WO2009017283A1

WO2009017283A1 - Refrigerator with evaporator installed in door

Info

Publication number: WO2009017283A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/005989
Authority: WO
Inventors: Min Kyu Oh; Jong Jin Park
Original assignee: Lg Electronics Inc.
Priority date: 2007-07-31
Filing date: 2007-11-26
Publication date: 2009-02-05
Also published as: KR101283190B1; KR20090012690A

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly to a refrigerator with evaporator installed in door, capable of maximally utilizing an inner space of a refrigeraror, wherein the refrigerator is characterized by: a refrigerator body for storing food in a low temperature state; a refrigerator door for opening and closing the refrigerator body; a compressor mounted at the refrigerator body for compressing refrigerant; a condenser for condensing the refrigerant that has passed the compressor; an evaporator installed at an inner side of the refrigerator door for heat-exchanging the refrigerant that has passed the compressor with the cooling air in the refrigerator body; an expansion unit interposed between the compressor and the evaporator for expanding the refrigerant that has passed the compressor; and a pipe for connecting the compressor, the condenser, the expansion unit and the evaporator such that the refrigerant can be circulated.

Description

REFRIGERATOR WITH EVAPORATOR INSTALLED IN DOOR

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly to a refrigerator with evaporator installed in door, capable of maximally utilizing an inner space of a re- frigeraror.

[2]

Background Art

[3] Generally, a refrigerator is an apparatus for freezing and refrigerating food in a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment by changing phase of refrigerant according to a refrigerant cycle of compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation. In other words, a refrigerator is an electrical appliance in which a refrigerating cycle of compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation is repeated using refrigerant to store food at a low temperature.

[4]

[5] Referring to FIG.1 illustrating a configuration of a freezing cycle of a typical refrigerator, the refrigerator essentially includes a compressor (10) for compressing refrigerant to a high temperature and high pressure gas refrigerant, a condenser (20) for condensing the high pressure refrigerant compressed in the compressor (10) by radiating heat of the high pressure refrigerant, an expansion unit (30) for reducing a pressure of the refrigerant condensed in the condenser (20), an evaporator (40) for evaporating the refrigerant in the expansion unit (30) to a low pressure and low temperature gas refrigerant, absorbing heat inside the refrigerating chamber or a freezing chamber and maintaining the temperature inside the refrigerating chamber or the freezing chamber at a low temperature.

[6]

[7] The refrigerator is classified into an integration type using an inner space of a body that has no partition between a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber, and a separation type using the inner space that has a partition separating a refrigerating chamber from a freezing chamber. The freezing chamber and the refrigeration chamber are separated in from one another in this separation type refrigerator. The separation type is classified into a top mount-type refrigerator having a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber partitioned up and down, a bottom freezer-type refrigerator having a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber partitioned up and down, and a side by side-type refrigerator having a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber partitioned left and right. Each of the top mount-type refrigerator, the bottom freezer- type refrigerator and the side by side-type refrigerator has its own merits and demerits, where the choice of the refrigerators depends on user's tastes and usages.

[8]

[9] Hereinafter, the separation type refrigerator will be mainly explained as the integration type is rather simple over the separation type.

[10]

[11] FIG.2 is a schematic configurative diagram of a conventional top mount type refrige rator installed with a single evaporator, FIG.3 is schematic configurative diagram of a conventional side by side-type refrigerator installed with a single evaporator, FIG.4 is a schematic configurative diagram of the conventional top mount type refrigerator installed with an evaporator at a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber, and FIG.5 is a schematic configurative diagram of the conventional side-by-side type refrigerator installed with an evaporator at a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber. The bottom freeze-type refrigerator will not be explained herein because the top mount-type refrigerator can be easily converted to a bottom freeze-type refrigerator by changing positions of the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber.

[12]

[13] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the conventional refrigerator having an evaporator in a door includes a refrigerator body (50) partitioned by a refrigerating chamber (54) and a freezing chamber (58) using a partitioner (55) up and down or left and right, a refrigerating chamber door (64) and a freezing chamber door (68) opening or closing the refrigerating chamber (54) and the freezing chamber (58), a compressor (10) installed at an inner wall of the refrigerator body (50), a condenser (20), an expansion unit (30) and an evaporator (40). Furthermore, the refrigerator includes one evaporator (40) to form a cooling air circulating passage (70) penetrating the partitioner (55) to circulate the cooling air of the refrigerating chamber (54) and the freezing chamber (58), such that the cooling air heat-exchanged by the evaporator (40) can be circulated.

[14]

[15] However, the conventional refrigerator having an evaporator installed in an inner wall of the refrigerator suffers from disadvantages in that a cooling air circulation passage should be complicatedly formed to control each inner temperature of the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber and a plurality of blowing fans should be installed at the same time. Another disadvantage is that an accurate temperature control is next to impossible in an area where the cooling airs from the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber are mixed, even if a complicated cooling air circulation passage is formed and a plurality of blowing fans are mounted.

[16]

[17] In order to solve the aforementioned problems, the conventional refrigerator having an evaporator at the refrigerating chamber (54) and the freezing chamber (58) respectively should be installed with a refrigerating chamber evaporator (44) and a freezing chamber evaporator (48) at the refrigerating chamber (54) and the freezing chamber (58), as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, and the partitioner (55) for partitioning the refrigerator into the refrigerating chamber (54) and the freezing chamber (58) is closed to allow the cooling airs of the refrigerating chamber (54) and the freezing chamber (58) to be independently circulated.

[18]

Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[19] All the conventional refrigerators regardless of installation of respective evaporators at a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber or installation of a single evaporator are mounted with evaporators or an evaporator at an inner wall of the refrigerator body to render an inner space of the refrigerator to be too confined, thereby making storage of a large quantity of foods therein.

[20]

[21] Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and is directed to a refrigerator with evaporator installed in door, capable of maximally utilizing an inner space of a refrigeraror that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

[22]

[23] Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the Detailed Description and accompanying drawings or may be learned by exemplary implementations of the disclosure.

[24]

Technical Solution

[25] In accordance with one aspect, the present invention provides a refrigerator with evaporator installed in door, characterized by: a refrigerator body for storing food in a low temperature state; a refrigerator door for opening and closing the refrigerator body; a compressor mounted at the refrigerator body for compressing refrigerant; a condenser for condensing the refrigerant that has passed the compressor; an evaporator installed at an inner side of the refrigerator door for heat-exchanging the refrigerant that has passed the compressor with the cooling air in the refrigerator body; an expansion unit interposed between the compressor and the evaporator for expanding the refrigerant that has passed the compressor; and a pipe for connecting the compressor, the condenser, the expansion unit and the evaporator such that the re- frigerant can be circulated.

[26]

[27] Implementations of this aspect may include one or more of the following features.

[28]

[29] The refrigerator body may be divided into a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber by a partition wall, and the refrigerator door may be divided into a refrigerating chamber door and a freezing chamber door for respectively opening and closing the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber.

[30]

[31] The evaporator may be installed either at the refrigerating chamber door or the freezing chamber door and may further include a cooling air circulation passage so formed as to penetrate the partition wall, such that the cooling air in the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber can be circulatively mixed.

[32]

[33] The evaporator may be divided into a refrigerating chamber evaporator and a freezing chamber evaporator respectively installed at the refrigerating chamber door and the freezing chamber door.

[34]

[35] The refrigerator may further include a hinge for rotatably supporting the refrigerator door relative to the refrigerator body and formed with a through hole into which the pipe passes.

[36]

[37] The through hole may be formed at a rotation axis of the hinge.

[38]

[39] The pipe may have a flexibility.

[40]

[41] The refrigerator may further include an ice making room installed at an inner side of the refrigerator door for making and storing ice.

[42]

[43] The evaporator may be installed at an inner side of the ice making room to heat- exchange the cooling air inside the ice making room, where the cooling air inside the ice making room may move into the refrigerator body.

[44]

Advantageous Effects

[45] The refrigerator with evaporator installed in door according to the present invention is such that an evaporator is not installed in a refrigerator body but in a refrigerator door to make it possible to maximally utilize an inner space of the refrigeraror. [46]

[47] A refrigerating chamber evaporator and a freezing chamber evaporator are respectively installed at a refrigerating chamber door and a freezing chamber door to effectively perform a temperature control of the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber.

[48]

[49] An ice making room is installed at an inner side of the refrigerator door to facilitate an easy take-out of ice and to maximize the ice making efficiency as the evaporator is installed inside the ice making room.

[50]

Brief Description of the Drawings

[51] FIG.1 is a schematic diagram of a configuration of a freezing cycle of a conventional refrigerator.

[52] FIG.2 is a schematic configurative diagram of a conventional top mount type refrigerator installed with a single evaporator.

[53] FIG.3 is schematic configurative diagram of a conventional side by side-type refrigerator installed with a single evaporator.

[54] FIG.4 is a schematic configurative diagram of the conventional top mount type refrigerator installed with an evaporator at a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber.

[55] FIG.5 is a schematic configurative diagram of the conventional side-by-side type refrigerator installed with an evaporator at a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber. FIG.1 is a schematic diagram of a configuration of a freezing cycle of a conventional refrigerator.

[56] FIG.6 is a schematic configurative diagram of a refrigerator installed with an evaporator in a door according to a first exemplary implementation.

[57] FIG.7 is a schematic configurative diagram of a refrigerator installed with an evaporator in a door according to a second exemplary implementation.

[58] FIG.8 is a schematic configurative diagram of a refrigerator installed with an evaporator in a door according to a third exemplary implementation.

[59] FIG.9 is a perspective view of principal parts in which a pipe passes through a hinge of a refrigerator installed with an evaporator in a door.

[60]

Mode for the Invention

[61] Exemplary implementations of a refrigerator with an evaporator installed in a door according to the present novel concept will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. [62] FIG.6 is a schematic configurative diagram of a refrigerator installed with an evaporator in a door according to a first exemplary implementation, FIG.7 is a schematic configurative diagram of a refrigerator installed with an evaporator in a door according to a second exemplary implementation, FIG.8 is a schematic configurative diagram of a refrigerator installed with an evaporator in a door according to a third exemplary implementation, and FIG.9 is a perspective view of principal parts in which a pipe passes through a hinge of a refrigerator installed with an evaporator in a door.

[63]

[64] The refrigerator installed with an evaporator in a door may include a refrigerator body (100), a refrigerator door (200), a compressor (300), a condenser (400), an expansion unit (500), an evaporator (600) and a pipe (700). The refrigerator may further include a hinge (800) and an ice making room (900).

[65]

[66] The refrigerator body (100) serves to store food at a low temperature by lowering an inner temperature of the refrigerator body (100). Furthermore, the refrigerator body (100) may be partitioned by a partition wall (120) into a refrigerating chamber (140) and a freezing chamber (180). A refrigerator may be classified into an integration type in which the refrigerator body (100) is integrated, and a separation type in which the refrigerating chamber (140) and the freezing chamber (180) are separated.

[67]

[68] Although FIG. 6 illustrates the separation type refrigerator, and if the partition wall

(120) is removed, the separation type refrigerator becomes the same as the integration type refrigerator, such that there will be no detailed explanation on the integration type refrigerator. Therefore, the present novel concept may be applied to any type of refrigerator, i.e., the top mount- type refrigerator, the bottom freezer- type refrigerator and the side by side-type refrigerator, without reference to integration type or separation type refrigerator.

[69]

[70] Although not illustrated in the drawings, the refrigerator body (100) is formed therein with an inner space for effectively accommodating various foods using various types of baskets, shelves and drawers.

[71]

[72] The refrigerator door (200) may open and close the refrigerator body (100). The refrigerator door (200) may be divided into a refrigerating chamber door (240) and a freezing chamber door (280) respectively opening and closing the refrigerating chamber (140) and the freezing chamber (180). The refrigerator door (200) may comprise any structure, such as one or more doors, but when the refrigerator is partitioned into a refrigerating chamber (140) and a freezing chamber (180), the re- frigerator door (200) must be separated into a refrigerating chamber door (240) and a freezing chamber door (280). Each of the refrigerating chamber door (240) and freezing chamber door (280) may also comprise any structure, such as one or more doors.

[73]

[74] The partition wall (120) is installed to divide the refrigerator into the refrigerating chamber (140) and the freezing chamber (180), where the refrigerating chamber (140) and the freezing chamber (180) are installed for refrigerating or freezing foods by differentiating respective inner temperatures according to the kinds of foods. The integration type refrigerator needs no partition wall (120), while the separation type of refrigerator needs the partition wall (120).

[75]

[76] Furthermore, a plurality of main evaporators (480. described later) may be needed to respectively circulate the cooling air of each of the refrigerating chamber (140) and the freezing chamber (180), while only one main evaporator (480) may be needed to circulate the cooling air of both the refrigerating chamber (140) and the freezing chamber (180). When one main evaporator (480) is installed, a partition wall (120) is formed between the refrigerating chamber (140) and the freezing chamber (180) to interrupt the circulation of the cooling air. Consequently, a cooling air circulation passage (125) is needed.

[77]

[78] Referring to FIG.6, the cooling air circulation passage (125) may pass through the partition wall (120) to allow the cooling air of both the refrigerating chamber (140) and the freezing chamber (180) to be met and convergently circulated. In a case of separation type of refrigerator in which the refrigerating chamber (140) and the freezing chamber (180) are separated, an inner cooling air passage may be formed to allow the cooling air heat-exchanged by the main evaporator (described later) to move to the refrigerating chamber (140) via the freezing chamber (180) in the first place. For example, a plurality of fans for forceably moving the cooling air may be installed, or a duct may be formed to allow the cooling air to move. In any case, a cooling air circulation passage (125) should be formed to pass through the partition wall (120), such that the cooling air in the refrigerating chamber (140) and the freezing chamber (180) can meet and be circulated.

[79]

[80] However, in a case of a refrigerating chamber evaporator (640) and a freezing chamber evaporator (680) being independently installed at the refrigerating chamber (140) and the freezing chamber (180), there is no need of cooling air circulation passage (125). It is because a refrigerating chamber evaporator (640. described later) and a freezing chamber evaporator (680. described later) are respectively installed in order to effectively control the temperatures of the refrigerating chamber (140) and the freezing chamber (180).

[81]

[82] The compressor (300) may be installed at the refrigerator body (100) to compress the refrigerant, and the condenser (400) may condense the refrigerant that has passed the compressor (300). Generally, the compressor (300) and the condenser (400) are installed together at a chamber, so-called a machine room disposed underneath the refrigerator body (100). Furthermore, the expansion unit (500) is interposed between the condenser (400) and an evaporator (600. described later) to expand the refrigerant that has passed the condenser (400). Technical explanation on the compressor (300), the condenser (400) and the expansion unit (500) will be deleted as these components are the same as those used in the freezing cycle according to the prior art.

[83]

[84] The evaporator (600) may be installed at an inner side of the refrigerator door (200) to heat-exchange the refrigerant that has passed the condenser (400) with the cooling air inside the refrigerator body (100). The evaporator (600) is generally installed at a wall body of the refrigerator body (100). However, the evaporator (600) of the present disclosure is installed at an inner side of the refrigerator body (100), which is the salient feature of the instant disclosure. Thererfore, the inner space of the refrigerator body (100) can be maximally utilized. In other words, the inner space of the refrigerator body (100) can have more areas for accommodating foods.

[85]

[86] The evaporator (600) may be installed either in the refrigerating chamber door (240) or in the freezing chamber door (280) when the refrigerator body (100) is divided into a refrigerating chamber (140) and a freezing chamber (180), and into a refrigerating chamber door (240) and a freezing chamber door (280).

[87]

[88] In other words, as illustrated in FIG.6, in a case of controlling the cooling air of the refrigerating chamber (140) and the freezing chamber (180) using a single evaporator (600), a cooling air circulation passage (125) that is formed by passing through the partition wall (120) should be installed in order to allow the cooling air from the refrigerating chamber (140) and the freezing chamber (180) to meet and be circulated.

[89]

[90] As illustrated in FIG.7, the evaporator (600) may be divided to a refrigerating chamber evaporator (640) and a freezing chamber evaporator (680) respectively installed at the refrigerating chamber door (240) and the freezing chamber door (280). In other words, the refrigerating chamber evaporator (640) may be operated to control the temperature of cooling air that is circulated inside the refrigerating chamber (140), and the freezing chamber evaporator (680) may be operated to control the temperature of cooling air that is circulated inside the freezing chamber (180). As a result, the temperatures inside the refrigerating chamber (140) and the freezing chamber (180) can be accurately controlled. Meanwhile, a detailed function of freezing cycle of the evaporator (600) will not be explained as it is the same as that of the prior art.

[91]

[92] Now, referring to FIGS. 6 to 8, the pipe (700) may function as a piping to circulate the refrigerant, and connect the compressor (300), the condenser (400), the expansion unit (500) and the evaporator (600) to allow the refrigerant to be circulated. The pipe may have a flexibility. Particularly, because the evaporator (600) is installed at the refrigerator door (200), it should be essential that the isolated refrigerator door (200) and the refrigerator body (100) be connected each other in order to receive the refrigerant from the compressor (300) and the condenser (400) installed at the refrigerator body (100). To this end, the flexible pipe (700) should be installed to smoothly receive the refrigerant without being engaged by other elements, even if the refrigerator door (200) is swiveled.

[93]

[94] Referring to FIG.9, a hinge (900) may rotatably support the refrigerator door (200) relative to the refrigerator body (100) and be formed with a through hole (850) into which the pipe (700) passes. Therefore, even if the pipe (700) is connected to the evaporator (600) and the refrigerator door (200) is rotated, the pipoe (700) is fixedly inserted into the through hole (850) formed at the hinge (800) to enable to easily support the refrigerator door (200). Furthermore, the through hole (850) may be formed at a rotation axis of the hinge (800). In other words, the through hole (850) is formed at the rotation axis of the hinge (800) to minimize a space between the refrigerator body (100) and the refrigerator door (200). Preferably, a bushing is installed at the through hole (850) to prevent the damage to the pipe (700).

[95]

[96] Referring back to FIG.8, the ice making room (900) may be installed at an inner side of the refrigerator door (200) to store ice made from supplied water. The ice making room (900) may include an ice container (920), an ice separator (940) and a dispenser (960). The evaporator (600) may be installed inside the ice making room (900) to allow heat-exchanging the cooling air inside the ice making room (900), and the cooling air inside the ice making room (900) may move into the refrigerator body (100). To be more specific, the evaporator (600) is installed adjacent to the ice container (920) to maximize the ice making efficiency. [98] Meanwhile, the ice separator (940) may be disposed underneath the ice container

(920) to separate the ice and store the ice. Furthermore, the dispenser (960) may be exposed to a front side of the refrigerator to facilitate the ice to be taken out without opening the refrigerator door (200). The ice container (920), the ice separator (940) and the dispenser (960) that form the ice making room (900) will be deleted of detailed explanation thereto as these components can be easily embodied by prior arts.

[99]

[100] While the present disclosure has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary implementations thereof, the general inventive concept is not limited to the above-described implementations. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and variations in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.

[101]

Industrial Applicability

[102] As noted from the foregoing, the refrigerator with evaporator installed in door according to the present invention is such that an evaporator is not installed in a refrigerator body but in a refrigerator door to make it possible to maximally utilize an inner space of the refrigeraror.

[103]

[104] A refrigerating chamber evaporator and a freezing chamber evaporator are respectively installed at a refrigerating chamber door and a freezing chamber door to effectively perform a temperature control of the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber.

[105]

[106] An ice making room is installed at an inner side of the refrigerator door to facilitate an easy take-out of ice and to maximize the ice making efficiency as the evaporator is installed inside the ice making room.

Claims

[1] A refrigerator with evaporator installed in door, characterized by: a refrigerator body for storing food in a low temperature state; a refrigerator door for opening and closing the refrigerator body; a compressor mounted at the refrigerator body for compressing refrigerant; a condenser for condensing the refrigerant that has passed the compressor; an evaporator installed at an inner side of the refrigerator door for heat-exchanging the refrigerant that has passed the compressor with the cooling air in the refrigerator body; an expansion unit interposed between the compressor and the evaporator for expanding the refrigerant that has passed the compressor; and a pipe for connecting the compressor, the condenser, the expansion unit and the evaporator such that the refrigerant can be circulated.

[2] The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the refrigerator body is divided into a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber by a partition wall, and the refrigerator door is divided into a refrigerating chamber door and a freezing chamber door for respectively opening and closing the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber.

[3] The refrigerator as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the evaporator is installed either at the refrigerating chamber door or at the freezing chamber door and further includes a cooling air circulation passage so formed as to penetrate the partition wall, such that the cooling air in the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber can be circulatively mixed.

[4] The refrigerator as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the evaporator) is divided into a refrigerating chamber evaporator and a freezing chamber evaporator respectively installed at the refrigerating chamber door and the freezing chamber door.

[5] The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the refrigerator further includes a hinge for rotatably supporting the refrigerator door relative to the refrigerator body and formed with a through hole into which the pipe passes.

[6] The refrigerator as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the through hole is formed at a rotation axis of the hinge.

[7] The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the pipe has a flexibility.

[8] The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the refrigerator further includes an ice making room installed at an inner side of the refrigerator door for making and storing ice.

[9] The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the evaporator is installed at an inner side of the ice making room to heat-exchange the cooling air inside the ice making room, where the cooling air inside the ice making room moves into the refrigerator body.