Leakage current interruption formation in refrigerator door

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a leakage current interruption formation in a refrigerator door for interrupting a leakage current of the refrigerator door. According to the present invention, a ground line of a refrigerator main body is connected to a door hinge. In addition, there is a feature in that a diode is connected between the door hinge and the ground line of the refrigerator main body. Therefore, the leakage current flowing into the door hinge from the door of the refrigerator can be interrupted and static electricity generated in the door can also flow to the refrigerator main body.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a leakage current interruption formation in a refrigerator door for interrupting leakage current flowing in the refrigerator door and causing static electricity generated from the door to flow into a main body of a refrigerator.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A leakage current interruption formation in a refrigerator door according to a prior art will be described as follows.

FIG. 1a is a circuit diagram of a refrigerator according to a prior art.

In the prior art, a ground line 10 is configured along with main power lines of a power cord 15 formed on circuit wiring of a refrigerator as shown in FIG. 1a. Such a conventional ground line 10 is generally grounded to an electric charging portion (i.e., metal portion, do not display) of the refrigerator. Further, it is configured such that the leakage current flows out to the ground through the ground line 10 when electric leakage occurs in the refrigerator. In the prior art, it is also configured such that a micro leakage current flows out to the ground through the ground line 10.

The ground line 10 of the refrigerator main body is connected to a hinge of the refrigerator door. In addition, when electric leakage occurs in the refrigerator, the leakage current flowing between the refrigerator main body and the door flows out to the ground through the ground line 10.

However, if a wall outlet is not grounded, there is no place to which the micro leakage current flowing in the refrigerator main body flows out. Therefore, the micro leakage current can be sensed by a sensitive user.

FIGS. 1b and 1c are sectional and front views of the refrigerator according to the prior art, respectively.

As shown in the figures, the ground line 10 of FIG. 1a is connected to a door hinge 20 of the refrigerator. The door hinge 20 is a metal structure connected to the refrigerator main body, and is connected to the door so as to prevent the door from drooping and being removed and to open and close the door.

In such a refrigerator, the flow of the leakage current occurring in the refrigerator main body progresses as follows.

Main Ground Refrigerator Main Body Door Hinge Door and Door Handle

That is, the leakage current occurring in the refrigerator main body is transmitted to a door, a door handle, and the like via the door hinge 20. Accordingly, the instant the user comes into contact with the door or the door handle, the user can sense the micro current.

Therefore, in a conventional case where the main ground line 10 is configured in the power cord 15, the leakage current flows out through the main ground line 10 of the power cord 15 in the refrigerator main body. However, if a wall outlet in a general home is not grounded, the leakage current of the refrigerator main body is transmitted to the refrigerator door. Therefore, some problems such as unpleasant sensation in use of the refrigerator and doubt about performance of the refrigerator caused from the leakage current may occur in the conventional refrigerator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a leakage current interruption formation in a refrigerator door which can interrupt a leakage current flowing into the refrigerator door from a refrigerator main body via a door hinge and allows static electricity generated in the refrigerator door to flow out to the refrigerator main body.

According to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the object, there is provided a leakage current interruption formation in a refrigerator door, comprising a ground line which is formed in power lines of a refrigerator circuit and connected to a refrigerator main body, a door hinge which is formed in the refrigerator main body for opening and closing a refrigerator door; and a unidirectional switching element which is formed between the ground line and the door hinge to interrupt a leakage current generated from the refrigerator main body.

Preferably, the unidirectional switching element comprises a diode.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

FIG. 1a is a circuit diagram of a refrigerator according to a prior art;

FIG. 1b is a sectional view of the refrigerator according to the prior art;

FIG. 1c is a front view of the refrigerator according to the prior art;

FIG. 2a is a sectional view of a refrigerator according to the present invention; and

FIG. 2b is a view showing flow of leakage current and static electricity of a refrigerator door according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Hereinafter, a leakage current interruption formation in a refrigerator door according to the present invention will be described in detail. A refrigerator circuit according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1a.

FIG. 2a is a sectional view of a refrigerator according to the present invention. FIG. 2b is a view showing flow of leakage current and static electricity of the refrigerator door according to the present invention.

As shown in the figures, in the present invention, a ground line 10 of a power cord 15 connected to a refrigerator main body is connected to a door hinge 130. In addition, a diode 110 is connected between the ground line 10 of the power cord 15 of the refrigerator main body and the door hinge 130 of the refrigerator main body. The diode 110, which is a unidirectional switching element, interrupts the leakage current flowing in from the refrigerator main body. Although the diode is proposed as a unidirectional switching element in the embodiment of the present invention, any other elements that perform the same function as the unidirectional switching element may be employed in the present invention. Furthermore, the diode 110 operates so that the static electricity generated in the door and the door handle can flow out through the ground line 10 of the refrigerator power cord 15.

That is, the diode 110 is provided between the ground line 10 and the refrigerator door hinge 130. The ground line 10 of the power cord 15 is connected to a cathode of the diode 110. The door hinge 130 is connected to an anode of the diode 110. As a result, the leakage current flowing from electronic components of the refrigerator main body to the door 120 is interrupted. Then, the static electricity generated in the door 120 flows out through the ground line 10 configured in the power cord 15 of the refrigerator.

As shown in FIG. 2b, if the leakage current occurs in the electronic components of the refrigerator main body, the leakage current is transmitted to the cathode of the diode 110. At this time, the diode 110 interrupts the flow of the leakage current. As a result, since the leakage current is prevented from flowing in the door, the door handle, and the like, the instant a part of user's human body comes into contact with the door 120 or the door handle, it is possible to prevent the user from sensing the leakage current.

On the other hand, the static electricity produced in the door and the door handle is transmitted to the anode of the diode 110 through the door hinge 130. Accordingly, the static electricity is transmitted to the refrigerator main body through the diode 110. In addition, the static electricity flows to the ground via the ground line 10 connected to the refrigerator main body. As a result, since the generation of the static electricity is suppressed, the user can safely open and close the door 120 of the refrigerator.

According to the leakage current interruption formation in the refrigerator door of the present invention, the following advantages can be expected.

Even in the case where the wall outlet is not grounded, the present invention can primarily interrupt the leakage current generated in the refrigerator main body. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user from sensing the leakage current which is generated when the user comes into contact with the door or the door handle. Furthermore, in the present invention, the static electricity generated in the door and the door handle flows to the ground through the ground line connected to the refrigerator main body. Accordingly, the user can safely open and close the door of the refrigerator without an unpleasant sensation.

According to the present invention as described above, the diode is provided between the hinge and the ground line of the refrigerator circuit. Accordingly, the present invention has a basic technical feature in that even in the case that the wall outlet is not grounded, the leakage current flowing from the refrigerator main body is interrupted and the static electricity generated in the door is discharged to the outside of the refrigerator.

The scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described and illustrated above but is defined by the appended claims. It will be apparent that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and changes thereto within the scope of the invention defined by the claims. Therefore, the true scope of the present invention should be defined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A leakage current interruption formation in a refrigerator, comprising:

a ground line formed in power cord of a refrigerator circuit and connected to a main body of the refrigerator;

a door hinge formed in the refrigerator main body, the door hinge being a structure for opening and closing a refrigerator door; and

a unidirectional switching element formed between the ground line and the door hinge for interrupting a leakage current generated from the refrigerator main body.

2. The leakage current interruption formation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the unidirectional switching element comprises a diode.