IP Library Granted Patent US 11,624,542
Granted Patent B2
US 11,624,542 · App. 17/162,449 · Granted Apr 11, 2023

Refrigerator

Inventor: Chiun Sung (Seoul, KR)
Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
F25D11/022F25B21/02F25D11/025F25D11/027F25D13/04F25D21/006F25D21/008F25B2321/023F25D25/025F25D2201/12F25D2317/061
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,624,542
App. No.
17/162,449
Granted
Apr 11, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A refrigerator includes a main body defining a storage space, a cryogenic freezing compartment having an insulation space that is independent with respect to the storage space, an evaporator disposed inside the storage space to cool the storage space, and a thermoelectric module assembly disposed at one side of the cryogenic freezing compartment so that the cryogenic freezing compartment is cooled to a temperature less than that of the storage space. The thermoelectric module assembly includes a thermoelectric module, a cold sink coming into contact with a heat absorption surface of the thermoelectric module and disposed in the cryogenic freezing compartment, and a heat sink coming into contact with a heat generation surface of the thermoelectric module. The heat sink is cooled by introducing a refrigerant supplied to the evaporator.

Claims (86)

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a main body defining a storage space;

a cryogenic compartment defining an insulation space configured to maintain a compartment temperature independent of a temperature in the storage space;

an evaporator located inside of the storage space and configured to cool the storage space; and

a thermoelectric device assembly located at the cryogenic compartment and configured to cool the cryogenic compartment to the compartment temperature that is less than the temperature of the storage space,

wherein the thermoelectric device assembly comprises:

a thermoelectric device comprising a heat absorption surface and a heat generation surface,

a cold sink located in the cryogenic compartment and configured to contact the heat absorption surface of the thermoelectric device, and

a heat sink that contacts the heat generation surface of the thermoelectric device and that is configured to be cooled by refrigerant supplied to the evaporator,

wherein the heat sink comprises:

a sink body the defines an accommodation space configured to receive refrigerant therein,

a cover plate that covers at least a portion of the accommodation space and that contacts the heat generation surface, and

a heat exchange fin located inside of the accommodation space and configured to guide flow of refrigerant in the sink body,

wherein the accommodation space comprises a recess that is recessed relative to a front surface of the sink body and that defines a front open surface of the accommodation space, and

wherein the cover plate covers the front open surface of the accommodation space.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the accommodation space extends through the sink body from a front open surface of the accommodation space to a rear open surface of the accommodation space, and

wherein the cover plate comprises:

a front plate that covers the front open surface of the accommodation space and that contacts the heat generation surface, and

a rear plate that covers the rear open surface of the accommodation space.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the cover plate comprises a restriction protrusion that is located at an outer end of the cover plate and that is bent toward the sink body, and

wherein the sink body comprises a restriction groove that is defined at a circumference of the sink body and that is configured to receive the restriction protrusion based on the cover plate coupling to the sink body.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the heat sink further comprises a barrier that is disposed in the accommodation space and that partitions the accommodation space into a first space to which refrigerant is introduced and a second space from which refrigerant is discharged, and

wherein the heat exchange fin is located in the first space and the second space.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 4 , wherein the heat sink further comprises a fin fixing part that protrudes from at least one of the barrier or an inner surface of the accommodation space, the fin fixing part being configured to fix the heat exchange fin at a position that is spaced apart from the inner surface of the accommodation space.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 4 , wherein the heat sink further comprises a plurality of fin fixing parts that protrude from the barrier toward the first space and the second space, respectively.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange fin has a plate shape that includes a plurality of bent portions, the heat exchange fin defining a passage configured to guide the flow of refrigerant.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange fin comprises:

a plurality of contact parts that are in surface contact with the cover plate and that are configured to exchange heat with the cover plate; and

a fin connection part that is bent from an end of each of the plurality of contact parts and that connects the plurality of contact parts to one another, and

wherein the plurality of contact parts and the fin connection part are arranged in a width direction of the heat exchange fin.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 8 , wherein the accommodation space extends through the sink body from a front open surface of the accommodation space to a rear open surface of the accommodation space,

wherein the cover plate comprises:

a front plate that covers the front open surface of the accommodation space and that contacts the heat generation surface, and

a rear plate that covers the rear open surface of the accommodation space, and

wherein the plurality of contact parts comprise:

a front contact part that is in surface contact with the front plate, and

a rear contact part that is in surface contact with the rear plate.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 8 , wherein the heat sink further comprises a barrier that is disposed in the accommodation space and that partitions the accommodation space into a first space to which refrigerant is introduced and a second space from which refrigerant is discharged, and

wherein the heat exchange fin is located in the first space and the second space.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 10 , wherein the barrier is located between the first space and the second space and extends in a longitudinal direction transverse to the width direction of the heat exchange fin.

12. The refrigerator according to claim 11 , wherein the heat sink further comprises a plurality of fin fixing parts that protrude from the barrier and an inner surface of the accommodation space, the plurality of fin fixing parts being configured to fix the heat exchange fin in each of the first space and the second space.

13. The refrigerator according to claim 11 , wherein the sink body defines an inflow hole configured to supply refrigerant into the first space and an outflow hole configured to discharge the refrigerant from the second space, and

wherein the inflow hole and the outflow hole are defined at a bottom surface of the sink body that faces the accommodation space.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 11 , wherein the heat exchange fin is disposed between a top surface of the accommodation space and a bottom surface of the accommodation space, and

wherein the heat exchange fin is spaced apart from each of the top surface and the bottom surface of the accommodation space.

15. The refrigerator according to claim 14 , wherein a length of the heat exchange fin in the longitudinal direction is less than a length of the accommodation space in the longitudinal direction.

16. The refrigerator according to claim 7 , wherein the heat exchange fin comprises:

a first passage that extends in a longitudinal direction of the heat exchange fin and that is configured to guide the flow of refrigerant in the longitudinal direction; and

a second passage that is offset from the first passage in a width direction transverse to the longitudinal direction, that overlaps with at least a portion of the first passage, and is configured to guide the flow of refrigerant branched from the first passage, and

wherein the first passage and the second passage are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the heat exchange fin.

17. The refrigerator according to claim 16 , wherein the first passage includes a plurality of first passages arranged in the longitudinal direction,

wherein the second passage includes a plurality of second passages that are alternately arranged with the plurality of first passages along the longitudinal direction, and

wherein lengths of the plurality of first passages are different from lengths of the plurality of second passages.

18. The refrigerator according to claim 17 , wherein the plurality of first passages include a plurality of first long-side passages and a plurality of first short-side passage that are disposed at a first side of the heat exchange fin and that are alternately arranged in the longitudinal direction, a length of each first long-side passage being greater than a length of each first short-side passage in the longitudinal direction, and

wherein the plurality of second passages include a plurality of second long-side passages and a plurality of second short-side passage that are disposed at a second side of the heat exchange fin opposite to the first side in the width direction and that are alternately arranged in the longitudinal direction, a length of each second long-side passage being greater than a length of each second short-side passage in the longitudinal direction.

19. A refrigerator comprising:

a main body defining a storage space;

a cryogenic compartment defining an insulation space configured to maintain a compartment temperature independent of a temperature in the storage space;

an evaporator located inside of the storage space and configured to cool the storage space; and

a thermoelectric device assembly located at the cryogenic compartment and configured to cool the cryogenic compartment to the compartment temperature that is less than the temperature of the storage space,

wherein the thermoelectric device assembly comprises:

a thermoelectric device comprising a heat absorption surface and a heat generation surface,

a cold sink located in the cryogenic compartment and configured to contact the heat absorption surface of the thermoelectric device, and

a heat sink that contacts the heat generation surface of the thermoelectric device and that is configured to be cooled by refrigerant supplied to the evaporator,

wherein the heat sink comprises:

a sink body the defines an accommodation space configured to receive refrigerant therein,

a cover plate that covers at least a portion of the accommodation space and that contacts the heat generation surface, and

a heat exchange fin located inside of the accommodation space and configured to guide flow of refrigerant in the sink body, and

wherein the heat sink further comprises a fin fixing part disposed in the accommodation space and configured to fix the heat exchange fin at a position that is spaced apart from an inner surface of the accommodation space.

20. A refrigerator comprising:

a main body defining a storage space;

a cryogenic compartment defining an insulation space configured to maintain a compartment temperature independent of a temperature in the storage space;

an evaporator located inside of the storage space and configured to cool the storage space; and

a thermoelectric device assembly located at the cryogenic compartment and configured to cool the cryogenic compartment to the compartment temperature that is less than the temperature of the storage space,

wherein the thermoelectric device assembly comprises:

a thermoelectric device comprising a heat absorption surface and a heat generation surface,

a cold sink located in the cryogenic compartment and configured to contact the heat absorption surface of the thermoelectric device, and

a heat sink that contacts the heat generation surface of the thermoelectric device and that is configured to be cooled by refrigerant supplied to the evaporator,

wherein the heat sink comprises:

a sink body the defines an accommodation space configured to receive refrigerant therein,

a cover plate that covers at least a portion of the accommodation space and that contacts the heat generation surface, and

a heat exchange fin located inside of the accommodation space and configured to guide flow of refrigerant in the sink body,

wherein the heat exchange fin comprises:

a plurality of contact parts that are in surface contact with the cover plate and that are configured to exchange heat with the cover plate, and

a fin connection part that is bent from an end of each of the plurality of contact parts and that connects the plurality of contact parts to one another, and

wherein the plurality of contact parts and the fin connection part are arranged in a width direction of the heat exchange fin.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE'S COUNTRY OF RECORD PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 055901 FRAME: 0951. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Nov 12, 2021
From: SUNG, CHIUN
To: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Reel/Frame 058108/0552 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 13, 2021
From: SUNG, CHIUN
To: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Reel/Frame 055901/0951 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2017-0046453 · Apr 11, 2017 · national
Continuity (2)
Division 15889993 · Feb 6, 2018
Related Publication 20210148625A1 · May 20, 2021
Cited By (8)
US 12,186,699 US 12,226,735 US 12,247,487 US 12,404,769 US 12,405,056 US 12,410,709 US 12,434,251 US 12,478,980