Refrigerator and method for controlling same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12215910-B2
Application number	US-201917281953-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 2, 2019
Priority date	Oct 2, 2018
Publication date	Feb 4, 2025
Grant date	Feb 4, 2025

Abstract

A refrigerator according to the present disclosure includes a tray configured to form an ice making cell, a cooler configured to supply cold air to the ice making cell, a water supply valve configured to control the flow of water to the ice making cell, and a controller configured to control the water supply valve, wherein the controller controls the water supply valve so that cold air from the cooler is supplied to the ice making cell before the water supply valve is turned on, and water is supplied to the ice making cell after the cold air is supplied to the ice making cell.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A refrigerator comprising:
a tray configured to form a cell having a space in which liquid is stored, the tray including a first tray configured to form a first portion of the cell, and a second tray configured to form a second portion of the cell and configured to move relative to the first tray;
a first tray cover formed as a separate component to the first tray and having a portion in contact with one side of the first tray;
a first tray supporter formed as a separate component to the first tray and having a portion in contact with another side of the first tray;
a cooler configured to supply cold air to the cell;
a liquid supply configured to supply liquid;
a supply valve configured to control a flow of the liquid to the space of the cell;
a heater configured to provide heat to the cell;
a heater case on which the heater is mounted and formed as a separate component to the first tray; and
a controller configured to control the supply valve,
wherein the controller is configured to:
move the second tray toward a first position after completion of an ice separation process,
control the cooler such that the cold air from the cooler is supplied to the cell before opening the supply valve,
initially open the supply valve to supply liquid to the space of the cell, after the cold air is supplied to the cell in a state in which the liquid is not provided in the space of the cell, and
control the heater after closing the supply valve.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1 , further comprising:
a temperature sensor provided adjacent to the first tray,
wherein the controller opens the supply valve when a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor reaches a predetermined temperature.

3. The refrigerator of claim 2 , wherein the predetermined temperature is 0 degrees Celsius or less.

4. The refrigerator of claim 1 , further comprising a driver to move the second tray, wherein the controller controls the driver to move the second tray to the first position before the supply valve is opened to supply the liquid.

5. The refrigerator of claim 4 , wherein the controller opens the supply valve after a predetermined time elapses after the second tray has been moved to the first position.

6. A refrigerator, comprising:
a storage chamber;
a first tray provided in the storage chamber;
a first tray cover formed as a separate component to the first tray and having a portion in contact with one side of the first tray;
a first tray supporter formed as a separate component to the first tray and having a portion in contact with another side of the first tray;
a second tray provided in the storage chamber, wherein the first and second trays are configured to form a cell having a space in which liquid is stored;
a driver configured to move the second tray with respect to the first tray;
a cooler configured to cool at least one of the storage chamber or the cell;
a supply valve configured to control a flow of the liquid to the space of the cell; and
a controller configured to control the driver and the supply valve, wherein the controller is configured to:
move the second tray toward a first position after completion of an ice separation process,
control the cooler such that the cold air from the cooler is supplied to the cell before opening the supply valve,
initially turn on the supply valve after a predetermined time elapses, after moving the second tray to the first position in a state in which the liquid is not provided in the space of the cell, and
turn off the supply valve after the liquid is supplied to the space of the cell,

wherein the first tray includes a tray wall to form a portion of the cell and an extension wall extended from the tray wall, and
the extension wall is positioned between the portion of the first tray cover and the portion of the first tray supporter.

7. The refrigerator of claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to move the second tray to the first position, open the supply valve to supply the liquid, and close the supply valve after supplying a first amount of the liquid.

8. The refrigerator of claim 7 , wherein:
the first tray defines a first portion of the cell;
the second tray defines a second portion of the cell;
the second tray includes a wall that extends beyond the second portion toward the first tray; and
in the first position, the second portion of the cell is spaced apart from the first portion of the cell, and the wall contacts the first tray to prevent liquid from spilling.

9. The refrigerator of claim 7 , wherein, after supplying the first amount of the liquid, the driver is controlled to move the second tray to a second position.

10. The refrigerator of claim 7 , wherein the controller closes the supply valve after supplying a second amount of the liquid.

11. The refrigerator of claim 10 , wherein, after supplying the second amount of the liquid, the driver is controlled to move the second tray to a second position.

12. The refrigerator of claim 11 , wherein, in the second position, the first portion of the cell contacts the second portion of the cell such that the space of the cell has a spherical shape.

13. The refrigerator of claim 10 , wherein, after the second amount of the liquid has been phase changed into ice, which is determined based on at least one of passage of time or a temperature sensed by a temperature sensor, the second tray is moved to a third position to release the ice from the space of the cell.

14. A refrigerator, comprising:
a tray configured to form a cell having a space in which liquid introduced into the space is phase-changed to ice, the tray including a first tray configured to form a first portion of the cell, and a second tray configured to form a second portion of the cell and configured to move relative to the first tray;
a first tray cover formed as a separate component to the first tray and having a portion in contact with one side of the first tray;
a first tray supporter formed as a separate component to the first tray and having a portion in contact with another side of the first tray; and
a supply valve configured to control a flow of the liquid to the space of the cell,
wherein the first portion of the cell includes a plurality of first cells, and the second portion of the cell includes a plurality of second cells,
the first tray includes a first communication hole provided to connect two adjacent first cells of the plurality of first cells, and
the second tray includes a second communication hole provided to connect two adjacent second cells of the plurality of second cells,
wherein the first tray includes a tray wall to form a portion of the cell and an extension wall extended from the tray wall, and
wherein the first tray is to pass through the first tray supporter and is to be in contact with the second tray, and the extension wall is in contact with the first tray supporter,
when the first tray is in contact with the second tray, the first communication hole is aligned with the second communication hole.

15. The refrigerator of claim 14 , further comprising a temperature sensor provided in the tray, the supply valve configured to control a flow of the liquid to the space of the cell; and a controller,
wherein the controller controls the supply valve based on a sensed temperature by the temperature sensor.

16. The refrigerator of claim 15 , wherein the controller determines a temperature of the liquid in the space based on the sensed temperature by the temperature sensor.

17. The refrigerator of claim 16 , wherein the co

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Bae Yongjun
• Son Sunggyun
• Lee Donghoon
• Lee Donghoon
• Lee Wookyong

Classifications

• F25C2700/14

  Temperature of water · CPC title

• F25C2600/04

  Control means · CPC title

• F25C2600/02

  Timing · CPC title

• F25C2400/14

  Water supply · CPC title

• F25C2400/10

  Refrigerator units · CPC title