Refrigerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020200467-A1
Application number	US-201916721040-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 19, 2019
Priority date	Dec 19, 2018
Publication date	Jun 25, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a cabinet, a cooling module including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator, and attachable to or detachable from the cabinet so that the cooling module is removably mounted to the cabinet, an electronic device arranged in the cabinet, and an electrical box configured to be electrically connected to the electronic device and the compressor, receive power from outside and supply the received power to the electronic device and the compressor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet; a cooling module comprising a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator, and attachable to or detachable from the cabinet so that the cooling module is removably mounted to the cabinet; an electronic device arranged in the cabinet; and an electrical box configured to be electrically connected to the electronic device and the compressor, receive power from outside and supply the received power to the electronic device and the compressor.

2 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the electrical box is arranged in the cooling module, and the cooling module comprises a module body comprising an electrical box mounting portion to which the electrical box is mounted.

3 . The refrigerator of claim 2 , wherein the module body comprises a receiving portion in which the evaporator is arranged and a receiving portion opening formed therein and configured to guide a first wire extending to the receiving portion.

4 . The refrigerator of claim 3 , wherein a module insulating material is provided inside the module body, and the first wire is arranged so that a portion of the first wire passes through the module insulating material.

5 . The refrigerator of claim 3 , wherein the cooling module comprises a duct module arranged in the receiving portion, and the first wire electrically connects the duct module to the electrical box.

6 . The refrigerator of claim 2 , wherein the module body comprises a machine room in which the compressor and the condenser are arranged and a machine room opening formed therein and configured to guide a second wire extending to the machine room.

7 . The refrigerator of claim 6 , wherein a module insulating material is provided inside the module body, and the second wire is arranged so that a portion of the second wire passes through the module insulating material.

8 . The refrigerator of claim 6 , wherein the cooling module comprises a cooling fan configured to cool the machine room, and the second wire electrically connects the cooling fan to the electrical box.

9 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises at least one of a dispenser, an ice maker, a display apparatus, and an interior light.

10 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the cabinet comprises an electrical box heat dissipation opening formed therein and configured to allow the electrical box to be exposed to the outside to dissipate the heat of the electrical box.

11 . The refrigerator of claim 2 , wherein the module body comprises a connector receiving space formed to receive connectors provided in a plurality of wires extending from the electrical box.

12 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the electrical box comprises a test connector exposed to the outside.

13 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the electrical box comprises a power board configured to receive power from the outside and transmit the power to the electronic device and the compressor and a control board configured to control the electronic device and the compressor by receiving power from the power board.

14 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the cooling module comprises a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of cold air generated by the evaporator.

15 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the electrical box is arranged in the cabinet.

16 . A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet; a cooling module comprising a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, an evaporator, and an electrical box and attachable to or detachable from the cabinet so that the cooling module is removably mounted to the outside of the cabinet; and an electronic device arranged in the cabinet, wherein the electrical box is electrically connected to the electronic device and comprises a power board configured to receive power from the outside and transmit the power to the electronic device and the compressor.

17 . The refrigerator of claim 16 , wherein the cooling module comprises a module body, and the module body comprises an electrical box mounting portion to which the electrical box is mounted, a receiving portion in which the evaporator is arranged, and a machine room in which the compressor and the condenser are arranged.

18 . The refrigerator of claim 17 , wherein the module body comprises a receiving portion opening formed therein and configured to guide a first wire extending to the receiving portion, and a machine room opening configured to guide a second wire extending to the machine room.

19 . The refrigerator of claim 18 , wherein a module insulating material is provided inside the module body, and the first wire is arranged in such a way that a portion of the first wire passes through the module insulating material, and the second wire is arranged so that a portion of the second wire passes through the module insulating material.

20 . The refrigerator of claim 16 , wherein the cooling module comprises a test connector configured to electrically connect an external test device to the electrical box, and exposed to the outside of the cooling module; and a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of cold air generated by the evaporator and configured to transmit information on the measured temperature to the electrical box.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Park Sung Jin
• Koo Dong Won
• Hwang In Yong
• Shin Youn Tae
• Lee Dong Hyun

Classifications

• F25D11/022

  with two or more evaporators · CPC title

• F25D23/006 Primary

  for mounting refrigerating machinery components · CPC title

• F25D2700/10

  Sensors measuring the temperature of the evaporator · CPC title

• F25D2400/40

  Refrigerating devices characterised by electrical wiring · CPC title

• F25D19/00 Primary

  Arrangement or mounting of refrigeration units with respect to devices {or objects to be refrigerated, e.g. infrared detectors} · CPC title