Refrigerator having dispenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11440787-B2
Application number	US-202117356051-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 23, 2021
Priority date	Feb 1, 2019
Publication date	Sep 13, 2022
Grant date	Sep 13, 2022

Abstract

A refrigerator may be provided with a dispenser which includes a nozzle pipe; a light source that radiates ultraviolet light from one end of the nozzle pipe to an inner space of the nozzle pipe, a window that is provided between the one end of the nozzle pipe and the light source, and a liquid supplying hose barb connected to the nozzle pipe via an elbow. Liquid exiting the elbow swirls as ultraviolet light is irradiated onto the liquid.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A liquid dispenser, comprising:
a nozzle pipe including a first section having a first passage and a second section having a second passage communicating with the first passage, wherein the second passage has a cylindrical shape with a diameter smaller than a diameter of the first passage;
a window pocket provided above the first section of the nozzle pipe;
a light source provided above the widow pocket and configured to emit ultraviolet light into the first passage;
a window provided in the window pocket to be between the first passage and the light source;
an elbow branched from the first section of the nozzle pipe at an inclination with respect to the nozzle pipe;
a liquid-supplying hose barb extending from the elbow at the inclination; and
a hose coupled to the liquid-supplying house barb,
wherein a center axis of the first section of the nozzle pipe does not intersect with a center axis of the liquid-supplying hose barb such that liquid discharged from the elbow and entering the liquid-supplying hose barb flows along the first section of the nozzle pipe in a swirling flow.

2. The liquid dispenser of claim 1 , wherein a central axis of the liquid-supplying hose barb is positioned to pass outside of an inner area of the nozzle pipe.

3. The liquid dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the elbow is configured to connect with the nozzle pipe to contact an outer surface of the nozzle pipe.

4. The liquid dispenser of claim 1 , further comprising a laminar flow protrusion provided in the second passage and protruding inward from an inner surface of the second section toward a center of the second passage, the laminar flow protrusion extending in an axial direction of the second passage.

5. The liquid dispenser of claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of the liquid-supplying hose barb and an inner surface of the nozzle pipe are coated with aluminum.

6. The liquid dispenser of claim 1 , further comprising a seal provided in the window pocket between the window and a wall of the window pocket.

7. The liquid dispenser of claim 1 , further comprising a light-source bracket that is provided at a side of the nozzle pipe which is opposite to a side of the nozzle pipe from which the liquid-supplying hose barb extends.

8. The liquid dispenser of claim 1 , wherein an inner space of the elbow communicates with the nozzle pipe such that a central axis of the elbow passes through an inner area of the nozzle pipe.

9. The liquid dispenser of claim 8 , wherein the liquid-supplying hose barb is inclined with respect to a plane which is perpendicular to a central axis of the nozzle pipe.

10. The liquid dispenser of claim 9 , wherein:
the nozzle pipe includes a first end which receives liquid and a second end through which the liquid is discharged, and
the first passage has an inner diameter which becomes narrower in a direction from the first end of the nozzle pipe toward the second end of the nozzle pipe.

11. A liquid dispenser, comprising:
a pipe extending in a first direction and having a first passage;
a hose barb extending in a second direction which is inclined with respect to the first direction, the hose barb having a second passage;
an elbow to connect the hose barb and the nozzle pipe, wherein the elbow and hose barb are configured such that a center axis of the second passage does not intersect with a center axis of the first passage; and
a frame having a third passage provided above and communicating with the first passage, wherein the frame is configured to receive a lens in the third passage.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Kwon O Min
• Park Hyungkyu

Classifications

• F25D27/00

  Lighting arrangements (in general F21) · CPC title

• B67D2210/00015

  UV radiation · CPC title

• C02F2201/3222

  Units using UV-light emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• F25D23/126 Primary

  Water cooler · CPC title

• A61L2202/11

  Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps · CPC title