IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,240,510
Granted Patent B2
US 7,240,510 · App. 11/043,045 · Granted Jul 10, 2007

Refrigerator

Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,240,510
App. No.
11/043,045
Granted
Jul 10, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

There is provided a refrigerator. In the refrigerator, a blower fan is installed in a refrigerant body to blow a cold air, a barrier partitions an inner space of the refrigerator body into a freezing chamber and a chilling chamber, an ice machine is installed in the chilling chamber, a freezing air duct is connected with the ice machine for passing the cold air blown by the blower fan, a chilling air duct is connected with the chilling chamber for passing the cold air blown by the blower fan, and a cold air return duct is provided to pass the cold air discharged from the ice machine toward an evaporator where the cold air is cooled by exchanging heat with a refrigerant.

Claims (40)

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a refrigerator body;

a blower fan installed in the refrigerant body to blow a cold air;

a barrier partitioning an inner space of the refrigerator body into a freezing chamber and a chilling chamber;

an ice machine installed in the chilling chamber;

a freezing air duct connected with the ice machine, for passing the cold air blown by the blower fan;

a chilling air duct connected with the chilling chamber, for passing the cold air blown by the blower fan;

a cold air return duct in which the cold air flows after the cold air is discharged from the ice machine; and

an evaporator exchanging heat with the cold air discharged from the cold air return duct.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the freezing air duct is formed at a top of the barrier.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a guide duct formed through the barrier to connect the freezing air duct with the ice machine; and

a discharge duct formed at a predetermined portion of the ice machine to discharge the cold air of the ice machine to the chilling chamber.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the cold air return duct is formed in the barrier.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein an end of the cold air return duct is connected with the chilling chamber.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the ice machine is installed inside a door of the chilling chamber.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the ice machine includes:

an ice maker making an ice;

an ice bank storing the ice made by the ice maker; and

an ice-making chamber accommodating the ice maker and the ice bank.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 7 , wherein the ice-making chamber includes;

an insulating case; and

an insulating cover for insulating the insulating case from a door of the chilling chamber.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 7 , wherein the ice-making chamber includes a cold air inflow hole and/or a cold air discharge hole.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the ice machine includes:

an ice outlet for discharging an ice out of the refrigerator;

an ice shoot connected with the ice outlet; and

a dispenser for receiving the ice discharged through the ice shoot.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , further comprising an outlet duct formed through the barrier, for passing the cold air from the ice machine to the freezing chamber.

12. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the freezing air duct is formed in the barrier.

13. The refrigerator according to claim 7 , wherein the cold air return duct includes:

one end connected to the ice-making chamber; and

the other end connected to the evaporator.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 7 , further comprising a connecting duct for connecting the ice-making chamber and the cold air return duct.

15. The refrigerator according to claim 14 , wherein the connecting duct is formed along an inner surface of the chilling chamber.

16. The refrigerator according to claim 14 , further comprising a cold air discharge hole and/or a cold air discharge duct, for connecting the ice-making chamber and the connecting duct.

17. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the cold air return duct includes:

one end connected to a side of the ice machine;

the other end connected to the evaporator; and

a body portion formed along an inner surface of the chilling chamber.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 27, 2005
From: LEE, MYUNG RYUL; CHUNG, SUNG HOON; KIM, SEONG JAE; SEO, CHANG HO
To: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Reel/Frame 016227/0844 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2004-0005379 · Jan 28, 2004 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20050160756A1 · Jul 28, 2005