US20050178139A1 - Refrigerator with condensation-preventing air guides - Google Patents
Refrigerator with condensation-preventing air guides Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20050178139A1 US20050178139A1 US10/989,456 US98945604A US2005178139A1 US 20050178139 A1 US20050178139 A1 US 20050178139A1 US 98945604 A US98945604 A US 98945604A US 2005178139 A1 US2005178139 A1 US 2005178139A1
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- air
- cover
- doors
- refrigerator according
- guides
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
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- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
- G03B17/00—Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor
- G03B17/56—Accessories
- G03B17/566—Accessory clips, holders, shoes to attach accessories to camera
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D23/00—General constructional features
- F25D23/02—Doors; Covers
- F25D23/04—Doors; Covers with special compartments, e.g. butter conditioners
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16M—FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS
- F16M13/00—Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles
- F16M13/02—Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D21/00—Defrosting; Preventing frosting; Removing condensed or defrost water
- F25D21/04—Preventing the formation of frost or condensate
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D23/00—General constructional features
- F25D23/003—General constructional features for cooling refrigerating machinery
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D23/00—General constructional features
- F25D23/08—Parts formed wholly or mainly of plastics materials
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D2323/00—General constructional features not provided for in other groups of this subclass
- F25D2323/002—Details for cooling refrigerating machinery
- F25D2323/0026—Details for cooling refrigerating machinery characterised by the incoming air flow
- F25D2323/00264—Details for cooling refrigerating machinery characterised by the incoming air flow through the front bottom part
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D2323/00—General constructional features not provided for in other groups of this subclass
- F25D2323/002—Details for cooling refrigerating machinery
- F25D2323/0027—Details for cooling refrigerating machinery characterised by the out-flowing air
- F25D2323/00275—Details for cooling refrigerating machinery characterised by the out-flowing air from the front top
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D2400/00—General features of, or devices for refrigerators, cold rooms, ice-boxes, or for cooling or freezing apparatus not covered by any other subclass
- F25D2400/06—Refrigerators with a vertical mullion
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N7/00—Television systems
- H04N7/18—Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a refrigerator with condensation-preventing air guides, and more particularly, to a condensation preventing arrangement for preventing formation of condensation on a cover of an intermediate partition of a side-by-side refrigerator.
- a side-by-side refrigerator includes a cabinet having storage compartments defined therein and divided by means of an intermediate partition in such a manner that the storage compartments are arranged side by side.
- the cabinet forms an outer main body of the refrigerator.
- the left and right doors are hinged to the front part of the cabinet for closing the storage compartments.
- the intermediate partition includes a heat-insulation wall, which is formed of foamed urethane, and left and right inner members provided at both sides of the heat-insulation wall.
- the storage compartments are divided into left and right storage compartments by the left and right inner members.
- To the front part of the intermediate partition is attached a cover, which is made of steel. The front ends of the left and right inner members are fixed to each other while being sealed by the cover.
- the hot pipe may be broken when foaming liquid is injected after the hot pipe is placed at the rear part of the cover. Also, the foaming liquid may be excessively injected between the hot pipe and the cover with the result that radiation of the heat is not properly accomplished. Furthermore, the cost and time for constructing the hot pipe are increased since the hot pipe is necessary.
- an object of the invention is to provide a refrigerator that is cable of preventing formation of condensation on a cover of an intermediate partition without using a hot pipe, thereby reducing the cost and time for mounting the hot pipe and thus improving the efficiency.
- the present invention provides a refrigerator including: a cabinet defining storage compartments therein, the storage compartments being divided by an intermediate partition; a plurality of doors which close the storage compartments; a machine compartment having at least part of a refrigerating device for cooling the storage compartments mounted therein; a cover disposed at a front part of the intermediate partition; and an air guide which guides air from the machine compartment along the front of the cover so as to prevent a formation of condensation on the cover.
- the refrigerator may further comprise an outlet duct for guiding air from the machine compartment to the air guide.
- the refrigerator may further comprise a blowing device for blowing out the air in the outlet duct.
- the air guide may be extended outward from the side of at least one of the doors so that a channel is formed between the plurality of doors in front of the cover.
- the air guide may comprise a plurality of air guides extended outward from both sides of the plurality of air guides in front of the cover.
- the plurality of air guides may contact each other at the end parts thereof so as to form a hermetically sealed channel in front of the cover.
- the least one of the plurality of air guides may have at the end part thereof with an elastictically deformable member which is elastically deformed when a door is one of opened and closed door so as to interfere with the other door.
- the plurality of air guides may extend extended longitudinally along one side of each of the plurality of doors.
- the present invention provides a refrigerator including: a cabinet having left and right storage compartments defined therein, the left and right storage compartments being divided by an intermediate partition; left and right doors which respectively closing the left and right storage compartments; a cover disposed at a front part of the intermediate partition; and an air guide which guides air passing by the front of the cover so as to prevent a formation of condensation on the cover.
- the air guide may extend outward from at least one of the opposite sides of the left and right doors, the air guide being formed such that it extends longitudinally.
- the air guide may include left and right air guides extending outwardly from opposite sides of the left and right doors, and each of the left and right air guides may have an end part contacting each other so that a hermetically sealed channel is formed in front of the cover.
- the at least one of the left and right air guides may have at the end part thereof with an elastictically deformable member which is elastically deformed when a door is one of opened and closed door so as not to interfere with the other door.
- the left and right doors are provided with guide rails having grooves to respectively accept left and right air guides, and wherein the left and right air guides are provided with sliding insertion parts which are insertable in the guide rails.
- the left and right doors may be provided with handles for allowing the doors to be opened or closed and the guide rails may be formed at the handles.
- a method of preventing the formation of condensation on a cover of a refrigerator having a storage compartment partition behind the cover including: directing heated air to the base of the intermediate partition; and guiding the heated air between the cover and the partition so as to evaporate moisture from the cover.
- a refrigerator closure assembly including: a first door having at least one air guide at a non-hinged end thereof, the first door being movable between a closed position and an open position; a second door having at least one air guide at a non-hinged end thereof, the second door being movable between a closed position and an open position; a partition; a cover on the partition and at a position in contact with the non-hinged ends of the first and the second doors when the first and the second doors are in the closed positions; wherein the air guides and the cover form an air passage when the first and the second doors are closed.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating air guides and handles of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating how to mount the air guide to the handle of the refrigerator according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 .
- the refrigerator includes: a cabinet 100 having side by side left and right storage compartments 120 and 130 defined therein and divided by an intermediate partition 110 ; and left and right doors 200 and 300 , respectively, each having one side hinged to the front part of the cabinet 100 for closing the left and right storage compartments 120 and 130 .
- the left door 200 is provided at the front part thereof with a display unit 251 for displaying the operation of the refrigerator, and a dispenser unit 252 prepared so that ice or water is taken out without opening the left door 200 .
- the left and right doors 200 and 300 are provided along the sides thereof, which are opposite to each other, with handles 220 and 230 , respectively, by which the doors 200 and 300 may be opened and closed.
- the cabinet 100 is provided at the lower rear part thereof with a machine compartment 140 , in which part of a refrigerating device is mounted.
- a machine compartment 140 In the machine compartment, specifically, are mounted a compressor 141 , a condenser 142 , and a blowing fan 143 for blowing air to the machine compartment.
- an inlet duct 144 To the front part of the machine part are connected an inlet duct 144 for guiding indoor air to the machine compartment 140 and an outlet duct 145 for guiding air discharged from the machine compartment to the space defined between the left and right doors 200 and 300 in front of the intermediate partition 110 .
- the left and right doors 200 and 300 have inner members 211 and 311 and outer members 212 and 312 , respectively. Between the inner members 211 and 311 and the outer members 212 and 312 are provided heat-insulation walls 213 and 313 , respectively, which are made of foamed urethane. At the rear parts of the left and right doors 200 and 300 are provided gaskets 215 and 315 having magnets 214 and 314 mounted therein, respectively. At the inner members 211 and 311 of the left and right doors 200 and 300 are provided pockets 216 and 316 , in which the gaskets 215 and 315 are disposed, respectively. The gaskets 215 and 315 are provided with fixing protrusions 217 and 317 , which are inserted in the pockets 216 and 316 , respectively.
- the intermediate partition 110 has left and right inner members 111 and 112 , respectively, which are made of plastic and form the inner wall surfaces of the left and right storage compartments 120 and 130 , and a heat-insulation wall 113 disposed between the left and right inner members 111 and 112 and made of foamed urethane.
- a cover 114 To the front part of the intermediate partition 110 is mounted a cover 114 , which is made of a formed metal sheet.
- the cover 114 includes pockets 114 a and 114 b, in which the front ends of the left and right inner members 111 and 112 of the intermediate partition 110 are inserted such that the front ends of the left and right inner members 111 and 112 of the intermediate partition 110 are hermetically engaged in the pockets 114 a and 114 b, respectively, and a contact part 114 c formed in the shape of a flat sheet, which the gaskets 215 and 315 tightly contact when the left and right doors 200 and 300 are closed.
- the handles 220 and 320 by which the doors 200 and 300 may be easily opened and closed, and left and right air guides 230 and 330 forming a hermetically sealed channel in front of the cover 114 of the intermediate partition 110 for guiding air discharged from the machine compartment 140 along the hermetically sealed channel.
- the handles 220 and 320 are formed along the opposite sides of the doors 200 and 300 such that the handles 220 and 320 are vertically extended, respectively.
- the handles 220 and 320 are formed by extruding a metal, such as aluminum.
- the handles 220 and 320 have fixed parts 221 and 321 fixed to the doors 200 and 300 , respectively, and grip parts 222 and 322 extended from the fixed parts 221 and 321 toward the front of the doors 200 and 300 and bent, respectively.
- the fixed parts 221 and 321 are fixed to the side parts of the doors 200 and 300 by fixing screws.
- the fixed parts 221 and 321 are provided with front protrusion parts 221 a and 321 a for covering the front parts of the outer members 212 and 312 of the doors 200 and 300 and rear protrusion parts 221 b and 321 b for covering the rear parts of the outer members 212 and 312 of the doors 200 and 300 .
- cushion members 223 and 323 such as rubber or soft plastic, for improving tactile sensation of the grip parts 222 and 322 , respectively.
- the air guides 230 and 330 are extended outward from the opposite sides of the doors 200 and 300 .
- the cross-sections of the air guides 230 and 330 gradually decrease as they extend from the opposite sides of the doors 200 and 300 , as illustrated in FIG. 3 .
- the air guides 230 and 330 are provided with base parts 231 and 331 , which are fixed to the doors 200 and 300 , and end parts 232 and 332 formed at the opposite sides of the base parts 231 and 331 , respectively.
- the base parts 231 and 331 are provided with sliding insertion parts 231 a, 231 b and 331 a, 331 b, respectively, which are protruded frontward and rearward so that the air guides 230 and 330 are fixed to the handles 220 and 320 .
- the handles 220 and 320 are provided with guide rails 221 c, 221 d and 321 c, 321 d having grooves extended vertically, in which the sliding insertion parts 231 a, 231 b and 331 a, 331 b are engaged, respectively.
- Each of the base parts 231 and 331 is made of a plastic resin extrusion, and each of the end parts 232 and 332 is made of an elastic material, such as rubber.
- the end parts 232 and 332 are attached to the base parts 231 and 331 , respectively.
- the end parts 232 and 332 of the left and right air guides 230 and 330 partially overlap each other so that the end parts 232 and 332 form a hermetically sealed channel in front of the cover 114 of the intermediate partition 110 , and thus high-temperature air does not escape.
- the corresponding end part 232 or 332 is elastically deformed since each of the end parts 232 and 332 is made of the elastic material, such as rubber. Consequently, the other door 300 or 200 is not affected by the opened or closed door 200 or 300 although the end parts 232 and 332 of the left and right air guides 230 and 330 partially overlap each other.
- the refrigerator serves to cool food stored in the storage compartments 120 and 130 by a refrigerating device including the compressor 141 and the condenser 142 .
- the compressor 141 and the condenser 142 are mounted in the machine compartment 140 disposed at the lower rear part of the cabinet 100 . Since the condenser 142 is not exposed to the outside, it is necessary to circulate air around the condenser 142 to cool the condenser 142 . To this end, the operation of the blowing fan 143 is required.
- indoor air is introduced into the machine compartment 140 through the inlet duct 144 . The introduced air is circulated around the condenser 142 and the compressor 141 so that the condenser 142 and the compressor 141 are cooled by the circulated air.
- the air having a high temperature by heat exchange with the compressor 141 and condenser 142 is discharged through the outlet duct 145 .
- the discharged air is guided between the left and right doors 200 and 300 in front of the cover 114 of the intermediate partition 110 by the outlet duct 145 .
- the hermetically sealed channel is formed by the left and right air guides 230 and 330 . Consequently, the high-temperature air moves to the storage compartments along the hermetically sealed channel.
- the air guides 230 and 330 serve to prevent contact between the indoor air and the cover 114 in addition to the above-mentioned functions. Consequently, the effect of preventing formation of condensation is improved.
- the condensation is formed on the cover, the hot air discharged from the machine compartment is continuously blown to the cover, whereby the condensation formed on the cover is quickly evaporated.
- a refrigerator according to the present embodiment has air guides for guiding air discharged from a machine compartment so that it passes by the front of a cover of an intermediate partition. Consequently, formation of condensation on the cover is prevented without providing the conventional hot pipe. Furthermore, the cost and time for mounting the conventional hot pipe are decreased since the hot pipe is not necessary.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Refrigerator Housings (AREA)
- Cold Air Circulating Systems And Constructional Details In Refrigerators (AREA)
Abstract
A refrigerator including: a cabinet defining storage compartments therein, the storage compartments being divided by an intermediate partition; a plurality of doors which close the storage compartments; a machine compartment having part of a refrigerating device for cooling the storage compartments mounted therein; a cover disposed at a front part of the intermediate partition; and an air guide which guides air from the machine compartment along the front of the cover so as to prevent a formation of condensation on the cover.
Description
- This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2004-10124, filed on Feb. 16, 2004 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to a refrigerator with condensation-preventing air guides, and more particularly, to a condensation preventing arrangement for preventing formation of condensation on a cover of an intermediate partition of a side-by-side refrigerator.
- 2. Description of Related Art
- Recently, side-by-side refrigerators having storage compartments defined in a main body and arranged in a side by side relationship in the main body have been actively developed, as the refrigerators are high-grade and large-sized.
- Generally, a side-by-side refrigerator includes a cabinet having storage compartments defined therein and divided by means of an intermediate partition in such a manner that the storage compartments are arranged side by side. The cabinet forms an outer main body of the refrigerator. The left and right doors are hinged to the front part of the cabinet for closing the storage compartments. The intermediate partition includes a heat-insulation wall, which is formed of foamed urethane, and left and right inner members provided at both sides of the heat-insulation wall. The storage compartments are divided into left and right storage compartments by the left and right inner members. To the front part of the intermediate partition is attached a cover, which is made of steel. The front ends of the left and right inner members are fixed to each other while being sealed by the cover. When the left and right doors are closed, gaskets tightly contact the cover. The outer surface of the cover is exposed to the outside. Consequently, condensation is formed on the cover when low-temperature air in the storage compartments is transmitted to the cover during the operation of the refrigerator. Condensation is undesirable as it is both a potential maintenance and health issue. The condensation spots the cover or runs down to the floor of a kitchen where the refrigerator is installed, whereby the kitchen becomes unsanitary.
- One known solution to this problem is to lay a hot pipe connected to a condenser of a refrigerating cycle at the rear part of the cover so that heat from the hot pipe is discharged to the cover, and thus formation of condensation on the cover is prevented. Such an arrangement is disclosed in Korean Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-0019305 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,666,043.
- In a refrigerator with the aforementioned arrangement, however, the hot pipe may be broken when foaming liquid is injected after the hot pipe is placed at the rear part of the cover. Also, the foaming liquid may be excessively injected between the hot pipe and the cover with the result that radiation of the heat is not properly accomplished. Furthermore, the cost and time for constructing the hot pipe are increased since the hot pipe is necessary.
- Therefore, an object of the invention is to provide a refrigerator that is cable of preventing formation of condensation on a cover of an intermediate partition without using a hot pipe, thereby reducing the cost and time for mounting the hot pipe and thus improving the efficiency.
- In accordance with one aspect, the present invention provides a refrigerator including: a cabinet defining storage compartments therein, the storage compartments being divided by an intermediate partition; a plurality of doors which close the storage compartments; a machine compartment having at least part of a refrigerating device for cooling the storage compartments mounted therein; a cover disposed at a front part of the intermediate partition; and an air guide which guides air from the machine compartment along the front of the cover so as to prevent a formation of condensation on the cover.
- The refrigerator may further comprise an outlet duct for guiding air from the machine compartment to the air guide.
- The refrigerator may further comprise a blowing device for blowing out the air in the outlet duct.
- The air guide may be extended outward from the side of at least one of the doors so that a channel is formed between the plurality of doors in front of the cover.
- The air guide may comprise a plurality of air guides extended outward from both sides of the plurality of air guides in front of the cover.
- The plurality of air guides may contact each other at the end parts thereof so as to form a hermetically sealed channel in front of the cover.
- The least one of the plurality of air guides may have at the end part thereof with an elastictically deformable member which is elastically deformed when a door is one of opened and closed door so as to interfere with the other door.
- The plurality of air guides may extend extended longitudinally along one side of each of the plurality of doors.
- In accordance with another aspect, the present invention provides a refrigerator including: a cabinet having left and right storage compartments defined therein, the left and right storage compartments being divided by an intermediate partition; left and right doors which respectively closing the left and right storage compartments; a cover disposed at a front part of the intermediate partition; and an air guide which guides air passing by the front of the cover so as to prevent a formation of condensation on the cover.
- The air guide may extend outward from at least one of the opposite sides of the left and right doors, the air guide being formed such that it extends longitudinally.
- The air guide may include left and right air guides extending outwardly from opposite sides of the left and right doors, and each of the left and right air guides may have an end part contacting each other so that a hermetically sealed channel is formed in front of the cover.
- The at least one of the left and right air guides may have at the end part thereof with an elastictically deformable member which is elastically deformed when a door is one of opened and closed door so as not to interfere with the other door.
- The left and right doors are provided with guide rails having grooves to respectively accept left and right air guides, and wherein the left and right air guides are provided with sliding insertion parts which are insertable in the guide rails.
- The left and right doors may be provided with handles for allowing the doors to be opened or closed and the guide rails may be formed at the handles.
- According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of preventing the formation of condensation on a cover of a refrigerator having a storage compartment partition behind the cover; including: directing heated air to the base of the intermediate partition; and guiding the heated air between the cover and the partition so as to evaporate moisture from the cover.
- According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator closure assembly, including: a first door having at least one air guide at a non-hinged end thereof, the first door being movable between a closed position and an open position; a second door having at least one air guide at a non-hinged end thereof, the second door being movable between a closed position and an open position; a partition; a cover on the partition and at a position in contact with the non-hinged ends of the first and the second doors when the first and the second doors are in the closed positions; wherein the air guides and the cover form an air passage when the first and the second doors are closed.
- Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.
- These and/or other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating air guides and handles of the refrigerator shown inFIG. 1 ; and -
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating how to mount the air guide to the handle of the refrigerator according to the embodiment shown inFIG. 1 . - Reference will now be made in detail to an embodiment of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiment is described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.
- As illustrated in the drawings, the refrigerator includes: a
cabinet 100 having side by side left andright storage compartments intermediate partition 110; and left andright doors cabinet 100 for closing the left andright storage compartments - The
left door 200 is provided at the front part thereof with adisplay unit 251 for displaying the operation of the refrigerator, and adispenser unit 252 prepared so that ice or water is taken out without opening theleft door 200. The left andright doors handles doors - The
cabinet 100 is provided at the lower rear part thereof with amachine compartment 140, in which part of a refrigerating device is mounted. In the machine compartment, specifically, are mounted acompressor 141, acondenser 142, and a blowingfan 143 for blowing air to the machine compartment. To the front part of the machine part are connected aninlet duct 144 for guiding indoor air to themachine compartment 140 and anoutlet duct 145 for guiding air discharged from the machine compartment to the space defined between the left andright doors intermediate partition 110. - Referring to
FIG. 2 , the left andright doors inner members outer members inner members outer members insulation walls right doors gaskets magnets inner members right doors pockets gaskets gaskets protrusions pockets - The
intermediate partition 110 has left and rightinner members insulation wall 113 disposed between the left and rightinner members intermediate partition 110 is mounted acover 114, which is made of a formed metal sheet. Thecover 114 includes pockets 114 a and 114 b, in which the front ends of the left and rightinner members intermediate partition 110 are inserted such that the front ends of the left and rightinner members intermediate partition 110 are hermetically engaged in the pockets 114 a and 114 b, respectively, and acontact part 114 c formed in the shape of a flat sheet, which thegaskets right doors - To the sides of the left and
right doors handles doors cover 114 of theintermediate partition 110 for guiding air discharged from themachine compartment 140 along the hermetically sealed channel. - The
handles doors handles handles handles parts doors grip parts parts doors parts doors parts front protrusion parts outer members doors rear protrusion parts outer members doors grip parts cushion members grip parts - The air guides 230 and 330 are extended outward from the opposite sides of the
doors doors FIG. 3 . The air guides 230 and 330 are provided withbase parts doors parts base parts base parts insertion parts handles handles guide rails insertion parts base parts end parts end parts base parts - The
end parts end parts cover 114 of theintermediate partition 110, and thus high-temperature air does not escape. When one of the left andright doors corresponding end part end parts other door closed door end parts - The operation of a refrigerator according to the present embodiment of the present invention will be hereinafter described.
- The refrigerator serves to cool food stored in the storage compartments 120 and 130 by a refrigerating device including the
compressor 141 and thecondenser 142. - In the refrigerator, the
compressor 141 and thecondenser 142 are mounted in themachine compartment 140 disposed at the lower rear part of thecabinet 100. Since thecondenser 142 is not exposed to the outside, it is necessary to circulate air around thecondenser 142 to cool thecondenser 142. To this end, the operation of the blowingfan 143 is required. When the blowingfan 143 is operated during the operation of the refrigerator, indoor air is introduced into themachine compartment 140 through theinlet duct 144. The introduced air is circulated around thecondenser 142 and thecompressor 141 so that thecondenser 142 and thecompressor 141 are cooled by the circulated air. - The air having a high temperature by heat exchange with the
compressor 141 andcondenser 142 is discharged through theoutlet duct 145. The discharged air is guided between the left andright doors cover 114 of theintermediate partition 110 by theoutlet duct 145. In front of the cover, the hermetically sealed channel is formed by the left and right air guides 230 and 330. Consequently, the high-temperature air moves to the storage compartments along the hermetically sealed channel. - When the high-temperature air flows along the hermetically sealed channel, heat is exchanged between the high-temperature air and the surrounding members forming the hermetically sealed channel. As a result, the temperature of the
cover 114 of theintermediate partition 110 is increased, which is accomplished by the conventional hot pipe serving to increase the temperature of thecover 114. Consequently, formation of condensation on the cover is prevented. - The air guides 230 and 330 serve to prevent contact between the indoor air and the
cover 114 in addition to the above-mentioned functions. Consequently, the effect of preventing formation of condensation is improved. When the condensation is formed on the cover, the hot air discharged from the machine compartment is continuously blown to the cover, whereby the condensation formed on the cover is quickly evaporated. - A refrigerator according to the present embodiment has air guides for guiding air discharged from a machine compartment so that it passes by the front of a cover of an intermediate partition. Consequently, formation of condensation on the cover is prevented without providing the conventional hot pipe. Furthermore, the cost and time for mounting the conventional hot pipe are decreased since the hot pipe is not necessary.
- Although an embodiment of the present invention have been shown and described, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiment. Instead, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in this embodiment without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.
Claims (18)
1. A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet defining storage compartments therein, the storage compartments being divided by an intermediate partition;
a plurality of doors which close the storage compartments;
a machine compartment having at least part of a refrigerating device for cooling the storage compartments mounted therein;
a cover disposed at a front part of the intermediate partition; and
an air guide which guides air from the machine compartment along the front of the cover so as to prevent a formation of condensation on the cover.
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , further comprising an outlet duct for guiding air from the machine compartment to the air guide.
3. The refrigerator according to claim 2 , further comprising a blower for blowing air out of the outlet duct.
4. The refrigerator according to claim 3 , wherein the air guide extends outwardly from a side of at least one of the doors so that a channel is formed between the plurality of doors and the cover.
5. The refrigerator according to claim 4 , wherein the air guide includes a plurality of air guides extending outwardly from both sides of the plurality of air guides in front of the cover.
6. The refrigerator according to claim 5 , wherein the plurality of air guides contact each other at end parts thereof so as to form a hermetically sealed channel in front of the cover.
7. The refrigerator according to claim 6 , wherein at least one of the plurality of air guides has at the end part thereof with an elastictically deformable member which is elastically deformed when a door is one of opened and closed door so as not to interfere with the other door.
8. The refrigerator according to claim 7 , wherein the plurality of air guides extend longitudinally along a side of each of the plurality of doors.
9. The refrigerator according to claim 7 , wherein each of the air guides have an end member and the end members partially overlap to form the hermetically sealed channel.
10. The refrigerator according to claim 7 , wherein the elastic material is rubber.
11. A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet having left and right storage compartments defined therein, the left and right storage compartments being divided by an intermediate partition;
left and right doors which respectively closing the left and right storage compartments;
a cover disposed at a front part of the intermediate partition; and
an air guide which guides air passing by the front of the cover so as to prevent a formation of condensation on the cover.
12. The refrigerator according to claim 11 , wherein the air guide extends outwardly from at least one of opposite sides of the left and right doors, the air guide being formed such that it extends longitudinally.
13. The refrigerator according to claim 12 , wherein the air guide comprises left and right air guides extending outwardly from opposite sides of the left and right doors, and wherein each of the left and right air guides has an end part contacting each other so that a hermetically sealed channel is formed in front of the cover.
14. The refrigerator according to claim 13 , wherein at least one of the left and right air guides has at the end part thereof with an elastictically deformable member which is elastically deformed when a door is one of opened and closed door so as not to interfere with the other door.
15. The refrigerator according to claim 14 , wherein the left and right doors are provided with guide rails having grooves to respectively accept left and right air guides, and wherein the left and right air guides are provided with sliding insertion parts which are insertable in the guide rails.
16. The refrigerator according to claim 15 , wherein the left and right doors are provided with handles and the guide rails are formed at the handles.
17. A method of preventing the formation of condensation on a cover of a refrigerator having a storage compartment partition behind the cover; comprising:
directing heated air to the base of the intermediate partition; and
guiding the heated air between the cover and the partition so as to evaporate moisture from the cover.
18. A refrigerator closure assembly, comprising:
a first door having at least one air guide at a non-hinged end thereof, the first door being movable between a closed position and an open position;
a second door having at least one air guide at a non-hinged end thereof, the second door being movable between a closed position and an open position;
a partition;
a cover on the partition and at a position in contact with the non-hinged ends of the first and the second doors when the first and the second doors are in the closed positions;
wherein the air guides and the cover form an air passage when the first and the second doors are closed.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
KR2004-10124 | 2004-02-16 | ||
KR1020040010124A KR20050081752A (en) | 2004-02-16 | 2004-02-16 | Refrigerator with air guide for preventing dew |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20050178139A1 true US20050178139A1 (en) | 2005-08-18 |
Family
ID=34836783
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/989,456 Abandoned US20050178139A1 (en) | 2004-02-16 | 2004-11-17 | Refrigerator with condensation-preventing air guides |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20050178139A1 (en) |
KR (1) | KR20050081752A (en) |
CN (1) | CN1313788C (en) |
Cited By (17)
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WO2009109022A1 (en) * | 2008-03-07 | 2009-09-11 | Whirlpool S.A. | Anti-condensation system and refrigerator |
US20100236762A1 (en) * | 2009-02-27 | 2010-09-23 | Electrolux Home Products, Inc. | Condenser assembly for an appliance |
US20100242525A1 (en) * | 2007-09-28 | 2010-09-30 | Jin-Koo Park | Refrigerator |
US20110067431A1 (en) * | 2009-09-03 | 2011-03-24 | Liebherr-Hausgerate Ochsenhausen Gmbh | Subassembly for a refrigerating and/or freezing apparatus, refrigerating and/or freezing apparatus and process for assembly of a refrigerating and/or freezing apparatus |
US20120023986A1 (en) * | 2010-07-30 | 2012-02-02 | Chae Sunam | Refrigerator |
US20150153093A1 (en) * | 2013-12-04 | 2015-06-04 | General Electric Company | Refrigerator Appliance |
WO2015165512A1 (en) * | 2014-04-30 | 2015-11-05 | Arcelik Anonim Sirketi | Refrigeration appliance having an anti-condensation arrangement |
US20170094990A1 (en) * | 2015-10-02 | 2017-04-06 | Pw Stoelting, L.L.C. | Frozen beverage dispenser |
US20170292768A1 (en) * | 2016-04-07 | 2017-10-12 | Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation | Refrigerator with home bar and hot air transferring unit for the same |
EP3295100A4 (en) * | 2015-10-15 | 2018-05-30 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Refrigerator |
US20180172335A1 (en) * | 2016-12-20 | 2018-06-21 | Whirlpool Corporation | Heat rejection system for a condenser of a refrigerant loop within an appliance |
US20180363970A1 (en) * | 2015-09-01 | 2018-12-20 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Refrigerator |
US20190078828A1 (en) * | 2017-09-11 | 2019-03-14 | Bsh Hausgeraete Gmbh | Cooling device with an air guiding element |
DE102021107667A1 (en) | 2021-03-26 | 2022-09-29 | Cool It Isoliersysteme Gmbh | Door for a freezer room |
US11512889B2 (en) | 2019-02-25 | 2022-11-29 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Entrance refrigerator |
US11624543B2 (en) * | 2019-08-26 | 2023-04-11 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Under counter type refrigerator |
WO2024063303A1 (en) * | 2022-09-20 | 2024-03-28 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Refrigerator |
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KR101350011B1 (en) * | 2007-05-23 | 2014-01-13 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Referigerator |
CN105004119A (en) * | 2015-07-02 | 2015-10-28 | 南京创维家用电器有限公司 | Refrigerator |
CN106440644A (en) * | 2016-10-28 | 2017-02-22 | 合肥美的电冰箱有限公司 | Side-by-side refrigerator and control method thereof |
CN107514855A (en) * | 2017-07-14 | 2017-12-26 | 青岛海尔电冰箱有限公司 | Refrigerating device |
CN107246757B (en) * | 2017-07-31 | 2023-06-16 | 长虹美菱股份有限公司 | Refrigerator with anti-condensation structure and anti-condensation control method |
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US20100242525A1 (en) * | 2007-09-28 | 2010-09-30 | Jin-Koo Park | Refrigerator |
WO2009109022A1 (en) * | 2008-03-07 | 2009-09-11 | Whirlpool S.A. | Anti-condensation system and refrigerator |
US20100236762A1 (en) * | 2009-02-27 | 2010-09-23 | Electrolux Home Products, Inc. | Condenser assembly for an appliance |
US8590337B2 (en) * | 2009-02-27 | 2013-11-26 | Eletrolux Home Products, Inc. | Condenser assembly for an appliance |
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WO2015165512A1 (en) * | 2014-04-30 | 2015-11-05 | Arcelik Anonim Sirketi | Refrigeration appliance having an anti-condensation arrangement |
US20180363970A1 (en) * | 2015-09-01 | 2018-12-20 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Refrigerator |
US20170094990A1 (en) * | 2015-10-02 | 2017-04-06 | Pw Stoelting, L.L.C. | Frozen beverage dispenser |
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EP3295100A4 (en) * | 2015-10-15 | 2018-05-30 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Refrigerator |
US20170292768A1 (en) * | 2016-04-07 | 2017-10-12 | Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation | Refrigerator with home bar and hot air transferring unit for the same |
US20180172335A1 (en) * | 2016-12-20 | 2018-06-21 | Whirlpool Corporation | Heat rejection system for a condenser of a refrigerant loop within an appliance |
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US11175088B2 (en) * | 2017-09-10 | 2021-11-16 | Bsh Hausgeraete Gmbh | Cooling device with an air guiding element |
US20190078828A1 (en) * | 2017-09-11 | 2019-03-14 | Bsh Hausgeraete Gmbh | Cooling device with an air guiding element |
US11512889B2 (en) | 2019-02-25 | 2022-11-29 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Entrance refrigerator |
US11624543B2 (en) * | 2019-08-26 | 2023-04-11 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Under counter type refrigerator |
DE102021107667A1 (en) | 2021-03-26 | 2022-09-29 | Cool It Isoliersysteme Gmbh | Door for a freezer room |
WO2024063303A1 (en) * | 2022-09-20 | 2024-03-28 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Refrigerator |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CN1657855A (en) | 2005-08-24 |
KR20050081752A (en) | 2005-08-19 |
CN1313788C (en) | 2007-05-02 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., KOREA, REPUBLIC OF Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:KIM, SEUNG JIN;REEL/FRAME:016007/0051 Effective date: 20041110 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |