KR20140047336A

KR20140047336A - Refrigerator

Info

Publication number: KR20140047336A
Application number: KR1020120113471A
Authority: KR
Inventors: 안재국; 송영일; 전해룡
Original assignee: 삼성전자주식회사
Priority date: 2012-10-12
Filing date: 2012-10-12
Publication date: 2014-04-22

Abstract

The present invention provides a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes: a main body including a storage chamber; a door which opens or closes the storage chamber and has a dispenser installed on; and a water supply system providing water to the dispenser. The water supply system includes: an external water source; a filter purifying the water supplied from the external water source; a water tank storing the water purified by the filter; a water supply piping connected to the water tank; a valve controlling the supplying of the water stored in the water tank to the water supply piping; a supply piping which is installed inside the door and connected to the dispenser; and a two-way check valve device connecting the water supply piping and the supply piping.

Description

Refrigerator {REFRIGERATOR}

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly to a refrigerator having a water supply system for supplying water to a dispenser.

Generally, a refrigerator is a device for supplying low temperature cold air to a storage room where food is stored to keep food fresh at a low temperature. The refrigerator includes a freezer compartment for keeping the freezing temperature below the freezing temperature, and a refrigerating compartment for maintaining the temperature slightly above the freezing temperature. .

In recent years, a variety of large refrigerators have been launched according to convenience of living and storage space, and are classified into a general type, a double door type, and a hybrid type depending on the arrangement of a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment and a door installation structure.

In addition, the door of the refrigerator is provided with a dispenser that allows the user to receive ice or water from the outside, the dispenser is controlled to supply the water through the water supply system.

The water supply system includes a filter for filtering water supplied from an external water source, and a water tank for storing the water purified by the filter. When the user operates the operation lever of the dispenser, the water stored in the water tank opens and closes the water supply valve. According to the operation is discharged to the outlet of the dispenser through the pipe. At this time, even if the water supply valve is closed due to the time difference between the operation lever and the operation of the water supply valve, there is a problem that the residual water falls into the outlet of the dispenser.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a refrigerator having a water supply system capable of suppressing residual water generation during operation of the dispenser and easily performing a pressure difference test, which is a leak test of a water supply system.

According to one aspect of the invention, the main body having a storage compartment, the door opening and closing the storage compartment, the water supply system for supplying water to the dispenser and the water supply system is an external water supply source and the external water supply source A filter for purifying the water to be supplied, a water tank for storing the water purified by the filter, a water supply pipe connected to the water tank, a valve for controlling the supply of water stored in the water tank to the water supply pipe; It may be provided in the door and a refrigerator including a supply pipe connected to the dispenser and a bidirectional check valve device for connecting the water supply pipe and the supply pipe.

In addition, the water tank is disposed in the storage chamber, the bidirectional check valve device is disposed on the upper wall of the main body and the valve housing is open at both ends, both ends of the valve housing from the water tank, respectively It may be connected to the water supply pipe extending to the upper portion and the supply pipe extending from the dispenser to the upper portion of the inside of the door.

The bidirectional check valve device may further include a first opening / closing unit which moves by a pressure of a gas supplied from the dispenser and opens a gas flow passage when the water is inspected for leakage of the water supply system, and a pressure of water supplied from the water tank to the dispenser. And a second opening / closing unit moving by to open a water flow passage separated from the gas flow passage.

In addition, the first opening and closing unit is slidably movable in the valve housing and the opening and closing member formed with the water flow passage in the center, the gas flow passage is formed between the outer surface of the opening and closing the valve housing and the valve housing. And a first elastic member elastically supporting the opening and closing member in a direction of closing the gas flow passage, and the second opening and closing unit is installed to be slidably movable in the opening and closing member to open and close the water movement passage. A body and a second elastic member for elastically supporting the poppet body in the direction of closing the water flow passage.

In addition, the first elastic member may be provided to have a relatively greater elastic force than the second elastic member.

In addition, sealing members may be provided on outer surfaces of the opening member and the poppet body, respectively.

The refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention can control the fluid flow in both directions in which the water is supplied from the water supply system to the dispenser and the gas is supplied from the dispenser to the water supply system at the time of leak check of the water supply system, thereby preventing the remaining of the dispenser. In addition, since the leak inspection can be performed smoothly, the convenience of use is greatly improved.

1 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is an enlarged view showing the arrangement of the filter water tank assembly of the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a cross-sectional view of the bidirectional check valve device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is an operation state diagram of the bi-directional check valve device for controlling the flow of water with the dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is an operation state diagram of the bi-directional check valve device for controlling the flow of gas during the water leakage test of the water supply system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below are provided by way of example so that those skilled in the art will be able to fully understand the spirit of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, but may be embodied in other forms. In order to clearly explain the present invention, parts not related to the description are omitted from the drawings, and the width, length, thickness, etc. of the components may be exaggerated for convenience. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification.

1 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is an enlarged view showing the arrangement of the filter water tank assembly of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 is an embodiment of the present invention It is a schematic side sectional view of the refrigerator according.

1 to 3, the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention is a French door type refrigerator including a main body 10 and storage compartments 11 and 12, and the storage compartments 11 and 12 are formed by horizontal partition walls 15. The refrigerator is partitioned into a refrigerating chamber 11 for refrigerating and storing food in the upper portion and a freezing chamber 12 for freezing and storing food in the lower portion.

The refrigerating chamber 11 is opened and closed by a double door type door 20 which is hinged to the side by opening the front surface, and the freezing chamber 12 is drawer-type withdrawable to the main body 10 and inside the drawer 21 with the top open. When the drawer 21 slides into the main body 10, the drawer 21 is closed by the horizontal partition wall 15.

The refrigerating chamber 11 is provided with a drawer-type storage container 13 for storing food sensitive to moisture evaporation, such as vegetables, on the upper portion of the horizontal partition wall (15).

The drawer-type storage container 13 has an upper opening to store food and is drawable to the refrigerating chamber 11 so that the opening is closed by the drawer-type storage container cover 14 when the slide-in storage container is drawn in. do.

In addition, the ice maker 30 is installed in a space partitioned by the upper one side insulating wall of the refrigerating compartment 11, and the user can open the door 20 without water or ice without opening the door 20 from the outside of the main body 10. The dispenser 40 which can take out is provided.

Meanwhile, the water supply system of the refrigerator includes a filter water tank assembly 100, a first water supply pipe 51 connecting the external water supply source 50 and the filter water tank assembly 100, a filter water tank assembly 100, and a filter water tank assembly 100. A third water supply pipe 53 extending above the main body 10 to supply water to the dispenser 40 from the second water supply pipe 52 and the filter water tank assembly 100 connecting the ice maker 30; Inside the door 20 to connect the bidirectional check valve device 200 and the bidirectional check valve device 200 and the dispenser 40 to control the supply of water from the third water supply pipe 53 to the dispenser 40. It comprises a supply pipe 55 extending in the vertical direction.

The filter water tank assembly 100 is provided in the refrigerating compartment 11, and includes a filter 110 for purifying water supplied from the external water supply source 50 and cold air inside the refrigerating compartment. A valve 130 mounted at a branch point of the water tank 120 for cooling the furnace, a hose 141 connected from the filter 110 to the water tank 120 and the ice maker 30, and a case 101 containing the same. It includes.

In addition, the filter water tank assembly 100 includes a hose (140, 141, 142) connecting the filter 110, the water tank 120 and the valve 130, the hose (140, 141, 142) is an external water supply pipe (51, 52, 53) ), A hole 102 is provided at one point of the case 101.

Unlike the present embodiment, it is obvious that the hoses 140, 141, and 142 may be provided to extend and constitute the water supply pipes 51, 52, and 53.

The filter 110 and the external water supply source 50 are connected through the hose 140 and the first water supply pipe 51, and the water tank 120 and the dispenser 40 are connected to the hose 142 and the third water supply pipe ( 53) and the supply pipe 55, the filter 110, the water tank 120 and the ice maker 30 is connected through the hose 141 and the second water supply pipe (52).

The valve 130 is mounted at the branch point of the hose 141 to control the supply of water from the filter 110 to the water tank 120 or the ice maker 30.

The water filtered by the filter 110 is sent to the ice maker 30 through the hose 141 and the second water supply pipe 52, or flows into the water tank 120 through the hose 141 to the water tank 120 In the cold storage is supplied to the dispenser 40 through the hose 142 and the third water supply pipe 53 by the user's operation.

Due to the structure of the filter water tank assembly 100 as described above, the water supply system requires only three water supply pipes of the first, second, and third water supply pipes 51, 52, and 53, and the number thereof is greatly reduced.

In addition, one end of the first, second, and third water supply pipes 51, 52, and 53 is connected to the external water supply source 51, the ice maker 30, and the dispenser 40, respectively. The other end of the third water supply pipe (51, 52, 53) is connected to the hose (140, 141, 142) of the filter water tank assembly 100, the filter 110, the water tank 120 and the valve inside the filter water tank assembly 100 The connection between the 130 and the external water supply 50, the ice maker 30, and the dispenser 40 is established.

In addition, the refrigerator main body 10 penetrates the water supply pipes 51, 52, and 53 only at one point of the rear wall 17, the upper wall 18, and the door hinge 22.

Therefore, the installation of the water supply system of the refrigerator is very easy and workability is greatly improved.

In addition, since the filter water tank assembly 100 is first assembled and then mounted on the main body 10 and connected to the water supply pipes 51, 52, and 53, the installation of the water supply system is very convenient and the possibility of misassembly is significantly reduced. .

The filter water tank assembly 100 is specifically provided between the plurality of drawer type storage containers 13 arranged horizontally below each other in the lower part of the refrigerating chamber 11.

As the filter water tank assembly 100 is arranged as described above, the filter water tank assembly 100 naturally serves as a vertical partition of both drawer-type storage containers 13.

That is, the filter water tank assembly 100 is disposed in the space between the drawer-type storage containers 13 corresponding to the void space inside the refrigerator compartment, so that the water supply system can be installed without encroaching on the effective storage space inside the refrigerator compartment. .

In addition, when the LED lamp 103 is mounted on both sides of the case 101, the space used for mounting the LED lamp 103 in the existing refrigerator may be utilized as a storage space, and the LED lamp 103 inside the refrigerating compartment. There is no need to perform installation work separately, so there is convenience in the refrigerator manufacturing process.

The bidirectional check valve device 200 is disposed on the upper wall 18 of the refrigerator body 10 and connects the third water supply pipe 53 and the supply pipe 55 to the third water supply pipe 52 and the supply pipe 55. ) A device that controls bidirectional fluid flow to both sides. This is to open and close the flow path to the dispenser 40 by opening and closing the flow path by the pressure of the fluid introduced in one direction (direction to the dispenser) in order to prevent the residual water caused by the difference in opening and closing time of the valve when the dispenser 40 extracts water. In addition to the delivery, in order to be able to open and close the flow path by the pressure of the gas introduced from the dispenser 40 at the time of leak check of the water supply system.

That is, when the bidirectional check valve device 200 supplies water from the water tank 120 to the dispenser 40, the bidirectional check valve device 200 moves water from the third water supply pipe 53 toward the supply pipe 55 disposed inside the door 20. When the flow path is opened so that the flow is made, and the leak test of the water supply system is performed, the flow path is opened so that the gas (nitrogen) supplied from the dispenser 40 flows from the supply pipe 55 toward the third water supply pipe 53. Device. In the case of employing the one-way check valve through the bidirectional check valve device 200, in order to inject nitrogen gas from the dispenser 40 to the third water supply pipe 53, that is, leak test (pressure difference test) of the water supply system. The check valve is changed so that water flows in the opposite direction, and if the leak check is completed, the check valve is changed to its original position, but this inconvenience is caused by employing the bidirectional check valve device 200 according to the present embodiment. Can be reduced.

Hereinafter, a bidirectional check valve device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the bidirectional check valve device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 4, the bidirectional check valve device 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention has a hollow cylindrical shape in which the collet (201, 203) to which the water supply pipe 53 and the supply pipe 55 are connected, respectively, is installed at both ends. The branch includes a valve housing 210.

In the valve housing 210, the opening and closing units 220 and 230 forming the flow path may be installed to be slidable. The opening / closing units 220 and 230 may include a first opening / closing unit 220 for opening / closing the gas flow passage 240 formed in the valve housing 210, and a second opening / closing unit for opening / closing the water flow passage 250. 230).

The first opening and closing unit 220 is a hollow cylindrical opening and closing member 221 is inserted into the hollow portion 211 in the valve housing 210 and the direction in which the opening and closing member 221 closes the gas flow passage 240 It includes a first elastic member 223 to elastically press.

The opening and closing member 221 is disposed so that the outer surface 222 is spaced apart from the inner surface 212 of the valve housing 210 by a predetermined distance so that the outer surface 222 of the opening and closing member 221 and the inner surface 212 of the valve housing 210. A gas flow passage 240 is formed between the gas injection paths during the leakage inspection of the water supply system, and the water flow passage 250 for supplying water to the dispenser 40 in the hollow of the opening and closing member 221. ) May be formed.

The first elastic member 223 is disposed between the flange 213 extending inwardly from the inner surface 212 of the valve housing 210 and the opening and closing member 221 so that the opening and closing member 221 is a gas flow passage 240. It includes a coil spring for pressing and supporting in the direction of closing.

One end portion of the opening and closing member 221 on which the first elastic member 223 is supported is formed with a bent portion 224 that is bent inwardly so that the end portion of the first elastic member 223 is accommodated, and the other end of the opening and closing member 221 is formed. The 225 may be supported by the valve seat 260 inserted into and fixed in the valve housing 210.

The first elastic member 223 presses the opening / closing member 221 toward the valve seat 260 so that the opening / closing member 221 keeps the gas flow passage 240 closed.

The outer circumferential surface of the opening and closing member 221 in contact with the valve seat 260 may be provided with a sealing member 226 such as an O-ring for maintaining airtightness.

The second opening and closing unit 230 is a poppet body 231 which is installed to be slidably movable in the opening and closing member 221 to open and close the water movement path 250 formed in the opening and closing member 221 and the water. And a second elastic member 232 for pressing the poppet body 231 in the direction of closing the movement path 250.

Poppet body 231 is a cylindrical body portion 233 to contact the inner surface of the bent portion 224 of the opening and closing member 221 to seal the water path 250, and the shaft portion extending from the center of the body portion 233 234 may be provided. The shaft portion 234 may be disposed to be inserted into the guide boss 235 installed inside the opening / closing member 221.

The second elastic member 232 is disposed between the poppet body 231 and the guide boss 235 to support the pressure in which the body portion 223 of the poppet body 231 closes the water flow path 250. It includes a spring.

In addition, the second elastic member 232 may be provided to have a relatively small elastic force than the elastic force of the first elastic member 223. This is to prevent the shaking phenomenon that may occur when the opening and closing units 220 and 230 have the same elastic force.

The O-ring for sealing between the pipes coupled to the collets 201 and 203 and the inner surface 212 of the valve housing 210 between the collets 201 and 203 installed in the openings at both ends of the valve housing 210 and the opening and closing units 220 and 230. 270 and 280 may be disposed.

Through this configuration, the bidirectional check valve device 200 is elastically supported by the first elastic member 223 and the gas flow passage 240 is closed by the opening / closing member 221 pressed toward the valve seat 260. The water flow passage 250 is maintained by the poppet body 231 elastically supported by the second elastic member 232 and pressed toward the bent portion 224 of the opening / closing member 221.

Hereinafter will be described the operation of the bidirectional check valve device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is an operation state diagram of the bi-directional check valve device when the water is supplied to the dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 6 is a bi-directional check valve when nitrogen is supplied during the leak test of the water supply system according to an embodiment of the present invention The operation state diagram of the device.

First, as shown in FIG. 3, the fluid supplied from the external water supply source 50 is introduced into the filter 110 through the hose 140, purified, and then stored in the water tank 120. Then, when the user operates the dispenser 40, the water stored in the water tank 120 is introduced into the bidirectional check valve device 200 through the third water supply pipe 53.

The fluid introduced into the valve housing 210 through the third water supply pipe 53 presses the body 233 of the poppet body 231 toward the side to which the supply pipe 55 is connected, When the pressure is greater than the force provided by the second elastic member 232, the poppet body 231 slides to open between the body portion 233 and the bent portion 224, thereby opening the water supply passage 250. Open. Accordingly, the fluid supplied through the third water supply pipe 53 is delivered to the supply pipe 55 through the water supply passage 250 and discharged to the dispenser 40.

On the other hand, in the case of supplying nitrogen gas for pressure difference inspection through the dispenser 40 to the supply pipe 55 in order to inspect the water leakage of the water supply system, as shown in FIG. 6, the valve housing through the supply pipe 55. The gas introduced into the inside of the gas pressurizes the valve housing 210 toward the side to which the third water supply pipe 53 is connected, and the pressure of the supplied gas is greater than the force provided by the first elastic member 223. In this case, the opening / closing member 221 and the poppet body 231 slide together so that the end portions 225 of the opening / closing member 221 contacting the valve seat 260 are spaced apart so that the gas flow passage 240 is opened. . Accordingly, the gas supplied through the supply pipe 55 is supplied to the third water supply pipe 53 through the gas flow passage 240 so that the pipe leakage inspection of the water supply system can be smoothly performed.

The foregoing has shown and described specific embodiments. However, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the technical idea of the present invention described in the following claims .

10: main body, 11, 12: storage room,
20: door, 40: dispenser,
50: external water source, 51, 52, 53: water supply pipe,
55: supply piping, 100: filter water tank assembly,
110: filter, 120: water tank,
200: bidirectional check valve device, 210: valve housing,
220: first opening and closing unit, 221: opening and closing member,
223: first elastic member, 230: second opening and closing unit,
231: poppet body, 232: second elastic member,
240: gas flow path, 250: water flow path,
260: valve seat.

Claims

A main body having a storage compartment;
A door having a dispenser installed to open and close the storage compartment;
A water supply system supplying water to the dispenser; And
The water supply system includes an external water supply source, a filter for purifying water supplied from the external water supply source, a water tank for storing water purified by the filter, a water supply pipe connected to the water tank, and the water tank. And a valve for controlling supply of stored water to the water supply pipe, a supply pipe connected to the dispenser, and a bidirectional check valve device connecting the water supply pipe and the supply pipe.

The method of claim 1,
The water tank is disposed in the storage compartment,
The bidirectional check valve device includes a valve housing disposed on an upper wall of the main body and open at both ends, and both ends of the valve housing respectively extend from the water tank to the upper part of the main body in the water supply pipe and the door. And a refrigerator connected to the supply pipe extending from the dispenser to the upper portion of the main body.

3. The method of claim 2,
The two-way check valve device is a first opening and closing unit for opening the gas flow passage by moving by the pressure of the gas supplied from the dispenser during the water leakage inspection of the water supply system, and by the pressure of the water supplied to the dispenser from the water tank A refrigerator comprising a second opening and closing unit to move to open the water flow passage separated from the gas flow passage.

The method of claim 3,
The first opening and closing unit is installed to be slidably movable in the valve housing and the opening and closing member formed with the water flow passage in the center, the gas flow passage is formed between the outer surface of the opening and closing the valve housing and the valve housing, A first elastic member elastically supporting the opening and closing member in a direction of closing the gas flow passage;
The second opening and closing unit includes a poppet body installed to be slidably movable in the opening and closing member, and a second elastic member to elastically support the poppet body in a direction of closing the water flow passage. Refrigerator.

5. The method of claim 4,
The first elastic member is a refrigerator provided to have a relatively greater elastic force than the second elastic member.

5. The method of claim 4,
Refrigerators are provided on the outer surface of the opening and closing member and the poppet body, respectively.