Patent Application
20180274844
The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator and a fan assembly for a refrigerator.
A refrigerator is an apparatus aimed at the low-temperature storage of food and is configured for the cold storage or freezing storage of food. To this end, the refrigerator may include a cool air supply device in which a cooling or refrigeration cycle has been implemented. The cool air supply device is configured so that a refrigerant undergoes a compression-condensation-expansion-evaporation process. Cool air is generated as the refrigerant circulates in the cooling cycle. The cool air generated by the evaporator of the cool air supply device is supplied to the storage space of the refrigerator. Food within the refrigerator may be stored under a required temperature condition as the cool air supplied to the storage space of the refrigerator is circulated by convection current. In general, the main body of the refrigerator has a rectangular shape having an open front, and the inside of the main body includes a cold room and a freezing room. Furthermore, a cold room door and freezing room door for selectively closing or shielding a corresponding opening is provided at the front of the main body.
The refrigerator may be basically divided into a top-mount type in which the freezing room is above the cold room, a bottom-freezer type in which the freezing room is below the cold room, and a side-by-side type in which the freezing room and the cold room are laterally adjacent to one another and partitioned depending on the location of the freezing room and the cold room.
In order for a user to take out food stored in the refrigerator, he or she has to open the cold room door or the freezing room door. At this time, high-temperature air outside the refrigerator is introduced into the cold room or the freezing room. The external air causes the temperature within the refrigerator to increase. The cool air supply device must be driven in order to maintain a proper temperature within the refrigerator. However, it may take a lot of time for the cool air supply device to be driven and to generate cool air, the cool air to be introduced into the freezing room and the cold room, and then for the freezing room and the cold room to return to a proper temperature again and the temperature distribution within the refrigerator to become uniform. The introduction of external air has a bad influence on the freshness of food stored in the refrigerator.
In particular, in the case of a top-mount refrigerator using a single evaporator, cool air generated by the evaporator circulates in the freezing room, and is then introduced into the cold room. Accordingly, if the cold room door is open and external air having a relatively high temperature is introduced into the cold room, a lot of time may be taken for the temperature in the cold room to return to a proper temperature.
In order to solve such problems, there has been proposed a technology for a ventilation fan for generating a forced convection current so that cool air within the freezing room or the cold room circulates well.
However, the ventilation fan typically has a small size and uses low power due to issues such as limited space, increased noise, and increased vibrations. Thus, even when the ventilation fan is used, it does not sufficiently rapidly reduce and/or stabilize the temperature in the refrigerator and/or make the temperature distribution in the refrigerator sufficiently uniform.
Patent Document 1: Korean Patent No. 10-1615373 (Apr. 19, 2016)
Patent Document 2: Korean Patent No. 10-0774003 (Oct. 31, 2017)
In order to solve such problems, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a refrigerator capable of rapidly returning a temperature in the refrigerator to a proper temperature when external air having a relatively high temperature is introduced into the refrigerator upon opening a door, and a fan assembly for the refrigerator.
Furthermore, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a refrigerator capable of making the temperature distribution in the refrigerator uniform, and a fan assembly for such a refrigerator.
Furthermore, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a refrigerator having relatively low noise and vibrations, although the refrigerator uses a fan and a fan assembly.
In accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention, there may be provided a refrigerator, including a main body having one or more storage spaces; one or more doors configured to open or close at least part of the one or more storage spaces; a cool air supply device configured to supply cool air to maintain the one or more storage spaces at a predetermined temperature; food storage separators configured to partition the one or more storage spaces; and a fan assembly in the one or more storage spaces and configured to circulate the air in the one or more storage spaces. The fan assembly comprises a housing having a flow space configured to recirculate the air in the one or more storage spaces; a suction guide unit having a suction passage configured to introduce the air to an inner space of the housing; a fan unit in a central part of the suction guide unit; a damping unit in the suction guide unit that surrounds the fan unit and is configured to absorb vibrations of the fan unit; and a discharge guide unit having a discharge passage configured to discharge the air from the inner space of the housing.
The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present disclosure will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
In addition, in the description of the present disclosure, the detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein may be omitted if they would unnecessarily obscure the features of the subject matter of the present disclosure.
In the following description, the terms “front” or “front side” may refer to a direction toward the front side of a refrigerator (e.g., the side having doors for opening and closing the refrigerator), and the terms “back” or “back side” may refer to a direction toward the rear side of the refrigerator. The terms “left direction” or “left,” and “right direction” or “right,” may refer to one particular direction and the other or opposite direction, respectively.
Referring to
In the present embodiment, the refrigerator 1 may be a refrigerator of the top-mount type. In the refrigerator 1 of the top-mount type, the freezing room 12 is over the cold room 11, and cool air generated by an evaporator 17 at the back side of the inner case of the main body 10 may be discharged from the back side of the freezing room 12.
The refrigerator 1 may include a cool air supply device configured to supply cool air (e.g., using a cooling cycle) and maintain the storage spaces at a predetermined temperature or in a predetermined temperature range. The cool air supply device may include a compressor, an expansion valve, the evaporator 17 and a condenser.
The compressor, expansion valve, etc. of the cool air supply device may be in a machine room 16 on one side of the refrigerator 1. A refrigerant from the machine room 16 may be provided to the evaporator 17 at the back side of the freezing room 12. Air may pass through or over the evaporator 17, and the refrigerant may draw heat from the air, thus generating the cool air.
The cool air from the evaporator 17 may be discharged to the internal space of the freezing room 12 by a ventilation fan 18. A part of the cool air discharged by the ventilation fan 18 may be guided into the cold room 11 by a guide plate 18a. The cool air guided by the guide plate 18a may be supplied to the cold room 12 through a cool air supply path 19 in a barrier that partitions the cold room 11 and the freezing room 12. Thus, the guide plate 18a may be in front of the ventilation fan 18. In one embodiment, a separate cool air inlet at the bottom of the freezing room 12 may be connected to the cool air supply path 19, and cool air may circulate in the freezing room 12 and may be supplied to the cold room 11 through the cool air supply path 19.
The cool air, the temperature of which has risen in the cold room 11 and the freezing room 12, may be supplied to the evaporator 17 again through a return passage, thus recirculating the cool air in the storage spaces.
Such a method of supplying and recirculating cool air may properly change according to various embodiments, and the spirit of the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
A plurality of shelves or storage boxes configured to store food may be in the cold room 11 and the freezing room 12. A plurality of baskets configured to store food may be on the back side of the doors 13 and 14. A user may efficiently store food in the storage spaces in the refrigerator using food storage separators 15 configured to partition the storage spaces, such as the shelves, storage boxes and baskets.
A multi-duct 100 configured to discharge cool air through a plurality of points may be in the cold room 11. For example, the multi-duct 100 may be fixed or attached to the back side of the cold room 11 and may discharge cool air, through the cool air supply path 19 into the cold room 11. A cool air inlet 120 configured to receive the cool air may be at the top 110 of the multi-duct 100. A cool air passage (not shown) communicating with the cool air inlet 120 may be configured to guide the cool air to or within the multi-duct 110. Furthermore, the multi-duct 100 may span the cold room 11 across the height (e.g., from the floor to the ceiling) of the cold room 11, and may discharge the cool air from a plurality of points. For example, the multi-duct 100 may include a plurality of outlets 102 spaced apart across the height of the cold room 11. The outlets 102 may be open in the left and right directions of the multi-duct 100, and may discharge the cool air from the cool air passage (not shown) of the multi-duct 100 in the left and right directions of the cold room 11.
In some embodiments, the multi-duct 100 may be in the freezing room 12, may have a shape extending in the left and right directions, and may discharge cool air in the multi-duct 100 to the front direction, rather than the lateral direction of the multi-duct 100.
The multi-duct 100 may include a fan assembly 200 configured to maintain a uniform temperature distribution in the cold room 11 by circulating cool air in the cold room 11 and returning the temperature in the cold room 11 to a predetermined temperature or temperature range (e.g., when the cold room 11 becomes too warm) using the cool air supplied to the cold room 11.
In one embodiment, the fan assembly 200 is in the cold room 11, and more specifically, in the multi-duct 100, but the spirit of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the fan assembly 200 may be in the freezing room 12 and may be used to discharge cool air from the evaporator 17 or to recirculate already-discharged cool air. Although the fan assembly 200 is in the cold room 11, it may be in a specific space in the cold room 11 other than the multi-duct 100. That is, in one embodiment, the fan assembly 200 may be on the sidewall of a storage space storing food, and may be in one or more of the cold room 11 and the freezing room 12.
The fan assembly 200 is described in detail with reference to the drawings.
Referring to
The front of the fan assembly 200 may include a fan at the center, configured to generate the air flow. In one embodiment, the air flow may form a vertex in a rounded rectangular form. However, the spirit of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The fan assembly 200 may have a specific shape, such as a circle or rectangle.
Specifically, the fan assembly 200 may include a housing 210 configured to provide a flow space configured such that the air introduced from the front of the fan assembly 200 into the housing may be discharged or recirculated to the front again, a suction guide unit 220 configured to provide a passage that introduces the air into the housing 210, a fan unit 230 in the central part of the suction guide unit 220, a damping unit 240 configured to fix or attach the fan unit 230 to the suction guide unit 220 and to absorb vibrations generated by the fan unit 230, a discharge guide unit 250 configured to rotate a flow of air discharged by the fan unit 230 in one direction, and a fixing unit 260 configured to fix or attach the discharge guide unit 250 to the suction guide unit 220. In this case, the one direction of rotation of the air may be one of a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction, and the “other direction” may be the other of the counterclockwise direction and the clockwise direction.
The housing 210 may be at or in the back of the fan assembly 200, and may have a front opening and a space configured to allow air to flow therein. For example, the housing 210 may be configured to sit or reside in a recess or depression in the front of the multi-duct 100. Accordingly, the fan assembly 200 may be placed in the housing 210 without intruding into the storage space of the refrigerator. In some embodiments, the housing 210 may be fabricated separately and assembled with the multi-duct 100, or may extend or protrude from, or be integrated with, the multi-duct 100. Furthermore, as described above, the housing 210 may be in or on the main body 10 instead of the multi-duct 100.
When the fan assembly 200 is in the refrigerator 1, the housing 210 may be configured such that the back of the suction guide unit 220 and the fan unit 230 are sealed. Accordingly, air introduced from the front of the fan assembly 200 into the housing 210 using the suction guide unit 220 may be discharged to the front of the fan assembly 200, thus recirculating the air.
The housing 210 may include a step 212 configured to support the edge of the suction guide unit 220. One or more suction guide unit fixing holes 214 configured to fix or attach the suction guide unit 220 (e.g., to the housing 210 and/or the step 212) may be along the circumference of the step 212. Part of the multi-duct 100 that forms the housing 210 may be cut out to form the suction guide unit fixing hole 214. As shown in
A protrusion 216 protruding or extending toward the center of the fan 238 of the fan unit 230 may be on the back side of the housing 210. The protrusion 216 is spaced apart from the fan 238 at a specific distance, and may guide air introduced into the housing 210 through the suction guide unit 220 to enable the air to be discharged through the fan 238 more efficiently.
Furthermore, a side 218 that may form a periphery for the inner space of the housing 210 may be slanted so that air introduced through the suction guide unit 220 is more efficiently guided toward the fan unit 230.
In one embodiment, the housing 210 has a closed space or wall at the back of the suction guide unit 220 and the fan unit 230, but the spirit of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the upper side of the housing 210 may communicate or be integrated with the cool air passage in the multi-duct 100. The cool air provided to the multi-duct 100 may be mixed with air introduced into the refrigerator 1 in the suction guide unit 220, and may be then discharged by the fan assembly 200.
The suction guide unit 220 may be attached to the opening part of the housing 210 along the inner circumference of the fan assembly 200, and may allow the air to be introduced into the housing 210. Specifically, the suction guide unit 220 may include an outside frame 221 configured to form the edge of the suction guide unit 220, an inner frame 222 within the outside frame 221 and spaced apart from the outside frame 221 at a specific distance to form a suction passage 229, suction guide ribs 223 configured to concentrate air introduced into the suction passage 229 into the fan unit 230, a fan unit accommodation unit 224 connected to the inner frame 222 and configured to receive the fan unit 230 and the damping unit 240, a discharge guide unit support part 225 at boundaries of the inner frame 222 and the fan unit accommodation unit 224, configured to support the discharge guide unit 250, first coupling holes 226 in the fan unit accommodation unit 224 and configured to have the fixing parts 264 of the fixing unit 260 inserted therein, a fan unit support part 227 on the back side of the fan unit accommodation unit 224 and configured to prevent the backward detachment of the fan unit 230 and the damping unit 240, and shoulder protrusions 228 on the circumference of the outside frame 221 and configured to fix or attach the outside frame 221 to the housing 210.
The outside frame 221 may have a shape and size so that the housing 210 may accommodate the outside frame 221. The edge of the outside frame 221 may be configured to be seated in the step 212.
The outside frame 221 and the inner frame 222 may have surfaces that face each other, and may surround the circumference of the fan unit 230 received therein. The front and rear width of the outside frame 221 may be greater than those of the inner frame 222. Each of the suction guide ribs 223 connecting the outside frame 221 and the inner frame 222 may have a portion with a width that increases in the direction from the inner frame 222 to the outer frame 221. Accordingly, the suction guide unit 220 may guide the air around the edge of the fan assembly 200 toward the center of the suction guide unit 220 more efficiently, such that the air can flow towards or enter the housing 210.
The suction passage 229, that is, a space between the outside frame 221 and the inner frame 222, may be a passage through which air enters the housing 210. A force that siphons air toward the inside of the housing 210 is generated by driving the fan unit 210 or rotating the fan within the fan unit 210.
One end or side of the suction guide rib 223 is attached to the outside frame 221, and the other end or side is attached to the inner frame 222. A plurality of the suction guide ribs 223 may be in the suction passage 229 and spaced apart at specific distances. The suction guide ribs 223 may be configured in a radial form to efficiently guide air into the fan unit 230 at the center of the fan assembly 200. That is, the distance between the suction guide ribs 223 may be wider closer to the outside frame 221 than the distance between the suction guide ribs 223 closer to the inner frame 222.
The central part of the inner frame 222 may be open. The fan unit 230 and the damping unit 240 may be inserted into the central part of the inner frame 222. The fan unit accommodation unit 224 may extend from the inner frame 222 and surround the circumference of the fan unit 230, and the damping unit 240 may be inserted into the central part of the inner frame 222. The fan unit accommodation unit 224 may have a length enabling the fan unit 230 and the damping unit 240 to not protrude or extend to the front of the outside frame 221. For example, the front side of the fan unit 230 may be configured such that the fan unit 230 fits in the inner frame 222.
The discharge guide unit support part 225 may be configured to support the back of the discharge guide unit 250 and may be at a portion or location where the inner frame 222 and the fan unit accommodation unit 224 are connected. The discharge guide unit support part 225 may have a bump capable of supporting or configured to support the edge of the discharge guide unit 250. The discharge guide unit support part 225 may be configured such that the back of the discharge guide unit 250 and the fan unit 230 are spaced apart at a specific distance when the discharge guide unit 250 is seated in the discharge guide unit support part 225. That is, the fan unit 230 may not come into direct contact with the discharge guide unit 250. Accordingly, vibrations generated from the fan unit 230 may be prevented from reaching the discharge guide unit 250, and thus, the generation of noise and/or additional vibrations may be reduced or prevented.
The side of the fan unit accommodation unit 224 may be cut out to form the first coupling hole 226. For example, the first coupling hole 226 may have a size and shape corresponding to the fixing part 264 of the fixing unit 260 such that the fixing part 264 is elastically deformed and coupled to the first coupling hole 226. The fixing part 264 of the fixing unit 260 may be attached or fixed to the first coupling hole 226 through the discharge guide unit 250. The discharge guide unit 250 may be attached or fixed to the suction guide unit 220 by coupling the fixing part 264 and the first coupling hole 226.
The fan unit support parts 227 may have a specific area such that the damping unit 240 surrounding the fan unit 230 may be supported, and may be or comprise a plate that faces the fan unit 230. As shown in
The shoulder protrusions 228 are on the circumference of the outside frame 221 and may be inserted into the suction guide unit fixing holes 214 of the housing 210. When the shoulder protrusions 228 are inserted into the suction guide unit fixing holes 214, the shoulder protrusions 228 are elastically deformed to a specific level. After the shoulder protrusions 228 are inserted into the suction guide unit fixing holes 214, the shoulder protrusions 228 may be restricted from being detached from the suction guide unit fixing holes 214, unless an adequate external force is applied to the shoulder protrusions 228. The outside frame 221 can be fixed or attached to the housing 210 by coupling the shoulder protrusions 228 and the suction guide unit fixing holes 214. As shown in
The fan unit 230 may be supplied with power, and the power may drive the fan 238 to generate a rotary force that acts on or causes the air flow. Specifically, the fan unit 230 may include a case 232 that corresponds to a shape of the inner frame 222 of the suction guide unit 220 and that has a hole through which air can pass at the central part of the case 232, a driving unit 234 at the central part of the hole of the case 232, configured to include a driving device, such as a motor, a plurality of support ribs 236 configured to support the driving unit 234 against the case 232, and the fan 238 connected to the driving device of the driving unit 234. The fan unit 230 may be an axial flow fan extending in the front and back direction of the rotation axis to discharge the wind (e.g., air flow) from the back of the fan unit 230 to the front. The axial flow fan has an advantage in that it can be easily disposed in the internal space of the refrigerator having a great spatial limit because the width or depth of the refrigerator along the front-to-back direction is narrow.
In this case, the fan unit 230 may be configured so that, when the fan 238 operates, the whirlwind direction of air flow rotates in one direction with respect to the progress direction of the air flow. For example, a flow formed by the rotation of the fan 238 of the fan unit 230 may be a whirlwind flow that rotates counterclockwise around the progress direction of the air flow. In other words, air in the cold room 11 may enter the fan unit 230 through the suction guide unit 220, may be whirled counterclockwise by the fan unit 230, and may be discharged into the housing 210. When the air flow is monitored at the front of the fan assembly 200, the air discharged through the fan unit 230 rotates clockwise. However, this flow is, in practice, considered a counterclockwise whirlwind when viewed along the progress direction of the air.
The damping unit 240 may reduce vibration and noise generated by the fan assembly 200 by absorbing vibrations generated by the fan unit 230. To this end, the damping unit 240 may comprise a material having specific elastic or damping properties. For example, the damping unit 240 may comprise a rubber material. Specifically, the damping unit 240 may include a side damper 242 configured to surround the circumference of the case 232 of the fan unit 230 and absorb lateral vibrations of the fan unit 230, a front damper 243 on the front of the side damper 242, closely attached to the front of the fan unit 230 and including a plurality of vibration-proof protrusions 244 configured to (i) absorb the vibrations of the fan unit 230 and (ii) contact the back side of the discharge guide unit 250, and a rear damper 245 on the back of the side damper 242, attached to the back of the fan unit 230 and configured to include a plurality of vibration-proof protrusions 246 configured to (i) absorb the vibrations of the fan unit 230 and (ii) contact the front of the fan unit support part 227 of the suction guide unit 220.
The side damper 242 may correspond to an outward appearance of the fan unit 230 and have a shape and dimensions that accommodate the fan unit 230. As shown in
The front damper 243 and the rear damper 245 may connect adjacent edges near the corners of the side damper 242 and cover part of the front side and back side of the fan unit 230, respectively. The front damper 243 may be located at two opposite corners of the side damper 242 (as shown in
The vibration-proof protrusions 244 and 246 in the front damper 243 and the rear damper 245 may be bumps, raised dots, or projections protruding or extending from the front damper 243 and the rear damper 245, respectively, at a specific height, and each of the protrusions 244 and 246 may have a hemispherical shape so that the peak of each protrusion may contact another component of the fan assembly 200 (such as the fan unit support part 227). Since the vibration-proof protrusions 244 and 246 contact a surrounding component, the contact area between the damping unit 240 and the surrounding component can be minimized, and vibrations transmitted to the surrounding component through the damping unit 240 can be minimized. Specifically, vibrations generated from the fan unit 230 are primarily absorbed by the damping unit 240 and secondarily transmitted to the surrounding component through the damping unit 240. Thus, the transmitted vibrations may be transmitted only to local components by reducing the contact area between the damping unit 240 and the surrounding components. Accordingly, the amount of transmitted vibrations can be reduced, and the vibrations can be controlled more easily. More specifically, the effects of the vibrations of the fan unit 230 may intensify due to resonance attributable to the resonant frequency of the fan unit 230. The resonance of the fan unit 230 can be prevented or attenuated by adjusting the size, number, location and height of the vibration-proof protrusions 244 and 246.
In this case, one side or a plurality of sides of the side damper 242 may be spaced apart from the side of the fan unit accommodation unit 224 of the suction guide unit 220 at a specific distance. Accordingly, a portion where the damping unit 240 contacts the surrounding components may be further reduced, and vibrations delivered from the vibration-proof protrusions 244 and 246 to the contacted portions may increase, thereby effectively reducing the amount of vibrations delivered to the surrounding components.
The discharge guide unit 250 includes a passage that forms the central part of the front of the fan assembly 200 and is configured to discharge air in the inner space of the housing 210 into the storage space of the refrigerator 1. Specifically, the discharge guide unit 250 may include a cover 251 coupled or attached to the inner frame 222 of the suction guide unit 220, configured to shield or cover a corresponding area of the case 232 of the fan unit 230. The cover 251 includes an opening at or in the center of the cover 251, configured to allow air to pass therethrough, a shield plate 253 in the center of the opening in the cover 251, configured to shield or cover an area corresponding to the driving unit 236 of the fan unit 230, a plurality of discharge guide ribs 254 configured to generate a whirlwind flow and/or rotate air discharged through a discharge passage 252 (that is, the space between the cover 251 and the shield plate 253) with respect to the progress direction of the air, and a second coupling hole 256 in the cover 251, configured to receive the fixing part 264 of the fixing unit 260 therein.
The edge of the cover 251 may comprise a plate having a shape corresponding to and/or accommodating the inner frame 222 and the discharge guide unit support part 225 so that the cover 251 may be seated in the discharge guide unit support part 225 of the suction guide unit 220. The cover 251 may shield or cover other areas except the area where ventilation toward the front is performed by the fan unit 230 in the portion open at the center of the inner frame 222, thus preventing unnecessary air flow.
The shield plate 253 may have a size and shape corresponding to the driving unit 236 of the fan unit 230 and may form the discharge passage 252 along with the cover 251 so that air flow generated by the fan unit 230 can be concentrated into the discharge passage 252.
The discharge passage 252 may function as a passage configured to discharge air from inside the housing 210. A force that discharges air to the outside of the housing 210 may be generated by driving the fan unit 230. In this case, the discharge guide unit 250 may be at the center of the suction guide unit 220. The discharge passage 252 may be surrounded by the suction passage 229. Accordingly, the flow of air discharged from the discharge passage 252 may be confined by and/or within the flow of air pulled into the suction passage 229, thereby further improving the straightness of the air discharged from the discharge passage 252.
One end or side of the discharge guide rib 254 is fixed or attached to the cover 251, and the other end or side thereof is fixed or attached to the shield plate 253. A plurality of the discharge guide ribs 254 may be in the discharge passage 252 and spaced apart at specific distances. The discharge guide ribs 254 may be slanted, angled and/or curved so that air introduced through the discharge passage 252 may rotate and flow in one direction with respect to the progress direction of the air. In one embodiment, the discharge guide ribs 254 may be slanted, angled and/or curved counterclockwise with respect to the pivot axis C of the fan unit 230 (
Furthermore, in some embodiments, the discharge guide ribs 254 may be twisted in the direction in which a whirlwind is to be formed so that the whirlwind flow may be formed more smoothly.
Portions of the inside of the cover 251 may be cut off to form the second coupling hole 256. The second coupling hole 256 may be at a location corresponding to the fixing part 264 and the first coupling hole 226, so that the fixing part 264 of the fixing unit 260 may enter the first coupling hole 226 through the second coupling hole 256. The fixing part 264 of the fixing unit 260 may be fixed to the suction guide unit 220 through the second coupling hole 256. The discharge guide unit 250 may be fixed or attached to the suction guide unit 220 by the coupling of the fixing part 264 and the first coupling hole 226.
In one embodiment shown in
The fixing unit 260 is configured to fix the discharge guide unit 250 to the suction guide unit 220. The fixing unit 260 may include a deco plate 262 having a shape corresponding to the cover 251 of the discharge guide unit 250, configured to decorate the front of the fan assembly, and the fixing part 264, extending from the back of the deco plate 262 and having a hook at an end of the fixing part 264 (e.g., distal from the deco plate 262).
A hole or opening is at the center of the deco plate 262 and is configured to discharge air from the discharge guide unit 250 therethrough. Once the deco plate 262 is coupled or attached to the cover 251, the appearance of the front of the fan assembly 200 may be more aesthetic or appealing.
In one embodiment, the fixing part 264 may comprise a hook and may be coupled or attached to the first coupling hole 226 through the second coupling hole 256. The fixing unit 260 and the fixing part 264 may fix or attach the discharge guide unit 250 to the suction guide unit 220 in various ways. For example, the fixing unit 260 may comprise a hook integrated with the discharge guide unit 250, and thus, the discharge guide unit 250 may be directly coupled or attached to the suction guide unit 220 or the housing 210.
A method of assembling the fan assembly 200 is described below.
First, the fan unit 230 may be inserted into the space between the side damper 242, front damper 243 and rear damper 245 of the damping unit 240, and the case 232 of the fan unit 230 and the inner surfaces of the dampers 242, 243, and 245 may be closely attached. Since the damping unit 240 comprises an elastic material, a worker may elastically deform the front damper 243 or the rear damper 245 and easily push the fan unit 230 into the space between the side dampers 242 when assembling the fan unit 230.
Furthermore, the fan unit 230 and the damping unit 240 are inserted into the fan unit accommodation unit 224 of the suction guide unit 220. In this case, the vibration-proof protrusions 246 in the rear damper 245 of the damping unit 240 may come into contact with the fan unit support part 227 of the suction guide unit 220. Furthermore, one or more sides of the side damper 242 may be spaced apart from the side of the fan unit support part 227 at a specific distance.
Thereafter, the discharge guide unit 250 may cover the fan unit 230 and the damping unit 240 and may be coupled or attached to the suction guide unit 220 so that the discharge guide unit 250 may be supported by the discharge guide unit support part 225 of the suction guide unit 220. In this case, in the coupling state of the discharge guide unit 250, the cover 251 may maintain a tentative assembly state in which it closely adheres to the discharge guide unit support part 225. When the cover 251 closely adheres to the discharge guide unit support part 225, the vibration-proof protrusions 244 of the front damper 243 come into contact with the back of the cover 251, so the second coupling hole 256 and the first coupling hole 226 may be mutually aligned.
Furthermore, the fixing unit 260 is coupled or attached to the front of the discharge guide unit 250 so that the fixing parts 264 may pass through the second coupling hole 256. The fixing parts 264 may elastically deform when passing through the second coupling hole 256 and the first coupling hole 226. When the insertion is completed, the fixing parts 264 may return to their original state and can firmly fix or attach the discharge guide unit 250 to the suction guide unit 220.
When the attachment of the discharge guide unit 250 and the suction guide unit 220 is completed by the fixing unit 260, the suction guide unit 220 is coupled to the housing 210 and the shoulder protrusions 228 of the suction guide unit 220 are inserted into the suction guide unit fixing holes 214 of the housing 210, so that the suction guide unit 220 can be fixed to the housing 210.
In this case, the coupling of the suction guide unit 220 and the housing 210 may be performed before the fan unit 230, etc. is assembled with the suction guide unit 220, or these components may be assembled in random order.
An exemplary operation and consequent effects of the fan assembly 200 are described below.
The fan assembly 200 is in the wall on one side of the storage space in the refrigerator 1. The fan assembly 200 siphons air in the refrigerator and discharges the siphoned air, but generates a whirlwind flow rotating in one direction, thereby circulating the air in the refrigerator more rapidly and smoothly. Accordingly, a temperature in the refrigerator can rapidly return to a proper temperature (e.g., a predetermined temperature range), and the temperature distribution in the refrigerator can become uniform. Furthermore, the straightness of discharged air can be further improved because a flow siphoned by the fan assembly 200 can confine air flow discharged by the fan assembly.
Specifically, when the fan unit 230 of the fan assembly 200 is driven, air flow moves from the back of the fan unit 230 to the front due to the rotation of the fan 238. By such an air flow, air outside the fan assembly 200 enters the housing 210 through the suction guide unit 220.
The air passing through the suction guide unit 220 is guided by or concentrated onto the suction guide ribs 223 in the direction of the fan unit 230. After passing through the suction guide unit 220, the air may collide against or may be reflected by the inner wall of the housing 210. Alternatively, the air may be guided into the back of the fan unit 230 by the side 218 of the housing 210 and the protrusion part 216.
Furthermore, the fan unit 230 discharges the air while rotating the air in one direction with respect to the progress direction of the air from the fan unit 230 (that is, the direction in which the air moves from the back of the fan unit 230 to the front of the fan unit 230).
The air discharged by the fan unit 230 passes through the discharge guide unit 250, and is guided by the discharge guide ribs 254 so that it rotates in one direction again with respect to the progress direction of the air. Thus, a whirlwind flow may be further enhanced.
The air discharged through the fan assembly 200 through such a process may have a strong whirlwind flow. If the air is whirled and discharged, the straightness of air flow from the fan unit 230 can be improved, thereby enabling the flow of the air from the fan unit 230 to proceed further than otherwise. As a result, a strong convection current may be generated in the storage space of the refrigerator 1.
In this case, the discharge guide unit 250 is at the center of the suction guide unit 220, and the discharge passage 252 is surrounded by the suction passage 229. Accordingly, the flow of air discharged from the discharge passage 252 can be confined in the flow of air entering the suction passage 229, thus improving the straightness of the air discharged from the discharge passage 252.
In particular, although a small-sized axial flow fan is used as the fan unit 130 in the fan assembly 200 as in a conventional technology, the discharge guide unit 250 generates a strong whirlwind flow by rotating the air flow, thus improving the straightness of the flow. Accordingly, a convection current effect in the storage space can be further improved compared to the case in which only the axial flow fan is used.
Accordingly, the temperature in the storage space of the refrigerator 1 may become rapidly uniform. In particular, since a variety of types of food are stored in the cold room 1, cool air may not be efficiently circulated due to convection current. If the fan assembly 200 according to the present embodiment generates a whirlwind flow having improved straightness, the cool air may be supplied to every part of the cold room 1.
Furthermore, if the doors 13 and 14 are open, and external air enters the storage space of the refrigerator 1, subsequently raising the temperature in the refrigerator, the fan assembly 200 may generate a convection current, thus circulating cool air in the storage space and lowering the temperature rapidly to a proper or predetermined temperature.
Such an effect may be magnified compared to the refrigerator 1. The time taken for external air to return to a proper temperature after the external air is introduced is longer in the refrigerator 1 of the top-mount type having a single evaporator that provides cool air to the cold room 11 via the freezing room 12.
To this end, the refrigerator 1 may further include a door sensor (not shown). When the door sensor senses opening and/or closing of the door 13 or 14, the controller (not shown) of the refrigerator 1 may generate a convection current in the storage space by driving the fan assembly 200 for a specific time.
Furthermore, the refrigerator 1 may further include a temperature sensor (not shown). When a rise of the temperature of the storage space is sensed by the temperature sensor, the controller of the refrigerator 1 may generate a convection current in the storage space by driving the fan assembly 200.
Furthermore, the refrigerator 1 may further include a defrosting heater (not shown). When the cool air supply device is driven after the defrosting heater is driven, the controller of the refrigerator 1 may generate a convection current in the storage space by driving the fan assembly 200.
In this case, the controller of the refrigerator 1 may include both the door sensor and the temperature sensor, and drive the fan assembly 200 by taking into consideration either or both of them. For example, the controller of the refrigerator 1 may drive the fan assembly 200 for a specific time only when a temperature of the storage space rises to a set value or higher after sensing the opening and/or closing of the doors 13 and 14. Alternatively, the controller of the refrigerator 1 may drive the fan assembly 200 for a specific time only when a temperature of the storage space rises to a set value or higher after the defrosting heater is operated or driven.
The fan assembly 200 may generate relatively low noise and vibrations when the fan unit 230 is used. Specifically, the damping unit 240 of the fan assembly 200 may absorb vibrations generated by the fan unit 230 because it surrounds the fan unit 230. At this time, vibrations in the front and back directions generated by the fan unit 30 may be minimized using the damping unit 240, and such vibrations may be delivered or transmitted to surrounding components because the vibration-proof protrusions 244 and 246 are in contact with the suction guide unit 220 and the discharge guide unit 250.
Furthermore, if one or more sides of the side damper 242 of the damping unit 240 are spaced apart from the side of the fan unit accommodation unit 224 at a specific distance, the overall vibration and noise reduction effects of the fan assembly 200 may be further improved because the delivery of vibrations to surrounding components is reduced, and the vibrations may be concentrated at the points of contact.
If the fan assembly 200 is in the multi-duct 100, productivity can be improved because the fan assembly 200 can be installed by changing only the injection mold of the multi-duct 100 without a need to separately process the inner case of the main body 10 to fix or attach the fan assembly 200.
Furthermore, if the outlets 102 for discharging cool air are on the side of the multi-duct 100, a cooling effect can be further improved because part of the cool air laterally discharged and moving along the inner case of the main body 10 is influenced by the fan assembly 200 and further spread into the storage space. That is, the direction in which the multi-duct 100 discharges the cool air through the outlets 102 and the direction in which the fan assembly 200 discharges air may be different. To this end, some of the outlets 102 may be at a height corresponding to the location of the fan assembly 200.
Furthermore, the fan assembly 200 may be spaced apart from the food storage separators 15 so that air discharged by the fan assembly 200 and cool air discharged to the storage space through the outlets 102 may influence food stored on or in the food storage separators 15.
The fan assembly of a refrigerator according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to
Referring to
Specifically, the suction guide ribs 223′ may be slanted so that air passing through the suction passage 229 rotates in one direction and flows with respect to the progress direction of the air. In this alternative embodiment, the suction guide ribs 223′ may be inclined and/or curved counterclockwise with respect to the pivot axis C of the fan unit 230 at its center when viewed from the front of the fan assembly 200 so that air pulled into the housing 210 through the suction passage 229 is rotated counterclockwise based on the progress direction of the air. That is, the end or edge nearest the inner frame of the suction guide ribs 223′ may be more counterclockwise inclined than the end or edge nearest the outside frame with respect to the progress direction of the air. In this case, the suction guide ribs 223′ may have a curved convex surface moving counterclockwise around the suction guide unit 220′ so that a whirlwind flow is generated more efficiently. That is, the suction guide ribs 223′ may be convex counterclockwise based on the progress direction of the air.
Furthermore, in some embodiments, the suction guide ribs 223′ may be twisted in the direction in which a whirlwind is formed so that a whirlwind flow can be formed more efficiently.
In this case, the fan unit 230 may be configured so that the whirlwind direction of air flow generated when air is discharged by the rotation of the fan 238 is the same as the whirlwind direction of air flow in the suction guide unit 220′. To this end, the rotation direction of the driving device and the twist direction of the wings of the fan 238 may be changed. That is, if the air flow through the suction guide unit 220′ is the same as a whirlwind flow that rotates counterclockwise based on the progress direction of air as in the present embodiment, air flow formed by the rotation of the fan 238 of the fan unit 230 may be the same as a whirlwind flow that counterclockwise rotates based on the progress direction of the flow. In other words, air in the cold room 11 may be whirled counterclockwise through the suction guide unit 220 into the housing 210, may be whirled counterclockwise by the fan unit 230, and may be then discharged from the inner space of the housing 210. Accordingly, a whirlwind flow may be further enhanced, because the fan unit 230 is configured to generate a whirlwind flow having the same direction as the whirlwind flow formed by the suction guide unit 220′ as described above.
When air flow is monitored at the front of the fan assembly 200, the air entering the housing 210 may appear to be whirled counterclockwise, and the air discharged using the fan unit 230 appears to be discharged clockwise. However, the two air flows are both counterclockwise whirlwinds when considered with respect to the progress direction of the air.
In relation to the directions of whirlwind flows generated by the suction guide unit 220′ and the discharge guide unit 250, the two guides 220′ and 250 generate whirlwind flows rotating in one direction (i.e., the counterclockwise direction in the present embodiment) with respect to the progress direction of the air. In this case, the air proceeds (or is siphoned) from the front side of the refrigerator 1 to the back using the suction guide unit 220, and air proceeds (or is discharged) from the back of the refrigerator 1 to the front, that is, a direction opposite the suction direction, using the discharge guide unit 250. Accordingly, although the whirlwind flows have the same direction, when viewed from the front of the fan assembly 200 as in
Hereinafter, the operation and effects of the fan assembly 200 having such a configuration according to the alternative embodiment of the present invention are described.
When the fan unit 230 of the fan assembly 200 is driven, air flow moving from the back of the fan unit 230 to the front is generated by the rotation of the fan 238. Air outside the fan assembly 200 enters the housing 210 through the suction guide unit 220′.
The air passing through the suction guide unit 220′ rotates in one direction based on the progress direction of the air (that is, the direction in which the air enters the housing 210) by the suction guide ribs 223′. Accordingly, a whirlwind flow of air rotating in one direction is generated in the housing 210. In the alternative embodiment, air entering the housing 210 through the suction guide unit 220′ has been illustrated as rotating counterclockwise h respect to the progress direction of the air.
Air whirled while passing through the suction guide unit 220′ is guided to the back of the fan unit 230. The fan unit 230 is configured so that the whirlwind direction of air flow generated when air is discharged has the same direction as that of the air flow for the progress direction of air in the suction guide unit 220′. Accordingly, the fan unit 230 discharges air while rotating the air in one direction (that is, the direction in which the air moves from the back of the fan unit 230 to the front). In other words, a whirlwind flow primarily generated by the suction guide unit 220′ and rotated in one direction may secondarily have a stronger flow by the fan unit 230.
The air discharged by the fan unit 230 is guided so that it passes through the discharge guide unit 250 and rotates in the one direction with respect to the progress direction of the air by the discharge guide ribs 254. That is, the whirlwind flow can be even further enhanced.
The air discharged through the fan assembly 200 using such a process may have a stronger whirlwind flow. When air is whirled and discharged, the straightness of the air flow may be improved, thus allowing the air flow to proceed further than otherwise. Accordingly, a strong convection current may be generated in the storage space of the narrow refrigerator 1.
Furthermore, a power load applied to the fan unit 230 may be reduced, and thus, corresponding vibrations and noise may be reduced because air supplied to the fan unit 230 has a whirlwind flow.
In accordance with the refrigerator and the fan assembly for a refrigerator according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, there is an advantage in that the temperature in the refrigerator can rapidly return to a proper or predetermined temperature when a door is open and external air of a relatively high temperature enters the refrigerator.
Furthermore, there is an effect in that a temperature distribution in the refrigerator can rapidly become uniform.
Furthermore, there is an advantage in that noise and vibrations are small, even though the fan is used.
The above description is merely illustrative of the technical ideas of the present disclosure, and various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the essential characteristics of the present disclosure. Therefore, embodiments described in the present disclosure are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, but are intended to illustrate the present disclosure. The scope of protection of the present disclosure should be construed according to the following claims, and all technical ideas which are equivalent or equivalent thereto should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present disclosure.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2017-0038720 | Mar 2017 | KR | national |
