REFRIGERATOR

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a method for disposing an evaporator and a cool air channel in a refrigerator.

BACKGROUND ART

A refrigerator is generally provided with a refrigerating cycle composed of a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator, and serves to store food items in a fresh condition for a long period by supplying cool air generated from the evaporator to a freezing chamber or a cooling chamber.

Recently, a side-by-side refrigerator partitioned into right and left chambers by a partition wall, that is, a freezing chamber and a cooling chamber, is being widely used. As side-by-side refrigerators have become larger in size, a method for separately disposing evaporators at the freezing chamber and the cooling chamber has been disclosed. Here, the two evaporators may be serially connected to one refrigerating cycle, or may be installed at different refrigerating cycles. Also, the two evaporators may be installed at different refrigerating cycles with sharing one compressor.

However, in the conventional refrigerator having a plurality of evaporators, the evaporators are respectively installed at a rear surface of the freezing chamber and a rear surface of the cooling chamber. Accordingly, the freezing chamber and the cooling chamber respectively have a decreased entire available capacity and a shallow depth, thereby having a limitation in

storing food items. Furthermore, since the evaporators are installed at rear surfaces of the freezing chamber and the cooling chamber, cooling air is not uniformly distributed to the inside of the refrigerator. Accordingly, food received in a front surface of the refrigerator or food received in a door basket may be easily rotten than food stored in a rear surface of the refrigerator.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Technical Problem

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator capable of increasing available capacities of a freezing chamber and a cooling chamber by properly disposing evaporators.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator capable of uniformly distributing cool air to the inside thereof.

Technical Solution

To achieve these objects, there is provided a refrigerator, comprising: a refrigerator body having an inner space open/closed by refrigerator doors and having a first cool air channel at an inner side of a ceiling surface of the inner space; one or more evaporators installed at the first cool air channel of the refrigerator body, for generating cool air; and one or more fans installed at the first cool air channel, for supplying the cool air generated from the evaporator to the corresponding inner space.

To achieve these objects, there is also provided a refrigerator, comprising: a refrigerator body having a freezing chamber for storing food in a freezing manner and a cooling chamber for storing food in a cooling manner,

the chambers partitioned from each other by a partition wall; a freezing chamber door and a cooling chamber door coupled to the refrigerator body so as to open or close the freezing chamber and the cooling chamber; and a freezing chamber evaporator and a cooling chamber evaporator installed at an inner side of a ceiling surface of the freezing chamber and the cooling chamber of the refrigerator body, respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator, which shows a freezing chamber evaporator and a cooling chamber evaporator installed at right and left sides of a ceiling surface according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line "l-l" in Fig. 1 ;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line "II - II" in Fig. 3 showing a cool air channel of refrigerator doors of the refrigerator in Fig. 1 ;

Figures 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views each showing the disposition of the evaporator in the refrigerator in Fig. 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing that a refrigerator channel is communicated in the refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Description will now be given in detail of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying

drawings.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the refrigerator according to the present invention includes a refrigerator body 100 having a freezing chamber 110 for strong foods in a freezing manner and a cooling chamber 120 for storing foods in a cooling manner, the chambers partitioned from each other by a partition wall 130, a freezing chamber door 200 and a cooling chamber door 300 respectively for opening/closing the freezing chamber 110 and the refrigerating chamber 120 of the refrigerator body 100, and a refrigerant compression-type refrigerating cycle device 400 installed at the refrigerator body 100 and generating cool air.

According to the type of a refrigerator, the freezing chamber and the cooling chamber may be disposed at different positions. As shown in Fig. 1 , when the refrigerator is a side-by-side type, the freezing chamber 110 and the cooling chamber 120 are disposed at right and left sides, and are partitioned from each other by the partition wall 130 vertically disposed between the freezing chamber 110 and the cooling chamber 120. And, at upper side surfaces of the freezing and cooling chambers 110, 120 (i.e., below the ceiling), disposed are a freezing chamber cool air channel 111 (hereinafter, a 'first refrigerator channel') and a cooling chamber cool air channel 121 (hereinafter, a 'second refrigerator channel') respectively having a freezing chamber evaporator (hereinafter, a 'first evaporator') 440 and a cooling chamber evaporator (hereinafter, a 'second evaporator') 460, thereby implementing a first cool air channel. One or more freezing chamber cool air outlets (hereinafter, a "first refrigerator outlet") 111a and one or more cooling chamber cool air outlets (hereinafter, a "second refrigerant outlet") 121a are

each formed along a height direction of the first and second refrigerator channels 111 , 121.

Further, a freezing chamber door guide channel (hereinafter, a "first guide channel") 111 b and a cooling chamber door guide channel (hereinafter, a "second guide channel") 121 b are respectively disposed at upper front sides of the freezing chamber 110 and the cooling chamber 120 so as to respectively guide cool air inside the first refrigerator channel 111 and the second refrigerator channel 121 to a cool air channel for the freezing chamber door 200 (hereinafter, a "first door channel") 211 and a cool air channel for the cooling chamber door 300 (hereinafter, a "second door channel") 311 of a second refrigerant channel, as will be described later. Here, the first refrigerator channel 111 and the second refrigerator channel 121 may be, in some cases, disposed at the sidewall surface of the freezing chamber 110 and the cooling chamber 120 or at both surfaces of the partition wall. As shown in Fig. 3, the first door channel 211 and the second door channel 311 are respectively formed at the freezing chamber door 200 and the cooling chamber door 300 so as to be communicated with the first guide channel 111b of the freezing chamber 110 and the second guide channel 121b of the cooling chamber 120. One or more first door outlets 211a and one or more second door outlets 311 a may be formed at the first and second door channels 211 , 311 in each height direction.

When cool air inlets (not shown) are respectively formed at the freezing chamber 110 and the cooling chamber 120 of the refrigerator body 100, cool air can be introduced into the first and second door channels 211 and 311 through the cool air inlets (not shown) even if additional cool air inlets

are not provided at the freezing chamber door 200 and the cooling chamber door 300.

The refrigerating cycle device 400 includes one compressor 410; one condenser 420 connected to the compressor 410, for condensing a refrigerant discharged from the compressor 410 with a high temperature and a high pressure; a freezing chamber expansion valve (hereinafter, a 'first expansion valve') 430 installed at a freezing chamber refrigerating cycle (hereinafter, a 'first cycle' C1) diverged from an exit of the condenser 420, for expanding the refrigerant with a high temperature and a high pressure in correspondence with a preset temperature of the freezing chamber 110; a first evaporator 440 connected to the first expansion valve 430 and installed at the first refrigerator channel 111 , for evaporating a refrigerant of a low temperature and a low pressure; a cooling chamber expansion valve (hereinafter, a 'second expansion valve') 450 installed at a cooling chamber refrigerating cycle (hereinafter, a 'second cycle' C2) diverged from an exit of the condenser 420, for expanding a refrigerant in correspondence with a preset temperature of the cooling chamber 120; a second evaporator 460 connected to the second expansion valve 450 and installed at the second refrigerator channel 121 , for evaporating a refrigerant. At each one side of the first evaporator 440 and the second evaporator 460, a freezing chamber fan (hereinafter, a 'first fan') 470 and a cooling chamber fan (hereinafter, a 'second fan') 480 for blowing cool air cooled through the first and second evaporators 440, 460 to the freezing chamber 110 and the cooling chamber 120 are respectively formed at the first refrigerator channel 111 of the ceiling surface of the freezing chamber 110 and the second refrigerator channel 121

of the ceiling surface of the cooling chamber 120.

A refrigerant conversion valve 490 for selectively circulating a refrigerant having passed through the condenser 420 to one of the first cycle (C1) and the second cycle (C2) is installed at the exit of the condenser 420. The refrigerant conversion valve 490 may be implemented as a 3-way valve installed at a diverge point between the first cycle (C1) and the second cycle (C2), or as a 2-way valve individually installed at the first cycle (C1 ) and the second cycle (C2). Here, the 3-way is operated to totally close the condenser 420 and the first and second cycles (C1 and C2), or to connect the condenser 420 and the first cycle (C1) with each other, or to connect the condenser 420 and the second cycle (C2) with each other when the refrigerator is driven. Unexplained reference numerals 220 and 320 denote door baskets. Operation and effects of the refrigerator according to the present invention will be explained as follows. When a load is generated as food items are received in the freezing chamber 110 or the cooling chamber 120 of the refrigerator, the compressor 410 starts to operate thus to compress a refrigerant. Then, the compressed refrigerant is moved to the first cycle (C1 ) via the condenser 420, and then is introduced into the compressor 410 via the first expansion valve 430 and the first evaporator 440. The compressed refrigerant is moved to the second cycle (C2) via the condenser 420, and then is introduced into the compressor 410 via the second expansion valve 450 and the second evaporator 460. These processes are repeatedly performed. Here, cool air generated from the first evaporator 440 and the second evaporator 460 may be supplied to the freezing chamber 110 by the first fan 470 through the first refrigerator channel

111 and the first refrigerator outlet 111a, or may be supplied to the cooling chamber 120 by the second fan 480 through the second refrigerator channel 121 and the second refrigerator outlet 121a. Accordingly, food items stored in the freezing chamber 110 and the cooling chamber 120 can be freshly maintained with a frozen status or a cool status.

Cool air inside the first and second refrigerator channels 111 , 121 is introduced into the first and second door channels 211 , 311 provided at the freezing chamber door 200 and the cooling chamber door 300 through the first and second guide channels 111b, 121 b communicated with each front side surface of the first and second refrigerator channels 111 , 121. Also, the cool air is directly supplied to the door baskets 220, 320 of the freezing chamber door 200 and the cooling chamber door 300 through the first and second door outlets 211a, 311a. Accordingly, food or beverage items stored in the door baskets 220, 320 can be freshly maintained with a frozen state or a cool state.

In order to receive a large amount of food items and to store food items in a fresh condition by smoothly supplying cool air, the freezing chamber 110 and the cooling chamber 120 have to have large available capacities. However, when the first and second evaporators are installed at rear surfaces of the freezing chamber 110 and the cooling chamber 120, the available capacities of the freezing chamber and the cooling chamber are decreased. To solve the problem, in the present invention, the first and second evaporators 440, 460 are installed at each inner side of each ceiling surface of the freezing chamber 110 and the cooling chamber 120. Since additional spaces for installing the first and second evaporators 440, 460 are not

required at rear surfaces of the freezing chamber 110 and the cooling chamber 120, the freezing chamber 110 and the cooling chamber 120 can have a deeper depth and a large available capacity, respectively. Furthermore, cool air generated from the first and second evaporators 440, 460 can be directly supplied to the door baskets 220, 320 of the freezing chamber door 200 and the cooling chamber door 300 through the first and second door channels 211 , 311 formed at the freezing chamber door 200 and the cooling chamber door 300. In this case, each temperature difference between the freezing chamber 110 and the door basket 220, and between the cooling chamber 120 and the door basket 320 can be solved, thereby freshly storing food or beverage items received in the door baskets 220, 320.

The refrigerator of the present invention may have other embodiment. Meanwhile, in the previous embodiment, the first and second evaporators 440, 460 are respectively installed at the inner side of the ceiling surface of the freezing chamber 110 and the cooling chamber 120. However, in Figs. 4 and 5, one of the first evaporator 440 and the second evaporator 460 may be installed at the inner side of the ceiling surface of the freezing chamber 110 or the cooling chamber 120, and another one may be installed at the rear surface of the freezing chamber 110 or the cooling chamber 120. Also, in the previous embodiments, when the first and second refrigerator channels are disposed at the ceiling surface, the first and second refrigerator channels are formed to be separated. However, in Fig. 6, the first and second refrigerator channels can be communicated with each other so as to form one refrigerator channel 131. Here, the first refrigerator outlet 111b and the second refrigerator outlet 121b may be respectively disposed at both

sides of the refrigerator channel 131 , (i.e., the ceiling surfaces of portions corresponding to the freezing chamber 110 and the cooling chamber 120). Further, a freezing chamber fan 470 and a cooling chamber fan 480 may be independently disposed at each periphery of the first refrigerator outlet 111a and the second refrigerator outlet 121a (shown in Fig. 2). Although not shown, one fan may be disposed at an approximately middle portion of the first and second refrigerator outlets 111a and 121a.

In another embodiment of the refrigerator according to the present invention, at least one of the evaporators 440, 460 is installed at the ceiling surface, not at the rear surface of the refrigerator. Accordingly, an available capacity inside the corresponding refrigerator can be increased. Furthermore, since the first and second door channels 211 , 311 and the first and second door outlets 211a, 311a are respectively connected to the freezing chamber door 200 and the cooling chamber door 300, food items received in the first and second door baskets 220, 320 can be stored in a fresh condition. The refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention has the same effects and configurations as the aforementioned refrigerator, and thus its detailed explanation will be omitted.

The refrigerator according to the present invention has the following advantages.

Since the freezing chamber evaporator and the cooling chamber evaporator are installed at the inner side of each ceiling surface of the freezing chamber and the cooling chamber, each depth of the freezing chamber and the cooling chamber becomes deeper. Accordingly, each available capacity of the freezing chamber and the cooling chamber can be

increased, and thus a large amount of food items can be stored in the refrigerator in a fresh condition. Furthermore, the cool air channel is connected to the freezing chamber door and the cooling chamber door, thereby not causing a temperature difference between the refrigerator body and the door basket. Accordingly, food items or beverage items received in the door basket can be stored in a fresh condition.

The refrigerator according to the present invention can be applied not only to a side-by-side type, but also to any refrigerator types.