Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator including a main body cabinet including a storage compartment and a convertible compartment divided from the storage compartment; and a cool air providing part including a storage compartment evaporator to cool the storage compartment, a convertible compartment evaporator connected to the storage compartment evaporator in series to cool the convertible compartment, and a cooling fan providing cool air generated in the convertible compartment evaporator to the convertible compartment so as to function as one of freezing or refrigerating. Thus, the refrigerator includes a convertible compartment divided from a freezing compartment or a refrigerating compartment to store food by being provided with cool air separately. Further, the refrigerator prevents cool air in a freezing compartment or a refrigerating compartment from flowing out when a convertible compartment is open.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application Nos. 2004-0110333, filed on Dec. 22, 2004, and 2005-0078962, filed on Aug. 26, 2005, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, which are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a refrigerator and, more particularly, to a refrigerator including a convertible compartment divided from a freezing compartment or a refrigerating compartment.

2. Description of the Related Art

Korean Patent No. 2002-0077423 discloses a side-by-side refrigerator including a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment which are divided from each other by a vertically formed wall.

The conventional refrigerator is formed of an insulating material and has a tube shape of which the front is open. The refrigerator includes a casing having a cool air opening connected to the freezing compartment to one side and a temperature convertible compartment disposed in the refrigerating compartment to be provided with cool air from the cool air opening; and a drawer disposed in the casing to be drawn out.

Accordingly, the refrigerator can store food in the temperature convertible compartment at adequate temperature by adjusting the temperature.

However, in the conventional refrigerator, since the temperature convertible compartment is provided with the cool air from the freezing compartment, there may be a problem that a smell generated in the freezing compartment flows into the temperature convertible compartment.

Further, a user may open a refrigerating compartment door to take out the food stored in the temperature convertible compartment, and therefore the cool air may flow out excessively.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a refrigerator including a convertible compartment divided from a freezing compartment or a refrigerating compartment to store food by being provided with cool air separately.

Further, the present invention provides a refrigerator which prevents cool air in a freezing compartment or a refrigerating compartment from flowing out when a convertible compartment is open.

Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

The foregoing and other aspects of the present invention are achieved by providing a refrigerator including: a main body cabinet including a storage compartment and a convertible compartment divided from the storage compartment; and a cool air providing part including a storage compartment evaporator to cool the storage compartment, a convertible compartment evaporator connected to the storage compartment evaporator in series to cool the convertible compartment, and a cooling fan providing cool air generated in the convertible compartment evaporator to the convertible compartment so as to function as one of freezing or refrigerating.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the storage compartment includes a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment; the storage compartment evaporator includes a freezing compartment evaporator to cool the freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment evaporator to cool the refrigerating compartment; and the convertible compartment evaporator is connected to either the freezing compartment evaporator or the refrigerating compartment evaporator in series.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the refrigerator further includes a freezing compartment door, a refrigerating compartment door, and a convertible compartment door mounted in the main body cabinet to open and close the freezing compartment, the refrigerating compartment, and the convertible compartment, respectively.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the refrigerator further includes a sub-wall dividing the convertible compartment from either the freezing compartment or the refrigerating compartment up and down.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the freezing compartment evaporator and the refrigerating compartment evaporator are connected to each other in series.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the freezing compartment evaporator and the refrigerating compartment evaporator are connected to each other in parallel.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the refrigerator further includes a refrigerant pipe connecting the storage compartment evaporator and the convertible compartment evaporator so that the storage compartment evaporator and the convertible compartment evaporator which are separated from each other are formed in an evaporating pipe.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the refrigerant pipe includes a first refrigerant pipe disposed between the storage compartment evaporator and the convertible compartment evaporator to transfer a refrigerant passing through a part of the storage compartment evaporator to the convertible compartment evaporator and a second refrigerant pipe disposed between the storage compartment evaporator and the convertible compartment evaporator to transfer the refrigerant transferred from the first refrigerant pipe and passing through the convertible compartment evaporator to the other part of the storage compartment.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the convertible compartment is set in a range of −25° C. to 5° C. to function as a subsidiary freezing compartment.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the convertible compartment is set in a range of −18° C. to 10° C. to function as a subsidiary refrigerating compartment.

The foregoing and other aspects of the present invention are also achieved by providing a refrigerator including: a main body cabinet including a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment which are divided from each other, and a freezing convertible compartment and a refrigerating convertible compartment which are divided from the freezing compartment and the refrigerating compartment to function as either refrigerating or freezing; and a cool air providing part including a freezing compartment evaporator and a refrigerating compartment evaporator to cool the freezing compartment and the refrigerating compartment, a freezing convertible compartment evaporator and a refrigerating convertible compartment evaporator respectively connected to the freezing compartment evaporator and the refrigerating compartment evaporator in series to cool the freezing convertible compartment and the refrigerating convertible compartment, and a plurality of cooing fans respectively providing cool air generated in the freezing convertible compartment evaporator and the refrigerating convertible compartment evaporator to the freezing convertible compartment and the refrigerating convertible compartment.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the refrigerator includes a freezing compartment door, a refrigerating compartment door, a freezing convertible compartment door, and a refrigerating convertible compartment door which are mounted in the main body cabinet to open and close the freezing compartment, the refrigerating compartment, the freezing convertible compartment, and the refrigerating convertible compartment, respectively.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the freezing compartment evaporator and the refrigerating compartment evaporator are connected to each other in series.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the freezing compartment evaporator and the refrigerating compartment evaporator are connected to each other in parallel.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the refrigerator further includes refrigerant pipes connecting the freezing compartment evaporator and the freezing convertible compartment evaporator, and connecting the refrigerating compartment evaporator and the refrigerating convertible compartment evaporator so that the freezing compartment evaporator and the refrigerating compartment evaporator are formed in an evaporating pipe along with the freezing convertible compartment evaporator and the refrigerating convertible compartment evaporator, respectively.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the freezing convertible compartment is set in a range of −25° C. to 5° C. and the refrigerating convertible compartment is set in a range of −18° C. to 10° C.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and/or other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a circuit diagram illustrating a series circuit of a freezing cycle of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2B is a circuit diagram illustrating a parallel circuit of the freezing cycle of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2C is a perspective view illustrating a freezing compartment evaporator and a convertible compartment evaporator of the refrigerator in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4A is a circuit diagram illustrating a series circuit of a freezing cycle of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 4B is a circuit diagram illustrating a parallel circuit of the freezing cycle of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6A is a circuit diagram illustrating a series circuit of a freezing cycle of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 6B is a circuit diagram illustrating a parallel circuit of the freezing cycle of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below so as to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.

As shown in FIG. 1, a refrigerator 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a main body cabinet 10 including the storage compartments 11,12 and a convertible compartment 13 divided from the storage compartments 11,12, and a plurality of doors 40,42,44 mounted in the main body cabinet 10 to open and close the storage compartments 11,12 and the convertible compartment 13, respectively.

The storage compartments 11,12 include a freezing compartment 11 and a refrigerating compartment 12 divided from each other by a wall 50 in the main body cabinet 10.

The convertible compartment 13 is divided from the storage compartments 11,12 to form a storage space functioning as a subsidiary storage compartment. The convertible compartment 13 is divided from the freezing compartment 11 up and down by a sub-wall 60 in the main body cabinet 10.

In a lower rear of the main body cabinet 10 is provided a component chamber (not shown) in which a compressor 2 compressing a refrigerant and a condenser 3 condensing the refrigerant are installed. Accordingly, the refrigerant passing through the compressor 2 and the condenser 3 is provided to storage compartment evaporators 20,21 and a convertible compartment evaporator 22, referring to FIG. 2A. The storage compartment evaporators 20,21 include a freezing compartment evaporator 20 and a refrigerating compartment evaporator 21, referring to FIG. 2A.

The freezing compartment 11 is disposed to the left side of the wall 50. Inside the freezing compartment 11 are provided an ice making device 15 to the upper part to make ice and shelves 14 up and down to keep food.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, in the rear space of the freezing compartment 11 is provided a cool air providing part including the freezing compartment evaporator 20 absorbing ambient heat and generating cool air and a cooling fan 25 forcibly ventilating the cool air generated in the freezing compartment evaporator 20 into the freezing compartment 11. In the front of the freezing compartment evaporator 20 and the cooling fan 25 is mounted a freezing compartment duct 26 to form a path of the cool air generated in the freezing compartment evaporator 20. The freezing compartment duct 26 may be extended to the convertible compartment 13 to cover the convertible compartment evaporator 22.

The refrigerating compartment 12 is disposed to the right side of the wall 50 and includes shelves 16 up and down to keep food.

A cool air providing part is disposed in the rear space of the refrigerating compartment 12 and includes the refrigerating compartment evaporator 21 absorbing ambient heat and generating cool air and a cooling fan 27 forcibly ventilating the cool air generated in the refrigerating compartment evaporator 21 into the refrigerating compartment 12 in order to provide the cool air to the refrigerating compartment 12. In the front of the refrigerating compartment evaporator 21 and the cooling fan 27 is mounted a refrigerating compartment duct 28 to form a path of the cool air generated in the refrigerating compartment evaporator 21.

The convertible compartment 13 is disposed to the left side of the wall 50 and is divided from the freezing compartment 11 up and down by the sub-wall 60. The convertible compartment 13 may be set up in a range of −25° C. to 5° C. to be used as a subsidiary freezing compartment. Therefore, fish, meat, and the like which need a large amount of time to defrost may be stored in the convertible compartment 13 when stored for a short time. Also, the fish, meat, and the like are stored in the convertible compartment 13, thereby preventing food stored in the freezing compartment 11 from being permeated with the smell of food in the convertible compartment 13. Here, the convertible compartment 13 may be used for various purposes, and is not limited to the purposes described in the exemplary embodiment.

The cool air providing part is disposed in the rear space of the convertible compartment 13 and includes the convertible compartment evaporator 22 absorbing ambient heat and generating cool air and a cooling fan 29 forcibly ventilating the cool air generated in the convertible compartment evaporator 22 into the convertible compartment 13 in order to provide the cool air to the convertible compartment 13. In the front of the convertible compartment evaporator 22 and the cooling fan 29 is mounted a freezing compartment duct 26 to form a path of the cool air generated in the convertible compartment evaporator 22.

The convertible compartment evaporator 22 is directly connected to the freezing compartment evaporator 20. The convertible compartment evaporator 22 may be combined with the freezing compartment evaporator 20 in a single body like in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2C. As shown in FIG. 2C, the convertible compartment evaporator 22 is spaced from the freezing compartment evaporator 20. Between the convertible compartment evaporator 22 and the freezing compartment evaporator 20 are provided refrigerant pipes 22a,22b to form the convertible compartment evaporator 22 and the freezing compartment evaporator 20 in a single body.

The refrigerant pipes 22a,22b include a first refrigerant pipe 22a disposed between the freezing compartment evaporator 20 and the convertible compartment evaporator 22 to transfer the refrigerant passing through a part of the freezing compartment evaporator 20 to the convertible compartment evaporator 22 and a second refrigerant pipe 22b disposed between the freezing compartment evaporator 20 and the convertible compartment evaporator 22 to transfer the refrigerant transferred from the first refrigerant pipe 22a and passing through the convertible compartment evaporator 22 to the other part of the freezing compartment evaporator 20.

The refrigerant passes through the compressor 2 and the condenser 3, flows into an inlet 20b of the freezing compartment evaporator 20, and then circulates through the freezing compartment evaporator 20. Thereafter, the refrigerant is provided to the convertible compartment evaporator 22 through the first refrigerant pipe 22a. Then, the refrigerant circulates through the convertible compartment evaporator 22, re-transfers to freezing compartment evaporator 20 through the second refrigerant pipe 22b, and then transfers to the compressor 2 through an outlet 20c of the freezing compartment evaporator 20. In this case, a manufacturer does not need to install the convertible compartment evaporator 22 and the freezing compartment evaporator 20 in the convertible compartment 13 and the freezing compartment 11, respectively, thereby improving efficiency in the manufacturing process. Between the convertible compartment evaporator 22 and the freezing compartment evaporator 20 is provided a cutoff plate 20a to form paths of cool air in the freezing compartment 11 and the convertible compartment 13 separately. Accordingly, the cutoff plate 20a prevents the cool air circulating through the freezing compartment 11 and the convertible compartment 13 from mixing with each other.

The cutoff plate 20a may be connected to the component chamber by a defrosting heater 8 to discharge defrosting water generated in the freezing compartment evaporator 20 to the component chamber.

The doors 40,42,44 include a freezing compartment door 40, a refrigerating compartment door 42, and a convertible compartment door 44 which are mounted in the main body cabinet 10 to open and close the freezing compartment 11, the refrigerating compartment 12, and the convertible compartment 13, respectively.

The freezing compartment door 40 is mounted rotatably on an axis of one side of the main body cabinet 10. In the front of the freezing compartment door 40 is mounted a dispenser 41 to provide ice made in the ice making device 15 or water supplied from an external water source.

The refrigerating compartment door 42 is mounted rotatably on an axis of the other side of the main body cabinet 10. In the front of the refrigerating compartment door 42 is mounted a home bar 43 connected to the refrigerating compartment 12 to store food. Therefore, a user may conveniently take out the food stored in the home bar 43.

The convertible compartment door 44 is a sliding door in the embodiment, but may be provided in various ways.

In the following, a freezing cycle of the refrigerator 1 with the aforementioned configuration according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described as referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B.

FIG. 2A is a circuit diagram illustrating a series circuit of the freezing cycle of the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. When a gaseous refrigerant compressed to a high temperature and high pressure in the compressor 2 flows into the condenser 3, the condenser 3 condenses the gaseous refrigerant to a liquefied refrigerant having a low temperature and low pressure. The liquefied refrigerant decompresses while passing through a first capillary tube 4 to come to a low temperature and a low pressure state and flows into the refrigerating compartment evaporator 21. The refrigerant flowing into the refrigerating compartment evaporator 21 flows into the inlet 20b of the freezing compartment evaporator 20 to be provided to the convertible compartment evaporator 22 and transfers to compressor 2 through the outlet 20c of the freezing compartment evaporator 20. Here, in a refrigerant line between the refrigerating compartment evaporator 21 and the freezing compartment evaporator 20 is provided a second capillary tube 5 so as to expand the refrigerant passing through the refrigerating compartment evaporator 21. However, the second capillary tube 5 may not be provided depending on a performance of the first capillary tube 4. Thereafter, the gaseous refrigerant vaporized in each evaporator 21,20,22 returns to the compressor 2 and repeatedly circulates in the aforementioned process. In a refrigerant line between the condenser 3 and the first capillary tube 4 a dryer 6 may be provided to prevent the first capillary tube 4 from clogging by removing moisture or an alien substance included in the refrigerant discharged from the condenser 3.

FIG. 2B is a circuit diagram illustrating a parallel circuit of the freezing cycle of the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. When a gaseous refrigerant compressed to a high temperature and high pressure in the compressor 2 flows into the condenser 3, the condenser 3 condenses the gaseous refrigerant to a liquefied refrigerant. The liquefied refrigerant decompresses while passing through the first capillary tube 4 and flows into the refrigerating compartment evaporator 21. Then, the liquefied refrigerant decompresses while passing through the second capillary tube 5 and flows into the freezing compartment evaporator 20. Here, a converting valve 7 selectively converts a path of the refrigerant to the refrigerating compartment evaporator 21 or to the freezing compartment evaporator 20. In this case, since the convertible compartment evaporator 22 is connected to the freezing compartment evaporator 20, the refrigerant flowing into the freezing compartment evaporator 20 may be provided to the convertible compartment evaporator 22. That is, the refrigerant flows into the inlet 20b of the freezing compartment evaporator 20 to be provided to the convertible compartment evaporator 22 and transfers to the compressor 2 through the outlet 20c of the freezing compartment evaporator 20. Then, the gaseous refrigerant vaporized in each evaporator 21,20,22 returns to the compressor 2 and repeatedly circulates in the aforementioned process. In the refrigerant line between the condenser 3 and the converting valve 7 the dryer 6 may be provided to prevent the first capillary tube 4 and the second capillary tube 5 from clogging by removing moisture or an alien substance included in the refrigerant discharged from the condenser 3.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present invention. A refrigerator 201 in the second embodiment includes a refrigerating compartment 212 and a convertible compartment 213 which are divided from each other up and down by a sub-wall 260, apart from one in the first embodiment.

The refrigerator 201 includes a main body cabinet 210 including a freezing compartment 211, the refrigerating compartment 212 and the convertible compartment 213; and doors 240,242,244 mounted in the main body cabinet 210 to open and close the freezing compartment 211, the refrigerating compartment 212, and the convertible compartment 213, respectively, wherein the freezing compartment 211 and the refrigerating compartment 212 are divided from each other right and left by a wall 50 and the convertible compartment 213 is divided from the refrigerating compartment 212 up and down by the sub-wall 260.

As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, in the rear space of the freezing compartment 211 is provided a cool air providing part including the freezing compartment evaporator 20 absorbing ambient heat and generating cool air and a cooling fan 25 forcibly ventilating the cool air generated in the freezing compartment evaporator 20 into the freezing compartment 211. In the front of the freezing compartment evaporator 20 and the cooling fan 25 is mounted a freezing compartment duct 26 to form a path of the cool air generated in the freezing compartment evaporator 20.

A cool air providing part is disposed in the rear space of the refrigerating compartment 212 and further includes the refrigerating compartment evaporator 21 absorbing ambient heat and generating cool air and a cooling fan 27 forcibly ventilating the cool air generated in the refrigerating compartment evaporator 21 into the refrigerating compartment 212. In the front of the refrigerating compartment evaporator 21 and the cooling fan 27 is mounted a refrigerating compartment duct 28 to form a path of the cool air generated in the refrigerating compartment evaporator 21. The refrigerating compartment duct 28 may be extended to the convertible compartment 213 to cover a convertible compartment evaporator 222.

The convertible compartment 213 is disposed to the right side of the wall 50 and is divided from the refrigerating compartment 212 up and down by the sub-wall 260. The convertible compartment 213 may be set up in a range of −18° C. to 10° C. to be used as a subsidiary refrigerating compartment. Therefore, fruit, vegetables and the like are stored in the convertible compartment 213, thereby preventing food stored therein from being permeated with the smell of the food stored in the refrigerating compartment 212. Here, the convertible compartment 213 may be used for various purposes, and is not limited to the purposes described in the exemplary embodiment.

In the rear space of the convertible compartment 213 is provided a cool air providing part including the convertible compartment evaporator 222 absorbing ambient heat and generating cool air and a cooling fan 229 forcibly ventilating the cool air generated in the convertible compartment evaporator 222 into the convertible compartment 213. In the front of the convertible compartment evaporator 222 and the cooling fan 229 is mounted the refrigerating compartment duct 28 to form a path of the cool air generated in the convertible compartment evaporator 222.

The convertible compartment evaporator 22 may be combined with the refrigerating compartment evaporator 21 in a single body like the one shown in FIG. 2C of the first embodiment. Accordingly, a refrigerant passes through a compressor 2 and a condenser 3, flows into an inlet (not shown) of the refrigerating compartment evaporator 21 to be provided to the convertible compartment evaporator 22, and then transfers to an outlet (not shown) of the refrigerating evaporator 21. In this case, a manufacturer does not need to install the convertible compartment evaporator 222 and the refrigerating compartment evaporator 21 in the convertible compartment 213 and the refrigerating compartment 212, respectively, thereby improving efficiency in a manufacturing process. At this point, the sub-wall 260 is formed to be easily separated from the refrigerator 201 in order that the refrigerating compartment evaporator 21 and the convertible compartment evaporator 222 which are formed in a single body is mounted. Between the convertible compartment evaporator 222 and the refrigerating compartment evaporator 21 may be mounted a cutoff plate 21a to form paths of cool air in the refrigerating compartment 212 and the convertible compartment 213 separately.

The cutoff plate 21a is similar to the one shown in the first embodiment.

Likewise, the refrigerator 201 according to the second embodiment includes the convertible compartment evaporator 222 combined with the refrigerating compartment evaporator 21 in a single body, while the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment includes the convertible compartment evaporator 22 combined with the freezing compartment evaporator 20 in a single body. Therefore, in the refrigerator 201 according to the second embodiment, the refrigerant passing through the compressor 2 and condenser 3 is provided to the convertible compartment evaporator 222 through the refrigerating compartment evaporator 21, and then returns to the refrigerating compartment evaporator 21 to be provided to the compressor 2.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the refrigerator 301 according to the third embodiment, a refrigerating compartment 312 and a freezing compartment 311 are divided into two spaces up and down by sub-walls 360, respectively.

The refrigerator 301 includes a main body cabinet 310 including the freezing compartment 311, the refrigerating compartment 312, and convertible compartments 313; and doors 340,342,344 mounted in the main body cabinet 310 to open and close the freezing compartment 311, the refrigerating compartment 312, and the convertible compartments 313, wherein the freezing compartment 311 and the refrigerating compartment 312 are divided from each other right and left by a wall 50 and the convertible compartments 313 are divided from the freezing compartment 311 and the refrigerating compartment 312 up and down by the sub-walls 360.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B, in the rear space of the freezing compartment 311 is provided a cool air providing part including the freezing compartment evaporator 20 absorbing ambient heat and generating cool air and a cooling fan 25 forcibly ventilating the cool air generated in the freezing compartment evaporator 20 into the freezing compartment 311. In the front of the freezing compartment evaporator 20 and the cooling fan 25 is mounted a freezing compartment duct 26 to form a path of the cool air generated in the freezing compartment evaporator 20.

A cool air providing part is disposed in the rear space of the refrigerating compartment 312 and further includes the refrigerating compartment evaporator 21 absorbing ambient heat and generating cool air and a cooling fan 27 forcibly ventilating the cool air generated in the refrigerating compartment evaporator 21 into the refrigerating compartment 312. In the front of the refrigerating compartment evaporator 21 and the cooling fan 27 is mounted a refrigerating compartment duct 28 to form a path of the cool air generated in the refrigerating compartment evaporator 21.

The sub-walls 360 include a freezing compartment sub-wall 361 and a refrigerating compartment sub-wall 362.

The convertible compartments 313 include a freezing convertible compartment 317 divided from the freezing compartment 311 by the freezing compartment sub-wall 361 and a refrigerating convertible compartment 318 divided from the refrigerating compartment 312 by the refrigerating compartment sub-wall 362.

The freezing convertible compartment 317 may be used as a subsidiary freezing compartment and the refrigerating convertible compartment 318 may be used as a subsidiary refrigerating compartment.

Here, the freezing convertible compartment 317 and the refrigerating convertible compartment 318 may be converted in their functions to a refrigerating function and a freezing function, respectively. It is controlled by each cooling fan 330,331 to convert functions of the freezing convertible compartment 317 and the refrigerating convertible compartment 318. The freezing convertible compartment 317 may be set in a range of −25° C. to 5° C. and the refrigerating convertible compartment 318 may be set in a range of −18° C. to 10° C. so that a user may set an optional temperature.

A cool air providing part is disposed in the rear space of the freezing convertible compartment 317 and further includes the freezing convertible compartment evaporator 323 absorbing ambient heat and generating cool air and a cooling fan 320 forcibly ventilating the cool air generated in the freezing convertible compartment evaporator 323 into the freezing convertible compartment 317. In the front of the freezing convertible compartment evaporator 323 and the cooling fan 320 is mounted a freezing compartment duct 26 to form a path of the cool air generated in the freezing convertible compartment evaporator 323.

A cool air providing part is also disposed in the rear space of the refrigerating convertible compartment 318 and further includes the refrigerating convertible compartment evaporator 324 absorbing ambient heat and generating cool air and a cooling fan 331 forcibly ventilating the cool air generated in the refrigerating convertible compartment evaporator 324 into the refrigerating convertible compartment 318. In the front of the refrigerating convertible compartment evaporator 324 and the cooling fan 331 is mounted a refrigerating compartment duct 28 to form a path of the cool air generated in the refrigerating convertible compartment evaporator 324.

The freezing convertible compartment evaporator 323 may be combined with the freezing compartment evaporator 20 in a single body and the refrigerating convertible compartment evaporator 324 may be combined with the refrigerating compartment evaporator 21 in a single body, as shown in FIG. 2C of the first embodiment. Accordingly, a refrigerant passes through a compressor 2 and a condenser 3, and flows into an inlet (not shown) of the freezing compartment evaporator 20 to be provided to the freezing convertible compartment evaporator 323, and then flows out through an outlet (not shown) of the freezing compartment evaporator 20. Thereafter, the refrigerant flows into an inlet (not shown) of the refrigerating compartment evaporator 21 to be provided to the refrigerating convertible compartment evaporator 324, and transfers to the compressor 2 through an outlet (not shown) of the refrigerating compartment evaporator 21.

Between the freezing compartment evaporator 20 and the freezing convertible compartment evaporator 323 is provided a cutoff plate 20a to form paths of cool air in the freezing compartment 311 and the freezing convertible compartment 317 separately, like in the first embodiment. Further, between the refrigerating compartment evaporator 21 and the refrigerating convertible compartment evaporator 324 is provided a cutoff plate 21a to form paths of cool air in the refrigerating compartment evaporator 21 and the refrigerating convertible compartment evaporator 324 separately, like in the second embodiment. Accordingly, the cutoff plate 20a prevents the smell of food stored in the freezing compartment 311 and the freezing convertible compartment 317 from mixing with each other. Further, the cutoff plate 21a prevents the smell of food stored in the refrigerating compartment 312 and the refrigerating convertible compartment 318 from mixing with each other.

The cutoff plates 20a,21a are connected to a component chamber to discharge defrosting water generated in the freezing compartment evaporator 20 and the refrigerating compartment evaporator 21 to the component chamber, separately.

The convertible compartment door 344 includes a freezing convertible compartment door 345 and a refrigerating convertible compartment door 346, which are sliding doors. In the exemplary embodiment, the freezing convertible compartment door 345 and the refrigerating convertible compartment door 346 are sliding doors, but may be hinged doors like the freezing compartment door 340 or the refrigerating compartment door 342.

A freezing cycle of the refrigerator 301 with the aforementioned configuration according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B.

FIG. 6A is a circuit diagram illustrating a series circuit of the freezing cycle of the refrigerator 301 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Here, the freezing compartment evaporator 20 and the freezing convertible compartment evaporator 323, and the refrigerating evaporator 21 and the refrigerating convertible compartment evaporator 324 are connected in series. Accordingly, a refrigerant passing through the compressor 2 and the condenser 3 passes through the refrigerating compartment evaporator 21 and the refrigerating convertible compartment evaporator 324 to flow into the freezing compartment evaporator 20 and the freezing convertible compartment evaporator 323, and then returns to the compressor 2. In this case, the refrigerant provided from the condenser 3 flows into the inlet (not shown) of refrigerating compartment evaporator 21 to be provided to the refrigerating convertible compartment evaporator 324, and then flows out to the freezing compartment evaporator 20 through the outlet (not shown) of the refrigerating compartment evaporator 21. Likewise, the refrigerant provided from the outlet (not shown) of the refrigerating compartment evaporator 21 flows into the inlet (not shown) of the freezing compartment evaporator 20 to be provided to the freezing convertible compartment evaporator 323, and then flows out to the compressor 2 through the outlet (not shown) of the freezing compartment evaporator 20.

FIG. 6B is a circuit diagram illustrating a parallel circuit of the freezing cycle of the refrigerator 301 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Here, the freezing compartment evaporator 20 and the freezing convertible compartment evaporator 323, and the refrigerating evaporator 21 and the refrigerating convertible compartment evaporator 324 are connected in parallel. Accordingly, a refrigerant passing through the compressor 2 and the condenser 3 flows into the freezing compartment evaporator 20 or the refrigerating compartment evaporator 21 selectively by a converting valve 7.

Similar to the series circuit, the refrigerant flows into the inlet (not shown) of refrigerating compartment evaporator 21 to be provided to the refrigerating convertible compartment evaporator 324, and then transfers to the compressor 2 through the outlet (not shown) of the refrigerating compartment evaporator 21. Likewise, the refrigerant flows into the inlet (not shown) of the freezing compartment evaporator 20 to be provided to the freezing convertible compartment evaporator 323, and then transfers to the compressor 2 through the outlet (not shown) of the freezing compartment evaporator 20.

In the aforementioned embodiment, the sub-wall may be separated from the main body cabinet so that the storage compartment divided up and down can be used as one wider space. Also, if the sub-wall is separated from the main body cabinet when a single evaporator is mounted, it is easy to cool the storage compartment divided up and down. Each storage compartment divided up and down may be sealed by a gasket applied to a circumference of the sub-wall.

In the exemplary embodiment, the freezing compartment may be set in a range of about −30° C. to about −10° C. and the refrigerating compartment may be set in a range of about 1° C. to about 7° C.

Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a main body cabinet comprising a storage compartment and a convertible compartment divided from the storage compartment; and

a cool air providing part comprising a storage compartment evaporator to cool the storage compartment, a convertible compartment evaporator connected to the storage compartment evaporator in series to cool the convertible compartment, and a cooling fan providing cool air generated in the convertible compartment evaporator to the convertible compartment so as to function as one of freezing or refrigerating.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the storage compartment comprises a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment; the storage compartment evaporator includes a freezing compartment evaporator to cool the freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment evaporator to cool the refrigerating compartment; and the convertible compartment evaporator is connected to either the freezing compartment evaporator or the refrigerating compartment evaporator in series.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, further comprising a freezing compartment door, a refrigerating compartment door, and a convertible compartment door mounted in the main body cabinet to open and close the freezing compartment, the refrigerating compartment, and the convertible compartment, respectively.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, further comprising a sub-wall dividing the convertible compartment from either the freezing compartment or the refrigerating compartment up and down.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the freezing compartment evaporator and the refrigerating compartment evaporator are connected to each other in series.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the freezing compartment evaporator and the refrigerating compartment evaporator are connected to each other in parallel.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a refrigerant pipe connecting the storage compartment evaporator and the convertible compartment evaporator so that the storage compartment evaporator and the convertible compartment evaporator which are separated from each other are formed with one evaporating pipe.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the refrigerant pipe comprises a first refrigerant pipe disposed between the storage compartment evaporator and the convertible compartment evaporator to transfer a refrigerant passing through a part of the storage compartment evaporator to the convertible compartment evaporator and a second refrigerant pipe disposed between the storage compartment evaporator and the convertible compartment evaporator to transfer the refrigerant transferred from the first refrigerant pipe and passing through the convertible compartment evaporator to the other part of the storage compartment.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the convertible compartment is set in a range of −25° C. to 5° C. to function as a subsidiary freezing compartment.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the convertible compartment is set in a range of −18° C. to 10° C. to function as a subsidiary refrigerating compartment.

11. A refrigerator comprising:

a main body cabinet comprising a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment which are divided from each other, and a freezing convertible compartment and a refrigerating convertible compartment which are divided from the freezing compartment and the refrigerating compartment to function as either refrigerating or freezing; and

a cool air providing part comprising a freezing compartment evaporator and a refrigerating compartment evaporator to cool the freezing compartment and the refrigerating compartment, a freezing convertible compartment evaporator and a refrigerating convertible compartment evaporator respectively connected to the freezing compartment evaporator and the refrigerating compartment evaporator in series to cool the freezing convertible compartment and the refrigerating convertible compartment, and a plurality of cooing fans respectively providing cool air generated in the freezing convertible compartment evaporator and the refrigerating convertible compartment evaporator to the freezing convertible compartment and the refrigerating convertible compartment.

12. The refrigerator according to claim 11, comprising a freezing compartment door, a refrigerating compartment door, a freezing convertible compartment door, and a refrigerating convertible compartment door which are mounted in the main body cabinet to open and close the freezing compartment, the refrigerating compartment, the freezing convertible compartment, and the refrigerating convertible compartment, respectively.

13. The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein the freezing compartment evaporator and the refrigerating compartment evaporator are connected to each other in series.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein the freezing compartment evaporator and the refrigerating compartment evaporator are connected to each other in parallel.

15. The refrigerator according to claim 11, further comprising refrigerant pipes connecting the freezing compartment evaporator and the freezing convertible compartment evaporator, and connecting the refrigerating compartment evaporator and the refrigerating convertible compartment evaporator so that the freezing compartment evaporator and the refrigerating compartment evaporator are formed with one evaporating pipe along with the freezing convertible compartment evaporator and the refrigerating convertible compartment evaporator, respectively.

16. The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein the freezing convertible compartment is set in a range of −25° C. to 5° C. and the refrigerating convertible compartment is set in a range of −18° C. to 10° C.

17. The refrigerator according to claim 7, further comprising a cutoff plate disposed between the convertible compartment evaporator and the storage compartment evaporator to form paths of cool air in the storage compartment and the convertible compartment separately.

18. The refrigerator according to claim 15, further comprising a cutoff plate disposed between the freezing convertible compartment evaporator and the freezing compartment evaporator to form paths of cool air in the freezing compartment and the freezing convertible compartment separately.

19. The refrigerator according to claim 15, further comprising a cutoff plate disposed between the refrigerating convertible compartment evaporator and the refrigerating compartment evaporator to form paths of cool air in the refrigerating compartment and the refrigerating convertible compartment separately.