Refrigerator
There is disclosed a refrigerator including an inner case that defines an exterior appearance of a storage space, with a communication hole formed therein, an outer case spaced apart a predetermined distance from the inner case, with a communication formed at a position corresponding to the communication hole of the inner case, a vacuum space provided between the inner case and the outer case, with being maintained vacuum, to insulate the inner case from the outer case, and a connection pipe passing through the vacuum space, to connect the communication hole of the inner case and the communication hole of the outer case with each other.
1. A refrigerator comprising:
an inner case configured to form a storage space, the inner case comprising a first communication hole;
an outer case spaced apart from the inner case, the outer case comprising a second communication hole;
a first support plate disposed on a surface of at least one of the inner case and the outer case, and in a vacuum space between the inner case and the outer case;
spacers disposed between the first support plate and at least the other one of the inner case and the outer case, the spacers being fixed to the first support plate to support and maintain the vacuum space between the inner case and the outer case, wherein each end of the spacers is to be received in a corresponding groove; and
a connection pipe connecting the first communication hole to the second communication hole, the connection pipe passing through the vacuum space, an external portion of the connection pipe corresponding to the vacuum space and an internal portion of the connection pipe being separated from the vacuum space,
wherein the connection pipe comprises:
a lateral wall provided between the inner case and the outer case and formed of a thin metal to reduce heat transfer between the inner case and the outer case via the lateral wall, the lateral wall being configured to endure a vacuum pressure difference between an inside of the vacuum space and an outside of the vacuum space;
a first pipe part configured to be welded to the outer case; and
a second pipe part configured to be welded to the inner case.
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the lateral wall is spaced apart from the spacers, not to interfere with the spacers.
3. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the first pipe part is to be welded to the second communication hole and the second pipe part is to be welded to the first communication hole.
4. The refrigerator according to claim 3 , wherein the first pipe part comprises an outward pipe part and the second pipe part comprises an inward pipe part.
5. The refrigerator according to claim 4 , wherein a distance between the inward pipe part and the outward pipe part is the same as a distance between the first support plate and the other one of the inner case and the outer case.
6. The refrigerator according to claim 4 , wherein a distance between the first support plate and the other one of the inner case and the outer case is greater than a distance between the inward pipe part and the outward pipe part.
7. The refrigerator according to claim 6 , wherein the first support plate comprises a third communication hole and a portion of the inward pipe part or a portion of the outward pipe part traverses the third communication hole.
8. The refrigerator according to claim 3 , wherein the thicknesses of the first pipe part and the second pipe part are thicker than the thickness of the lateral wall.
9. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the lateral wall comprises a lateral wall corrugation part configured to increase a heat transfer passage by conduction between the inner case and the outer case.
10. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the lateral wall comprises a bellows pipe configured to increase a heat transfer passage by conduction between the inner case and the outer case.
11. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein each of the spacers has a column shape.
12. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the end of the spacers has a curved end to be received in the corresponding groove.
13. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the connection pipe defines a passage through which water is drained or through which a drainage pipe passes.
14. A refrigerator comprising:
an inner case configured to form a storage space, the inner case comprising a first communication hole;
an outer case spaced apart from the inner case, the outer case comprising a second communication hole;
a vacuum space between the inner case and the outer case;
a connection pipe connecting the first communication hole to the second communication hole, the connection pipe passing through the vacuum space, an external portion of the connection pipe corresponding to the vacuum space and an internal portion of the connection pipe being separated from the vacuum space,
wherein the connection pipe comprises:
a first pipe part comprising an outward pipe part configured to be welded to the outer case, an outer diameter of the outward pipe part being smaller than a diameter of second communication hole;
a second pipe part comprising an inward pipe part configured to be welded to the inner case, an outer diameter of the inward pipe part being smaller than a diameter of the first communication hole; and
a lateral wall provided between the outward pipe part and inward pipe part and formed of a thin metal to reduce heat transfer between the inner case and the outer case via the lateral wall, the lateral wall being configured to endure a vacuum pressure difference between an inside of the vacuum space and an outside of the vacuum space,
wherein an outer diameter of the lateral wall is greater than the diameter of the first communication hole and the second communication hole to decrease conduction efficiency by increasing a heat transfer passage of conduction between the inner case and the outer case.
15. The refrigerator according to claim 14 , wherein an inner surface of the connection pipe is coated by plastic.
16. The refrigerator according to claim 14 , wherein the lateral wall has a thickness between 0.005 mm and 0.2 mm.
17. The refrigerator according to claim 16 , further comprising:
a first support plate disposed on a surface of at least one of the inner case and the outer case, and in the vacuum space between the inner case and the outer case; and
spacers disposed between the first support plate and at least the other one of the inner case and the outer case, the spacers being fixed to the first support plate to support and maintain the vacuum space between the inner case and the outer case.
18. The refrigerator according to claim 17 , wherein the lateral wall is spaced apart a predetermined distance from the spacers, does not interfere with the spacers, and has a column shape.
19. The refrigerator according to claim 17 , wherein the first support plate comprises a third communication hole, a diameter of the third communication hole is larger than a diameter of the first communication hole or a diameter of the second communication hole.
20. The refrigerator according to claim 14 , wherein a connection pipe defines a passage through which water is drained or through which a drainage pipe passes, and
wherein the lateral wall has an inner diameter which is greater than the diameter of the first communication hole and the second communicate hole.