Refrigerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10746445-B2
Application number	US-201615188248-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 21, 2016
Priority date	Jun 22, 2015
Publication date	Aug 18, 2020
Grant date	Aug 18, 2020

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a compressor that is configured to compress refrigerant. The refrigerator further includes a condenser that is configured to condense compressed refrigerant. The refrigerator further includes a first expander that is configured to depressurize condensed refrigerant. The refrigerator further includes an evaporator that is configured to evaporate depressurized refrigerant. The refrigerator further includes a first valve unit that is located at an outlet side of the compressor and that is configured to guide compressed refrigerant from the compressor to the condenser. The refrigerator further includes a second valve unit that is located at an outlet side of the condenser and that is configured to guide condensed refrigerant from the condenser to the evaporator. The refrigerator further includes a hot gas path that is connected to the first valve unit and that is configured to supply compressed refrigerant from the compressor to the evaporator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerator comprising:
a compressor that is configured to compress refrigerant;
a heat exchanger that is configured to condense compressed refrigerant during a first operation mode, and evaporate refrigerant during a second operation mode;
a first expander that is configured to depressurize condensed refrigerant;
an evaporator that is configured to evaporate depressurized refrigerant and that comprises a first pipe, a second pipe through which refrigerant flows, and a fin coupled to the first pipe and the second pipe, wherein the first pipe and the second pipe are adjacent to each other;
an evaporator inlet pipe in which the first expander is located;
an evaporator outlet pipe that is in fluid communication with the first pipe of the evaporator and that extends towards the compressor;
a first valve unit that is located at an outlet side of the compressor and that is configured to guide compressed refrigerant from the compressor to the heat exchanger;
a first connection path that extends from the first valve unit to the evaporator and that is in fluid communication with the second pipe of the evaporator;
a second connection path that is in fluid communication with the first connection path;
a second expander that is located in the second connection path; and
a three-way valve (i) that is located at an outlet side of the heat exchanger, (ii) that is configured to guide condensed refrigerant from the heat exchanger to the evaporator, and (iii) that comprises:
a first port that is coupled to a pipe that connects the heat exchanger with the three-way valve;
a second port that is coupled to the evaporator inlet pipe; and
a third port,

wherein the second connection path is coupled to the second pipe of the evaporator, extends toward the three-way valve, and is coupled to the third port,
wherein the evaporator inlet pipe is coupled to the first pipe of the evaporator, extends toward the three-way valve, and is coupled to the second port,
wherein, based on performing the first operation mode:
the first valve unit is configured to guide refrigerant from the compressor to the heat exchanger, and
the three-way valve is operated such that the first port and the second port are opened and the third port is closed, the three-way valve being configured to guide the refrigerant condensed at the heat exchanger to the first pipe via the first expander and to prevent the refrigerant from flowing into the second pipe, the first connection path, and the second connection path, and

wherein, based on performing the second operation mode:
the first valve unit is configured to guide the refrigerant from the compressor to the first connection path and is configured to guide the refrigerant evaporated at the heat exchanger to a suction side pipe of the compressor, and
the three-way valve is operated such that the first port and the third port are opened and the second port is closed, the three-way valve being configured to guide refrigerant from the second connection path to the heat exchanger and to prevent the refrigerant from flowing into the first pipe, the evaporator inlet pipe, and the evaporator outlet pipe.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first expander or the second expander comprises a capillary tube.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the first valve unit comprises a four-way valve that includes four ports, and that comprises:
a first port that is connected to an outlet pipe of the compressor;
a second port that is connected to an inlet pipe of the heat exchanger; and
a third port that is connected to the first connection path.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 3 , further comprising a third connection path that extends from the first valve unit to a suction side pipe of the compressor,
wherein the first valve unit further comprises a fourth port that is connected to the third connection path.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the fin comprises:
a first through-hole that is configured to receive the first pipe; and
a second through-hole that is configured to receive the second pipe and that has an inner diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of the first through-hole,
wherein the first through-hole and the second through-hole are aligned along an axis that is perpendicular to a front of the refrigerator.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 5 , wherein the fin further comprises:
a plurality of additional through-holes that are similar to the first through hole,
wherein the second through-hole is located among the plurality of additional through-holes and the first through-hole.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a water collection part that is located at a lower side of the evaporator and that is configured to receive ice or water condensed on the evaporator; and
an extension part that is located at the second pipe, that is located inside the water collection part, and that is configured to melt ice in the water collection part by providing heat.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 7 , wherein the extension part is located below the fin.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 7 , wherein the water collection part comprises:
a discharge part that is configured to receive defrosted water from the water collection part; and
a first inclined surface that is inclined downward from the water collection part toward the discharge part,
wherein the extension part is located above the first inclined surface of the water collection part.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Kim Hosan

Classifications

• F25B41/385

  Dispositions with two or more expansion means arranged in parallel on a refrigerant line leading to the same evaporator · CPC title

• F25B41/20

  Disposition of valves, e.g. of on-off valves or flow control valves (expansion valves F25B41/31) · CPC title

• F25D11/02

  with cooling compartments at different temperatures · CPC title

• F25D23/006

  for mounting refrigerating machinery components · CPC title

• F28D1/0477

  the conduits being bent in a serpentine or zig-zag · CPC title