formed at an upper portion of the barrier cover 400 corresponding to the cold air flow path 230. A plurality of cold air outlets 410 may be formed at predetermined intervals, and the cold air rising along the cold air flow path 230 may be discharged to the freezing chamber 30.

Meanwhile, coupling ends 440 for mounting the barrier cover 400 are further formed at both ends of the barrier cover 400. In addition, a fastening member such as a screw is inserted into the mounting end 440 to fix the barrier cover 400 to the left side of the barrier 100. The side surface of the barrier 100 corresponding to the mounting end 440 may be recessed to prevent the mounting end 440 from protruding from the left side of the barrier 100.

Meanwhile, an ice compartment 60 is mounted in the freezing compartment 30. In detail, the ice making chamber 60 is mounted on the side surface of the barrier 100, in particular, on the left side exposed to the freezing chamber 30 to receive cold air discharged through the cold air outlet 410 of the barrier 100. Perform ice making.

The ice making chamber 60 includes an ice maker 61, an ice bin 62 provided under the ice maker 61 to store ice made by the ice maker 61, and the ice maker 61. ) And an ice making case 63 surrounding the ice bin 62. In addition, an ice discharge port is formed on a bottom surface of the ice making case 63 and a bottom surface of the ice bin 62. When the freezing compartment door 22 is closed, the upper inlet of the ice discharge passage 25 formed in the discharge duct 23 communicates with the ice discharge port of the ice making case 63. As shown, the ice bin 62 may be provided with an ice transport mechanism including an auger for transporting the ice forward, a motor for driving the auger, and a crusher for crushing the ice.

In addition, the dispenser 50 may be provided with a water tap for taking out water. In detail, a water supply hose may be disposed along the inside of the main body 10 and may extend into the freezing compartment door 22 through a hinge shaft of the freezing compartment door 22.

7 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present invention, Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of a barrier according to the present embodiment, Figure 9 is a plan view of a refrigerator according to the present embodiment, Figure 1 A cross-sectional view according to a second embodiment to be cut along II-II '.

In the present embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same structure as that shown in the first embodiment, and description thereof will be omitted.

7 to 9, the refrigerator 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the ice making chamber 60 is mounted on the freezing chamber door 22.

In detail, the ice maker 61 constituting the ice making chamber 60 is mounted above the rear surface of the freezing chamber door 22. The ice maker 61 may be accommodated by a member such as an ice maker cover or a housing so that the ice maker 61 may not be exposed to the outside when the freezer door 22 is opened. The ice bin 62 is seated below the ice maker 61. In other words, it may be detachably mounted in a space between the ice maker 61 and the upper end of the discharge duct 23. In addition, an ice transfer mechanism including an auger, a crusher, and the like may be provided inside the ice bin 62, as described in the first embodiment.

In addition, a cold air inlet 611 is formed at a side of the ice maker 61, specifically, at a side of the ice maker cover or housing surrounding the ice maker 61. The surface on which the cold air inlet 611 is formed is a side surface when the freezer compartment door 22 is opened.

On the other hand, the barrier 100 may be formed with a cold air outlet 411 in communication with the cold air inlet 611.

In detail, the branch passage 235 extends at any point of the cold air passage 230 constituting the lower portion 200. In other words, the branch passage 235 extends a predetermined length from the side edge of the cold air passage 230 to the front of the barrier 100. In addition, the barrier cover 400 also extends a portion of the side surface to cover the branch passage 235. Then, the cold air outlet 411 is formed in the extending barrier cover 400. The cold air outlet 411 is formed at a position in communication with the cold air inlet 611 on the ice maker 61 side when the freezer compartment door 22 is closed. This can be easily seen from the plan view shown in FIG.

In addition, a damper (not shown) may be installed at the cold air inlet 611 and / or the cold air outlet 411 to block the flow of cold air when the freezer compartment door 22 is opened. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the ice maker 61 may be surrounded by an ice maker cover 64 or the like, and the cold air inlet 611 may be formed at a side of the ice maker cover 64.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating an internal configuration of a refrigerator according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the same type as that of the refrigerator being cut along the line II ′ of FIG. 1. Is a side view of the refrigerator and is a cross-sectional view of the same type as the section cut along III-III 'of FIG. 1.

10 to 12, the structure of the refrigerator according to the present embodiment is almost the same as the second embodiment, there is a difference in the cold air connection structure for connecting the ice maker from the barrier. Therefore, the same numbers are assigned to the same structures, and description thereof will be omitted.

10 to 12, the refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment is characterized in that the ice making chamber 60 is provided in the freezing chamber door 22 as in the second embodiment. However, the cold air rising along the cold air flow path 230 of the barrier 100 is transmitted to the ice maker 61 by a cold air guide duct 70 formed on the ceiling of the freezing compartment 30.

In detail, the cold air guide duct 70 is formed on the ceiling of the freezing compartment 30, and the cold air outlet 701 is formed on the front surface thereof. The ice making unit 60 includes an ice maker 61, an ice maker cover 64 covering the ice maker 61, and an ice bin 63 disposed under the ice maker 61. The lower end of the ice bin 63 is seated on an upper surface of the discharge duct 23.

In addition, the front surface of the cold air guide duct 70 and the upper surface of the ice maker cover 64 may be formed to be inclined at a predetermined angle. That is, the front surface of the cold air guide duct 70 in which the cold air outlet 701 is formed is inclined rearward from the upper side to the lower side, and the upper surface of the ice maker cover 64 is cold air guide in which the cold air outlet is formed. It is formed to be inclined at an angle corresponding to the front surface of the duct 70. Therefore, when the freezer compartment door 22 is closed, the front surface of the cold air guide duct 70 and the ice maker cover 64 are in contact with each other in parallel. Therefore, the cold air discharged through the cold air outlet 701 is sprayed to the ice maker 61 through the cold air hole formed in the upper surface of the ice maker cover 64.

In addition, the right side of the cold air guide duct 70, that is, the portion in contact with the barrier 100 may be formed to be inclined downward as shown. This is to allow the cold air outlet 410 formed in the barrier 100 to communicate with the cold air guide duct 70.

By the above structure, the evaporator 110 is accommodated in the barrier 100, and the cold air generated in the barrier 100 rises along the cold air flow path 230 to freeze the chamber 30 and the refrigerating chamber 40. Is supplied. A portion of the cold air is supplied to the ice making unit 60 through the cold air outlet 410. Therefore, there is an advantage that the ice making unit 60 can be smoothly performed even in the refrigerator having the structure in which the ice making unit 60 is mounted in the freezer compartment 30 or the freezer compartment door 22. In addition, since the evaporator 110 is accommodated in the barrier 100, there is an advantage that the high internal volume is increased.

Claims

A cabinet having a storage space;
A barrier partitioning the storage space into a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment, wherein a heat insulating material is filled in the inside thereof, and a depression including a cold air passage formed at one side thereof;
An evaporator accommodated on one side of the depression except for the cold air passage;
A barrier cover covering the recess;
A freezer compartment door and a refrigerator compartment door for opening and closing the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment, respectively;
An ice making unit provided in the freezer compartment door,
And the cold air flow path and the ice making unit are fluidly connected when the freezer compartment door is closed.

The method of claim 1,
Is formed in the front of the freezer compartment door dispenser for taking out water or ice;
Further comprising a discharge duct formed on the rear surface of the freezer compartment door,
And an ice discharge passage for discharging ice stored in the ice making unit to the dispenser in the discharge duct.

The method of claim 1,
The ice making unit,
With an ice maker,
A refrigerator comprising an ice bin for storing the ice generated by the ice maker.

The method of claim 3, wherein
And a cold air outlet is formed at a side of the freezer compartment side of the barrier having a height corresponding to the height of the ice maker when the freezer compartment door is closed.

The method of claim 4, wherein
Further comprising a member for wrapping the ice maker,
Cold air inlet is formed on the surface of the member facing the cold air outlet,
And the ice cold flow path and the ice maker are in fluid communication.

The method of claim 5, wherein
And the member includes an ice maker cover covering the ice maker or a case accommodating the ice maker.

The method of claim 3, wherein
The ceiling of the freezer compartment is provided with a cold air guide duct in communication with the cold air passage,
And a cold air outlet is formed on a front surface of the cold air guide duct.

The method of claim 7, wherein
Further comprising a member for wrapping the ice maker,
The upper surface of the member and the front surface of the cold air guide duct is formed to be inclined, the refrigerator, characterized in that the contact with each other in the closed state of the freezer compartment door.