Cold air circulating apparatus for use in Kimchi refrigerator

Abstract

A cold air circulating apparatus for use in a Kimchi refrigerator includes temperature sensors installed in storage compartments for sensing current temperature inside the storage compartments, respectively, a pair of communication passages formed to be spaced apart from each other in a partition wall, dampers installed in the communication passages for selectively opening or closing the communication passages, respectively, and a control unit for outputting a driving control signal to open or close the dampers based on information on the difference between the current temperatures inside the storage compartments detected by the temperature sensors, thereby circulating cold air between the storage compartments through the communication passages.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cold air circulating apparatus for use in a Kimchi refrigerator, and more specifically, to an apparatus for circulating cold air between storage compartments of a Kimchi refrigerator, which is capable of shortening the amount of time required to lower temperature inside the storage compartments to a preset temperature.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In general, a Kimchi refrigerator is one of electric home appliances for exclusive use for Kimchi, which can mature and preserve Kimchi at its optimal taste using a cooling cycle. The Kimchi refrigerator serves to mature or season Kimchi at an optimum fermentation temperature that is variable according to a user's taste, and keep the matured Kimchi at an optimum storage temperature for an extended period of time.

Such a Kimchi refrigerator is provided with a cooler and a door used for preventing chilled air provided by the cooler inside storage compartments from escaping to outside at the time of opening and closing of the door to make sure that the temperature inside the refrigerator is constantly maintained. The interior space of the Kimchi refrigerator is divided into two storage compartments: one may be used for preserving matured Kimchi in a temperature range of about −0.5° C. to 1° C., and the other for maturing Kimchi in a temperature range of about 5° C. to 7° C.; or else both for preserving or maturing the Kimchi.

In addition, a drawer type storage compartment designed to pull and push horizontally may be provided in the lower portion of the storage compartments.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional Kimchi refrigerator provided with a cold air circulating apparatus, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a cooling fan embedded into the door of the Kimchi refrigerator depicted in FIG. 1. As shown in the drawings, the conventional Kimchi refrigerator 1 is provided with a main body 2 divided into an upper portion and a lower portion. In the upper portion of the main body 2, a left storage compartment 3 and a right storage compartment 4 are formed, and in the lower portion of the main body 2, a drawer type storage compartment 5 that is slid in and out horizontally is formed.

Meanwhile, the Kimchi refrigerator 1 is further provided with, on its left and right sides of the upper portion, cold air circulating apparatuses for circulating cold air in the left and the right storage compartments 3 and 4, respectively. Each cold air circulating apparatus includes a push switch 7 protrusively embedded in the main body 2 and connected to a power supply (not shown), a cooling fan 8 embedded into the lower face of a door 6 for blowing cold air of the left storage compartment 3 (or the right storage compartment 4) in a downward direction, and a control unit (not shown) for controlling the operation of the cooling fan 8.

The cooling fan 8, as shown in FIG. 2, is inserted into a hollow area 9 formed on the lower face of the door 6, bolted together, and shielded by a cover 11 having vent holes 10 formed therein. The cooling fan 8 is electrically connected to the push switch 7. The fan operates for a predetermined period of time when the push switch 7 is turned-on by opening the door 6; or otherwise stops its operation when the switch 7 is turned-off by closing the door 6.

However, in the cold air circulating apparatus of the conventional Kimchi refrigerator as mentioned above, the cooling cycle is independently performed in a separate space of each of the left and the right storage compartments 3 and 4. Therefore, if a user wants to lower temperature inside any one of the storage compartments, she or he runs only the cooling fan 8 installed in the corresponding storage compartment for its cooling operation.

In this case, there needs a large amount of time required to independently cool down the corresponding storage compartment to a preset temperature.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a cold air circulating apparatus for use in a Kimchi refrigerator having two or more storage compartments to facilitate the circulation of cold air therebetween.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cold air circulating apparatus to shorten the amount of time required to lower temperature inside the storage compartments included in such a Kimchi refrigerator.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a cold air circulating apparatus for use in a Kimchi refrigerator having at least two storage compartments partitioned by a partition wall, the apparatus comprising:

temperature sensors installed in the storage compartments for sensing current temperature inside the storage compartments, respectively;

a pair of communication passages which are formed to be spaced apart from each other in the partition wall;

dampers installed in the communication passages for selectively opening or closing the communication passages, respectively; and

a control unit for outputting a driving control signal to open or close the dampers based on information on the difference between the current temperatures inside the storage compartments detected by the temperature sensors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments, given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of a conventional Kimchi refrigerator provided with an apparatus for circulating cold air;

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of a cooling fan embedded into the door of the Kimchi refrigerator shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view showing a Kimchi refrigerator provided with a cold air circulating apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 presents a plan view schematically illustrating a cold air circulating apparatus in a Kimchi refrigerator in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram showing the cold air circulating apparatus illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary operation of the cold air circulating apparatus shown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 describes another exemplary operation of the cold air circulating apparatus shown in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of a cold air circulating apparatus for use in a Kimchi refrigerator in accordance with the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a Kimchi refrigerator provided with a cold air circulating apparatus in accordance with the present invention, and FIG. 4 presents a plan view schematically illustrating a cold air circulating apparatus in a Kimchi refrigerator in accordance with the present invention.

As shown in the drawings, interior space of a Kimchi refrigerator 100 is divided, by a partition wall 101 at the center, into a left storage compartment 110 and a right storage compartment 120. The left and the right storage compartments 110 and 120 are covered from the above by left and right storage compartment doors 111 and 121, respectively, which are provided to seal inside the storage compartments 110 and 120.

Cooling fans 112 and 122 are embedded into the left compartment door 111 and the right storage compartment door 121, respectively, to thereby circulate cold air inside the corresponding storage compartments.

A control panel 160 is installed on a front of the Kimchi refrigerator 100 and serves to select preset temperatures for the storage compartments 110 and 120.

Further, formed inside the rear portion of the left and the right storage compartments 110 and 120 of the Kimchi refrigerator is a cooling unit 130 such as an evaporator for generating the cold air to refrigerate inside the storage compartments 110 and 120.

In addition, the left and the right storage compartments 110 and 120 are provided with temperature sensors 162 and 163 that detect current temperatures inside their corresponding compartments 110 and 120 to produce temperature detection signals indicating the current temperatures, respectively.

Meanwhile, the partition wall 101 dividing the interior space of the Kimchi refrigerator into the left and the right storage compartments 110 and 120 has a pair of communication passages 140 and 150 which are formed to be spaced apart each other in horizontal. Alternatively, the communication passages 140 and 150 may be arranged in vertical. Installed in the communication passages 140 and 150 are built-in electronic dampers 141 and 151 that are operable for selectively opening or closing the communication passages 140 and 150, respectively.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 5 which is a schematic block diagram showing the cold air circulating apparatus of the Kimchi refrigerator illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, a control unit 170 is provided to control the circulation of the cold air. More specifically, the control unit 170 receives the temperature detection signals from the temperature sensors 162 and 163, and outputs driving control signals for opening or closing the dampers 141 and 151.

For the convenience of explanation hereinafter, among those two communication passages, the communication passage being disposed closer to the evaporator 130 is referred to as a first communication passage 140, and the other communication passage spaced apart from the first communication passage 140 by a designated distance is referred to as a second communication passage 150. For the same purpose, the damper inside the first communication passage 140 is referred to as a first damper 141, and the damper inside the second communication passage 150 is named a second damper 151.

As described above, the partition wall 101 has the first and the second communication passages 140 and 150 formed therein. Thus, the left and the right storage compartments 110 and 120 are selectively communicated by the dampers 141 and 151 mounted in the first and the second communication passages 140 and 150, respectively.

Therefore, in case where a current temperature inside the left storage compartment 110 or the right storage compartment 120, being sensed by the temperature sensor 162 or 163, respectively, is higher than the preset temperature for preserving kimchi therein, the dampers 141 and 151 are operated to open the first and the second communication passages 140 and 150. This permits the cold air inside the left and the right storage compartments 110 and 120 to communicate with each other, which results in making the temperatures in the storage compartments approximately even by lowering the temperature in a storage compartment of interest using colder air in another storage compartment than that of the storage compartment of interest. Accordingly, it is accomplished to shorten the amount of time required for lowering the temperature of interest to the preset temperature, rather than lowering the temperature in each of the storage compartments 110 and 120 by individually operating the cooling fans 112 and 122 mounted in the storage compartments 110 and 120, as in the prior art.

Preferably, the circulating apparatus further includes ventilating fans 142 and 143; and 152 and 153 that are operationally oppositely installed in the left and the right sides of the first and the second communication passages 140 and 150. The ventilating fans 142 and 143; 152 and 153 promote the circulation of cold air between the left storage compartment 110 and the right storage compartment 120 more efficiently.

It is more preferably that the ventilating fans 142, 143, 152, and 153 are installed in a manner that air blows from the inside to the outside of the communication passages 140 and 150. Such ventilating fans 142, 143, 152, and 153 may be implemented with an AC fan which blows cold air in one direction.

Hereinafter, for the convenience of explanation, the ventilating fan on the left inner side of the first communication passage 140 is named a first ventilating fan 142, and the ventilating fan on the right inner side is named a second ventilating fan 143. Similarly, the ventilating fan on the left inner side of the second communication passage 150 is named a third ventilating fan 152, and the ventilating fan on the right inner side is named a fourth ventilating fan 153.

Now, an operation of the cold air circulating apparatus for use in a Kimchi refrigerator in accordance with the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are exemplary views illustrating the operations of a cold air circulating apparatus for use in a Kimchi refrigerator in accordance with the present invention.

In operation, current temperatures inside the left and the right storage compartments are detected by the temperature sensors 162 and 163 installed in the left and the right storage compartments 110 and 120, respectively.

If it is determined by the control unit 170 that the current temperature in the right storage compartment 120 is higher than a preset temperature for the right storage compartment 120, and if it is also determined by the control unit 170 that the current temperature in the right storage compartment 120 is higher than the current temperature detected by the temperature sensor 162, the control unit 170 outputs a driving control signal to open the first and the second dampers 141 and 151, to thereby open both the first and the second communication passages 140 and 150, as shown in FIG. 6.

At the same time, under the control of the control unit 170, the second ventilating fan 143 and the fourth ventilating fan 153 operate. Therefore, cold air from the left storage compartment 110 flows into the right storage compartment 120 via the first communication passage 140, and cold air from the right storage compartment 120 flows into the left storage compartment 110 via the second communication passage 150, to thereby circulate cold air between the left storage compartment 110 and the right storage compartment 120.

The reason for operating the second ventilating fan 143 is to cause the cold air to blow from the left storage compartment 110 into the right storage compartment 120 via the first communication passage 140. That is, the cold air is circulated between the storage compartments in a direction that the cold air in the left storage compartment 110 flows out into the right storage compartment 120 through the communication passage 140, the communication passage 140 being formed closer to the evaporator 130.

As a result, the coldest air existing in the vicinity of the evaporator 130 in the interior space of the left storage compartment 110 can flow directly and immediately into the right storage compartment 120, to thereby lower the temperature of the right storage compartment 120 more effectively.

In addition, it may be implemented in a manner that the cooling fans 112 and 122 embedded into the left and the right storage compartment doors 111 and 121 run together, thereby making the cold air circulate in a vertical direction as well. This results in more efficient circulations of cold air inside the compartment storages.

During the above operation, if it is determined that the current temperature inside the right storage compartment 120 is lowered to the preset temperature, the control unit 170 controls the first and the second dampers 141 and 151 to be closed, and controls the second and the fourth ventilating fans 143 and 153 to stop their running.

Thereafter, the Kimchi refrigerator 100 allows the left storage compartment 110 and the right storage compartment 120 to be driven independently of each other.

On the other hand, if it is detected that current temperature in the left storage compartment 110 is higher than a preset temperature for the left storage compartment 110 and is also higher than current temperature in the right storage compartment 110, the control unit 170 outputs a driving control signal to open the first and the second dampers 141 and 151, to thereby open the first and the second communication passages 140 and 150.

At the same time, the first ventilating fan 142 and the third ventilating fan 152 operate, and therefore, cold air from the right storage compartment 120 forces to blow into the left storage compartment 110 via the first communication passage 140, and cold air from the left storage compartment 110 forces to blow into the right storage compartment 120 via the second communication passage 150, as shown in FIG. 7, thereby circulating cold air between the left storage compartment 110 and the right storage compartment 120.

The reason for causing the cold air to flow from the right storage compartment 120 into the left storage compartment 110 via the first communication passage 140 is that the coldest air existing in the vicinity of the evaporator 130 in the interior space of the right storage compartment 120 can flow into the left storage compartment 110 to thus lower the temperature of the left storage compartment 110 more effectively. That is, the cold air is circulated between the storage compartments in a direction that the cold air in the right storage compartment 120 blows out into the left storage compartment 110 through the communication passage 140 closer to the evaporator 130.

In addition, it may be implemented in a manner that the cooling fans 112 and 122 embedded in the left and the right storage compartment doors 111 and 121 run together, thereby making the cold air circulate in a vertical direction as well. This results in more efficient circulation of cold air inside the compartment storages.

Thereafter, under the control of the control unit 170, if it is determined that the temperature inside the left storage compartment 110 is lowered to the preset temperature, the first and the second dampers 141 and 151 are closed, and the first and the third ventilating fans 142 and 152 stop running, thereby permitting the left storage compartment 110 and the right storage compartment 120 to be refrigerated independently of each other.

Although it has been illustrated and disclosed that the ventilating fans 142, 143; 152, and 153 are of the AC type fans that are installed in the left and the right sides of the first and the second communication passages 140 and 150, it is possible to substitute the AC type ventilating fans with DC type ventilating fans that are capable of selectively changing the direction of air flow in bi-direction. In this case, it is enough to install each one of DC type ventilating fans in each of the first and the second communication passages 140, respectively.

Therefore, in FIG. 6, a first DC ventilating fan installed in the first communication passage 140 instead the second ventilating fan 143 forces cold air from the left storage compartment 110 to blow into the right storage compartment 120, and a second DC fan installed in the second communication passage 150 instead the fourth ventilating fan 153 forces cold air from the right storage compartment 120 to blow into the left storage compartment 110, thereby circulating cold air between the left storage compartment 110 and the right storage compartment 120.

Meanwhile, in FIG. 7, a first DC ventilating fan installed in the first communication passage 140 instead the first ventilating fan 142 forces cold air from the right storage compartment 120 forces to blow into the left storage compartment 110, and a second DC ventilating fan installed in the second communication passage 150 instead the third ventilating fan 152 forces cold air from the left storage compartment 110 cold air from the left storage compartment 110 forces to blow into the right storage compartment 120, thereby circulating cold air between the left storage compartment 110 and the right storage compartment 120.

Alternatively, there may be several countermeasures on how to install the ventilating fans. One of the countermeasures is to install a ventilating fan in any one of the communication passage, e.g., the first communication passage 140. The ventilating fan is a DC type fan and is controlled to selectively change the direction of air flow in bi-direction.

Another countermeasure is to install each AC fan in each communication passage instead of pairs of AC fans, respectively.

As explained so far, the cold air circulating apparatus for use in a Kimchi refrigerator according to the present invention is provided with the first and the second communication passages capable of making the left and right storage compartments communicate with each other, and the first and the second dampers capable of selectively opening or closing the first and the second communication passages. Therefore, if temperature inside the left storage compartment is higher than the preset temperature, cold air flows from the right storage compartment into the left storage compartment, while if temperature inside the right storage compartment is higher than the preset temperature, cold air flows from the left storage compartment into the right storage compartment. In this manner, cold air inside each storage compartment is circulated more effectively, thereby shortening the amount of time required to lower temperature of cold air down to the preset temperature.

While the invention has been shown and described with respect to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A cold air circulating apparatus for use in a Kimchi refrigerator having at least two storage compartments partitioned by a partition wall, the apparatus comprising:

temperature sensors installed in the storage compartments for sensing current temperature inside the storage compartments, respectively;

a pair of communication passages which are formed to be spaced apart from each other in the partition wall;

dampers installed in the communication passages for selectively opening or closing the communication passages, respectively; and

a control unit for outputting a control signal to open or close the dampers based on information on the difference between the current temperatures inside the storage compartments detected by the temperature sensors.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the dampers to open in case where temperature in one of the storage compartments is higher than a preset temperature therefor, and also higher than temperature in another storage compartment, to thereby circulate cold air between the storage compartments through the communication passages.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a pair of ventilating fans installed in each communication passage, to promote the circulation of the cold air between the storage compartments.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the ventilating fans in each pair are operationally oppositely installed each other with the damper therebetween, and wherein the control unit controls each one of the ventilating fans in each pair to run in a manner to blow out the cold air passing through the communication passages.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein a first one of the communication passages is closer to cooling means in the Kimch refrigerator, and wherein the circulation is made in such a manner that the cold air in said another storage compartment is blown out to said one storage compartment through the fist communication passage and the cold air in said one storage compartment is blown out to said another storage compartment through a second communication passage.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein each of the ventilating fans includes an AC type fan.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a ventilating fan installed in each of the communication passages to promote the circulation of the cold air between the storage compartments.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the control unit controls the ventilating fans to run in a manner to blow out the cold air passing through the communication passages, respectively.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a first one of the communication passages is closer to cooling means in the Kimch refrigerator, and wherein the circulation is made in such a manner that the cold air in said another storage compartment is blown out to said one storage compartment through the fist communication passage and the cold air in said one storage compartment is blown out to said another storage compartment through a second communication passage.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein each of the ventilating fans includes a DC type fan.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication passages are arranged in parallel horizontally.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication passages are arranged in series vertically.

13. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a ventilating fan installed in any selected one of the communication passages, to promote the circulation of the cold air between the storage compartments.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the control unit controls the ventilating fan to run in a manner to blow out the cold air passing through the selected communication passage.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the selected communication passage is closer to cooling means in the Kimch refrigerator, and wherein the circulation is made in such a manner that the cold air in said another storage compartment is blown out to said one storage compartment through the fist communication passage by the ventilating fan and the cold air in said one storage compartment is blown out to said another storage compartment through another communication passage.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the ventilating fan includes a DC type fan.