MXPA06005201A - Cooling air supply apparatus of refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

A cooling air supply apparatus of a refrigerator that is capable of uniformly supplying cooling air to all food received in a receiving box is disclosed. The refrigerator includes a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment for storing food at low temperature, a barrier for partitioning the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment from each other, and a receiving box mounted in the refrigerating compartment for receiving food. The cooling air supply apparatus includes a communication port formed through the barrier for guiding cooling air from the freezing compartment into the refrigerating compartment, and a hollow box-shaped cover mounted at the top part of the receiving box. The cover is provided at one side thereof with an introduction port, which communicates with the communication port. The cover is provided at the lower part thereof with at least one cooling air supplying hole, which communicates with the interior of the receiving box.

Description

COOLING REFRIGERANT AIR SUPPLY APPARATUS This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. P2005-38233 and P2005-38234, filed May 7, 2005, as well as P2005-41796, filed May 18, 2005, and P2005-49864 and P2005- 49865, filed June 10, 2005, which are hereby incorporated by reference as if they were hereby set forth in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a refrigerator air supply apparatus of a refrigerator and, more particularly, to a refrigerator air supply apparatus of a refrigerator that is capable of efficiently supplying cooling air from a refrigerator freezer compartment. to a reception box formed in a refrigeration compartment of the refrigerator for storing vegetables and meat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In general, a refrigerator is an appliance to store food at a relatively low temperature, to prevent food from breaking down and to keep food in a fresh state. Typically, the refrigerator includes a refrigeration compartment for storing food in a refrigerated state at a low temperature above zero degrees (usually 0 ° C to 8 ° C), as well as a freezer compartment for storing food in a freezing state at a low temperature below zero degrees (usually -20 ° C to -0 ° C). In recent years, a side-by-side type refrigerator has been increasingly used, where a refrigeration compartment and a freezing compartment are arranged in the widthwise direction of the refrigerator, in order to improve the refrigerator's reception efficiency . Even in this side-by-side refrigerator, the refrigeration compartment and the freezer compartment, which are arranged in the widthwise direction of the refrigerator, are separated from each other by a barrier, just as in conventional refrigerators. . In general, it is preferable that certain foods stored in the refrigerator, for example fruits and vegetables, be stored at approximately 4 ° C. In addition, it is preferable that fruits and vegetables are stored in the refrigerator in such a way that the evaporation of moisture from fruits and vegetables can be avoided effectively, considering the characteristics of fruits and vegetables. To this end, an additional receiving box is mounted in a hermetically sealed state on one side of the refrigerator, for storing fruits and vegetables without loss of moisture. Additionally, in recent years a method has been developed to store meat in the refrigeration compartment of the refrigerator in an unfrozen state, thus ensuring a nourishment and a knowledge with a relatively lower deterioration, in addition to a conventional method for storing meat in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator in a frozen state, so that the meat can freeze at a low temperature of about 18 ° C below zero. In this method for storing the meat in the non-frozen state, the meat is stored at a temperature of about 1 ° C below zero. As a consequence, the method for storing the meat in the non-frozen state has the advantage that not only the meat is prevented from spoiling or deteriorating, but also the damage to the meat's taste and nourishment is minimized. . Hereinafter, a conventional side-by-side cooler and a structure for supplying cooling air to a refrigerator receiving box will be described shortly with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. First, as shown in Figure 1, a freezing compartment 11 and a cooling compartment 12 are arranged in a refrigerator body 10 in the widthwise direction of the refrigerator. A barrier 13 is disposed between the cooling compartment 12 and the freezing compartment 11., by means of which the cooling compartment 12 and the freezing compartment 11 are divided one from the other. A plurality of receiving boxes 20 are mounted inside the cooling compartment 12, which can be moved back and forth from the refrigerator, ie towards the outside and the inside of the refrigerator body 10, so that the food can place easily in the reception boxes 20 and the food can be easily removed from the reception boxes 20. Each of the reception boxes 20 has an open top, which is covered by a corresponding one of the shelves 30 that divide the cooling compartment into a plurality of cooling sections. As a consequence, although the inside of the cooling compartment 12 of the cooler body 10 is maintained at an appropriate temperature, i.e. about 4 ° C above zero, the interior of each of the receiving boxes 20 is also keep at approximately 4 ° C above zero, so that fruits and vegetables can be stored in a fresh state in each of the reception boxes 20. At this time, when the open top of each of the boxes of receiving 20 is covered with the corresponding shelf 30, moisture evaporation of fruits and vegetables can be effectively avoided and, therefore, fruits and vegetables can be stored for a long period of time in a fresh state.

As described above, in recent years a method has been proposed for storing meat in any of the reception boxes 20 mounted in the refrigeration compartment 12 in an unfrozen state, by supplying cooling air to the receiving box 20. The figures 2 and 3 illustrate a conventional structure for selectively supplying cooling air from the freezing compartment to the receiving box 20 of the cooling compartment 12. Specifically, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, a communication port 40 is formed through the lower part of the barrier 13, which divides the cooling compartment 11 and the freezing compartment 12 from each other, so that the cooling air can be supplied from the cooling compartment 11 to the receiving box 20 mounted in the cooling compartment 12 through the communication port 40. As a result, the interi The reception box 20 can be maintained at a temperature of about 1 ° C below zero, which is lower than the general temperature of the refrigeration compartment 12, whereby the meat can be stored in the non-frozen state. The amount of cooling air that passes through the communication port 40 is controlled by the adjustment of the open section area of the communication port 40, which is performed by the operation of a temperature control unit and a fire damper (not shown) of the cooling compartment 12.

The control of the amount of cooling air passing through the communication port 40 will be described in more detail below. When a user places meat in the receiving box 20 and manipulates a controller (not shown), so that the inside of the receiving box 20 can be maintained in an unfrozen state, ie at a temperature of about 1 ° C under zero, the pull gate (not shown) formed in the communication port 40 is opened and, therefore, the cooling air is supplied from the freezing compartment 11 to the cooling compartment 12 through the communication port 40. The cooling air supplied through the communication port 40 is discharged into the cooling compartment 12 and then flows to one of the sides of the receiving box 20. Having flowed to one of the sides of the receiving box 20, the cooling air it flows subsequently to the upper and lower parts and to the front and rear parts of the receiving box 20 through a space defined between the receiving box 20 and the pair Internal ed of the refrigeration compartment 12. The cooling air flowing along the outside of the receiving box 20 is introduced into the receiving box 20 through the cooling air supply orifices 20a formed in the side part or the rear part of the receiving box 20. As a result, the interior temperature of the receiving box 20 is reduced and, therefore, the meat received in the receiving box 20 is stored at a predetermined temperature, at which the meat is stored in a non-stored state. frozen. However, the conventional cooling air supply apparatus for supplying the cooling air from the freezing compartment 11 to the receiving box 20 of the cooling box 12, presents the following problems. First, when the cooling air flowing through the communication port 40 is supplied to one of the sides of the receiving box 20, the supplied cooling air flows along the outside of the receiving box 20. At this time, the thermal transfer is carried out between a part of the cooling air and the air that is in the cooling compartment 12, which is greater than the cooling air. As a result, the cooling air is supplied to the receiving box 20 while the temperature of the cooling air is slightly increased. Consequently, a temperature variation is generated between the temperature of the cooling air introduced through the cooling air supply port 20a relatively adjacent to the communication port 40 and the temperature of the cooling air introduced through the relatively distant cooling air supply port 20a to the communication port 40. As a result, the internal temperature of the receiving box 20 can not be maintained uniformly and, therefore, the cooling efficiency in the receiving box 20 is reduced.

Secondly, the cooling air flowing through the communication port 40 is not supplied directly to the receiving box 20. The cooling air flowing through the communication port 40 collides with one of the sides of the receiving box 20 and subsequently flows along the outside of the receiving box 20. As a result, loss of the cooling air occurs and the temperatures of the other components in the vicinity of the receiving box 20 are also reduced. For example, when the cooling air having a temperature of about 7 ° C below zero flows into the first part of the receiving box 20 through the communication port 40, the drinks received inside the door of a refrigerator, which it is adjacent to the front of the receiving box 20, they could freeze. Third, the cooling air flowing through the communication hole 40 is introduced into the receiving box 20 through a small number of cooling air supply ports 20a formed in predetermined positions of the side and rear part of the cooling port. the receiving box 20. As a result, the food received in the receiving box 20, upon being found adjacent to the cooling air supply orifices 20a, is considerably affected by the cooling air, although the food received in the box of reception 20, being far from the cooling air supply orifices 20a, are slightly affected by the cooling air. As a consequence, it is difficult to uniformly store the food in the receiving box 20.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention relates to a cooling air supply apparatus of a refrigerator that substantially overcomes one or more problems due to the limitations and disadvantages of the related art. One of the purposes of the present invention is to provide a cooling air supply apparatus for a refrigerator that is capable of uniformly supplying cooling air to all food received in a receiving box. Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a cooling air supply apparatus for a cooler that is capable of supplying cooling air from a freezing compartment to a receiving box, without spilling the cooling air to the outside of the box of reception, thus avoiding the loss of cooling air and the increase in temperature, as well as minimizing the effect on the other components in a cooling compartment due to the spillage of cooling air. Advantages, purposes and additional features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows and in part will be apparent to the person skilled in the art upon reviewing the following, or will be learned from the practice of the invention. The objects and other advantages of the invention can be implemented and achieved with the structure indicated in particular in the written description and the claims thereof, as well as in the accompanying drawings. To achieve these purposes and other advantages, as well as in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as has been widely implemented and described herein, a refrigerant air supply apparatus of a refrigerator, which includes a refrigeration compartment and a compartment freezing to store food at a low temperature, a barrier for dividing the refrigeration compartment and the freezing compartment from each other, as well as a reception box mounted in the refrigeration compartment to receive food, including a communication port formed through the barrier to guide the cooling air from the freezing compartment to the cooling compartment, as well as a hollow box-shaped cover mounted on the top of the receiving box, the cover being provided on one side of it with an introduction port, which communicates with the communication port, the cover being provided in the lower part thereof, with at least one cooling air supply orifice, which is communicated with the interior of the receiving box.

In another aspect of the present invention, a refrigerant air supply apparatus of a refrigerator, including a refrigeration compartment and a freezing compartment for storing food at a low temperature, a barrier for dividing the refrigeration compartment and the compartment of refrigeration. freezing each other, as well as a receiving box mounted in the refrigeration compartment for receiving food, includes a communication port formed through the barrier to guide the cooling air from the freezing compartment to the refrigeration compartment, as well as a cover mounted to cover the upper part of the reception box, the cover being provided on one of the sides thereof, with an introduction port, which communicates with the communication port, the cover being provided in another of the sides of it with a discharge port, through which it is downloaded and Refrigerant air introduced through the introduction port. It should be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are of an exemplary and explanatory nature and are intended to provide a further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a greater understanding of the invention and which are incorporated into and constitute part of this application, illustrate embodiment (s) of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principle of the invention. nvention In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a general type side-by-side refrigerator. Figure 2 is a front view of the refrigerator shown in Figure 1, with the refrigerator doors being open. Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating the structure of a conventional refrigerant air supply apparatus. Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating the structure of a cooling air supply apparatus in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of the refrigerant air supply apparatus shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating the structure of a refrigerant air supply apparatus according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of the refrigerant air supply apparatus shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a perspective view illustrating the structure of a cooling air supply apparatus in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9 is a schematic perspective view of the refrigerant air supply apparatus shown in Figure 8. Figure 10 is a plan view illustrating the operation of the refrigerant air supply apparatus shown in Figure 8. Figure 11 is a perspective view illustrating the structure of the cooling air supply apparatus in accordance with a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 12 is a schematic perspective view of the refrigerant air supply apparatus shown in Figure 11. Figure 13 is a plan view illustrating the operation of the refrigerant air supply apparatus shown in Figure 11. Figure 14 is a sectional view illustrating a refrigerator to which a refrigerant air supply apparatus is applied in accordance with a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 15 is an enlarged sectional view of the refrigerant air supply apparatus of Figure 14. Figure 16 is a schematic perspective view of the refrigerant air supply apparatus shown in Figure 14. Figure 17 is a sectional view that Illustrates the structure of the refrigerant air supply apparatus shown in Figure 14.

Figure 18 is a block diagram illustrating the construction for operating a heater of the refrigerant air supply apparatus shown in Figure 14. Figure 19 is a sectional view illustrating a refrigerator to which a delivery apparatus is applied. of cooling air in accordance with a sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the examples of which are illustrated in appended FIGS. 1-19. Whenever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or similar parts. First, a refrigerant air supply apparatus of a refrigerator according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to figures 4 and 5. As shown in figure 4, a barrier 13 is disposed between a cooling compartment 12 and a freezing compartment 11. Through the barrier 13 a communication port 40 is formed, which serves to guide the cooling air from the freezing compartment 12 to the cooling compartment 12. Although it is not shown in Figure 4, a pull gate (not shown), which serves to control the supply of cooling air from the freezing compartment 11 to the cooling compartment 12, is preferably mounted in the communication port 40. The opening level of the firing gate (not shown) is controlled by a controller (not shown) of the refrigerator, whereby the cant The cooling air supplied is controlled appropriately. A receiving box 20 is mounted inside the cooling compartment 12, which receives food such as meat or vegetables, so that the receiving box 20 can move back and forth from the refrigerator, that is to say towards the outside and the outside. interior of the cooling compartment 12. The receiving box 20 has an open top part. In the upper open part of the receiving box 20, a cooling air supplying device 100 is mounted to cover the open upper part of the receiving box 20 and directly supply cooling air from the freezing compartment 11 towards the receiving box 20. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the cooling air supply apparatus 100 includes a duct 110 for guiding the cooling air supplied through the communication port 40 to the receiving box 20, as well as a cover 120 for supplying the guided cooling air through the duct 110 to the receiving box 20.

The duct 110 is provided on a surface of that site, which is connected to the communication port 40, with an inlet port 111, which is formed with the same shape as the opening of the communication port 40. In addition, the duct 110 is provided on a surface of that site, which is connected to the cover 120, with an exit port 112, which communicates with the introduction port 123 formed on one of the sides of the cover 120. The cover 120 is formed in the form of a thin hollow box, the interior of which is hollow so that cooling air supplied through duct 110 can flow along the hollow interior. The cover 120 serves to supply the cooling air guided through the duct 110 to the receiving box 20. In addition, the cover 120 serves to cover the open upper part of the receiving box 20 as a shelf. In this embodiment, the cover 120 includes an upper plate 121 formed in the form of a thin box having an open lower part, as well as a lower plate 122 formed in the shape of a flat table. The lower plate 122 engages with the upper plate 121 to cover the open lower part of the upper plate 21. Of course, the upper plate 121 and the lower plate 122 can be integrally manufactured by injection molding, although the upper plate 121 and lower plate 122 are manufactured separately in this embodiment.

As described above, the insertion port 123 is formed on one side of the upper part of the upper plate 121, so that the insertion port 123 communicates with the exit port 112 of the duct 110. Through the the bottom plate 122 forms a plurality of cooling air supply orifices 124, through which the cooling air introduced into the internal space of the cover 120 by means of the introduction port 123, is discharged towards the receiving box. 20. Preferably, the plurality of cooling air supply orifices 124 are arranged uniformly along the entire surface of the lower plate 122, so that the cooling air can be supplied uniformly towards the box reception 20 through the cooling air supply orifices 124. In this embodiment, the cooling air supply orifices 124 are arranged in a line along the direction in which the cooling air introduced through the Inlet port 123 flows due to the flow pressure, i.e. from a side part of the cover 120 in which the inlet port 123 is formed to the opposite lateral part. Although the cooling air supply ports 124 are disposed in a line in this mode, the cooling air supply ports 124 can be arranged in two or more lines. Alternatively, the cooling air supply orifices 124 may be arranged in a zigzag or irregular manner.

In addition, the number, shape and size of the cooling air supply ports 124 can be changed appropriately depending on the amount of cooling air supplied to the receiving box 20. For example, the number or size of the supply ports The cooling air 124 can be small in the part where the cooling air is directly introduced, while the number or size of the cooling air supply orifices 124 can be large in the opposite part, ie in the that the cooling air is not introduced directly. The cooling air supply apparatus with the construction indicated above in accordance with the present invention is operated in the following manner. A user places food, such as meat, to be stored at a temperature lower than the interior temperature of the refrigeration compartment 12 in the receiving box 20 and the interior temperature of the receiving box 20 is increased through the cooler (not shown). As a result, the draft gate (not shown) mounted on the communication port 40 opens and, therefore, cooling air is supplied from the freezing compartment 11 to the cooling compartment 12, through the port communication 40. The cooling air supplied through the communication port 40 is guided to the duct 110 through the inlet port 111 of the duct 110.

The cooling air guided to the duct 110 is introduced into the interior space of the cover 120 through the exit port 112 of the duct 110 and the production port 123 of the cover 120. The cooling air introduced into the internal space of the cover 120 is supplied to the receiving box 20 through the cooling air supply orifices 124 formed in the lower plate 122 or the cover 120. At this time, since the cooling air supply orifices 124 are arranged at regular intervals from one end to the other end of the lower plate 122, the cooling air is supplied uniformly to the receiving box 20. The food, such as meat, received in the receiving box 20 is cooled to an appropriate temperature by the cooling air supplied to the receiving box 20 through the cooling air supply ports 124 of the cover 120. When the The interior temperature of the receiving box 20 has reached a predetermined temperature level or when a predetermined period of time has elapsed, the controller closes the shooting gate (not shown) or reduces the opening degree of the shooting gate. As a result, the communication port 40 is closed or the amount of cooling air supplied is reduced. Figures 6 and 7 illustrate a cooling air supply apparatus according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. The cooling air supply apparatus according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, is identical in its basic construction to the cooling air supply apparatus according to the first preferred embodiment previously described of the present invention. However, the refrigerant air supply apparatus according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention is different from the refrigerant air supply apparatus according to the first preferred embodiment described previously of the present invention, since the apparatus of supply of cooling air in accordance with the second preferred embodiment of the present invention further includes a pair of guide ribs 126 formed inside the cover 120, so that the guide ribs 126 are opposite each other to guide the air refrigerant introduced through the duct 110. The guide ribs 126 are mounted on the lower plate 122 of the cover 120, so that the guide ribs 126 project upwards from the lower plate 122. The guide ribs 126 are extend towards the center of the top plate 122 from a side end of the top plate 122 where the plate s The upper 122 is connected to the duct 110. Furthermore, the guide ribs 126 are preferably arranged so that the guide ribs 126 can converge gradually in the center of the upper plate 122. Preferably, the guide ribs 126 are disposed in such a way that the guide ribs 126 are almost connected to the lower part of the upper plate 121, by means of which the cooling air introduced through the insertion port 123 is guided without spillage of the cooling air. to the outside of the guide ribs 126. Of course, the guide ribs 126 can be formed integrally in the top plate 121, although the guide ribs 126 are formed in the bottom plate 122 in this embodiment. Alternatively, the guide ribs 126 can be manufactured separately from the plate 122 or the top plate 121, so that the guide ribs 126 can later be engaged with the lower plate 122 or the upper plate 121. When the ribs 126 are formed inside the cover 120 as described above, the cooling air supplied to the introduction port 123 through the duct 110, does not propagate widely in the lateral direction, but flows smoothly to the length of the direction in which the cooling air supply orifices 124 are arranged, with the orientation of the guide ribs 126. As a result, the cooling air can be supplied more easily to the receiving box 20 through of the cooling air supply ports 124. Meanwhile, the cooling air supply apparatuses according to the modalities described above In the present invention, they are constructed in such a way that the amount of cooling air supplied to the receiving box 20 is controlled by the pull gate (not shown) mounted on the communication port 40. However, the amount of air The refrigerant supplied through the communication port 40 can be controlled manually or automatically. Figures 8 to 10 illustrate a cooling air supply apparatus having a cooling air control function in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention. The cooling air supply apparatus according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a duct 110, a cover 120 and a cooling air quantity control unit. The main constructions of duct 110 and cover 120 in accordance with the third preferred embodiment of the present invention are almost identical to those of duct 110 and cover 120 in accordance with the first preferred embodiment previously described of the present invention, except that the cover 120 according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention includes additional components necessary to build the cooling air quantity control unit, which will be described in greater detail below. The cooling air quantity control unit includes a handle 131, a pivoting rod 133, a linear movement bar 135 and a blocking plate 136.

The handle 131 is a pallet-shaped member that can be manipulated by a user. In this embodiment, the handle 131 is disposed in a guiding notch 127 formed concavely in the center of the forward curved surface of the upper plate 121, so that the handle 131 can move from one side to the other along of the guide groove 127. Preferably, a mark indicating the amount of cooling air supplied in accordance with the manipulation of the handle 131, is formed on the upper surface of the handle 131. On the undersurface of the handle 131 a pin is formed guide 132, which projects downwardly from the lower surface of the handle 131. The guide pin 132 is fixedly fixed in a coupling hole 133a formed at one end of the pivot bar 133. In addition, the pin The guide groove 132 is inserted through a guide groove 127a formed in the guide groove 127 of the top plate 121, so that the guide groove 127a extends from one side to the other. As a result, when the user moves the handle 131 from one side to the other, the guide pin 132 moves from one side to the other along the guide slot 127 to guide the movement of the handle 131. The pivot bar 133 is a bar that extends from the bottom of the handle 131 to an end of the linear movement bar 135. At one end of the pivot bar 133 the coupling hole 133a is formed, wherein the pin is pivotally engaged. of guide 132 of the handle 131. At the other end of the pivot bar 133 a connection pin 133b is formed, which projects upwards. The connecting pin 133b is inserted into an elongated hole 137 formed in one of the ends of the linear movement bar 135. In the middle part of the pivoting bar 133 an axis hole 133c is formed, where a rotating shaft is inserted. 138 of the cover 120. As a consequence, when the handle 131 moves from one side to the other, the pivoting rod 133 is rotated pivotally at a predetermined angle from one side to the other, about the rotating shaft 138. As as a result, the linear movement bar 135, which is connected to the pivoting bar 133, moves linearly from one side to the other. In this embodiment, the rotary shaft 138, which is inserted into the shaft bore 133c of the pivot rod 133, is formed in the upper plate 121 of the cover 120. Alternatively, the rotary shaft 138 can be formed in the lower plate 122 of the cover 120. The linear movement bar 135 is disposed on one of the sides of the cover 120, so that the linear movement bar 135 can move in a back and forth manner from one side to the other. At one end of the linear movement bar 135 a locking plate 136 is formed, which opens and closes the insertion port 123 of the cover 120. At the other end of the linear movement bar 135 the hole is formed elongate 137, wherein the connecting pin 124 of the pivot bar is inserted. A plurality of guide protrusions 128 and guide rails 129 are formed on the bottom surface of the top plate 121 of the cover to guide linear movement from one side to the other of the linear movement bar 135. The guide rails 129 are disposed at the front and rear ends of the insertion port 123, while the guide rails 129 are arranged in parallel with each other. The guide rails 129 are formed approximately in the sectional shape of an "L" or "[", so that the front and rear ends of the locking plate 136 can be inserted between the guide rails 129 and be guided as length of the guide rails 129. The operation of the refrigerant air control unit with the construction indicated above will be described with reference to Figure 10. When a user wishes to control the interior temperature of the receiving box 20 or controlling the amount of cooling air to be supplied to the receiving box 20 in accordance with the characteristics of the food received in the receiving box 20, this pushes the handle 131 to the left or to the right. As a result, the handle 131 moves along the guide groove 127 in the longitudinal direction of the guide groove 127.

At this time, the guide pin 132 formed on the lower surface of the handle 131 moves along the guide slot 127a. As a result, the pivot bar 133 is pivoted pivotally about the rotating shaft 138 along the direction of movement of the handle 131. As the pivoting rod 133 is pivoted, the linear movement bar 135, which is connected to the end of the pivoting bar 133, moves linearly in the direction opposite to the direction of movement of the handle 131. At this time, the movement of the linear movement bar 135 is guided by the projections guide 128. Meanwhile, when the pivoting rod 133 is rotated in a pivoted manner, the movement of the connecting pin 133b forms a circular path. However, since the connecting pin 133b of the pivoting rod 133 is inserted into the elongated hole 131 of the linear movement bar 135, the pivotally rotating movement of the pivoting rod 133 becomes the linear movement of the bar of linear movement 135. As the linear movement bar 135 moves, the locking plate 136 moves along the guide rails 129. As a result of the movement of the locking plate 136, the opening level of the port of introduction 123 is controlled and, therefore, the amount of cooling air supplied to the internal space of cover 120 is controlled.

When the cooling air supply apparatus is equipped with the cooling air quantity control unit described above, it is possible to easily control the supply of cooling air from the freezing compartment 11 to the receiving box 20 of the refrigerant. refrigeration compartment 12 without the provision of the draft gate (not shown) in communication port 40. Figures 11 to 13 illustrate a cooling air supply apparatus in accordance with a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. The cooling air supply apparatus according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention is characterized by the modification of the control unit of the cooling air quantity of the cooling air supply apparatus according to the third preferred embodiment of the invention. present invention, as shown in Figures 8 to 10. The control unit of the cooling air quantity of the cooling air supply apparatus according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention, is identical in its basic construction to the control unit of the refrigerant air quantity of the refrigerant air supply apparatus according to the third preferred embodiment described previously of the present invention, except that the refrigerant air quantity control unit according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention, further includes a mantel unit Positioning to maintain the controlled state of the cooling air quantity. Specifically, the cooling air quantity control unit according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a handle 131, a pivoting bar 133, a linear movement bar 135 and a position holding unit for maintaining the position of the linear movement bar 135. The handle 131, the pivoting bar 133 and the linear movement bar 135 are identical in construction and operation to those of the cooling air quantity control unit in accordance with the third preferred mode previously described of the present invention and, therefore, detailed descriptions thereof will not be provided. The position maintenance unit includes a curved portion 155 formed at the end of the pivoting rod 133, as well as a position holding plate 150, which comes into elastic contact with the curved portion 155 to maintain the pivoting position of the pivoting rod 133. The position holding plate 150 includes a plate-shaped body 151 and an elastic portion 152, which comes into elastic contact with the curved portion 155, so that the elastic portion 152 can move freely. elastic by the movement of the curved portion 155.

The surface of the elastic portion 152 which contracts with the curved portion 155 of the pivoting rod 133, takes a curved concave-convex shape. Hereinafter, the concave portions formed on opposite sides of the elastic portion 152 will be referred to as "seat portions 132", while the convex portion formed in the middle of the elastic portion 152 will be referred to as "push part 154". . In this embodiment, two seat portions 153 are formed in the elastic portion 152, although three or more seat portions 153 can be provided by forming the surface of the elastic portion 152 which contracts with the curved portion 155 in the form of a wave. The plate-shaped body 151 is fixed to the inner surface of the upper plate 121 or the lower plate 122 of the cover 120 by means of fastening members, such as screws. In this embodiment, the body 151 is fixed to the inner surface of the upper plate 121. The elastic portion 152 is a plate-like member, which is separated by a predetermined distance from the body 151. The elastic portion 152 is integrally connected to one of the lateral ends of the body 151, so that the elastic portion 152 can move elastically between the body 151 and the pivoting bar 133. As a consequence, when the user moves the handle 131 from side to side to control the amount of cooling air supplied to the receiving box 20, the pivoting rod 133 is rotated pivotally about the rotating shaft 138. As a result, the curved portion 155 formed at the end of the pivoting bar 133 moves, while the curved portion 155 comes into elastic contact with the elastic portion 152 of the position holding plate 150. For example, as shown in Figure 13, when the user wishes to move the locking plate 136 so as to open the insertion port 123, this moves the handle 131 from the right to the left in said figure. As a result, the end of the pivoting bar 133 is pivoted in a clockwise direction and, therefore, the linear movement bar 135 is moved to the right in said figure. As a consequence, the Inlet port 123 is opened by the blocking plate 136. At this time, the curved portion 155 passes the pushing portion 154 from the left seat portion 153 of the elastic portion 152. As a result thereof , the curved portion 155 elastically presses the elastic portion 152, so that the elastic portion 152 can move toward the body 151. After that, the curved portion 155 is moved to the right seat portion 153. Subsequently, the portion curved 155 is located in the right seat portion 153 and, at the same time, the elastic portion 152 is returned to its original position. As a result, the position of the curved portion 155 is maintained, by means of which the open state of the insertion port 123 achieved by the blocking plate 136 is maintained.

On the other hand, when the user moves the handle 131 in the reverse direction, the pivoting rod 133 and the linear movement bar 135 move inversely. As a result, the Inlet port 123 is closed by the blocking plate 136. In the event that three or more seat portions 153 are formed in the elastic portion 152 of the position holding plate 150, it is possible to maintain the blocking plate 136 in three or more different positions and, therefore, maintain the opening degree of the introduction port 123 in the state in which the opening degree of the input port 123 is controlled. In this embodiment, the Curved portion 155 is integrally formed at the end of pivoting rod 133. However, a cylindrical member, such as a roller, can be rotatably mounted on the end of pivoting rod 133. In this case, when the pivoting bar 133 moves, the movement of the pivoting bar 133 is more easily achieved by virtue of the sliding movement of the roller. Meanwhile, the cooling air supply apparatuses 100 according to the above-described first to fourth preferred embodiments of the present invention, are constructed in such a way that the cooling air supply apparatuses 100 directly supply cooling air from the freezing compartment. 11 towards the receiving box 20, for storing the received food in the receiving box 20 at a low temperature.

Alternatively, as shown in Figs. 14 to 18, the cooling air supply apparatus may be constructed so that the cooling air of the freezing compartment is not supplied directly to the receiving box, but is guided throughout. from the outside of the receiving box, by means of which the food received in the receiving box is stored at a temperature lower than the interior temperature of the refrigeration compartment, without losing moisture. In this case, the reception box is constructed in a hermetically sealed structure. With respect to Figure 14, a first receiving box 21 is mounted in the lower part of the cooling compartment 12, so that the first receiving box 21 can be inserted in the cooling compartment 12 and can be removed from the cooling compartment. At the top of the first receiving box 21 a cover 200 is fixedly arranged to cover the open upper part of the first receiving box 21 in a hermetically sealed state, so as to define a first hermetically sealed storage chamber 21a. A second receiving box 22 is disposed on the cover 200. A locking plate 25 is arranged in the upper part of the second receiving box 22 to block the open upper part of the second receiving box 22 in a state hermetically sealed, to define a second hermetically sealed storage chamber 22a.

As shown in Figure 15, a gasket 252 integrally engages with the bottom of the lock plate 25. The gasket 252 comes into close contact with the upper part of the second receiving box 22, to isolate the second receiving box 22 from the cooling compartment 12 in a hermetically sealed manner. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 15 to 18, a flange portion 21 b is formed at the upper end of the first receiving box 21, so that the flange portion 21 b extends in the lateral direction of the first receiving box 21, while a rail notch 12a is formed in the inner wall of the cooling compartment 12. The flange part 21 b engages in the rail notch 12a, so that the first receiving box 21 can be inserted and withdrawing from the cooling compartment 12 in a sliding manner. On the upper surface of the flange part 21b a notch-shaped packing part 21c is formed, which is pressed in the direction of the thickness of the first receiving box 21 and which extends along the circumference of the first receiving box 21. The packing contact part 21c comes into contact with a package 209, which will be described later, to effectively achieve the sealing function. The cover 200 is formed in the form of a hollow rectangular box. In the cover 200, a cooling air channel 201 is defined having an introduction port 203 and a discharge port 204, so that the cooling air introduced into the cover 200 can flow along the cooling air channel 201. port of introduction 203 communicates with communication port 40 formed in barrier 13, so that cooling air of freezing compartment 11 can be introduced into a cooling compartment 12 through introduction port 203. Discharge port 204 it is formed through the rear end of the cover 200. In the lower part of the cover 200 an integral packing 209 is integrally fitted, which is placed in close contact with the upper part of the first receiving box 21, for isolating the first receiving box 21 from the cooling compartment 12 in a hermetically sealed manner. The package 209 is made of an elastic member, such as rubber. A heater 205 is mounted on the cover 200 to heat the inside of the cover 200 and prevent overcooling of the first hermetically sealed storage chamber 21a. A temperature sensor 206 is also mounted on the cover 200., which is disposed adjacent the heater 205 to detect the temperature of the heater 205. The temperature sensor 206 and the heater 205 are electrically connected to a control unit 208, which is constructed in the form of a microcomputer having a program of control, so that the control unit 208 controls the interior of the first hermetically sealed storage chamber 21a to maintain a predetermined temperature level.

When the user wishes to store food, such as fruits or vegetables, in the first and second hermetically sealed storage chambers 21a and 22a constructed as described above, he pulls the first receiving box 21 and the second receiving box 22 forward, so the first receiving box 21 and the second receiving box 22 can be removed from the cooling compartment 12 and, subsequently, places food, such as fruits or vegetables, in the first receiving box 21 and the second receiving box 22. After of this, when the user pushes the first receiving box 21 and the second receiving box 22, where the food is received, backwards, so that the first receiving box 21 and the second receiving box 22 can be inserted in the cooling compartment 12, the gaskets 209 and 252 are brought into close contact with the upper parts of the first receiving box 21 and the second to reception box 22 respectively. As a result, the interior of the first receiving box 21 and the second receiving box 22 are hermetically sealed. Meanwhile, the cooling air introduced from the cooling compartment 11 through the communication port 40 formed in the barrier 13, flows along the cooling air channel 201 of the cover 200, to cool the interior of the first chamber hermetically sealed storage 21a and the second hermetically sealed storage chamber 22a. The cooling air flowing along the cooling air channel 201 is discharged through the discharge port 204 and subsequently flows along the space defined between the first and second receiving boxes 21 and 22 and the wall internal of the cooling compartment 12. As a result, the temperature around the first and second receiving boxes 21 and 22 is reduced. The control unit 208 controls the heater 205 to receive energy when the interior temperature of the first chamber Hermetically sealed storage 21a is less than the predetermined temperature level based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 206. As a result, the interior of the first hermetically sealed storage chamber 21a is heated and, therefore, the overcooling the first hermetically sealed storage chamber 21a and the second hermetically sealed storage chamber 22a s and avoid effective manea. In this embodiment, a cover 200, which constitutes the cooling air supply apparatus, is disposed between the first receiving box 21 and the second receiving box 22. However, it is also possible to provide a first cover 200 and a second one. cover 210 in the upper part of the first receiving box 21 and the upper part of the second receiving box 20, respectively, as shown in figure 19. In this case, the cooling air of the freezing compartment is supplied to the first receiving box 21 and the second receiving box 22 through the first and second covers 200 and 210, respectively, by means of which the received food in the first receiving box 21 and the second receiving box 22, can Store at a temperature below the interior temperature of the refrigeration compartment. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that various modifications and variations may be made to the present invention, without deviating from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Therefore, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention, provided they fall within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims (23)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A refrigerating air supply apparatus of a refrigerator that includes a refrigeration compartment and a freezing compartment for storing food at low temperature, a barrier for dividing the refrigeration compartment and the freezing compartment from each other, as well as a storage box. reception mounted in the refrigeration compartment for receiving food, wherein the refrigerant air supply apparatus comprises: a communication port formed through the barrier to guide the cooling air from the freezing compartment to the refrigeration compartment; and a hollow box-shaped cover mounted on the upper part of the reception box, the cover being provided on one side of that site with an introduction port, which communicates with the communication port, the cover being located provided at the bottom of that site with at least one cooling air supply orifice, which communicates with the interior of the receiving box.

2. The refrigerant air supply apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises a duct connected between the communication port and the introduction port, so that the communication port and the introduction port communicate between each other. yes.

3. The cooling air supply apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized in that the at least one cooling air supply orifice includes a plurality of cooling air supply orifices disposed at predetermined intervals from a side portion of the cooling air. the roof where the inroduction port is formed until the opposite side.

4. The cooling air supply apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises at least one guide rib formed inside the cover to guide the cooling air introduced into the interior of the cover through the port. of introduction to the at least one cooling air supply orifice.

5. The cooling air supply apparatus according to claim 4, further characterized in that the at least one guide rib includes a plurality of guide ribs arranged opposite each other.

6. The cooling air supply apparatus according to claim 4, further characterized in that the at least one guide rib has a height equal to that of the internal space of the cover.

7. The cooling air supply apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized in that the cover includes: an upper plate having the introduction hole formed in one of the sides of the upper part thereof; and a lower plate coupled with the lower part of the upper plate, the at least one cooling air supply orifice forming in the lower plate.

8. The cooling air supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a control unit for the amount of cooling air to control the opening level of the introduction port and control the amount of cooling air introduced in the reception box.

9. The cooling air supply apparatus according to claim 8, further characterized in that the cooling air quantity control unit includes: a linear movement bar mounted on the cover, so that the linear movement bar can move linearly, the linear motion bar having a blocking part to open and close the Introduction port; and a driving member for linearly moving the linear movement bar.

10. The cooling air supply apparatus according to claim 9, further characterized in that the driving member includes: a handle mounted on the cover, so that the handle can move back and forth in a linear fashion by means of the manipulation of an user; and a pivoting rod mounted on the cover, so that the pivoting bar can be rotated pivotally about a rotating shaft, the pivoting rod having one end rotatably connected to the handle pivotally and the other end connected to a pivoting rod. elongated hole formed in the linear movement bar, to convert the linear movement of the handle in the linear movement of the linear movement bar.

11. The cooling air supply apparatus according to claim 9, further characterized in that the cooling air quantity control unit includes a guide member for guiding the linear movement of the linear movement bar.

12. The cooling air supply apparatus according to claim 11, further characterized in that the guide member includes a pair of guide rails mounted on opposite sides of the introduction port, while the guide rails are arranged parallel to each other. each other, so that the opposite ends of the linear movement bar are inserted between the guide rails and guided along the guide rails.

13. The cooling air supply apparatus according to claim 11, further characterized in that the guide member includes a plurality of guide ribs formed in the cover, so that the guide ribs project from the cover, so as to Movably hold the opposite sides of the linear movement bar.

14. The cooling air supply apparatus according to claim 10, further characterized in that the driving member includes a handle guide member for guiding the movement of the handle.

15. - The cooling air supply apparatus according to claim 14, further characterized in that the handle guide member includes: a guide notch formed in the cover, so that the guide notch extends along the length of the cover. direction of movement of the handle, the handle being movably located inside the guide groove; a guide groove formed through the cover, so that the guide groove extends along the guide groove; and a guide pin formed in the handle, so that the guide pin projects from the handle, the guide pin being rotatably connected with the pivoting rod pivoted through the guide groove.

16. The cooling air supply apparatus according to claim 8, further characterized in that the cooling air quantity control unit includes a position holding unit for maintaining the movement position of the linear movement bar.

17. The cooling air supply apparatus according to claim 9, further characterized in that the cooling air quantity control unit includes a position holding unit for maintaining the movement position of the linear movement bar.

18. The cooling air supply apparatus according to claim 17, further characterized in that the position maintenance unit includes a position maintenance plate, the position maintenance plate including: a body mounted in a fixed manner to the cover; an elastic portion mounted on the body, so that the elastic portion can move elastically, the elastic portion being elastically in contact with one of the ends of the pivoting rod; and a plurality of seat portions formed concavely in the elastic portion, at predetermined intervals to maintain the position of the pivoting rod.

19. The cooling air supply apparatus according to claim 18, further characterized in that the position maintenance unit includes a curved portion formed at the end of the pivot bar in a curved manner, so that the curved portion can be inserted in one of the seat parts.

20. A refrigerating air supply apparatus of a refrigerator including a refrigeration compartment and a freezing compartment for storing food at low temperature, a barrier for dividing the refrigeration compartment and the freezing compartment with each other, as well as a receiving box mounted in the cooling compartment for receiving food, wherein the cooling air supply apparatus comprises: a communication port formed through the barrier to guide the cooling air from the freezing compartment to the cooling compartment; and a cover mounted to cover the upper part of the reception box, the cover being provided on one side of that site with a production port, which communicates with the communication port, the cover being provided in another side of that site with a discharge port, through which the refrigerant air introduced through the port of introduction is discharged.

21. The refrigerant air supply apparatus according to claim 20, further characterized in that it comprises a package arranged between the cover and the upper part of the receiving box to prevent the flow of air between the inside and the outside of the reception box.

22. The cooling air supply apparatus according to claim 21, further characterized in that it comprises a heater mounted inside the cover to heat the cooling air introduced through the introduction port.

23. The cooling air supply apparatus according to claim 21, further characterized in that it comprises: a temperature sensing unit mounted inside the cover to detect the temperature of the heater; and a control unit for controlling the heater based on the detection result of the temperature detection unit.