Refrigerator and method for controlling the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12385677-B2
Application number	US-202318230961-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 7, 2023
Priority date	Oct 12, 2022
Publication date	Aug 12, 2025
Grant date	Aug 12, 2025

Abstract

A refrigerator includes: a compressor; a condenser; a hot pipe; at least one capillary tube; at least one evaporator; a valve device including: an input port connected to the condenser; a first port connected to one end of the hot pipe; a second port connected to an other end; and at least one output port connected to the at least one capillary tube; and a controller configured to: control the valve device to operate in the first mode by connecting one of the first port and the second port to the input port and connecting an other one to the output port; control the valve device to operate in the second mode, by closing one of the first port and the second port and connecting an other one to the output port; and control the valve device to operate in the third mode, by closing all the first port and the second port.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerator comprising:
a compressor having an inlet and an outlet;
a condenser having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the condenser connected to the outlet of the compressor;
a hot pipe;
at least one capillary tube;
at least one evaporator connected to the at least one capillary tube and the inlet of the compressor;
a valve device including:
an input port connected to the outlet of the condenser;
a first port connected to one end of the hot pipe;
a second port connected to an other end of the hot pipe; and
at least one output port connected to the at least one capillary tube; and

a controller configured to:
control the valve device to operate in a first mode, a second mode, and a third mode during an operation of the compressor,
control the valve device to operate in the first mode by connecting one of the first port and the second port to the input port and connecting an other one of the first port and the second port to the output port;
control the valve device to operate in the second mode, by closing one of the first port and the second port and connecting an other one of the first port and the second port to the output port; and
control the valve device to operate in the third mode, by closing all the first port and the second port.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the valve device to operate in an order of the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode or in an order of the second mode, the third mode, and the first mode.

3. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine a duration of the first mode based on at least one of outside temperature or outside humidity.

4. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the valve device to close the output port based on the compressor being turned off.

5. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the valve device to operate in the first mode or the second mode based on the compressor being started to operate.

6. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein:
a refrigerant flowing into the input port passes through the hot pipe, and is discharged to the at least one evaporator in the first mode,
a refrigerant left in the hot pipe is collected to the at least one evaporator in the second mode, and
a refrigerant flowing into the input port bypasses the hot pipe, and is discharged to the at least one evaporator in the third mode.

7. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control a frequency of the compressor to a first value based on the valve device being operating in the first mode and control the frequency of the compressor to a second value lower than the first value based on the valve device being operating in the third mode.

8. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
control the valve device to switch from the first mode to the second mode based on a termination condition of the first mode being satisfied;
control the valve device to switch from the second mode to the third mode based on a termination condition of the second mode being satisfied, and
control the valve device to switch from the third mode to the first mode based on a termination condition of the third mode being satisfied, during the operation of the compressor.

9. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the valve device to operate in the second mode after an operation in the first mode and before an operation in the third mode.

10. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one capillary tube comprises a first capillary tube and a second capillary tube;
the at least one output port comprises a first output port connected to the first capillary tube and a second output port connected to the second capillary tube; and
the controller is configured to control the valve device such that the first port is connected to the first output port and the second port is connected to the input port in the first mode based on the refrigerator being operating in a fridge mode, and control the valve device such that the second port is connected to the second output port and the first port is connected to the input port in the first mode based on the refrigerator being operating in a freezer mode.

11. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one capillary tube comprises a first capillary tube and a second capillary tube;
the at least one output port comprises a first output port connected to the first capillary tube and a second output port connected to the second capillary tube; and
the controller is configured to:
control the valve device such that the first port is closed and the second port is connected to the second output port in the second mode based on the refrigerator being operating in a fridge mode, and
control the valve device such that the second port is closed and the first port is connected to the first output port in the second mode based on the refrigerator being operating in a freezer mode.

12. The refrigerator of claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to
control the valve device such that the input port is connected to the first output port in the second mode based on the refrigerator being operating in the fridge mode, and
control the valve device such that the input port is connected to the second output port in the second mode based on the refrigerator being operating in the freezer mode.

13. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one capillary tube comprises a first capillary tube and a second capillary tube;
the at least one output port comprises a first output port connected to the first capillary tube and a second output port connected to the second capillary tube; and
the controller is configured to:
control the valve device such that the input port is connected to the first output port in the third mode based on the refrigerator being operating in a fridge mode; and
control the valve device such that the input port is connected to the second output port in the third mode based on the refrigerator being operating in a freezer mode.

14. A method of controlling a refrigerator including a valve device including an input port connected to a condenser, a first port connected to one end of a hot pipe, a second port connected to an other end of the hot pipe, and at least one output port connected to at least one capillary tube, the method comprising:
controlling the valve device to operate in a first mode, a second mode and a third mode during an operation of a compressor;
controlling the valve device to operate in the first mode to connect one of the first port and the second port to the input port and connect an other one of the first port and the second port to the output port;
controlling the valve device to operate in the second mode to close one of the first port and the second port and connect an other one of the first port and the second port to the output port; and
controlling the valve device to operate in the third mode to close all the first port and the second port.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the controlling of the valve device to operate in the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode during an operation of the compressor comprises
controlling the valve device to operate in an order of the first mode, the second mode and the third mode or in an order of the second mode, the third mode and the first mode.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Min Seulki
• Jeong Heemoon
• Cho Gaeul
• Seo Kookjeong
• Lee Insub

Classifications

• F25D11/022

  with two or more evaporators · CPC title

• F25D21/04

  Preventing the formation of frost or condensate · CPC title

• F25D2700/14

  Sensors measuring the temperature outside the refrigerator or freezer · CPC title

• F25B2500/26

  characterised by the startup of the refrigeration cycle · CPC title

• F25B2700/2106

  of fresh outdoor air · CPC title