Refrigerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12379147-B2
Application number	US-202218070806-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 29, 2022
Priority date	Dec 28, 2021
Publication date	Aug 5, 2025
Grant date	Aug 5, 2025

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a body including an inner case, a first storage compartment, a second storage compartment, a third storage compartment, a first partition between the second storage and the third storage compartments, a second partition between the first and the second storage compartments, a cold air supplier in the third storage compartment to generate cold air, a first communication hole, a second communication hole to face the first communication hole, a first guide duct formed in the first partition to guide the cold air from the first communication hole to the second communication hole, and a second guide duct formed in the second partition to guide the cold air which has flown to the first guide duct, to the second storage compartment, the second guide duct connected to the first guide duct through the second communication hole.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerator comprising:
a body comprising an inner case, the inner case comprising:
a first storage compartment formed therein;
a second storage compartment formed below the first storage compartment; and
a third storage compartment formed below the second storage compartment;

a first partition arranged between the second storage compartment and the third storage compartment;
a second partition arranged between the first storage compartment and the second storage compartment so that the second storage compartment is formed between the first partition and the second partition;
a cold air supplier arranged in the third storage compartment to generate cold air, the cold air supplier comprising a damper mounted to an inside of the cold air supplier to control a flow of the cold air coming out of the cold air supplier to the second storage compartment;
a first guide duct formed in the first partition, and the first guide duct comprising a first flow space formed therein; and
a second guide duct formed in the second partition, comprising a second flow space formed therein, and connected to the first guide duct,
wherein in response to the damper being an open state, the cold air from the cold air supplier flows to the second storage compartment through the first guide duct and the second guide duct, and
in response to the damper being a close state, the cold air from the cold air supplier is blocked by the damper and not supplied to the first guide duct and the second guide duct.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1 , further comprising:
an outer case arranged on an outside of the inner case,
wherein the first partition is arranged between the inner case and the outer case and the second partition is arranged inside the inner case.

3. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein
the cold air supplier, the first guide duct and the second guide duct are arranged side by side in a vertical direction.

4. The refrigerator of claim 1 , further comprising:
a temperature sensor mounted to a lower surface of the second partition to detect a temperature of the second storage compartment,
wherein the second partition comprises:
a cutout portion which has been cut out to allow a wire, which is connected to the temperature sensor, to pass therethrough and to be guided to a rear side of the first storage compartment; and
a wire receiving member formed on an upper surface of the second partition to receive the wire passing through the cutout portion.

5. The refrigerator of claim 4 , wherein
the second partition further comprises a water tank mounting member formed on the upper surface of the second partition to allow a water tank to be mounted thereon, the water tank mounting member arranged in front of the wire receiving member.

6. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein
the first partition further comprises an insulating body arranged in front of the first guide duct to allow the first guide duct to be coupled thereto, the insulating body having a first flow space formed therein and through which the generated cold air flows together with the first guide duct.

7. The refrigerator of claim 6 , wherein
the first guide duct comprises:
a base; and
a flow path forming member extending from the base to the insulating body form the first flow space therein.

8. The refrigerator of claim 7 , wherein
the first guide duct further comprises:
a first cold air inlet through which the generated cold air is introduced from the cold air supplier; and
a first cold air outlet formed above the first cold air inlet to allow the cold air which is introduced to the first cold air inlet, to flow to the second guide duct therethrough, the first cold air outlet arranged to be inclined with respect to the first cold air inlet.

9. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein
the inner case comprises:
a first inner case including the first storage compartment and the second storage compartment respectively formed therein;
a second inner case arranged below the first inner case and including the third storage compartment formed therein;
a first communication hole formed on one surface of the second inner case; and
a second communication hole formed on one surface of the first inner case,

the first guide duct is arranged between the first inner case and the second inner case, and
the first guide duct and the second guide duct respectively connected to the second communication hole and the first communication hole.

10. The refrigerator of claim 9 , wherein
the first communication hole is formed in a portion of the second inner case which has been cut out, and to allow the first guide duct to communicate with the third storage compartment therethrough, and
the second communication hole is formed in a portion of the first inner case which has been cut out, and to allow the first guide duct to communicate with the second guide duct therethrough.

11. The refrigerator of claim 10 , wherein
the cold air supplier is arranged at a rear of the third storage compartment and to supply the cold air to the first guide duct through the first communication hole.

12. The refrigerator of claim 10 , wherein
the first communication hole is formed on an upper surface of the second inner case and the second communication hole is formed on a lower surface of the first inner case.

13. The refrigerator of claim 10 , wherein
the second guide duct extends downward toward the first guide duct to communicate with the second communication hole.

14. A refrigerator comprising:
an inner case including a first inner case and a second inner case, the first inner case including: a first storage compartment formed therein; and the second inner case including a second storage compartment formed therein and below the first storage compartment, and the second inner case further including a third storage compartment formed therein and below the second storage compartment;
a first partition arranged between the first inner case and the second inner case;
a second partition arranged inside the first inner case, and to define the first storage compartment and the second storage compartment;
a cold air supplier mounted on the third storage compartment to generate cold air, and to communicate with the first partition, the cold air supplier comprising a damper mounted to an inside of the cold air supplier to control a flow of the cold air coming out of the cold air supplier to the second storage compartment;
a first guide duct formed in the first partition and including a first flow space formed therein and through which the cold air generated by the cold air supplier, flows, and a second guide duct formed in the second partition to communicate with the first guide duct, and including a second flow space formed therein and through which the cold air guided along the first flow space, flows,
wherein in response to the damper being an open state, the cold air from the cold air supplier flows to the second storage compartment through the first guide duct and the second guide duct, and
in response to the damper being a close state, the cold air from the cold air supplier is blocked by the damper and not supplied to the first guide duct and the second guide duct.

15. The refrigerator of claim 14 , wherein the second guide duct. extends downward toward the first guide duct at a rear of the second storage compartment, and the cold air guided to the second flow space is discharged to the second storage compartment.

16. The refrigerator of claim 15 , wherein the second inner case includes a first communication hole forme

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lee Seongchan
• Hwang Inyong
• Bae Ilsung
• Song Jinyoung
• Yun Subin
• Jang Wonho
• You Youngmin

Classifications

• F25D17/045

  Air flow control arrangements · CPC title

• F25D2317/063

  with air guides · CPC title

• F25D2700/12

  Sensors measuring the inside temperature · CPC title

• F25D2400/40

  Refrigerating devices characterised by electrical wiring · CPC title

• F25D2323/122

  the refrigerator is characterised by a water tank for the water/ice dispenser · CPC title