KR20050119435A - Water supply tube of dispenser for refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a water supply pipe of a dispenser for a refrigerator, wherein water introduced from an external water source is introduced through an inlet pipe inserted into a lower portion of a refrigerator door of a refrigerator, and through a distribution pipe connected to a tip of the inlet pipe. In addition to being distributed to the upper part of the refrigerating compartment door, water is supplied to the water tank installed on the inner side of the door through a branch pipe formed at the center of the distribution pipe, and extends in the direction of the ice maker from the upper end of the distribution pipe. Water is supplied to the ice maker through a water discharge pipe, and the water is supplied to the cold water through a second water discharge pipe connected to the water cooler at the other end of the water tank, so that the ice maker, the cold water machine, the water tank, and the water supply pipe The dispenser can be configured as a single assembly in the door, and each component of the dispenser is the other part of the refrigerator. In addition to preventing interference with the refrigerator, the space utilization of the refrigerator is improved, and as the water cooled in the water tank flows into the chiller and the ice maker, it is possible to abolish a separate cooling device for forming cold water. .

Description

Water supply pipe of the dispenser for refrigerators {WATER SUPPLY TUBE OF DISPENSER FOR REFRIGERATOR}

The present invention relates to a refrigerator dispenser, and more particularly, to a water supply pipe of a refrigerator dispenser installed in a refrigerator compartment door formed at a lower portion of a refrigerator in which a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment are arranged in up / down directions.

In general, a refrigerator is provided with a refrigerator compartment for storing food at a low temperature and a freezer compartment for freezing food at a low temperature, and the refrigerator includes the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment arranged up / down or left / right. It is universal to be formed.

In addition, the refrigerator may be provided with a dispenser on the outer surface of the door of the refrigerator to easily discharge the beverage, such as water refrigerated or frozen in the refrigerator from the outside of the refrigerator.

In addition, the dispenser is generally configured with a cold water to discharge the beverage, such as water cooled in the refrigerator from the outside of the door of the refrigerator, and in recent years to discharge ice frozen water or the like inside the refrigerator from the outside of the refrigerator door There is an increasing trend to install the ice discharger together with the cold water.

Here, the conventional dispenser equipped with the cold water and ice discharger is connected to the water supply pipe from the external water supply through the rear portion of the refrigerator, the water introduced through the water supply pipe is formed in the rear portion of the refrigerator or the lower part of the refrigerator compartment of the refrigerator Filled with a water tank, the water filled in the water tank supplies the water to the cold water through a water pipe connected to the water tank and the cold water, and supplies water to the ice maker through a water pipe connected to the water tank and the ice maker. It was configured to produce ice in an ice maker and to move the produced ice to the ice ejector to discharge water and ice from a dispenser outside the door.

In this case, a water supply pipe connected to the water tank at the rear of the refrigerator and the cold water machine, and a water supply pipe connected to the ice maker in the water tank, were generally composed of separate parts arranged in the lower and upper portions of the refrigerator. Installation of the array becomes difficult, and there is a problem in that the volume inside the refrigerator is reduced due to the arrangement of the refrigerator in the water supply pipe.

In addition, there has been a case in which a water tank for supplying water to the cold water is conventionally installed inside the door so as to directly connect the cold water to the cold water. However, a water pipe connected to the rear of the refrigerator is branched from the rear of the refrigerator, A water supply pipe is connected to the ice maker, and another water supply pipe is connected to a water tank installed inside the refrigerator door, and problems such as complexity of arrangement of the water supply pipe inside the refrigerator or reduction of the volume inside the refrigerator due to the water supply pipe Still remained.

Therefore, recently, the development of a dispenser having a water tank for supplying water to both the ice maker and the cold water cooler has been made in the door of the refrigerator. Supply pipeline development is underway.

An object of the present invention is to provide a water supply pipe connected to each of the water tank, the ice maker, and the cold water dispenser in the dispenser in which both the water tank, the ice maker, and the cold water machine are installed in the refrigerator door as described above.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cold water dispenser for cooling the water of the room temperature introduced from the external water source in the water tank first and then supplied to the cold water to separate the cooler for the cold water supply of the cold water. To provide a water supply pipe.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a water supply pipe for a refrigerator dispenser, which can simplify arrangement of a water supply pipe connected to a water tank, an ice maker, and a cold water machine, as well as reduce the connection length thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to install a dispenser consisting of a water tank, an ice maker, a cold water machine, and a water supply pipe connected thereto to simplify the configuration of the entire refrigerator, as well as to the components of the dispenser. It is to provide a water supply pipe of the refrigerator dispenser to minimize the interference between components of the refrigerator.

Still another object of the present invention is to be able to configure the door in which the water tank, the ice maker, the cold water and the water supply pipe are installed as separate parts including the dispenser, to improve the usability of the door, as well as to replace the door It is to provide a water supply pipe of the refrigerator dispenser, which can be installed only in the existing refrigerator.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a water supply pipe of a dispenser for a refrigerator, which facilitates installation and repair of a water supply pipe connected to a water tank, an ice maker, and a cold water machine.

The present invention for achieving the above object, the water tank and the ice maker and the cold water is installed inside the door of the refrigerator, characterized in that the water tank, the ice maker and the cold water is connected through a water supply pipe.

In addition, the water supply pipe is characterized in that it comprises an inlet pipe, distribution pipe and the first water discharge pipe and the second water discharge pipe.

Still another feature of the present invention is characterized in that a water tank connected to an external water source and a water supply pipe is installed on an inner surface of a refrigerator door capable of cooling by refrigerator cold air.

Another feature of the invention is characterized in that the inlet pipe is inserted into the interior of the door through the lower end of the door.

Another feature of the present invention is characterized in that it is provided with a distribution pipe connected to the front end of the inlet pipe and communicated to the top of the door and branched from the central portion thereof to the water tank.

Another feature of the invention is characterized in that the first water discharge pipe is formed so as to extend from the upper end of the distribution pipe to the central upper portion of the ice maker.

Another feature of the invention is characterized in that the second water discharge pipe is connected to reach the cold water from the other end of the water tank.

Another feature of the invention is characterized in that the inlet pipe is inserted into the interior of the door through the hinge shaft hollow portion of the hinge installed on the lower end of the door.

Another feature of the invention is characterized in that the housing is further provided to cover the ice maker and the water tank installed on the inner surface of the door.

Another feature of the present invention is characterized in that the distribution pipe, the first water discharge pipe and the second water discharge pipe are installed to be accommodated in the housing and at the same time to be expressed on the inner surface of the door.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 shows that the dispenser 20 is installed in the door 11 of the refrigerating compartment 13 formed in the lower part of the refrigerator 10 according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows the refrigerating compartment 13 in which the dispenser 20 according to the present invention is installed. ) Shows that the door 11 is open, Figure 3 shows a schematic configuration of the dispenser 20 according to the present invention.

According to the present invention, a water tank 40, an ice maker 31, and a water cooler 22 are installed on an inner surface of a door 11 of a refrigerator compartment 13 of the refrigerator 10, and the water tank 40 and an ice maker. 31 and the cold water machine 22 are connected by a water supply pipe 50 connected to an external water supply source.

In the present embodiment, the refrigerator 10 includes a freezer compartment 12 formed at an upper portion thereof, and a freezer compartment 13 formed at an underside of the freezer compartment 12 in an up / down direction. .

The door 11 of the refrigerating chamber 13 covers the open front surface of the refrigerating chamber 13 to form a plate shape so as to partition the refrigerating chamber 13 from the outside.

In addition, the door 11 is configured as a conventional plate-shaped refrigerator door filled with a heat insulating material therein so as to prevent the heat and cold air inside the refrigerator 10 to exchange heat.

In addition, in this embodiment, the inner surface of the door 11 in which the dispenser 20 is installed consists of one surface of the door 11 facing the freezing chamber 12 and the refrigerating chamber 13 of the refrigerator 10. .

The water tank 40 is formed to form a pair of cylindrical shape arranged in the up / down direction below the inner surface of the door 11 of the refrigerating chamber 13, the inside is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape.

Here, the water tank 40 is installed so that one side is assembled to the inner surface of the refrigerating chamber 13, the door 11 is inserted into the interior of the refrigerating chamber 13 by the closing of the door (11). do.

The ice maker 31 cools the water to be supplied for a predetermined time to generate the received water as ice, and drops the generated ice to the lower ice storage container by a user's selective manipulation and self-control. It is formed to be made, and is configured to discharge the ice to the outside of the door 11 through the ice ejector 21 penetrated to reach the outside of the door 11 in the lower portion of the ice reservoir.

The water cooler 22 is installed to include a nozzle installed on the outside of the door 11 so that the water stored in the water tank 40 flows and is discharged to the outside of the door 11 according to the user's selective operation. .

The water supply pipe 50 includes an inlet pipe 51, a distribution pipe 52, a first water discharge pipe 53, and a second water discharge pipe 54.

The inlet pipe 51 is formed in a conventional tubular shape, the inside of which is hollow so that water flows into the inside thereof, one end of which is connected to a water supply source outside the refrigerator 10, and the other end thereof is the refrigerator 10. One side of the lower end is inserted into the interior of the door (11).

In addition, the inlet pipe 51 is inserted into the door 11 through the lower hinge 14 of the door 11 of the refrigerating chamber 13, and the inlet pipe 51 is formed of the refrigerator 10. It is inserted into the hollow portion which is axially penetrated through the central portion of the hinge shaft 15 of the hinge 14 fastened to one side of the lower end and is inserted into the door 11 into which the hinge shaft 15 is inserted.

The distribution pipe 52 is connected to the front end of the inlet pipe 51, is formed to extend to the upper portion of the door 11, branched at one point of the central portion is connected to the water tank 40.

Here, the distribution pipe 52 reaches the installation position of the water tank 40 and protrudes from the inner surface of the door 11 and is arranged inside the door 11.

In addition, the distribution pipe 52 is connected to the front end of the inlet pipe 51 in the interior of the door 11, and arranged in the interior of the door 11, the installation position of the water tank 40 Of course, one end thereof may protrude and be connected to the water tank 40.

The first water discharge pipe 53 is formed by extending a tube having the same shape as the inlet pipe 51 in the direction of the ice maker 31 at the upper end of the distribution pipe 52.

At this time, the tip of the first water discharge pipe 53 is preferably formed at the outlet of the center of the ice maker 31 so as to uniformly supply water to each ice receiving portion of the ice maker 31.

The second water discharge pipe 54 is formed as a pipe connected to the cold water cooler 22 at the other end of the water tank 40.

In addition, the water tank 40, the ice maker 31, the distribution pipe 52, the first water discharge pipe 53 and the second water discharge pipe 54 are inside and inside the door 11 of the refrigerating chamber 13; In addition to being fastened to the housing is preferably accommodated in the interior of the housing 30 to accommodate all of the members.

Here, the housing 30 is formed in a box shape with one surface open to cover the components of the dispenser 20 such as the ice maker 31 and the water tank 40 to improve the appearance of the inside of the door 11. do.

In addition, the distribution pipe 52, the first water discharge pipe 53, and the second water discharge pipe 54, which are exposed to the outside from the inner surface of the door 11, are installed to be accommodated inside the housing 30. It is desirable to be.

Next, the operation of the water supply pipe of the refrigerator dispenser according to the present invention configured as described above will be described.

In addition to the operation of the refrigerator 10, water from the water supply source flows to one side of the lower end of the refrigerator 10 through the inlet pipe 51 according to the water supply of the external water supply source.

Water introduced through the inlet pipe 51 flows to reach the door 11 of the refrigerating chamber 13 by the water pressure of the water supply source, and at the lower end of the door 11 by the continuous water supply pressure of the water supply source. Early water flows into the distribution pipe 52 connected to the tip of the inlet pipe 51.

The water flowing into the distribution pipe 52 flows to the upper portion of the door 11 along the arrangement of the distribution pipe 52, and a part of the water flows through the branch pipe branched from the center of the distribution pipe 52. Filled into the water tank 40, another part of the water flows to the top of the distribution pipe (52).

Water flowing to the upper end of the distribution pipe 52 flows to the first water discharge pipe 53 connected to the upper end of the distribution pipe 52, and the water flowing to the first water discharge pipe 53 is the first soil It flows along the shape of the water pipe 53 and reaches the center part of the ice maker 31, and it falls to the ice maker 31.

The water falling into the ice maker 31 is accommodated for a predetermined time by the control operation of the ice maker 31 and cooled by the cold air of the freezing chamber 12 to form ice.

In addition, the water filled in the water tank 40 is communicated to the cold water machine 22 through the second water discharge pipe 54 connected to the other end of the water tank 40 to the cold water machine 22 According to the operation, it is discharged to the outside of the refrigerator 10 and used.

Here, the water flowing into the second water discharge pipe 54 is water cooled to a predetermined temperature in the water tank 40 and water discharged through the cold water machine 22 becomes cold water.

Therefore, the water flowing into the distribution pipe 52 through the inlet pipe 51 is supplied to the water tank 40 and the ice maker 31 installed on the inner surface of the door 11 of the refrigerator 10, the water tank The water filled in the 40 is cooled by the cold air of the refrigerating chamber 13 and used to be discharged to the outside through the cold water cooler 22.

In addition, when maintenance of the distribution pipe 52, the first water discharge pipe 53, and the second water discharge pipe 54 is required, the housing 30 covering the water supply pipe 50 is closed by the door. Separation from the inner side of the (11) to achieve the maintenance work in the state that the water supply pipe 50 is to be exposed to the outside.

As described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described specific preferred embodiments, and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the gist of the present invention claimed in the claims. Of course, such changes are within the scope of the claims.

As described above, according to the present invention, all the components of the dispenser including the ice maker, the cold water machine, the water tank, and the water supply pipe are installed in the refrigerator door, so that the dispenser is composed of a single assembly in which the door is a unit. And as well as easy to assemble, there is an effect that it is easy to store and manage.

Another effect of the present invention is that the components of the dispenser according to the present invention are all installed on the door to minimize interference with other parts of the refrigerator, and the use of the internal space of the refrigerator is abolished, so that the space utilization of the refrigerator is eliminated. It is effective to improve.

Another effect of the present invention is that the water tank is positioned inside the refrigerating chamber to cool the water inside the water tank, so that a separate cooling device for cooling the water supplied to the cold water is abolished.

Another effect of the present invention is that the maintenance work on the distribution pipe, the first water discharge pipe and the second water discharge pipe becomes easier.

1 and 2 are a perspective view of a refrigerator according to the present invention,

3 is a cross-sectional view of the dispenser according to the present invention.

<Description of Major Symbols in Drawing>

10-refrigerator 11-door

12-Freezer 13-Refrigerator

14-Hinge 15-Hinge Shaft

20-Dispenser 21-Ice Dispenser

22-chiller 30-housing

31-Ice Maker 40-Water Tank

50-Water Supply Pipe 51-Inlet Pipe

52-Distribution pipe 53-First water discharge pipe

54-Second Water Jet

Claims (3)

In the water supply pipe of the water supply pipe of the refrigerator dispenser is installed in the refrigerator compartment door of the refrigerator in which the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment are arranged in the vertical direction, A tubular inlet pipe connected to an external water source and connected to the inside of the door from a lower side of the refrigerating compartment door; A tubular distribution pipe connected to the distal end of the inlet pipe and arranged to reach a position of an ice maker installed at an upper portion of the door, and branched from the center part to communicate with a water tank installed under the inner surface of the door; A tubular first water discharge pipe extending from an upper end of the distribution pipe in a direction of the ice maker to communicate with the ice maker; A tubular second water discharge pipe connected to the cold water installed at the front dispenser of the door at the other end of the water tank; Water supply pipe of the water supply pipe of the dispenser for refrigerators, characterized in that made. The method of claim 1, The water supply pipe of the water supply pipe of the refrigerator dispenser, characterized in that the inlet pipe is inserted into the interior of the door through a hollow formed in the hinge shaft of the lower hinge of the refrigerator compartment door. The method of claim 1, The inlet pipe is inserted into the lower end of the refrigerating compartment door and arranged inside the door, The distribution pipe, the first water discharge pipe and the second water discharge pipe are arranged to be connected to the water tank, the ice maker, and the water cooler in a housing that is covered with a box shape on the inner surface of the door to cover the water tank, the ice maker, and the water cooler. Water supply pipe of the water supply pipe of the refrigerator dispenser, characterized in that the.