Refrigerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11512887-B2
Application number	US-201916715585-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 16, 2019
Priority date	Dec 19, 2018
Publication date	Nov 29, 2022
Grant date	Nov 29, 2022

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a cabinet having a first storage compartment and a second storage compartment, and a cooling module removably mounted to the cabinet. The cooling module includes an evaporator, a condenser, and a compressor. A first cold air duct extends from the first storage compartment and is configured to allow a portion of the cooling module in which the evaporator is arranged, to communicate with the first storage compartment when the cooling module is coupled to the cabinet, and a second cold air duct is different from the first cold air duct and extends from the second storage compartment. The second cold air duct is configured to allow the portion of the cooling module in which the evaporator is arranged, to communicate with the second storage compartment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet having a first storage compartment, a second storage compartment and a third storage compartment; and
a cooling module removably coupled to the cabinet, the cooling module including an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor and first and second openings, the cabinet including:
a first cold air duct extending from the first storage compartment, coupled to the first opening in the cooling module and configured to allow a portion of the cooling module in which the evaporator is arranged, to communicate with the first storage compartment via the first opening when the cooling module is coupled to the cabinet; and
a second cold air duct, different from the first cold air duct, extending from the second storage compartment, coupled to the second opening in the cooling module and configured to allow the portion of the cooling module in which the evaporator is arranged, to communicate with the second storage compartment,
wherein the evaporator includes a first evaporator configured to supply cold air to the first cold air duct, and a second evaporator configured to supply cold air to the second cold air duct,
wherein the cooling module further includes:
a first receiving portion in which the first evaporator is arranged;
a second receiving portion in which the second evaporator is arranged;
a partition wall arranged between the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion; and
a connection duct disposed to penetrate the partition wall to form at least one portion of a flow path guiding the cold air, which is generated in the second evaporator, to the third storage compartment.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the cooling module comprises a module body to which the evaporator is mounted and having a module insulating material.

3. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein:
the cooling module comprises a base plate arranged below the module body, and the compressor and the condenser are mounted to the base plate.

4. The refrigerator of claim 2 , wherein:
a first circulation duct is arranged to penetrate the cabinet;
a guide duct is arranged to penetrate the module body; and
the first circulation duct and the guide duct allow the first storage compartment to communicate with the portion of the cooling module in which the evaporator is arranged.

5. The refrigerator of claim 2 , wherein the cooling module comprises a fan configured to move cold air, which is generated in the evaporator, to at least one of the first cold air duct and the second cold air duct via the first and second openings in the cooling module when the cooling module is coupled to the cabinet.

6. The refrigerator of claim 5 , wherein:
the fan comprises a first fan configured to move cold air, which is generated in the first evaporator, to the first cold air duct, and a second fan configured to move cold air, which is generated by the second evaporator, to the second cold air duct.

7. The refrigerator of claim 1 , further comprising:
a connection duct damper arranged in the connection duct.

8. The refrigerator of claim 6 , wherein the connection duct is arranged to penetrate the module body.

9. The refrigerator of claim 6 , wherein:
the first fan is arranged in the rear of the third storage compartment; and
the second fan is arranged in the rear of the second storage compartment.

10. The refrigerator of claim 9 , further comprising:
a second circulation duct configured to guide air from the third storage compartment to the second storage compartment.

11. The refrigerator of claim 1 , further comprising:
an ice making compartment provided inside the cabinet; and
an ice making compartment cold air duct configured to guide cold air, which is generated in the second evaporator, to the ice making compartment.

12. The refrigerator of claim 11 , further comprising an ice making compartment damper arranged in the ice making compartment cold air duct.

13. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the first cold air duct is arranged to penetrate the cabinet.

14. The refrigerator of claim 13 , further comprising:
a duct cover arranged on a rear wall of the first storage compartment and configured to distribute cold air, which is supplied through the first cold air duct, to the first storage compartment.

15. A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet having a first storage compartment, a second storage compartment, and a third storage compartment -and having a cooling module mounting portion accessible from outside the cabinet a cooling module removably coupled to the cooling module mounting portion and having a first evaporator, a second evaporator, first and second openings, a first receiving portion in which the first evaporator is arranged, and a second receiving portion in which the second evaporator is arranged
the cabinet including:
a first cold air duct extending from the first storage compartment, coupled to the first opening and arranged to guide cold air, which is generated in the first evaporator, to the first storage compartment when the cooling module is coupled to the cooling module mounting portion of the cabinet;
a second cold air duct extending to the second storage compartment and different from the first cold air duct, coupled to the second opening and arranged to guide cold air, which is generated in the second evaporator, to the second storage compartment when the cooling module is coupled to the cooling module mounting portion of the cabinet; and
a connection duct different from the first and second cold air ducts arranged in the module body to form at least one portion of a flow path guiding the cold air, which is generated in the second evaporator, to the third storage compartment when the cooling module is coupled to the cooling module mounting portion of the cabinet,
wherein the connection duct is provided to allow the first receiving portion to communicate with the second receiving portion.

16. The refrigerator of claim 15 , wherein the cooling module comprises a module body to which the first evaporator and the second evaporator are mounted and having a module insulating material arranged therein.

17. The refrigerator of claim 16 , wherein the connection duct is arranged to penetrate the module body.

18. The refrigerator of claim 15 , wherein
the cooling module comprises a first fan configured to move cold air, which is generated in the first evaporator, to the first cold air duct via the first opening in the cooling module, and a second fan configured to move cold air, which is generated in the second evaporator, to the second cold air duct via the second opening in the cooling module and the connection duct.

19. A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet having a first storage compartment, a second storage compartment and a third storage compartment;
a cooling module having first and second openings and comprising a first evaporator configured to generate cold air to be supplied to the first storage compartment, a second evaporator configured to generate cold air to be supplied to the second storage compartment and the third storage compartment, a first receiving portion in which the first evaporator is arranged, and a second receiving portion in which the second evaporator is arranged;
a cold air duct in the cabinet and configured to allow a portion of the cooling module, in which the first evaporator is arranged, to communicate with the first storage compartment via the first opening in the cooling module; and
a connection duct arranged to form at least one

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Jeon Byung Woo
• Bae Il Sung
• Hong Dae Jin
• Hong Sun Gi

Classifications

• F25D17/065 Primary

  with compartments at different temperatures · CPC title

• F25D11/022

  with two or more evaporators · CPC title

• F25D17/067

  Evaporator fan units · CPC title

• F25D17/08

  using ducts · CPC title

• F25D17/062

  in household refrigerators · CPC title