KR20130046043A

KR20130046043A - Refrigerator

Info

Publication number: KR20130046043A
Application number: KR1020110110363A
Authority: KR
Inventors: 안시연
Original assignee: 엘지전자 주식회사
Priority date: 2011-10-27
Filing date: 2011-10-27
Publication date: 2013-05-07

Abstract

PURPOSE: A refrigerator is provided to directly supply water to a water device through a water tank when the water is not supplied from a water supply source. CONSTITUTION: A refrigerator comprises a body(100), a water supply source, a water device, a water tank(400), and a water supply path(500). The body includes storage spaces divided into a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment. The water supply source supplies water from the outside of the body. The water device supplies the water or ice to a user in one side of the body. The water tank is connected to the water supply source and supplies the water by the user or the water supply source. The water supply path connects the water tank to the water device so that the water received in the water tank is supplied to the water device.

Description

Refrigerator {Refrigerator}

The present invention relates to a refrigerator including a water device for allowing a user to take out ice or water for use.

In general, a refrigerator is a home appliance that enables food to be stored at a low temperature in an internal storage space that is shielded by a door. In detail, the refrigerator generates cold air through heat exchange with a refrigerant changed to a low temperature low pressure state by a refrigeration cycle, and keeps the food space fresh by keeping the storage space at a low temperature state by the cold air.

Such refrigerators are gradually becoming larger and more versatile in accordance with the change of dietary life and the trend of high quality, and refrigerators with various structures and convenience devices for the convenience of users have been released.

Representative of such a convenient device, the refrigerator is provided with an ice maker and a dispenser for making ice. The ice maker and the dispenser are for providing ice or drinking water to the user, and may be provided in the interior of the refrigerator and the door.

In general, the ice making apparatus is a method of directly filling water in an ice making tray, or putting water into a water supply container having a capacity for one time ice making, and supplying water stored in the water supply container to the ice making tray. Include the method.

However, in such a structure, only one serving of ice can be manufactured. If a large capacity water container is used, the water inside the water supply container freezes due to the temperature characteristics of the freezer compartment, making it impossible to continuously perform the ice making operation.

In order to solve this problem, the conventional technology provides a water supply line directly connected to the water so that the ice making device can be continuously operated, while the water supply line is also connected to the dispenser and has a structure that can draw drinking water through the dispenser. Was developed.

1 shows a water supply structure of a refrigerator dispenser according to the prior art.

As shown in the prior art, the water supplied from the water supply source 2 passes through the purified water filter 4 through a pipe, and is supplied from the water supply valve 6 to the ice maker 8 and the water tank 10. Then, the water supplied and stored in the water tank 10 is discharged through the dispenser 20 is configured to be drinking by the user.

However, in the case of the water supply structure as described above, when water is not available through the water supply source 2, that is, when water is broken due to problems such as bursting of water or cleaning of the water tank of the apartment house, deicing or watering cannot be performed. I have a problem.

An object of the present invention, when the user is directly connected to the water source and the user detaches the water tank as needed, if the water supply through the water source is not possible, the user can directly supply the water to the water device through the water tank To provide.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator in which a user can select and use a water supply structure supplied to a water device.

The present invention provides a main body provided with a storage space divided into a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment, a water supply source for supplying water from the outside of the main body, a water device for providing water or ice to a user from one side of the main body, and a detachment to one side of the main body. A water supply, which is connected to the water supply source and is connected to the water supply source, connects the water tank and the water device supplied by the user or the water supply source so that the water contained in the water tank is provided to the water device. It includes a flow path, the water provided to the water device is characterized in that the user can individually supply through the water source or the water tank by the user's selection.

According to the present invention, when it is impossible to supply water to the water device through the water supply source, the user may directly supply water through the water tank. Therefore, there is an advantage that a stable water supply is possible.

In addition, since the user can directly supply water to the water device through the water tank, the user has an advantage that can supply more clean water to the water device.

In addition, since water can be supplied to the water device through the water source, the user can select one of the water tank and the water source as needed.

Therefore, there is an advantage that can satisfy the purchasing tendency of various consumers.

1 is a water supply structure of a refrigerator according to the prior art.
2 is a front view of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a view showing a state in which the door of the refrigerator is opened to show the water supply passage of the refrigerator according to the present invention.
4 is a view schematically showing a water supply structure of a refrigerator according to the present invention;
5 is a flow chart for showing the water supply process of the refrigerator according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown in the drawings, and that other embodiments falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention may be easily devised by adding, .

Hereinafter, for convenience of description and understanding, a refrigerator having a side-by-side type refrigerator having a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment on both left and right sides will be described as an example.

2 is a front view of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a view showing a door of the refrigerator opened to show a water supply passage of the refrigerator according to the present invention.

Referring to these drawings, the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is formed by the main body 100, the storage space is formed, and the door 200 for opening and closing the storage space.

The main body 100 is formed so that the front surface is opened, the inside is partitioned left and right by the barrier to form the freezing chamber 110 and the refrigerating chamber 120, respectively. In addition, the inside of the freezer compartment 110 and the refrigerating compartment 120 is provided with a configuration for storing food, such as a plurality of shelves and drawers.

The door 200 includes a freezing compartment door 210 and a refrigerating compartment door 220 to shield the freezing compartment 110 and the refrigerating compartment 120, respectively, and is rotatable by being coupled to the main body 100 by a hinge. It is configured to. Therefore, the freezing compartment 110 and the refrigerating compartment 120 are configured to be selectively opened and closed by the rotation of the freezing compartment door 210 and the refrigerating compartment door 220.

Each of the refrigerating compartment door 220 and the freezing compartment door 210 is provided with a door handle 230 so that the user can easily open and close the grip. In addition, the refrigerating compartment door 220 may be provided with a home bar 240, and the freezing compartment door 210 may be provided with a water device 300 for supplying water or ice to the user.

In detail, the water device 300 may be divided into an ice making assembly 340 for supplying ice to a user and a dispenser 320 for supplying water to the user, and may be provided in the freezer compartment door 210. have.

In detail, a front surface of the freezer compartment door 210 may be provided with a dispenser 320 that provides drinking water and / or ice to the user using water contained in the water tank 400 to be described below. In addition, an ice making assembly 340 for generating ice may be provided on the rear surface of the freezer compartment door 210.

The ice making assembly 340 is made of ice supplied from the water tank 400 to be described below, and may be provided on the dispenser 320. Of course, the ice making assembly 340 may be provided inside the freezing compartment 110 as needed. Hereinafter, the ice making assembly 340 is provided in the freezing compartment door 210.

The ice making assembly 340 may include an ice maker 342 for freezing water to make ice, and an ice bank 344 provided below the ice maker 342 to store iced ice. .

The ice maker 342 is configured to automatically feed water for ice making, and to automatically ice the ice to the ice bank 344 after ice is formed by the cold air of the freezing chamber 110.

In addition, the ice iced by the ice maker 342 is stored in the ice bank 344, and when the dispenser 320 is operated, an ice chute connecting the ice bank 344 and the dispenser 320 ( It may be supplied to the ice maker 342 through 330.

On the other hand, a water tank 400 is provided on the rear surface of the refrigerating compartment door 220. The water tank 400 is for storing ice making water and / or drinking water supplied to the ice maker 342 and / or the dispenser 320, and the user uses the water tank 400 at the refrigerating compartment door 220. After separation, water is directly supplied to the water tank 400, or connected to a water supply source outside the main body 100, and configured to be capable of water supply.

In detail, the water tank 400 is mounted at a lower position than the water device 300, that is, the ice making assembly 340 and the dispenser 320, so that the water stored therein is described below. It is configured to be able to supply to the water device 300 by.

That is, the pump 600 is to allow the water device 300 to be easily supplied to the water device 300 when the water device 300 is provided at a position higher than the water tank 400, the water tank When 400 is provided above the water device 300, it can be omitted.

In addition, the water tank 400 may be provided inside the refrigerating chamber 120 as needed. In this case, when the water tank 400 is located at a lower position than the mounting position of the water device 250, the pump 600 Water supply can be made using.

In addition, the water tank 400 is provided to be detachable from the refrigerating compartment door 220, has a predetermined shape that can be mounted on the rear surface of the refrigerating compartment door 220 may be designed as a dedicated container. Therefore, the water tank 400 may be a commercially available bottled water bottle or the like depending on the mounting structure.

In detail, a plurality of baskets 224 are provided on the rear surface of the refrigerating compartment door 220, and the baskets 224 are configured to be height-adjustable by detachment. In addition, any one of the plurality of baskets 224 is configured to support the water tank 400 from below.

In addition, a rear surface of the refrigerating compartment door 220 is provided with a container connection portion 222 coupled to the water tank 400. The container connection portion 222 is configured to be selectively coupled to the inlet of the top of the water tank 400, is formed integrally on the back of the refrigerating compartment door 220, or is formed detachably by a separate member.

In detail, the container connection part 222 may be formed to be integrally fixed to the refrigerating compartment door 220. In this case, the water tank 400 is coupled to the container connection part 222 by the refrigerator compartment door. It may be mounted on the back of the 220.

In addition, the container connection portion 222 may be formed as a separate member and may be configured to be mounted on the rear surface of the refrigerating compartment door 220 after being combined with the water tank 400. In addition, although not shown, the container connection portion 222 may be further provided with a sensor so as to detect whether the water tank 400 is mounted stably.

The sensor may be in the form of a switch that is pressed when the water tank 400 is fully mounted on the container connection portion 222, or may be configured as a pressure sensor pressurized when the water tank 400 is seated. .

On the other hand, the water tank 400, the ice making assembly 340 and the dispenser 320 are connected to each other by a water supply passage 500, so that the water in the water tank 400 is easily and individually the ice making assembly 340 ) And the dispenser 320.

In detail, the water supply passage 500 may include a pump 700 and a valve 700 for selectively blocking the water supplied using the pump 600. That is, the water of the water tank 400 may be forcibly supplied to the ice making assembly 340 and the dispenser 320 by the pump 600, and branched by the valve 700 to the Can be selectively supplied to the ice making assembly 340 and the dispenser 320, respectively.

The pump 600 and the valve 700 may be disposed in a machine room (not shown) than the outer side, and if necessary, the lower surface of the main body 100 or the inside of the refrigerating chamber door 220 or the refrigerating chamber 120. It may be provided on one side.

The water supply passage 500 may include a suction passage 510 inside the water tank 400, a pump input passage 520 connected to an input side of the pump 600, and a valve 700 at a discharge side of the pump 600. Pump output flow path 530 connected to the, ice making flow path 540 connected to the ice making assembly 340 in the valve 700, intake flow path 550 connected to the dispenser 320 in the valve 700 It can be composed of).

In detail, the suction passage 510 is for sucking the water in the water tank 400, and when the water tank 400 is mounted to the container connection part 222, the inner lower portion of the water tank 400 is provided. It is formed to extend to.

In addition, the suction passage 510 may be provided inside the container connection part 222 and may be detached together when the container connection part 222 is detached, and the water supply path provided inside the refrigerating compartment door 220 ( 500 can be selectively connected with.

Meanwhile, the pump input passage 520 is connected to the suction passage 510 in the refrigerating compartment door 220 and extends to the input side of the pump 600. In this case, when the pump 600 is provided at one side of the main body 100, the pump input flow path 520 is moved from the refrigerating chamber door 220 to the main body 100 through a hinge below the main body 100. Can be guided.

In addition, the pump output passage 530 connects the pump 600 and the valve 700 to connect the discharge side of the pump 600 and the input side of the valve 700 to discharge water from the pump 600. It is guided so as to face the valve 700.

The ice making flow path 540 and the intake flow path 550 are independent flow paths connected to the valve 700, respectively, and are branched from one side of the valve 700 to the ice making assembly 340 and the dispenser 320. Is extended.

On the other hand, Figure 4 is a view schematically showing a water supply structure of the refrigerator according to the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, in the refrigerator 1 according to the present invention, a water level sensor 800 is further provided in the water tank 400.

The water level detection sensor 800 is a level sensor capable of detecting at least the full water level and the low water level, to block the water supply at the full water level and to start the water supply at the low water level. Although not shown, the level sensor 800 may be further provided with an overflow level to prevent water overflow when a water level detection level is malfunctioning.

On the other hand, the water tank 400 is detachably configured as described above, the water is supplied from the water supply source outside the main body 100, or the user is separately filled with water in the water tank 400 to install the water It is possible to provide water to the device 300.

To this end, a water supply valve 560 and a filter 570 are further provided between the water supply source and the water tank 400, and when a full water level is detected by the water level detection sensor 800, a control signal is supplied to the water supply valve 560. Is delivered and the water supply is automatically cut off.

In addition, the filter 570 may be mounted on one side of the main body 100 to filter raw water supplied from the water supply source, and such a filter 570 may be replaced periodically.

On the other hand, the water tank 400 provides the water contained therein to the water device 300 using the above-described pump 600, the ice making flow path 540 and the water intake flow path 550, the ice making flow path ( The ice making valve 720 and the intake valve 740 may be separately controlled in the 540 and the intake passage 550, respectively.

Hereinafter, the operation of the present invention having the configuration as described above will be described.

5 is a flow chart for showing the water supply process of the refrigerator according to the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, before the water supply is made by using an external water supply source in a state where power is supplied to the refrigerator 1 according to the present invention, whether the water tank 400 is mounted is first detected.

That is, in the refrigerator 1 according to the present invention, a detection sensor for detecting whether the water tank 400 is fastened is further provided, and the water tank 400 after the detection information of the detection sensor is confirmed. Water supply can be achieved.

Here, when it is not confirmed whether the water tank 400 is fastened by the detection sensor, a notification means for informing the unmounted state of the water tank 400 operates while inducing the user to mount the water tank 400. do. The notification means may be a display or a buzzer for generating a notification sound provided at one side of the door 200.

On the other hand, when the mounting of the water tank 400 is confirmed through the above process, the water level is detected by the water level sensor 800.

When the detected water level is less than the full water level, water is supplied to the full water level through the water supply source, and the water contained in the water tank 400 is selectively provided to the water device 300.

That is, the water device 300 is operated by a user to be ice or water supply, and in order to provide cold water or ice, a certain amount of water must be supplied from the water tank 400.

To this end, the water device 300 may be provided with a water receiving space for cooling the water provided from the water tank 400 or a water receiving space for ice making. Therefore, in such a structure, water supply can be made by sensing the level of the water receiving space for cold water or ice.

On the other hand, since the water device 300 is provided with a predetermined amount when the user operates, it does not detect the water level of the water receiving space as described above, the amount determined from the water tank 400 immediately after the use of the water device 300. It may be possible to supply water to the user.

That is, when the water device 300 is the dispenser 320, a cooling device is further provided on the water intake passage 550, and water provided from the water tank 400 may be extracted through the cooling device. It is possible to provide cold water, and after the ice is made in the ice maker 342, water can be supplied directly to the tray so that water can be supplied without a separate level detection.

100 ..... Main body 200 ..... Door
300 ..... Water device 400 ..... Water tank
500 ..... 600 ..... pump with water supply
700 ..... valve 800 ..... water level sensor

Claims

A main body provided with a storage space divided into a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment;
A water supply source for supplying water from the outside of the main body;
A water device providing water or ice to a user at one side of the main body;
A water tank detachably provided at one side of the main body and connected to the water supply source and receiving water by a user or the water supply source;
And a water supply passage connecting the water tank and the water device so that water received in the water tank is provided to the water device.
Water provided to the water device,
A refrigerator which can be individually supplied by the user through the water source or the water tank by a user's selection.

The water tank of claim 1,
The refrigerator further comprises a water level sensor for detecting the full water level of the water supplied through the water supply.

The method of claim 1,
When water provided to the water device is provided through the water supply source by the user's selection, the refrigerator is provided by detecting whether the water tank is mounted before supplying water to the water tank.

The method of claim 2,
The water level sensor detects the low water level, the refrigerator to automatically supply water through the water supply when the water level of the water tank is below a certain level.

The method of claim 1,
The water tank is a refrigerator provided at one side of the refrigerating compartment door for shielding the refrigerating compartment or the refrigerating compartment.

The method of claim 1, wherein the water device,
An ice making assembly for generating ice using water provided through the water tank and providing the generated ice to a user;
And a dispenser for supplying water provided through the water tank to the user.

The method according to claim 6,
And a pump for supplying water to the ice making assembly and the dispenser between the water tank and the water device, and a valve for selectively blocking a water supply provided by the pump.