Refrigerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10214409-B2
Application number	US-201514607225-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 28, 2015
Priority date	Feb 12, 2014
Publication date	Feb 26, 2019
Grant date	Feb 26, 2019

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a main body defining a storage space therein, a door that opens and closes the storage space, and a hot water module including an instantaneous heater for heating water. The hot water module measures a flow rate of water along with a temperature of water introduced to the instantaneous heater to ensure the proper amount and temperature of water is dispensed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerator comprising:
a main body to define a storage space therein;
a door that opens and closes the storage space;
a first water passage provided in the main body through which water from an external water supply source at a first predetermined temperature flows;
a second water passage provided in the main body and including a water tank that receives water from the external water supply source and stores the water at a second predetermined temperature less than the first predetermined temperature;
a first water valve to regulate a water supply through the first water passage;
a second water valve to regulate a water supply through the second water passage;
a common passage provided within the door and connected to the first water passage and the second water passage;
a water flow sensor to measure a flow rate of water provided at the common passage;
a hot water module provided within the door and including an instantaneous heater to heat the water;
a water supply passage provided within the door and having a first end branched from the common passage and a second end connected to the instantaneous heater;
a first switching valve provided within the door to switch a flow direction of the water passing through the water flow sensor toward the instantaneous heater;
an ice making device provided on the door;
an ice-making passage branched from the common passage;
a second switching valve provided within the door to switch a flow direction of the water that passes through the first switching valve;
a dispensing passage connected to the second switching valve to dispense purified water or cold water;
a water inlet-side temperature sensor to measure a temperature of the water introduced into the instantaneous heater;
a flow control valve to regulate an amount of water supplied to the instantaneous heater;
a hot water discharging valve to control discharge of the water heated by the instantaneous heater;
a hot water dispensing passage through which the heated water discharged from the instantaneous heater is dispensed; and
a controller to control the flow control valve,
wherein the controller regulates the amount of water supplied to the instantaneous heater with reference to a previous flow rate information of the water passing through the water flow sensor and the temperature measured by the water inlet-side temperature sensor, and wherein the previous flow rate information of the water passing through the water flow sensor is stored in a memory, and
wherein when the first water valve is opened, and the first switching valve is switched to allow the water to flow toward the hot water module, the water at the first predetermined temperature is supplied to the hot water module, and the heated water is dispensed from the hot water dispensing passage.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the controller controls the flow control valve such that the amount of water supplied to the instantaneous heater is reduced when the temperature measured by the water inlet-side temperature sensor is decreased.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2 , wherein the controller controls the flow control valve such that the flow control valve has an increased degree of opening when a previous flow rate of the water passing through the water flow sensor in the memory is decreased.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , further comprising a water outlet-side temperature sensor to measure a temperature of the water flowing out of the hot water module, wherein the controller controls the hot water discharging valve based on the temperature sensed by the water outlet-side temperature sensor.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 4 , the controller determines a preheating time depending upon the temperature sensed by the water outlet-side temperature sensor and opens the hot water discharging valve after the preheating time elapses.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 4 , wherein the controller stops the operation of the instantaneous heater when the temperature sensed by the water outlet-side temperature sensor is above a predetermined temperature.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 4 , wherein the controller controls the hot water discharging valve such that discharge of hot water from the hot water module is delayed with the decreasing temperature measured by the water outlet-side temperature sensor.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the main body comprises:
a cold water passage through which cold water flows; and
a purified water passage through which purified water flows,
wherein the purified water in the cold water passage and the cold water in the cold water passage flow into the common passage.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein a stepping motor is configures to control a flow rate of the water passing through of the flow control valve.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , further including a filter provided in the main body that purifies water supplied from the external water source, the filter being provided upstream from the first water passage and the second water passage.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein when the first water valve is opened, the second water valve is closed such that only water in the first water passage flows into the common passage.

12. A refrigerator comprising:
a main body to define a storage space therein;
a door that opens and closes the storage space;
a filter provided in the min b that purifies water supplied from an external water supply source;
a purified water passage through which the water purified in the filter flows provided in the main body;
a water tank that receives the water purified in the filter to cool the water therein;
a cold water passage connected to the water tank and provided in the main body;
a purified water valve to regulate a water supply through the purified water passage;
a cold water valve to regulate a water supply through the cold water passage;
a common passage provided within the door and connected to the cold water passage and the purified water passage;
a water flow sensor to measure a flow rate of water provided at the common passage;
a hot water module provided within the door and including an instantaneous heater to heat the water introduced into the door;
a water supply passage provided within the door and having a first end branched from the common passage and a second end connected to the instantaneous heater;
a first switching valve provided within the door to switch a flow direction of the water passing through the water flow sensor toward the instantaneous heater;
an ice making device provided at the door;
an ice-making passage branched from the common passage;
a second switching valve provided within the door to switch a flow direction of the water that passes through the first switching valve;
a dispensing passage connected to the second switching valve to dispense purified water or cold water;
a water inlet-side temperature sensor to measure a temperature of the water introduced into the instantaneous heater;
a water outlet-side temperature sensor to measure a water outlet-side temperature of the hot water module;
a flow control valve to regulate an amount of water supplied to the instantaneous heater;
a hot water discharging valve to control discharge of the water heated by the instantaneous heater;
a hot water dispensing passage through which the heated water discharged from the instantaneous heater is dispensed; and
a controller to control the hot water discharging valve on the basis of the temperature sensed by the water outlet-side temperature sens

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• You Jimin
• Jung Changyoon
• An Siyeon
• Kim Yonghyun

Classifications

• F25D2400/02

  Refrigerators including a heater · CPC title

• B67D1/0014 Primary

  the beverage being supplied from water mains · CPC title

• B67D1/0895 Primary

  Heating arrangements · CPC title

• B67D1/0884

  Means for controlling the parameters of the state of the liquid to be dispensed, e.g. temperature, pressure · CPC title

• F25D23/126

  Water cooler · CPC title