KR20230114342A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes: an evaporating part installed on the rear side of a cooling chamber installed in an upright position and cooling air through heat exchange; a first water collection guide part installed on one side in a width direction of the evaporating part and having a slope for guiding the flow of defrosting water falling from the evaporating part; a second water collection guide part installed on the other side in the width direction of the evaporating part, facing the first water collection guide part, and having a slope for guiding the flow of the defrosting water falling from the evaporating part; a third water collection guide part installed below the evaporating part and having a slope for guiding the flow of the defrosting water falling from the evaporating part; and tray parts installed below the third water collection guide part and on both sides in the width direction of the third water collection guide part, respectively, and receiving the collected defrosting water from at least one of the first, second and third water collection guide parts and storing the water, and then evaporating the water. Therefore, the present invention is capable of providing a hygienic operation environment.

Description

Refrigerator {REFRIGERATOR}

The present invention relates to a refrigerator capable of easily removing defrost water from a refrigerator that is used by changing the installation direction of a cooling chamber according to various usage methods.

In general, a refrigerator is a device that supplies low-temperature cold air to a storage compartment where food is stored to keep food fresh at a low temperature. .

Cool air supplied to the inside of the refrigerator is generated by heat exchange action of the refrigerant. Cool air is continuously supplied to the inside of the refrigerator while repeatedly performing a cooling cycle consisting of compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation. Cool air supplied to the inside of the refrigerator is evenly transferred to the inside of the refrigerator by air movement, and the food inside the refrigerator is stored at a desired temperature.

Meanwhile, the evaporator performing the cooling cycle exchanges heat with the surrounding air. In this process, frost is generated on the surface of the evaporator due to a temperature difference with the surrounding air, and the refrigerator performs a defrosting operation to remove the frost.

In addition, defrost water is generated due to the temperature difference in the partition wall around the evaporator. The defrost water is collected and evaporated through the drain hose to the evaporation tray installed in the machine room.

Conventionally, since the refrigerator is used only in an upright state, only a single structure for discharging defrost water is required. However, there is a problem in that the defrost water is not properly discharged when the refrigerator is used lying down or standing upright depending on the use environment.

The background art of the present invention is published in Republic of Korea Patent Registration No. 10-0818697 (registered on March 26, 2008, title of the invention: small refrigerator).

An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that can be used upright or laid down as needed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a defrosting water treatment structure that can be commonly used in a portrait mode in which the refrigerator is used standing upright and in a landscape mode in which the refrigerator is used lying down.

The objects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned objects, and other objects and advantages of the present invention not mentioned above can be understood by the following description and will be more clearly understood by the examples of the present invention. It will also be readily apparent that the objects and advantages of the present invention may be realized by means of the instrumentalities and combinations indicated in the claims.

The refrigerator according to the present invention for solving the above problems is technically characterized by providing a refrigerator that can be used with a cooling chamber erected or laid down, if necessary.

Specifically, the vertical mode in which the cooling chamber is erected, the first horizontal mode in which the cooling chamber in the vertical mode is rotated and laid on one side in the width direction of the evaporator unit, and the cooling chamber in the vertical mode is rotated and laid on the other side in the width direction of the evaporator unit. It can be used in any one of the two landscape modes.

In addition, a technical feature is to provide a defrost water removal unit that can be commonly used in the first horizontal mode, the second horizontal mode, and the vertical mode.

Specifically, the defrost water removal unit includes a first water collection guide, a second water collection guide, and a third water collection guide. In the first horizontal mode, defrost water may be removed through the first water collection guide, in the second horizontal mode, defrost water may be removed through the second water collection guide, and in the vertical mode, defrost water may be removed through the third water collection guide. .

A refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an evaporation unit installed at the rear of a cooling chamber installed in an upright state and cooling air through heat exchange, and a movement of defrost water dropped from the evaporation unit installed at one side in a width direction of the evaporation unit. A first water collection guide having an inclined surface for guiding the water, and a second water collection guide facing the first water collection guide and installed on the other side in the width direction of the evaporator and having an inclined surface for guiding the movement of the defrost water dropped from the evaporator. A third water collecting guide part installed below the evaporation part and having an inclined surface for guiding the movement of the defrost water dropped from the evaporation part, and on both sides of the lower part of the third water collecting guide part and the third water collecting guide part in the width direction. Each tray is installed and includes a tray unit for receiving, storing, and evaporating defrost water collected from at least one of the first water collecting guide, the second water collecting guide, and the third water collecting guide.

In addition, the first water collecting guide includes a first main guide having a first main inclined surface inclined downward. The defrost water dropped from the evaporation unit moves to the tray unit along the first main slope.

In addition, the first water collection guide is continuously installed in the first main guide and forms a groove for storing the defrost water dropped from the evaporator, and connects the first sub guide and the third water collection guide. It is a conduit and further includes a first connection conduit that transfers the defrost water stored in the first sub guide to the third water collection guide.

In addition, the second water collecting guide includes a second main guide having a second main inclined surface inclined downward. The defrost water dropped from the evaporation unit moves to the tray unit along the second main slope.

In addition, the second water collection guide is continuously installed in the second main guide and forms a groove for storing the defrost water dropped from the evaporator, and connects the second sub guide and the third water collection guide. It is a conduit and further includes a second connection conduit that transfers the defrost water stored in the second sub guide to the third water collecting guide.

In addition, the third collection guide unit is installed in a downward slope from the center of the third collection guide toward one side in the width direction of the third collection guide, and from the center of the third collection guide toward the other side in the width direction of the third collection guide. It includes a second water collection slope installed downwardly.

In the refrigerator according to the present invention, since the cooling chamber can be used lying down or standing upright depending on the use environment, user satisfaction can be improved.

In addition, the present invention can provide a hygienic use environment because the defrost water is easily discharged to prevent mold from occurring even when the cooling chamber is used in a lying or upright state.

In addition, the present invention provides a defrost water removal unit that can be commonly used even when the cooling chamber is laid down or standing up, so that production costs can be reduced.

In addition to the effects described above, specific effects of the present invention will be described together while explaining specific details for carrying out the present invention.

1 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed in a portrait mode.
2 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a door part is opened in a state in which the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed in a portrait mode.
3 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a door part is opened in a state in which the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed in a second landscape mode;
4 is a perspective view showing the main configuration of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a perspective view illustrating a defrost water removal unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a perspective view showing a rear surface of an evaporation unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a defrost water removal unit in a state in which the refrigerator is installed in a vertical mode according to an embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a diagram illustrating movement of defrosting water in a state in which the refrigerator is installed in a vertical mode according to an embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a flow of defrost water moving along a third water collecting guide in a state in which the refrigerator is installed in a vertical mode according to an embodiment of the present invention.
10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a flow of defrost water moving along a first water collection guide in a state in which the refrigerator is installed in a first horizontal mode according to an embodiment of the present invention.
11 is a perspective view illustrating a first water collection guide according to an embodiment of the present invention.
12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating defrost water moving along the first main guide and the first sub guide according to an embodiment of the present invention.
13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the movement of defrost water along the first connecting pipe according to an embodiment of the present invention.
14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a flow of defrost water moving along a second water collection guide in a state in which the refrigerator is installed in a second landscape mode according to an embodiment of the present invention.
15 is a cross-sectional view illustrating defrost water moving along the second main guide and the second sub guide according to an embodiment of the present invention.
16 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the movement of defrost water along the second connection pipe according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The above objects, features and advantages will be described later in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, and accordingly, those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs will be able to easily implement the technical spirit of the present invention. In describing the present invention, if it is determined that the detailed description of the known technology related to the present invention may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted. Hereinafter, preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar components.

1 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed in a portrait mode, and FIG. It is a perspective view showing a state in which the part 20 is opened.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be used in a state in which the case unit 10 is erected or laid down. The refrigerator 1 according to the present invention can be used by changing the opening direction of the door unit 20 according to various use conditions.

A refrigerator 1 according to the present invention includes an evaporator 42 and a compressor 56 to be described later. As the evaporator 42, a direct cooling type evaporator 42 that directly exchanges heat with air inside the cooling chamber 30 may be used. In addition, the compressor 56 may configure a cooling system using an oilless compressor 56 .

The oilless compressor 56 that does not use oil is smaller in size than the compressor 56 that uses oil, and since it does not use oil, the time required for maintenance work is reduced compared to the compressor 56 that uses oil. do.

Also, in the refrigerator 1 according to the present invention, the cooling chamber 30 may be cooled by using a thermoelectric element together with a cooling system or using only a thermoelectric element.

In such a refrigerator 1, in a vertical mode in which the cooling chamber 30 is erected, and in a first horizontal mode and a second horizontal mode in which the cooling chamber 30 is laid down, a first device for discharging the defrost water 200 is provided. The constant removal unit 100 can be used in common. Therefore, the refrigerator 1 according to the present invention can be used by changing the direction of the refrigerator 1 to suit the purpose at a place desired by the consumer.

The refrigerator 1 according to the present invention can be used in a portrait mode, a first landscape mode, and a second landscape mode. As shown in FIG. 2 , while the case unit 10 is erected, the cooling chamber 30 inside the case unit 10 is also installed in an erected state. A mode in which the refrigerator 1 is used in a state in which the cooling chamber 30 is erected is defined as a vertical mode.

10 is a cross-sectional view showing the flow of defrost water 200 moving along the first water collecting guide 110 in a state where the refrigerator 1 is installed in the first horizontal mode according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 10, in the first horizontal mode, the cooling chamber 30 and the evaporation unit 40 inside the case unit 10 are also installed in a state where the case unit 10 is laid down. . When looking at the evaporator 40 from the rear side of the refrigerator 1, the evaporator 40 rotates counterclockwise, so that the cooling chamber 30 and the evaporator 40 are laid down in the first landscape mode. define.

3 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the door unit 20 is opened in a state in which the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed in a second landscape mode.

As shown in FIG. 3, even in the second landscape mode, the cooling chamber 30 and the evaporation unit 40 inside the case 10 are installed in a laid-down state while the case 10 is laid down. . When looking at the evaporator 40 from the rear side of the refrigerator 1, the evaporator 40 rotates clockwise and the cooling chamber 30 and the evaporator 40 are laid down, which is defined as the second landscape mode do.

When looking at the cooling chamber 30 of the refrigerator 1 from the front of the refrigerator 1, the cooling chamber 30 and the case part 10 in a standing state in the vertical mode are rotated 90 ° counterclockwise and laid down The state is defined as the second landscape mode.

The refrigerator 1 of the present invention can be used in various modes such as a portrait mode, a first landscape mode, and a second landscape mode, and even in this state, the defrost water 200 generated in the refrigerator can be removed.

Detailed configurations of the refrigerator 1 according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 , the case portion 10 forming the outer shape of the refrigerator 1 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. In the vertical mode, since the height of the case portion 10 is longer than the width of the case portion 10, the case portion 10 has a shape extending in the vertical direction.

A cooling chamber 30 cooled by an evaporation unit 40 is provided inside the case unit 10 . The front of the cooling chamber 30 is opened and closed by the door unit 20 . As shown in FIG. 2 , in the portrait mode, the case part 10 and the cooling chamber 30 are in an upright state, and the door part 20 is rotatably installed in the case part 10 . In the vertical mode, the door unit 20 rotates in the lateral direction of the case unit 10 and opens and closes the front of the cooling chamber 30 .

The landscape mode of the refrigerator 1 is divided into a first landscape mode and a second landscape mode according to the direction in which the case unit 10 is laid down. As shown in FIG. 3 , in the second landscape mode, when viewed from the front of the refrigerator 1, the case 10 and the cooling chamber 30 are rotated counterclockwise by 90° in the portrait mode and laid down. In the second horizontal mode, the door unit 20 may be rotated downward to open the cooling chamber 30 .

Like the case part 10, the cooling chamber 30 forms an inner space of the hexahedron. The door unit 20 provided on the front of the cooling chamber 30 opens and closes the cooling chamber 30 by a rotational motion. The door unit 20 is rotatably installed on the case unit 10 . A door link 22 may be additionally connected to the plate-shaped door unit 20 .

Both sides of the door link 22 are connected to the door unit 20 and the case unit 10, and guide the door unit 20 to open and close slowly. The use of the door link 22 prevents the door unit 20 from rapidly moving, thereby reducing the risk of safety accidents. The door link 22 is used in the first landscape mode and the second landscape mode, and may not be used in the portrait mode.

The cooling chamber 30 in which cooling is performed by the cold air generated in the evaporator 40 is provided inside the case unit 10 and is opened and closed by the door unit 20 . The evaporator 42 provided in the evaporation unit 40 may be installed in direct contact with the air in the cooling chamber 30 . Alternatively, a separate partition wall may be provided between the evaporator 42 of the cooling chamber 30 and the cooling chamber 30 .

4 is a perspective view showing the main configuration of the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the rear side of the evaporator 40 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the evaporation unit 40 is installed on the rear side of the cooling chamber 30 installed in an upright state, and various modifications are possible within the technical idea of cooling air through heat exchange. The evaporator 40 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an evaporator 42, a partition wall 44, and a rear cover 46.

In the vertical mode refrigerator 1, the evaporators 42 are arranged in a vertical direction while the pipe-shaped tubes are bent in a zigzag shape. The refrigerant passing through the evaporator 42 exchanges heat with the air outside the evaporator 42 and absorbs heat, so it is vaporized. The air around the evaporator 42 is thus cooled.

The evaporator 42 is divided into direct expansion type cooling and indirect expansion type cooling according to the cooling method. Direct expansion cooling is a method of directly cooling the cooling chamber 30 by absorbing heat by evaporation of a refrigerant by installing an evaporator 42 in a refrigerator. Indirect expansion type cooling is a method of cooling an object by cooling a secondary refrigerant such as water without directly cooling the cooling chamber 30 and using cooled water. The evaporator 42 according to the present invention cools the cooling chamber 30 by a direct expansion type cooling method.

The partition wall 44 is a partition wall installed between the evaporator 42 and the cooling chamber 30, and when the partition wall 44 is cooled by the operation of the evaporator 42, the cooling chamber in contact with the partition wall 44 ( 30) is cooled. The partition wall 44 is a panel extending in the vertical direction, and the evaporator 42 is installed in a concave groove provided on a side surface of the partition wall 44 .

The rear cover 46 is a panel coupled to the back of the partition wall 44 in which the evaporator 42 is installed, and the evaporator 42 is located between the rear cover 46 and the partition wall 44. Therefore, the installation of the evaporator 42 can be performed stably, and the partition wall 44 is cooled by the cool air generated from the evaporator 42 .

After the defrost water 200 generated in the evaporator 42 and the partition wall 44 flows down along the partition wall 44, the third water collection guide 130 provided in the defrost water removal unit 100 It moves to the tray unit 140 through the

Based on the vertical mode, a condenser 52, a cooling fan 54, and a compressor 56 are installed in the electrical unit 50 located below the cooling chamber 30 and the evaporation unit 40.

The refrigerant passes through the compressor 56 and becomes a high-temperature and high-pressure state and moves to the condenser 52. The refrigerant moved to the condenser 52 is liquefied as the temperature drops, passes through an expansion valve, changes to a low pressure state, and moves to the evaporator 42 . The refrigerant moved to the evaporator 42 evaporates and lowers the temperature of the surrounding air, so cool air is generated around the evaporator 42 .

The cooling fan 54 is installed on the side of the condenser 52 and cools the condenser 52 by moving wind toward the condenser 52 .

5 is a perspective view showing the defrost water removal unit 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the defrost water remover 100 may be modified in various ways within the technical concept of guiding discharge of the defrost water 200 generated by the operation of the evaporator 42 . The defrost water removal unit 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first water collection guide 110, a second water collection guide 120, and a third water collection guide 130. In the first horizontal mode, the defrost water 200 is removed through the first water collecting guide 110, and in the second horizontal mode, the defrost water 200 is removed through the second water collecting guide 120, and in the vertical mode In , the defrost water 200 may be removed through the third water collection guide 130 .

The first water collection guide 110 is installed on one side (left side of FIG. 4 ) of the evaporation unit 40 in the width direction W, and serves to guide the movement of the defrost water 200 dropped from the evaporation unit 40. Various modifications are possible within the technical idea of having an inclined surface. The first water collection guide 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first main guide 112, a first sub guide 116, and a first connection pipe 119.

11 is a perspective view showing a first collection guide 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 12 is a first main guide 112 and a first sub guide according to an embodiment of the present invention. A cross-sectional view showing the movement of the defrost water 200 along 116, and FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the movement of the defrost water 200 along the first connection pipe 119 according to an embodiment of the present invention. .

As shown in FIGS. 11 to 13 , the first collection guide 110 is used in the refrigerator 1 in the first landscape mode. The first water collection guide 110 moves downward to discharge the defrost water 200 in the first landscape mode in which the cooling chamber 30 is rotated and laid on one side in the width direction W of the evaporator 40. Various modifications are possible within the technical idea of having an inclined slope. In the first horizontal mode, the evaporation unit 40 is located above the first water collection guide 110, and the first evaporation tray 142 of the tray unit 140 is located below the first water collection guide 110. Located.

The defrost water 200 generated in the evaporation unit 40 flows down and is moved to the first water collection guide 110 and then moved to the tray unit 140 located below the first water collection guide 110. It evaporates naturally after A plurality of water drain holes may be installed in the first water collection guide 110, and these water drain holes may be installed near the bottoms of the first main guide part 112 and the first sub guide part 116. .

After the defrost water 200 is gathered in the center of the first sub guide 116 , the defrost water 200 may be guided to the first main guide 112 through the first connecting pipe 119 . The first main guide part 112 collects the defrost water 200 to the lower side of the concave groove shape and then discharges the defrost water 200 to the tray part 140 through the drain hole.

The first main guide part 112 is provided with a first main inclined surface 114, and the first sub guide part 116 is provided with a first sub inclined surface 118. The first main inclined surface 114 and the first sub inclined surface 118 form an angle with the horizontal line of 3° or more and less than 30°. When the angle formed between the first main inclined surface 114 and the first sub inclined surface 118 with the horizontal line is less than 3°, the flowability of the defrost water 200 is reduced and the defrost water 200 cannot be properly discharged. In addition, when the angle between the first main inclined surface 114 and the first sub inclined surface 118 is greater than 30° with the horizontal line, the shape of the first water collection guide 110 becomes larger, resulting in increased production cost.

In addition, when only the first main guide 112 is installed singly, it is difficult to maintain the minimum angle to improve the flowability of the defrost water 200 due to the limited size of the case 10 . Accordingly, a plurality of grooves for collecting the defrost water 200 are configured, and the defrost water 200 is delivered through the first connection pipe 119 .

Therefore, when the horizontal length of the partition wall 44 for collecting the defrost water 200 is I, the horizontal length of the first main guide 112 is I/2, and the width of the first sub guide 116 is The horizontal length is also I/2. Since the first main guide part 112 and the first sub guide part 116 are divided at the center of the partition wall 44, the installation area of the first water collection guide part 110 is minimized while defrosting water 200 Emissions can be improved.

For example, when the horizontal length of the first sub guide 116 is shorter than I/2, the inclination angle of the first connection pipe 119 is reduced, so that the defrost water 200 is not smoothly discharged. In addition, since the inclination angle of the first main inclined surface 114 provided in the first main guide part 112 is reduced, the flowability of the defrosting water 200 is reduced, so that the defrosting water 200 is not smoothly discharged.

In addition, when the horizontal length of the first sub guide 116 is longer than I/2, the inclination angle of the first sub inclined surface 118 provided on the first sub guide 116 is reduced to increase the amount of the defrost water 200. Since the flowability is lowered, the defrosting water 200 is not smoothly discharged.

The first water collection guide 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first main guide 112, a first sub guide 116, and a first connection pipe 119.

In the first horizontal mode, the first main guide 112 includes a first main inclined surface 114 inclined downward. The defrost water 200 dropped from the evaporator 40 moves to the tray unit 140 along the first main inclined surface 114 . The groove formed by the first main guide part 112 has a triangular shape, and the first main inclined surface 114 is installed at the bottom of the first main guide part 112 .

The first main inclined surface 114 is installed inclined downward toward the other side (right side in FIG. 12) of the first main guide part 112 from one side (left side in FIG. 12 reference) of the first main guide part 112. Accordingly, the defrost water 200 moved from the evaporator 40 to the inside of the first main guide 112 is inclined downward along the first main slope 114 and then falls onto the tray 140 .

The first sub guide 116 is installed successively to the first main guide 112 and forms a groove for storing the defrost water 200 dropped from the evaporator 40 . The first sub guide 116 according to an embodiment of the present invention has a concave groove shape in a direction toward the evaporator 40 . Upper sides of the first sub guide 116 and the first main guide 112 are open, and the groove formed by the first sub guide 116 has a triangular shape.

The first sub-inclined surface 118 forms an inclined surface that is inclined toward the first connecting pipe 119 at the entrance of the first sub guide 116 . Since the first sub slope 118 is installed on both sides of the first connecting pipe 119, the defrost water 200 that has fallen to the first sub guide 116 is moved along the first sub slope 118 and It is moved to the tray unit 140 through the first connection pipe 119 .

The pipe-shaped first connection conduit 119 is a conduit connecting the first sub guide 116 and the third water collection guide 130. The first connection pipe 119 transfers the defrost water 200 stored in the first sub guide 116 to the third water collecting guide 130 . The first connection conduit 119 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first connection connected to the third water collection guide 130 at one end of the first connection conduit 119 connected to the first sub guide 116. It is installed inclined downward toward the other end of the connecting pipe 119.

As shown in FIG. 4, the second water collection guide 120 faces the first water collection guide 110 and is installed on the other side (right side of FIG. 4) in the width direction W of the evaporator 40. . The second water collection guide 120 may be modified in various ways within the technical concept of including an inclined surface for guiding the movement of the defrost water 200 dropped from the evaporator 40 . The second water collection guide 120 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a second main guide 122, a second sub guide 126, and a second connection pipe 129.

14 is a cross-sectional view showing the flow of defrost water 200 moving along the second water collection guide 120 in a state where the refrigerator 1 is installed in the second landscape mode according to an embodiment of the present invention. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing the movement of the defrost water 200 along the second main guide 122 and the second sub guide 126 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 16 is an embodiment of the present invention. It is a cross-sectional view showing the movement of the defrost water 200 along the second connecting pipe 129 according to the example.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 15, and 16, the second water collecting guide 120 rotates the cooling chamber 30 to the other side (right side in FIG. 4) in the width direction W of the evaporator 40. In the laid-down second landscape mode state, various modifications are possible within the technical idea of having a downwardly inclined inclined surface.

The second water collecting guide 120 is used in the refrigerator 1 in the second landscape mode. The second water collection guide 120 moves downward to discharge the defrost water 200 in the second landscape mode state in which the cooling chamber 30 is rotated to the other side in the width direction W of the evaporator 40 and laid down. Various modifications are possible within the technical idea of having an inclined slope. In the second landscape mode, the evaporation unit 40 is located above the second water collection guide 120, and the second evaporation tray 144 of the tray unit 140 is located below the second water collection guide 120. Located.

In the second horizontal mode, the defrost water 200 generated in the evaporator 40 flows down and moves to the second water collecting guide 120, and then the tray unit located below the second water collecting guide 120 ( 140). The defrost water 200 moved to the tray unit 140 is naturally evaporated. A plurality of water drain holes may be installed in the second water collection guide 120, and these water drain holes may be installed near the bottoms of the second main guide part 122 and the second sub guide part 126. .

After the defrost water 200 is collected in the central portion of the second sub guide 126 , the defrost water 200 may be guided to the second main guide 122 through the second connecting pipe 129 . The second main guide part 122 collects the defrost water 200 to the lower side of the concave groove shape and then discharges the defrost water 200 to the tray part 140 through the drain hole.

The second main guide part 122 is provided with a second main inclined surface 124, and the second sub guide part 126 is provided with a second sub inclined surface 128. The second main inclined surface 124 and the second sub inclined surface 128 form an angle with the horizontal line of 3° or more and less than 30°. When the angle between the second main inclined surface 124 and the second sub inclined surface 128 with the horizontal line is less than 3°, the flowability of the defrost water 200 is reduced and the defrost water 200 cannot be properly discharged. In addition, when the angle between the second main inclined surface 124 and the second sub inclined surface 128 is greater than 30° with the horizontal line, the shape of the second water collection guide 120 increases, resulting in increased production cost.

In addition, when only the second main guide 122 is installed singly, it is difficult to maintain the minimum angle to improve the flowability of the defrost water 200 due to the limited size of the case 10 . Accordingly, a plurality of grooves for collecting the defrost water 200 are configured, and the defrost water 200 is delivered through the second connection pipe 129 .

Therefore, when the horizontal length of the partition wall 44 for collecting the defrost water 200 is I, the horizontal length of the second main guide 122 is I/2, and the second sub guide 126 The horizontal length is also I/2. Since the second main guide part 122 and the second sub guide part 126 are divided at the center of the partition wall 44, the installation area of the second water collection guide part 120 is minimized while defrosting water 200 Emissions can be improved.

For example, when the horizontal length of the second sub-guide part 126 is shorter than I/2, the inclination angle of the second connection conduit 129 is reduced and the defrost water 200 is not smoothly discharged. In addition, since the inclination angle of the second main inclined surface 124 provided in the second main guide part 122 is reduced, the flowability of the defrosting water 200 is reduced, so that the defrosting water 200 is not smoothly discharged.

In addition, when the horizontal length of the second sub guide 126 is longer than I/2, the inclination angle of the second sub inclined surface 128 provided on the second sub guide 126 is reduced to increase the amount of defrost water 200. Since the flowability is lowered, the defrosting water 200 is not smoothly discharged.

The second water collection guide 120 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a second main guide 122, a second sub guide 126, and a second connection pipe 129.

In the second horizontal mode, the second main guide 122 includes a second main inclined surface 124 inclined downward. The defrost water 200 dropped from the evaporator 40 moves to the tray unit 140 along the second main slope 124 . The groove formed by the second main guide part 122 has a triangular shape, and the second main inclined surface 124 is installed at the bottom of the second main guide part 122 .

The second main inclined surface 124 is installed inclined downward from one side (right side in FIG. 15) of the second main guide part 122 to the other side (left side in FIG. 15 reference) of the second main guide part 122. Accordingly, the defrost water 200 moved from the evaporator 40 to the inside of the second main guide 122 is inclined downward along the second main slope 124 and then falls onto the tray 140 .

The second sub guide 126 is installed successively to the second main guide 122 and forms a groove for storing the defrost water 200 dropped from the evaporator 40 . The second sub guide 126 according to an embodiment of the present invention has a concave groove shape in a direction toward the evaporator 40 . Upper sides of the second sub guide 126 and the second main guide 122 are open, and the groove formed by the second sub guide 126 has a triangular shape.

The second sub-slope surface 128 forms an inclined surface that is inclined toward the second connection pipe 129 at the entrance of the second sub guide part 126 . Since the second sub inclined surface 128 is installed on both sides of the second connecting pipe 129, the defrost water 200 that has fallen to the second sub guide part 126 moves along the second sub inclined surface 128 and then It is moved to the tray unit 140 through the second connection pipe 129 .

The pipe-shaped second connection conduit 129 is a conduit connecting the second sub guide 126 and the third water collection guide 130. The second connection conduit 129 transfers the defrost water 200 stored in the second sub guide 126 to the third water collection guide 130 . The second connection conduit 129 according to an embodiment of the present invention, at one end of the second connection conduit 129 connected to the second sub guide 126, is connected to the third water collecting guide 130. It is installed inclined downward toward the other end of the connecting pipe 129.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the defrost water remover 100 in a state where the refrigerator 1 is installed in a vertical mode according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a view of the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. is a view showing the movement of the defrost water 200 in a state in which it is installed in a vertical mode, and FIG. It is a cross-sectional view showing the flow of the defrost water 200 moving along.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 to 9 , the third water collection guide 130 is installed below the evaporator 40 and controls the movement of the defrost water 200 dropped from the evaporator 40 . Various modifications are possible within the technical idea of having an inclined surface for guiding.

In the vertical mode, the third water collecting guide 130 forms a concave groove toward the lower side. The defrost water 200 that has fallen from the evaporator 40 to the inside of the third water collecting guide 130 is moved to the tray 140 through the drain hole provided at the lower side, and then naturally evaporated.

A phenomenon in which dew forms and flows occurs on the rear surface of the partition wall 44 in which the evaporator 42 is installed, and such dew is referred to as defrost water 200 .

The third water collection guide 130 is a technique for guiding the defrost water 200 dropped from the evaporator 40 to both sides of the width direction W of the evaporator 40 in the vertical mode in which the cooling chamber 30 is erected. Various variations are possible within the idea. The third water collecting guide 130 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first water collecting slope 132 and a second water collecting slope 134.

The first water collecting slope 132 is installed inclined downward from the center of the third water collecting guide 130 toward one side (left side of FIG. 9) in the width direction W of the third water collecting guide 130. The angle formed by the first water collecting slope 132 with the horizontal line is at least 3° or more. If the angle between the first water collection slope 132 and the horizontal line is less than 3°, the flowability of the defrost water 200 is reduced. Further, the angle between the first water collecting slope 132 and the horizontal line is less than 25° at most. If the angle between the first collecting slope 132 and the horizontal line is greater than 25°, the area of the space where the first collecting slope 132 is installed increases, so the outer shape of the refrigerator 1 increases.

The second water collecting slope 134 is installed inclined downward from the center of the third water collecting guide 130 toward the other side (right side in FIG. 9) in the width direction W of the third water collecting guide 130. The angle formed by the second water collection slope 134 with the horizontal line is 3° or more and less than 25°.

The first water collecting slope 132 and the second water collecting slope 134 come into contact at the center of the evaporation unit 40 and have a triangular protrusion shape. Therefore, the defrost water 200 that has fallen downward from the evaporator 40 and moved to the third collecting guide 130 moves along the first collecting slope 132 and the second collecting slope 134 to the third collecting guide. After moving to both sides in the width direction (W) of 130, it moves to the tray unit 140 through the water drainage hole.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the tray unit 140 collects water from at least one of the first water collection guide 110, the second water collection guide 120, and the third water collection guide 130. Various modifications are possible within the technical idea of receiving and storing the defrost water 200 and then evaporating it. The tray unit 140 according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed on both sides of the lower side of the third collecting guide 130 and the width direction W of the third collecting guide 130, respectively.

The tray unit 140 has a bowl shape for containing the defrost water 200, and the defrost water 200 contained in the tray unit 140 is naturally evaporated by heat from the electric unit 50 or the like. In the vertical mode of the refrigerator 1, the evaporation unit 40 is located above the third water collecting guide 130, and the tray unit 140 is located on both sides of the third water collecting guide 130 in the width direction (W). A third evaporation tray 146 is located.

The tray unit 140 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first evaporation tray 142, a second evaporation tray 144, and a third evaporation tray 146. The first evaporation tray 142 is located on one side (left side of FIG. 4 ) in the width direction W of the third water collecting guide 130 and has a shape extending vertically. The second evaporation tray 144 is located on the other side (right side in FIG. 4 ) of the third water collection guide 130 in the width direction W, and has a shape extending vertically.

The third evaporation tray 146 is connected to the lower side of the first evaporation tray 142 and the lower side of the second steaming tray, respectively. The third evaporation tray 146 and the first evaporation tray 142 are bent in a "B" shape, and protrusions protruding along the rim of the body are provided to contain the defrost water 200 . The third evaporation tray 146 and the second evaporation tray 144 are also bent in a "B" shape, and protrusions protruding along the rim of the body are provided to contain the defrost water 200 .

The tray unit 140 is fixed to at least one of the first water collecting guide 110, the second water collecting guide 120, and the third water collecting guide 130. One side of the third evaporation tray 146 in the width direction (W) is connected to the lower side of the first water collection guide 110, and the other side of the third evaporation tray 146 in the width direction (W) is connected to the second water collection guide ( 120) is connected to the lower side.

In addition, the defrost water 200 moves to the third evaporation tray 146 or the first evaporation tray 142 through a water drain hole provided at one side of the third evaporation tray 146 in the width direction (W). Then, the defrost water 200 moves to the third evaporation tray 146 or the second evaporation tray 144 through a water drain hole provided at the other side of the third evaporation tray 146 in the width direction (W).

Hereinafter, an operating state of the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 7, and 9, in a state in which the refrigerator 1 is installed in the vertical mode, the defrost water ( 200) occurs. The defrost water 200 flowing down the lower side of the partition wall 44 moves to the inside of the third water collecting guide 130 located on the lower side of the partition wall 44 .

The defrost water 200 moved to the inside of the third water collecting guide 130 moves along the first water collecting slope 132 and the second water collecting slope 134 on both sides in the width direction W of the third water collecting guide 130. go to The defrost water 200 moves to the third evaporation tray 146 located below the third water collecting guide 130 through the drain holes provided on both sides in the width direction W of the third collecting guide 130. do. The defrost water 200 contained in the third evaporation tray 146 is naturally evaporated by heat from the electronic unit 50 or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 10, 12, and 13, in a state where the refrigerator 1 is installed in the first horizontal mode, the defrost water 200 formed on the partition wall 44 moves to the lower side of the partition wall 44. and moves to the inside of the first water collecting guide 110.

The defrost water 200 moved to the inside of the first main guide 112 is moved in a downwardly inclined direction along the first main inclined surface 114, and the water drain formed on the lower side of the first main guide 112 It falls into the first evaporation tray 142 through the hole.

The defrost water 200 moved to the inside of the first sub guide 116 is moved to the lower side of the first sub guide 116 along the first sub inclined surface 118 and passes through the first connecting pipe 119. Accordingly, it moves to the third collection guide 130 connected to the first main guide 112. The defrost water 200 moved to the third water collecting guide 130 is dropped into the first evaporation tray 142 through a water drain hole provided in the third water collecting guide 130 . The defrost water 200 contained in the first evaporation tray 142 is naturally evaporated by heat from the electronic unit 50 or the like.

14 to 16, in a state where the refrigerator 1 is installed in the second landscape mode, the defrost water 200 formed on the partition wall 44 is moved to the lower side of the partition wall 44 and It moves to the inside of the water collecting guide 120.

The defrost water 200 moved to the inside of the second main guide 122 is moved in a downwardly inclined direction along the second main slope 124, and the water drain formed on the lower side of the second main guide 122 It falls into the second evaporation tray 144 through the hole.

The defrost water 200 moved to the inside of the second sub guide 126 is moved to the lower side of the second sub guide 126 along the second sub inclined surface 128 and passes through the second connecting pipe 129. Accordingly, it moves to the third collection guide 130 connected to the second main guide 122. The defrost water 200 moved to the third water collection guide 130 is dropped into the second evaporation tray 144 through a water drain hole provided in the third water collection guide 130 . The defrost water 200 contained in the second evaporation tray 144 is naturally evaporated by heat from the electronic unit 50 or the like.

As described above, in the refrigerator 1 according to the present invention, the vertical mode in which the cooling chamber 30 is erected and the cooling chamber 30 in the vertical mode are rotated to one side of the evaporator 40 in the width direction (W) and laid down. It can be used in any one of the first horizontal mode and the second horizontal mode in which the cooling chamber 30 in the vertical mode is rotated to the other side in the width direction (W) of the evaporator 40 and laid down. Depending on the use environment, the cooling chamber 30 of the refrigerator 1 can be used in a lying down or standing state, so user satisfaction can be improved.

In addition, in the refrigerator 1 of the present invention, the defrost water removal unit 100 for facilitating discharge of the defrost water 200 can be used in common even when the cooling chamber 30 is used in a lying or upright state. production cost can be reduced.

As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings illustrated, but the present invention is not limited by the embodiments and drawings disclosed in this specification, and various modifications are made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. It is obvious that variations can be made. In addition, although the operational effects according to the configuration of the present invention have not been explicitly described and described while describing the embodiments of the present invention, it is natural that the effects predictable by the corresponding configuration should also be recognized.

1: Refrigerator
10: case part
20: door part 22: door link
30: cooling chamber
40: evaporation unit 42: evaporator 44: partition wall 46: rear cover
50: electrical part 52: condenser 54: cooling fan 56: compressor
100: defrost water removal unit
110: first collection guide 112: first main guide 114: first main slope 116: first sub guide 118: first sub slope 119: first connecting pipe
120: second collection guide 122: second main guide 124: second main slope 126: second sub guide 128: second sub slope 129: second connecting pipe
130: 3rd collection guide 132: 1st collection slope 134: 2nd collection slope
140: tray unit 142: first evaporation tray 144: second evaporation tray 146: third evaporation tray
200: defrost number
W: width direction

Claims (20)

An evaporation unit installed at the rear of the cooling chamber installed in an upright state and cooling air through heat exchange;
a first water collecting guide installed on one side of the evaporator in the width direction and having an inclined surface for guiding movement of the defrost water dropped from the evaporator;
a second water collection guide facing the first water collection guide and installed on the other widthwise side of the evaporator and having an inclined surface for guiding movement of the defrost water dropped from the evaporator;
a third water collection guide part installed below the evaporator part and having an inclined surface for guiding movement of the defrost water dropped from the evaporator part; and
It is installed on the lower side of the third collection guide and on both sides in the width direction of the third collection guide, and collects water in at least one of the first collection guide, the second collection guide, and the third collection guide. A refrigerator comprising: a tray unit for receiving and storing constants and then evaporating them.
According to claim 1,
The first water collection guide has a downwardly inclined surface in a first landscape mode state in which the cooling chamber is rotated and laid down on one side of the evaporator in the width direction of the evaporator.
According to claim 2,
In the first landscape mode, the evaporation unit is located above the first water collection guide, and the first evaporation tray of the tray unit is located below the first water collection guide.
According to claim 3,
The first water collector guide part includes a first main guide part having a first main inclined surface inclined downward, and the defrost water dropped from the evaporation part moves to the tray unit along the first main inclined surface. .
According to claim 4,
The first water collection guide part may include a first sub guide part installed consecutively to the first main guide part and forming a groove for storing the defrost water dropped from the evaporator part; and
The refrigerator further includes a first connection conduit, which is a conduit connecting the first sub guide and the third water collection guide and transfers the defrost water stored in the first sub guide to the third water collection guide.
According to claim 5,
The first sub guide part has a concave groove shape in a direction toward the evaporator unit, and a first sub inclined surface formed to be inclined toward the first connection pipe from an opened inlet.
According to claim 5,
The first connection pipe is installed with a downward slope from one end of the first connection pipe connected to the first sub-guide part toward the other end of the first connection pipe connected to the third water collecting guide part.
According to claim 1,
The second water collection guide has a downwardly inclined surface in a second landscape mode state in which the cooling chamber is rotated to the other widthwise side of the evaporator and laid down.
According to claim 8,
In the second landscape mode, the evaporation unit is located above the second water collection guide, and the second evaporation tray of the tray unit is located below the second water collection guide.
According to claim 9,
The second water collection guide part includes a second main guide part having a second main inclined surface inclined downward, and the defrost water dropped from the evaporator moves to the tray unit along the second main inclined surface. .
According to claim 10,
The second water collecting guide part may include a second sub guide part installed in succession to the second main guide part and forming a groove for storing the defrost water dropped from the evaporator part; and
The refrigerator further includes a second connection conduit, which is a conduit connecting the second sub guide and the third water collection guide and transfers the defrost water stored in the second sub guide to the third water collection guide.
According to claim 11,
The second sub guide part has a concave groove shape in a direction toward the evaporator unit, and a second sub inclined surface formed to be inclined toward the second connection pipe from an opened inlet.
According to claim 11,
The second connection conduit is installed inclined downward from one end of the second connection conduit connected to the second sub-guide part toward the other end of the second connection conduit connected to the third water collecting guide part.
According to claim 1,
The third water collection guide part has an inclined surface for guiding the defrost water dropped from the evaporator to both sides of the evaporator in a width direction in a vertical mode in which the cooling chamber is erected.
According to claim 14,
In the vertical mode, the evaporation unit is located above the third water collection guide, and the third evaporation tray of the tray unit is located on both sides of the third water collection guide in a width direction.
According to claim 15,
The third water collecting guide may include a first water collecting slope installed downwardly from the center of the third water collecting guide toward one side in the width direction of the third water collecting guide; and
A refrigerator comprising: a second water collection slope installed downwardly from the center of the third water collection guide toward the other side in the width direction of the third water collection guide.
An evaporation unit installed at the rear of the cooling chamber installed in an upright state and cooling air through heat exchange;
a first water collecting guide installed on one side of the evaporator in the width direction and having an inclined surface for guiding movement of the defrost water dropped from the evaporator;
a second water collection guide facing the first water collection guide and installed on the other widthwise side of the evaporator and having an inclined surface for guiding movement of the defrost water dropped from the evaporator; and
A tray unit that is connected to the first water collection guide and the second water collection guide, respectively, and receives and stores defrost water collected from at least one of the first water collection guide and the second water collection guide, and then evaporates it. Refrigerator including;
According to claim 17,
The first water collecting guide includes a first main guide having a first main inclined surface inclined downward,
The second water collection guide includes a second main guide having a second main inclined surface inclined downward,
The defrost water dropped from the evaporator moves to the tray unit along the first or second main slope.
An evaporation unit installed at the rear of the cooling chamber installed in an upright state and cooling air through heat exchange;
a third water collection guide part installed below the evaporator part and having an inclined surface for guiding movement of the defrost water dropped from the evaporator part; and
A refrigerator comprising: a tray unit installed below the third water collecting guide and evaporating after receiving and storing the defrost water collected by the third water collecting guide.
According to claim 19,
The third water collecting guide may include a first water collecting slope installed downwardly from the center of the third water collecting guide toward one side in the width direction of the third water collecting guide; and
A refrigerator comprising: a second water collection slope installed downwardly from the center of the third water collection guide toward the other side in the width direction of the third water collection guide.

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