KR102377620B1 - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator.
The refrigerator of the present invention includes: a cabinet having a storage compartment; a door for opening and closing the storage compartment; a water purification device provided in the storage room; a body water purification channel through which water passing through the water purification device flows; a main body cold water flow path through which water passing through the water purification device flows; a guide pipe in the form of a double pipe formed by dividing a purified water passage and a cold water passage so that water passing through the main body purified water passage and water passing through the main body cold water passage can flow independently; a door water purification passage provided in the door and through which water passing through the purified water passage of the guide pipe flows; a door cold water passage provided in the door and through which water passing through the cold water passage of the guide pipe flows; and a dispenser for discharging water from the door clean water flow path or the door cold water flow path.

Description

Refrigerator {Refrigerator}

The present invention relates to a refrigerator.

A refrigerator is a home appliance for storing food in a low temperature state, and may include any one or both of a refrigerating compartment capable of storing food in a refrigerated state and a freezer compartment capable of storing food in a frozen state.

In addition, recently, a dispenser is mounted on the front door of the refrigerator, so that drinking water such as hot or cold water can be taken out through the dispenser without opening the refrigerator door.

In addition, an ice maker for making and storing ice may be provided in the door of the refrigerator or inside the storage space, and the ice may be taken out through the dispenser.

Korean Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-2014-0015278, which is a prior document, discloses a refrigerator in which cold water and purified water can be taken out through a dispenser.

The refrigerator of the prior document includes a main body forming a storage space, a filter device provided in the storage space, a water tank for storing water supplied from the filter device and cooling the stored water by cold air in the storage space, and water; Includes supply channels.

The water supply passage includes a water supply passage, a main body purified water passage for guiding water purified by the filter device to the dispenser, and a main body cold water passage for guiding water purified by the filter device to the dispenser through the water tank.

In addition, the main body purified water flow path and the main body cold water flow path are connected to a common flow path provided in the cabinet, and the common flow path passes through a hinge of the refrigerating compartment door and is introduced into the refrigerating compartment door.

In addition, a flow control valve for selectively flowing any one of cold water and purified water is provided at the inlet side of the common flow path.

According to the prior literature, since the common flow path is configured to pass through the hinge and only one of cold water and purified water flows through the common flow path, there is a disadvantage that a flow control valve must be provided upstream of the common flow path.

There are disadvantages in that manufacturing cost is increased by such a flow control valve, a program for controlling the flow control valve is additionally required, and a process for connecting a flow path to the flow control valve is additionally required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator in which the configuration of the flow path is simplified and the number of parts is reduced.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator in which the temperature of water taken out can be maintained at a temperature similar to a target temperature.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator comprising: a water purifying device provided in a storage room; a body water purification channel through which water passing through the water purification device flows; a main body cold water flow path through which water passing through the water purification device flows; It may include a guide pipe in the form of a double pipe formed by dividing the purified water passage and the cold water passage so that the water passing through the main body purified water passage and the water passing through the main body cold water passage can flow independently. The guide pipe may pass through the hinge device of the door.

The refrigerator may include: a door water purification channel provided in the door through which water passing through the purified water channel of the guide pipe flows; a door cold water passage provided in the door and through which water passing through the cold water passage of the guide pipe flows; and a dispenser for discharging water from the door water purification flow path or the door cold water flow path.

The guide pipe includes an outer tube and an inner tube inserted into the outer tube, the water passing through the main body cold water passage along the inner tube flows along the space between the inner tube and the outer tube Water that has passed through the main body purified water passage may flow.

The refrigerator includes a first connector connected to an inlet side of the guide pipe and allowing cold water and purified water to flow independently, and a second connector connected to an outlet side of the guide pipe, and allowing cold water and purified water to flow independently. may further include.

The main body purified water flow path and the main body cold water flow path may be connected to the first connector, and the door purified water flow path and the door cold water flow path may be connected to the second connector.

According to the proposed invention, when the guide pipe exists in the form of a double pipe, compared to the case where the guide pipe provides a single flow path, it is not necessary to use an additional valve, so there is an advantage in that the flow path configuration and control are simplified. .

In addition, when the guide pipe exists in the form of a double pipe, since purified water and cold water exist in the guide pipe, the cold water or purified water can be quickly discharged through the outlet flow path when a cold water or purified water dispensing command is input.

In addition, when the guide pipe exists in the form of a double pipe, since purified water and cold water exist in the guide pipe, the temperature of the extracted cold water or purified water is substantially the same as the target temperature desired by the user. can

In addition, although the guide pipe exists in the form of a double pipe, since the purified water flow path is located on the outside of the cold water flow path, it is possible to prevent the cold water from being influenced by the outside air to increase in the process of passing the cold water through the hinge, Cold water with a temperature similar to that of the temperature can be drawn out.

1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;
2 is a view schematically illustrating the arrangement of a flow path through which water flows in a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a view showing a water pipe diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a view showing the arrangement of pipes and wires in the hinge hole.
5 is a view schematically illustrating the arrangement of a flow path through which water flows in a refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to exemplary drawings. In adding reference numerals to the components of each drawing, it should be noted that the same components are given the same reference numerals as much as possible even though they are indicated on different drawings. In addition, in describing the embodiment of the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known configuration or function interferes with the understanding of the embodiment of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating the arrangement of a flow path through which water flows in a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an embodiment of the present invention It is a view showing a water pipe diagram according to an embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a view showing the arrangement of pipes and wires in the hinge hole.

1 to 4 , a refrigerator 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a cabinet 11 forming a storage space and a door opening and closing the storage space of the cabinet 11 . there is

The storage space may include a refrigerating compartment 12 and a freezing compartment 13 . The door may include a refrigerating compartment door 14 for opening and closing the refrigerating compartment 12 and a freezing compartment door 15 for opening and closing the freezing compartment 13 .

The refrigerating compartment door 14 and the freezing compartment door 15 may both rotate to open and close the refrigerating compartment 12 and the freezing compartment 13 . To this end, both the refrigerating compartment door 14 and the freezing compartment door 15 may be rotatably connected to the cabinet 11 by a hinge device 23 . In addition, the refrigerator compartment door 14 may be a French type door that can be configured to rotate independently in a pair on both left and right sides.

A dispenser 20 and an ice maker may be provided in the refrigerating compartment door on either side of the pair of refrigerating compartment doors 14 . The ice maker may include an ice maker 251 and an ice bin 252 that stores the ice generated by the ice maker 251 .

The dispenser 20 is provided on the front side of the refrigerator compartment door 14 and allows a user to take out at least one of water and ice by operating it from the outside.

The refrigerator 10 may be taken out of the dispenser 20 after purifying or cooling the water supplied from the external water supply source 2 .

The refrigerator 10 may be connected to the water supply source 2 by a water supply passage 4 .

A water purifying device 30 for purifying water supplied through the water supply passage 4 may be provided in the refrigerating compartment 12 .

The water purifying device 30 is not limited, but may include a plurality of filters. Of course, in some cases, it is also possible that the water purifying device 30 includes a single filter.

The refrigerator 10 may further include a water supply valve 16 and a flow rate sensor 17 provided in the water supply passage 4 . The supply of raw water from the water supply source 2 may be controlled by opening and closing the water supply valve 16 .

The flow rate sensor 17 may measure the flow rate of water supplied from the water supply source 2 . Of course, if necessary, the flow sensor 17 may be integrally configured with the water supply valve 16 . Alternatively, the flow rate sensor 17 may measure the flow rate of the cold water or purified water taken out.

The water supply valve 16 may be provided on the rear surface of the cabinet 11 or in a machine room in which a compressor is provided.

The refrigerator 10 includes a branch 311 connected to the outlet side of the water purifying device 30 , a body water purification channel 312 connected to the branch 311 , and the branch 311 . It may further include a main body cold water flow path 313 to be connected.

The main body cold water flow path 313 may be connected to the main body water tank 40 . The main body water tank 40 may be located, for example, in the refrigerating compartment 12 .

The refrigerator 10 may further include a first connector 60 through which the main body purified water passage 312 and the main body cold water passage 313 are connected.

The first connector 60 provides two independent flow paths for allowing purified water and cold water to flow independently.

That is, inside the first connector 60 , purified water and cold water may exist together in a state in which flow paths are separated.

A guide pipe 314 in the form of a double pipe may be connected to the first connector 60 . That is, the first connector 60 may be connected to the inlet of the guide pipe 314 .

The guide pipe 314 may include an inner tube 314b through which the cold water discharged from the main body water tank 40 flows, and an outer tube 314a surrounding the inner tube 314b.

The purified water passing through the main body purified water passage 312 may flow in a space between the outer tube 314a and the inner tube 314b.

The inner space of the inner pipe 314b defines a cold water flow path 314d through which cold water flows, and a space between the outer circumferential surface of the inner pipe 314b and the inner circumferential surface of the outer pipe 314a is a clean water flow path through which purified water flows. (314c) is defined. The purified water flow path 314c surrounds the outside of the cold water flow path 314d.

That is, in the present embodiment, in a state in which purified water and cold water exist together in the guide pipe 314 , the cold water and purified water may flow to the refrigerator compartment door 14 along the guide pipe 314 .

Referring to FIG. 4 , the hinge device 23 may include a hinge hole 231 .

The electric wire and the guide pipe 314 may pass within the diameter range of the hinge hole 231 .

The wire may include a first wire 71 to which a DC voltage is applied, and a second wire 72 and a third wire 73 to which an AC voltage is applied. The guide pipe 314 must pass through the hinge hole 231 in a state where interference with these wires is prevented.

In the present embodiment, since the guide pipe 314 is configured in the form of a double pipe, interference with the wires 71 , 72 , 73 can be prevented while increasing the outer diameter of the guide pipe 314 .

Although not limited, the outer diameter of the guide pipe 314 (the outer diameter of the outer tube 314a) may be formed to be 60% or more of the diameter of the hinge hole 231 .

In this embodiment, as the outer diameter of the guide pipe 314 is formed to be larger, the cross-sectional area of the flow passage of at least one of the cold water passage 314d and the purified water passage 314c may be increased. When the passage cross-sectional area of the passage is increased, there is an advantage in that the amount of water taken out per unit time can be increased.

In addition, when the guide pipe 314 is provided in the form of a double pipe, compared to the case in which the guide pipe 314 provides a single flow path, it is not necessary to use an additional valve, thereby simplifying flow path configuration and control. There is this. That is, since cold water and purified water can independently flow along the guide pipe 314 , a valve for selectively flowing cold water and purified water upstream of the guide pipe 314 is unnecessary.

In addition, when the guide pipe 314 exists in the form of a double pipe, since purified water and cold water exist in the guide pipe 314, when a cold water or purified water extraction command is input, the cold water or purified water is quickly discharged through the discharge flow path ( 352) can be released.

In addition, when the guide pipe 314 exists in a double pipe shape, since purified water and cold water exist in the guide pipe 314 , the temperature of the cold water or purified water taken out is substantially the same as the target temperature desired by the user. It can be discharged in a state of temperature.

For example, when the guide pipe 314 provides a single flow path, cold water or purified water selectively flows through the guide pipe 314 .

If the user has previously taken out the cold water, since purified water is present in the guide pipe 314 , when the current user wants to take out the cold water, the purified water remaining in the guide pipe 314 is blown out together with the cold water. Therefore, the user may not be able to take out the cold water of the desired temperature may occur.

However, according to the present embodiment, since cold water and purified water exist together in the guide pipe 314 , there is an advantage that the ejection temperature of the cold water or purified water can be ejected in a state equal to or similar to the target temperature.

In addition, the guide pipe 314 is introduced into the refrigerator compartment door 14 after passing through the hinge hole 231 of the hinge device 23 in the cabinet 11 .

In this case, the hinge device 23 is located outside the refrigerator 10 , and when it does not include a separate heat insulator, it is greatly affected by the temperature of the outside air.

In general, the temperature of the purified water flowing through the water purifying device 30 and flowing through the guide pipe 314 may be cooled to a temperature lower than room temperature by the cold air of the refrigerating chamber 12 . In addition, the temperature of the cold water discharged from the main body water tank 40 may be a temperature lower than that of purified water and may be approximately 4 to 8 degrees.

The user may further display emotional dissatisfaction when the difference between the target temperature of the purified water and the temperature of the actually dispensed cold water is greater than when the difference between the target temperature of the cold water and the actual cold water is larger.

In general, when a user takes out purified water, the meaning is only taken out of purified water having a higher temperature than cold water, and the user does not pay much attention to the actual temperature of the extracted purified water.

On the other hand, when the temperature of the discharged cold water is high, the user wants to drink the cold water, but the cold water does not have the desired temperature, which may cause emotional dissatisfaction.

Therefore, in the present invention, purified water and cold water exist together in the guide pipe 314, but the purified water flow path 314a is present outside the cold water flow path 314d so that the cold water is not affected by external air. . In this case, the purified water serves to prevent the temperature of the cold water from increasing.

The refrigerator 10 may further include a second connector 62 connected to an outlet of the guide pipe 314 in the refrigerator compartment door 14 . The second connector 62, like the first connector 60, provides independent flow paths for cold water and purified water.

That is, the purified water flowing through the inner tube 314b in the guide pipe 314 and the purified water passing through the space between the inner tube 314b and the outer tube 314a independently pass through the second connector 62 . can do.

The refrigerator 10 has a door water purification channel 333 connected to the second connector 62 in the refrigerating compartment door 14 and is connected to the second connector 62 in the refrigerating compartment door 14 . It may further include a door cold water flow path 343 .

A door water tank 42 may be connected to the door cold water flow path 343 . The door water tank 42 may be a tank having a storage space or a tank in which a pipe is wound a plurality of times.

The door water tank 42 exists to prevent the temperature of the cold water discharged from the dispenser 20 from being lowered.

That is, since the door water tank 42 stores a certain amount of cold water and the refrigerating compartment door 14 closes the refrigerating compartment 12, it can be cooled by the cold air of the refrigerating compartment 12. 23), even if the temperature rises, the cold water may be discharged in a state similar to the target temperature of the cold water at the initial stage of dispensing of the cold water.

Of course, in this embodiment, it is also possible that the door water tank 42 is omitted. Alternatively, the main body water tank 40 may be omitted. In this case, the water to flow to the door water tank 42 may flow inside the inner pipe 314b.

The refrigerator 10 includes a cold water valve 327 provided at the outlet of the door water tank 42 , a water purification valve 321 connected to the door water purification passage 333 , and the water purification valve 321 . It may further include a branched ice-making flow path 335 .

The purified water flowing along the door water purification passage 333 may be taken out of the dispenser 20 by the water purification valve 321 or may be supplied to the ice maker 251 along the ice making passage 335 .

The refrigerator 10 may further include a lamination part 329 to which the door water purification flow path 333 and the door cold water flow path 343 are connected, and an outlet flow path 352 connected to the lamination part 329. can Cold water and purified water may be discharged to the outside of the dispenser 20 along the discharge passage 352 .

The laminating unit 329 may include two inlets and one outlet, and the door water purification passage 333 and the door cold water passage 343 may be connected to each of the two inlets, and at the one outlet The discharge passage 352 may be connected.

The purified water valve 321 may be a three-way valve that controls the flow direction of purified water. Accordingly, in order to take out the cold water, the cold water valve 327 may be opened while the water purification valve 321 is closed.

On the other hand, in order to take out purified water, the water purification valve 321 is opened while the cold water valve 327 is closed. .

Hereinafter, a process of taking out water from the refrigerator will be described.

First, the process of taking out the cold water will be described.

When cold water is selected by an input unit (not shown) provided in the dispenser 20 and a water dispense lever (not shown) provided in the dispenser 20 is operated, the controller determines that a cold water dispensing command has been input.

When the cold water dispensing command is input, the water supply valve 16 is turned on and the cold water valve 327 is turned on.

Then, the water supplied from the water supply source 2 passes through the water purification device 30 and flows into the main body water tank 313 . Then, the water introduced into the main body water tank 313 passes through the first connector 60 and flows inside the inner pipe 314b of the guide pipe 314 .

The cold water flowing inside the inner pipe 314b flows into the refrigerator compartment door 14 and then flows through the second connector 60 to the door cold water flow path 343 .

The water flowing into the door cold water flow path 343 is introduced into the door water tank 42 . The water introduced into the door water tank 42 is discharged from the door water tank 42 and finally discharged to the outside of the dispenser 20 through the discharge flow path 352 .

Next, the process of taking out the purified water will be described.

When purified water is selected by an input unit (not shown) provided in the dispenser 20 and a water dispense lever (not shown) provided in the dispenser 20 is operated, the controller determines that a clean water dispensing command has been input.

When the purified water dispensing command is input, the water supply valve 16 is turned on and the purified water valve 321 is turned on. In this case, the water purification valve 321 operates so that the door water purification passage 333 communicates with the discharge passage 352 .

Then, the water supplied from the water supply source 2 passes through the water purification device 30 and flows into the main body purification channel 312 . The water introduced into the main body purification channel 312 is

The space between the outer pipe 314a and the inner pipe 314b of the guide pipe 314 flows through the first connector 60 .

The purified water flowing through the space between the outer tube 314a and the inner tube 314b flows into the refrigerator compartment door 14 and then flows through the second connector 62 to the door water purification channel 333 .

After passing through the water purification valve 321 , the purified water introduced into the door purified water passage 333 is discharged to the outside of the dispenser 20 through the discharge passage 352 .

5 is a diagram schematically illustrating the arrangement of a flow path through which water flows in a refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention.

This embodiment is the same as the previous embodiment in other parts, except that the dispenser is provided in the freezer compartment door. Therefore, only the characteristic parts of the present embodiment will be described below.

6 and 7 , the refrigerator 10 according to the present embodiment may include a cabinet 11 having a storage space and a door opening and closing the storage space.

The storage space may include a freezing compartment 13 and a refrigerating compartment 12 arranged in the left and right directions. The door may include a freezing compartment door 15a for opening and closing the freezing compartment 13 and a refrigerating compartment door (not shown) for opening and closing the refrigerating compartment 12 .

A dispenser 20 may be provided at the freezing compartment door 15 .

In this embodiment, the water purification device 30 , the main body water tank 50 , and the first connector 60 are disposed in the cabinet 11 .

On the other hand, the second connector 62, the door purified water flow path 333, the door cold water flow path 343, the door water tank 42, the water purification valve 321, and the cold water valve 327 are connected to the freezing chamber door 15a. are placed Accordingly, the guide pipe 314 described in the previous embodiment is introduced into the freezing chamber door 15a after passing through the hinge device 24 of the freezing chamber door 15a.

Since the flow path provided in the refrigerating compartment door in the previous embodiment is not different from that provided in the freezing compartment door in this embodiment, a detailed description will be omitted.

10: Refrigerator 11: Cabinet
30: water purification device 40: main body water tank
60: first connector 314: guide pipe
62: second connector 42: door water tank
352: ejection flow path

Claims (10)

a cabinet having a storage room;
a door for opening and closing the storage compartment;
a water purification device provided in the storage room;
a body water purification channel through which water passing through the water purification device flows;
a main body cold water flow path through which water passing through the water purification device flows;
a guide pipe in the form of a double pipe formed by dividing a purified water passage and a cold water passage so that water passing through the main body purified water passage and water passing through the main body cold water passage can flow independently;
a door water purification passage provided in the door and through which water passing through the purified water passage of the guide pipe flows;
a door cold water passage provided in the door and through which water passing through the cold water passage of the guide pipe flows;
a first connector connected to the inlet side of the guide pipe, connected to the main body purified water passage and the main body cold water passage, and configured to allow cold water and purified water to flow independently;
a second connector connected to the outlet side of the guide pipe and connected to the door clean water flow path and the door cold water flow path, and allowing cold water and purified water to flow independently; and
and a dispenser for discharging water from the door clean water flow path or the door cold water flow path. The method of claim 1,
The guide pipe passes through the hinge device of the door. The method of claim 1,
The purified water passage surrounds the cold water passage. delete delete The method of claim 1,
A refrigerator having a main body water tank connected to the main body cold water flow path in the storage compartment. The method of claim 1,
The refrigerator is provided with a door water tank connected to the door cold water flow path at the door. a cabinet having a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment;
a freezing chamber door for opening and closing the freezing chamber;
a refrigerating compartment door for opening and closing the refrigerating compartment;
a water purifying device provided in the refrigerating compartment;
a body water purification channel through which water passing through the water purification device flows;
a main body cold water flow path through which water passing through the water purification device flows;
a guide pipe in the form of a double pipe formed by dividing a purified water passage and a cold water passage so that water passing through the main body purified water passage and water passing through the main body cold water passage can flow independently;
a door water purification passage provided in the refrigerator compartment door and through which water passing through the water purification passage of the guide pipe flows;
a door cold water passage provided in the refrigerating chamber door and through which water passing through the cold water passage of the guide pipe flows;
a first connector connected to the inlet side of the guide pipe, connected to the main body purified water passage and the main body cold water passage, and configured to allow cold water and purified water to flow independently;
a second connector connected to the outlet side of the guide pipe and connected to the door clean water flow path and the door cold water flow path, and allowing cold water and purified water to flow independently; and
and a dispenser provided at the door of the refrigerating compartment and configured to discharge water from the door water purification channel or water from the door cold water channel. a cabinet having a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment;
a freezing chamber door for opening and closing the freezing chamber;
a refrigerating compartment door for opening and closing the refrigerating compartment;
a water purifying device provided in the refrigerating compartment;
a body water purification channel through which water passing through the water purification device flows;
a main body cold water flow path through which water passing through the water purification device flows;
a guide pipe in the form of a double pipe formed by dividing a purified water passage and a cold water passage so that water passing through the main body purified water passage and water passing through the main body cold water passage can flow independently;
a door water purification passage provided in the freezing chamber door and through which water passing through the purified water passage of the guide pipe flows;
a door cold water passage provided in the freezing chamber door and through which water passing through the cold water passage of the guide pipe flows;
a first connector connected to the inlet side of the guide pipe, connected to the main body purified water passage and the main body cold water passage, and configured to allow cold water and purified water to flow independently;
a second connector connected to the outlet side of the guide pipe and connected to the door clean water flow path and the door cold water flow path, and allowing cold water and purified water to flow independently; and
and a dispenser provided at the door of the freezing compartment and configured to discharge water from the door purified water passage or water from the door cold water passage. 10. The method according to claim 8 or 9,
The guide pipe includes an outer tube and an inner tube inserted into the outer tube,
The water passing through the main body cold water flow path flows along the inner tube,
A refrigerator in which water passing through the main body water purification channel flows along a space between the inner tube and the outer tube.

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