Entrance refrigerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11674739-B2
Application number	US-202016886209-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 28, 2020
Priority date	Jan 2, 2020
Publication date	Jun 13, 2023
Grant date	Jun 13, 2023

Abstract

An entrance refrigerator includes a condensation removal device supplying heat dissipation air generated from a cold air supply module to an outer gasket or an inner gasket to prevent condensation formation on surfaces of the outer gasket and the inner gasket or an outer circumferential surface of a cabinet.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An entrance refrigerator, comprising:
a cabinet including:
a first opening on a first surface;
a second opening on a second surface; and

a storage space to receive an article,
wherein the cabinet is configured to be embedded in a partition between a first space and a second space;
a first door configured to selectively open and close the first opening and be exposed to the second space;
a second door configured to selectively open and close the second opening and be exposed to the first space;
a first gasket surrounding edges of the first opening to seal the first door;
a second gasket surrounding edges of the second opening to seal the second door;
a cold air supply assembly installed to the cabinet by passing through a rear wall of the cabinet facing the first opening to supply cold air to the storage space;
a heat dissipation cover covering the cold air supply assembly and coupled to the rear surface of the cabinet; and
a condensation removal device having a first side connected to the heat dissipation cover and a second side surrounding at least one of the edges of the first opening and the edges of the second opening, the condensation removal device being configured to supply heat dissipation air generated in the cold air supply assembly to at least one of the first gasket and the second gasket,
wherein the cold air supply assembly includes:
a thermoelectric element having an endothermic surface and an exothermic surface;
a cold sink attached to the endothermic surface of the thermoelectric element and facing the storage space;
a heat sink attached to the exothermic surface of the thermoelectric element and disposed at an outside of the cabinet;
a heat absorption fan placed in front of the cold sink;
a heat dissipation fan placed behind the heat sink; and
an insulation block surrounding the edges of the thermoelectric element,

wherein the heat dissipation cover includes:
a front surface which is opened, an edge of the front surface being in contact with a rear surface of the rear wall of the cabinet;
an upper side surface;
a lower side surface facing the upper side surface;
a first side surface;
a second side surface facing the first side surface; and
a rear surface facing the front surface and connecting rear edges of the side surfaces,

wherein the first and second side surfaces and the rear surface of the heat dissipation cover have dissipation holes to introduce indoor air to the heat sink,
wherein the condensation removal device includes:
a first guide duct extending from the first side surface of the heat dissipation cover;
a first side duct extending from the first guide duct to the first opening; and
a first cover duct surrounding the edges of the first opening from an end of the first side duct,

wherein a longitudinal section area of the first guide duct becomes narrower from the first side surface of the heat dissipation cover towards the first side duct, and
wherein the first guide duct has heat dissipation holes such that a portion of the air exhausted from the heat dissipation cover is discharged to the first space before being introduced into the first side duct.

2. The entrance refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the cabinet further includes:
an inner case having a first end defining the first opening;
an outer case coupled to an outer side of the inner case; and
insulation between the inner case and the outer case,
wherein the first side duct and the first cover duct are arranged between the outer case and the inner case.

3. The entrance refrigerator of claim 2 , wherein the first side duct extends from the first guide duct to the first door, and
wherein the first side duct and the first cover duct are provided within the insulation.

4. The entrance refrigerator of claim 2 , wherein the inner case includes a first flange perpendicular to the first end of the inner case that defines the first opening, and
wherein the first flange includes a plurality of first air holes.

5. The entrance refrigerator of claim 4 , wherein the first cover duct surrounds a rear surface of the first flange to cover the plurality of first air holes.

6. The entrance refrigerator of claim 4 , wherein the first gasket is mounted on a front surface of the first flange and between the first opening and the plurality of first air holes.

7. The entrance refrigerator of claim 2 , wherein the condensation removal device comprises:
a second guide duct extending from a second side of the heat dissipation cover, the second side of the heat dissipation cover being opposite to the first side of the heat dissipation cover;
a second side duct extending from the second guide duct; and
a second cover duct connected to an end of the second side duct.

8. The entrance refrigerator of claim 7 , wherein the inner case includes:
a second end defining the second opening; and
a second flange perpendicular to the second end of the inner case that defines the second opening, and
wherein the second flange includes a plurality of second air holes.

9. The entrance refrigerator of claim 8 , wherein the second cover duct surrounds a rear surface of the second flange to cover the plurality of second air holes, and
wherein the second gasket is mounted on a front surface of the second flange corresponding to a region between the second opening and the plurality of second air holes.

10. The entrance refrigerator of claim 1 , further comprising a shielding member provided at a rear end of a side surface of the cabinet in which the second opening is provided,
wherein the shielding member extends from an upper end of the cabinet to a lower end of the cabinet and is bent toward the center of the rear surface of the cabinet.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Kim Daewoong
• Oh Minkyu
• Kwon Boan

Classifications

• F25D23/065

  Details · CPC title

• F25D2317/0672

  Outlet ducts · CPC title

• F25D23/087

  Sealing strips · CPC title

• F25D23/003

  for cooling refrigerating machinery · CPC title

• F25D23/10 Primary

  Arrangements for mounting in particular locations, e.g. for built-in type, for corner type · CPC title