KR20080007015A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a refrigerator in which two dampers for opening and closing two cold air outlets provided in the cold air duct can be individually opened and closed by one motor. The cold air duct is provided with a cold air inlet and first and second cold air outlets, and a first damper and a second damper for opening and closing the first and second cold air outlets, respectively, are provided in the cold air duct. The first damper is rotated by the drive motor and the rotating shaft. The first damper includes a first damping member for blocking both the first and second cold air outlets or opening and closing the first cold air outlet, and a first operating member extending vertically from the first damping member to operate the second damper. The second damper includes a second damping member slidably movable on the side wall of the cold air duct, and a second operating member extending from the second damping member toward the first operating member to move together when the first operating member rotates. .

Description

Refrigerator {Refrigerator}

1 is a front view of a refrigerator in which a cold air duct is installed according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the cold air duct according to the present invention.

3 illustrates that the first cold air outlet and the second cold air outlet are opened and closed by a first damper and a second damper installed in the cold air duct of FIG. 2, and FIG. 3A illustrates that the first and second dampers are first and second dampers. 3b shows that the first and second dampers are in a position to close the first cold air outlet and open the second cold air outlet, and FIG. 3c shows the second cold air outlet in a closed position. The first and second dampers are shown in a position to open the first cold air outlet and to close the second cold air outlet.

* Description of symbols on the main parts of the drawings *

10: cold air duct 11: cold air inlet

12: 1st cold air outlet 13: 2nd cold air outlet

20: first damper 21: first damping member

22: first operating member 30: second damper

31: second damping member 32: second operating member

33: elastic member 40: drive motor

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, a refrigerator in which two cold air outlets provided in a cold air duct are individually opened and closed by one driving motor, thereby reducing manufacturing cost and power consumption and compactly configuring the cold air duct. It is about.

In general, the refrigerator is configured to maintain the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment at an appropriate temperature for storing the frozen food and the refrigerated food, respectively, to keep the stored food fresh for a long time.

Cold air ducts are provided on the rear wall of the refrigerator to supply cold air to the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment. A cold air outlet is provided in connection with the cold air dispersing duct for discharge. The internal flow path of the cold air duct is provided with a damper for opening and closing the cold air outlet to control the supply of cold air to the freezer compartment and the cold compartment through the cold air distribution duct.

Conventional refrigerators are provided with a plurality of drive motors corresponding to the number of dampers to open and close the plurality of cold air outlets by operating the plurality of dampers.

Therefore, the conventional refrigerator is expensive to manufacture and install a plurality of drive motors corresponding to the number of dampers, and the power consumption according to the operation of the plurality of drive motors is also increased, and also by installing a plurality of drive motors The cold duct also has the disadvantage that the size of the larger.

The present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator in which two dampers for opening and closing two cold air outlets provided in the cold air duct can be opened and closed individually by one motor. It is.

Refrigerator according to the present invention for achieving this object,

Cold air ducts having cold air inlets and first and second cold air outlets communicated with each other through an internal flow path, a first damper for opening and closing the first cold air outlet, a drive motor for rotating the first damper, and rotation of the first damper. And a second damper that slides to open and close the second cold air outlet.

The first damper rotates between a horizontal position and a vertical position to block both the first and second cold air outlets or to vertically extend from the first damping member to open and close the first cold air outlet. And a first operating member for operating the second damper, wherein the driving motor rotates the first damping member and the first operating member through a rotating shaft connected to one end of the first damping member.

The second damper includes a second damping member slidably movable from a side wall of the cold air duct in which the second cold air outlet is formed, and extends from the second damping member toward the first operating member to rotate the first operating member. And a second actuating member that moves together.

When the first damping member is rotated to the first rotational position by the driving motor, the first cold air outlet is closed by the first damping member and the second cold air outlet is opened, and the first operating member is The second damping member is pushed into the first slide position which does not close the second cold air outlet so that cold air passes only to the second cold air outlet.

When the first damping member further rotates from the first rotational position to the second rotational position, the first damping member opens the first cold air outlet and at the same time, the first operating member pushes the second operating member further. The second damping member is moved to a second slide position that closes the second cold air outlet so that cold air passes only to the first cold air outlet.

The second damper further includes an elastic member installed in the second damping member to apply an elastic force in a direction in which the second damping member opens the second cold air outlet, so that the first damper is rotated in reverse direction of the driving motor. By returning to the original position, the second damper is also returned to the original position by the elastic member.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

1 is a front view of a refrigerator in which a cold air duct is installed according to the present invention. As shown in Figure 1, the refrigerator according to the present invention is formed in a box shape with an open front and a cabinet (1) provided with a freezer compartment (2) and a refrigerating compartment (3) for keeping food fresh therein, respectively, It includes a freezer compartment door (4) and the refrigerator compartment door (5) disposed on the left and right of the open front of the cabinet (1) for opening and closing the freezer compartment (2) and the refrigerating compartment (3).

In the freezer compartment 2 and the refrigerating compartment 3, shelves 6 and drawers 7 are arranged up and down for effectively storing various foods. The freezer compartment 2 and the refrigerating compartment 3 have a freezing compartment 2 and The cold air distribution duct 8 for supplying cold air to the refrigerating compartment 3 and the cold air duct 10 (not shown in FIG. 1; see FIG. 2) for controlling cold air supplied to the cold air distribution duct 8 are provided. Is installed.

Next, the structure of the cold air duct and the dampers installed in the cold air duct will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 3.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the cold air duct according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the cold air duct 10 according to the present invention has a substantially hollow box shape, and a cold air inlet 11 is provided at a lower portion thereof, and a first cold air outlet 12 and a second portion thereof are provided at an upper portion thereof. The cold air outlet 13 is provided, and an internal flow passage 14 for communicating the cold air inlet 11 with the first and second cold air outlets 12 and 13 is provided therein.

The cold air inlet 11 is formed by opening the lower end of the cold air duct 10 as a whole, the first cold air outlet 12 is formed by opening a predetermined size in the upper wall of the cold air duct 10 to the cold air inlet 11 The introduced cold air may rise through the internal flow passage 14 and immediately exit the first cold air outlet 12 without redirection.

On the other hand, the second cold air outlet 13 is formed by opening a predetermined size on one side wall in the upper portion of the cold air duct 10 so that the cold air introduced into the cold air inlet 11 rises through the internal flow path 14 and then is perpendicular to the direction It can be switched to exit the second cold air outlet 13.

The cold air duct 10 is provided with first and second dampers for individually opening and closing the first and second cold air outlets 12 and 13, which will be described below with reference to FIG. 3.

3 illustrates that the first cold air outlet and the second cold air outlet are opened and closed by a first damper and a second damper installed in the cold air duct of FIG. 2, and FIG. 3A illustrates that the first and second dampers are first and second dampers. 3b shows that the first and second dampers are in a position to close the first cold air outlet and open the second cold air outlet, and FIG. 3c shows the second cold air outlet in a closed position. The first and second dampers are shown in a position to open the first cold air outlet and to close the second cold air outlet.

As shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, the internal flow passage 14 of the cold air duct 10 is interlocked with the first damper 20 and the first damper 20 to open and close the first cold air outlet 12. The second damper 30 for opening and closing the second cold air outlet 13 is installed, and the drive motor 40 for rotating the first damper 20 is installed outside the cold air duct 10.

The first damper 20 is rotated between the vertical position in the same direction as the direction of the cold air passing through the inner passage 14 in a horizontal position across the inner passage 14 so that the first and second cold air outlets 12 ( The first damping member 21 extending in the vertical direction from the first damping member 21 to operate the first damping member 21 and the second damper 30 to block all the 13 or to open and close the first cold air outlet 12. An operating member 22 is provided.

The first damping member 21 is formed in a plate shape having a size corresponding to the cross-sectional area of the internal passage 14 so that one end of the first damping member 21 contacts one side wall of the cold air duct 10 while the driving motor 40 is not operated. The other end is positioned in contact with the opposite side wall of the cold air duct 10 is provided with the second cold air outlet (13).

One end of the first damping member 21 penetrates the rotary shaft 41 connected to the drive motor 40 to transmit the driving force of the drive motor 40 to the first damper 20. The first damping member 21 and the first operating member 22 rotate on the inner flow passage 14 by the forward rotation and the reverse rotation.

As shown in FIG. 3A, in a state in which the first damping member 21 is disposed to cross the internal flow passage 14 of the cold air duct 10 (which is horizontal with respect to the drawing), the first damping member 21 is formed as the first damping member 21. 2 is located in the lower portion of the cold air outlet 13 to block the internal flow passage 14, thereby closing both the first and second cold air outlets (12, 13).

The first operating member 22 is formed of a pair of bars extending vertically on both sides of one end of the first damping member 21 provided with the rotating shaft 41 to block the flow of cold air passing through the internal flow passage 14. You will not.

The first damper 20 configured as described above is connected to the drive motor 40 coupled to the outer surface of the cold air duct 10 and hinged to the inner side of the cold air duct 10 and rotatably connected to the drive motor 40. It is supported to be rotated in the inner flow passage 14 by the combined rotary shaft 41.

The second damper 30 is provided at the lower end of the second damping member 31 and the second damping member 31 which is slidably moved along the sidewall of the cold air duct 10 having the second cold air outlet 13 formed therein. The second operating member 32 is installed vertically and extends toward the first operating member 22.

The second damping member 31 is formed in a plate shape having a size larger than the size of the second cold air outlet 13 so that the second cold air outlet (2) is closed at the position where the first damping member 21 closes the internal flow passage 14. 13, the second actuating member 32 is formed in a bar shape and extends across the inner passage 14 at both sides of the lower end of the second damping member 31.

In order to guide the slide movement of the second damping member 31 in the up and down direction, a pair of guide grooves 34 into which the side ends of the second damping member 31 are fitted on the side wall of the cold air duct 10 is in the up and down direction. Is placed.

The second damper 30 having the structure as described above is the second damper 30 when the first damper 20 is rotated again in the reverse direction in a state in which the first damper 20 slides upward by the rotation operation of the first damper 20. Will return to its original position by its own weight.

However, in order to more reliably and smoothly perform the return operation of the second damper 30 to the original position, a pair of elastic members 33 are installed at both lower ends of the second damping member 31, so that the second damping member is provided. An elastic force that pulls the 31 downward is applied.

In the drawings, the elastic member 33 is illustrated as being made of a coil spring, but is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the elastic member 33 may be made of another type of spring or an elastic member of another elastic method.

The drive motor 40 is of a step motor type so that the first damper 20 can be rotated in the forward and reverse directions and at the same time can be stopped at a specific rotation angle.

Next, the first and second dampers 20 and 30 configured as described above are operated by one driving motor 40 to open and close the first and second cold air outlets 12 and 13. This will be described with reference to FIGS. 3A to 3C.

As shown in FIG. 3A, when the driving motor 40 is not operated, the first damping member 21 of the first damper 20 is horizontally positioned to block the internal flow path 14. The second cold air outlets 12 and 13 are closed, and the second damping member 31 of the second damper 30 is positioned below the second cold air outlet 13.

In addition, the first operating member 22 of the first damper 20 is disposed in contact with the side wall opposite the side wall on which the second cold air outlet 13 is installed, and the second operating member of the second damper 30 ( 32 is disposed across the inner passage 14 and spaced apart from the first actuating member 22.

When the driving shaft 40 is operated in the above state to rotate the rotary shaft 41 in the forward direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 3A), the first damper 20 rotates upward and the first damping member 21. ) Rotates from the horizontal position toward the vertical position, and the first operating member 22 rotates from the vertical position toward the horizontal position to push up the second operating member 32. Thus, the first operating member 22 The second damping member 31 slides upward along the guide groove 34 as the second pushing the second operating member 32.

As shown in FIG. 3B, when the first damping member 21 rotates to the first rotational position, the first cold air outlet 12 is maintained closed by the first damping member 21 and the second damping member 21 is closed. The cold air outlet 13 is opened so that the cold air of the internal flow passage 14 may escape through the second cold air outlet 13.

At the same time, the first operating member 22 pushes the second operating member 32 so that the second damping member 31 slides upward by a predetermined distance so that the second cold air outlet 13 is not closed. It will be in the slide position.

When the first damping member 21 is further rotated counterclockwise by the driving motor 40 to move to the second rotation position as shown in FIG. 3C, the first damping member 21 is a cold air duct ( 10 is positioned vertically in contact with the side wall of the opening 10 to open the first cold air outlet 12, and at the same time, the first actuating member 22 pushes the second actuating member 32 further upward to the second damping member. The 31 moves to the second slide position that closes the second cold air outlet 13 so that the cool air of the internal flow passage 14 passes only to the first cold air outlet 12.

In this operation process, the elastic member 33 installed below the second damping member 31 is upwardly tensioned to generate an elastic restoring force, but the first operating member 22 supports the second operating member 32. Therefore, the second damper 30 cannot move downward.

When the driving motor 40 is rotated in the reverse direction again as described above, the rotating shaft 41 rotates in the clockwise direction while rotating the first damper 20 in the clockwise direction, and at the same time, the second damper 30 is elastic. The slide 33 is moved downward by the elastic restoring force of the member 33 to be returned to its original state as shown in FIG. 3A.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the first damping member 21 and the second damping member 22 are moved from their original positions to the first rotational position and the first slide position, and to the second rotational position and the second slide position, respectively. Although only the moved state is illustrated and described, since the first damping member 21 can be operated to stop at any position between the horizontal position and the vertical position, the first damper 20 and the second damper 30 are prevented. May adjust the opening degrees of the first cold air outlet 12 and the second cold air outlet 13.

As described above in detail, the refrigerator according to the present invention has a structure in which the two dampers for opening and closing the two cold air outlets provided in the cold air duct can be opened and closed individually by one motor, thereby reducing the number of driving motors. The cost and power consumption of the manufacturing and installation of the drive motor can be reduced, and the size of the cold air duct can be reduced to make it compact.

Claims (6)

Cold air ducts having cold air inlets and first and second cold air outlets communicated with each other through an internal flow path, a first damper for opening and closing the first cold air outlet, a drive motor for rotating the first damper, and rotation of the first damper. And a second damper that slides to open and close the second cold air outlet. The first damping member of claim 2, wherein the first damper rotates between the horizontal position and the vertical position to block both the first and second cold air outlets or to open and close the first cold air outlet. A first operating member extending vertically from the member to operate the second damper, wherein the drive motor rotates the first damping member and the first operating member through a rotating shaft connected to one end of the first damping member. Refrigerator characterized in that. 3. The second damper of claim 2, wherein the second damper includes a second damping member slidably movable from a side wall of the cold air duct in which the second cold air outlet is formed, and extends from the second damping member toward the first operating member. And a second operating member which moves together when the first operating member rotates. The method of claim 3, wherein when the first damping member is rotated to the first rotational position by the drive motor, the first cold air outlet is closed by the first damping member and the second cold air outlet is opened. Wherein the first actuating member pushes the second actuating member to cause the second damping member to move to a first slide position that does not close the second cold air outlet so that cold air passes through only the second cold air outlet. Refrigerator. The method of claim 4, wherein when the first damping member further rotates from the first rotational position to the second rotational position, the first damping member opens the first cold air outlet and at the same time the first operating member 2. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the second damping member moves to a second slide position that closes the second cold air outlet so that cold air passes only to the first cold air outlet. The method of claim 3, wherein the second damper is further provided with an elastic member provided on the second damping member so that the second damping member exerts an elastic force in the direction of opening the second cold air outlet. And the first damper returns to its original position by the elastic member when the first damper returns to its original position by the reverse rotation of the driving motor.

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