REFRIGERATOR AND COLD AIR CIRCULATION MODULE FOR A REFRIGERATOR

Abstract

A refrigerator is disclosed, where the flow of the cold air is selectively controlled to keep the internal temperature and humidity of a produce box relatively constant. The relatively constant internal temperature and humidity of the produce box is advantageous for optimally maintaining the freshness of produce stored within the produce box. The refrigerator includes a refrigerator main body forming an outer shell of the refrigerator, a cold air generation unit configured to generate a cold air required within the refrigerator main body, a produce storage unit configured to accommodate a produce box, a cold air circulation module configured to supply the cold air to the produce box, and a closing mechanism configured to selectively discharge the cold air existing within the produce box.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0045092, filed on Apr. 12, 2016, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator and a cold air circulation module for a refrigerator, more specifically, to a refrigerator and a cold air circulation module for a refrigerator, which are capable of maintaining relatively constant internal temperatures and humidity within a produce box.

BACKGROUND

A refrigerator is an apparatus for storing food at a low temperature and may be used to store food in a frozen state or a refrigerated state depending on the kinds of food to be stored.

The interior of the refrigerator is cooled by a continuous supply of cold air. The cold air is continuously generated by a heat exchange process using a refrigerant, where a freezing cycle consisting of compression, condensation, expansion and evaporation is used to generate cold air. The cold air supplied into the refrigerator is uniformly transferred to the interior of the refrigerator by convection and is used to store food at a desired temperature within the refrigerator.

The refrigerator includes a main body having a rectangular shape and an opening on a front surface thereof. A refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment may be provided within the main body. A refrigerating compartment door and a freezing compartment door may be provided on the front surface of the main body for selectively closing open portions of the main body. Drawers, shelves, storage compartments and the like may be provided in the internal storage spaces of the refrigerator for storing different kinds of food in an optimal state.

Top-mount-type refrigerators having a freezing compartment positioned above a refrigeration compartment are a common type of refrigerator. In recent years, however, bottom-freeze-type refrigerators having a freezing compartment positioned below a refrigeration compartment have become popular due to enhanced user convenience.

For conventional top-mount-type refrigerators, the internal temperature and humidity of a produce compartment are set to conform with the temperature and humidity of a refrigeration compartment. However, the temperature and humidity of the produce compartment may not be set for optimally maintaining the freshness of produce (e.g., fruits, vegetables, herbs, etc.) stored in the produce compartment for a long period of time. As a result, it is difficult to optimally maintain the freshness of produce using conventional refrigerators. Furthermore, if the internal temperature of the produce compartment is changed due to frequent opening and closing of the refrigerator door, for example, it is very difficult to optimally maintain the freshness of produce stored within the produce compartment.

Thus, a demand exists for a method or device capable of maintaining the internal temperature and humidity of a produce compartment without using an additional temperature/humidity control device for monitoring the internal temperature and humidity of a produce compartment.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a refrigerator and a cold air circulation module for a refrigerator, which are capable of maintaining relatively constant internal temperatures and humidity within a produce box.

According to one embodiment, a refrigerator is disclosed. The refrigerator includes a refrigerator main body, a cold air generation unit disposed within the refrigerator main body configured to generate cold air, a produce storage unit configured to accommodate a produce box, and a cold air circulation module configured to provide cold air to the produce box. The cold air circulation module includes a cold air flow path configured to guide the cold air from the cold air generation unit to the produce box, and a closing mechanism configured to selectively discharge the cold air from the produce box.

According to another embodiment, a cold air circulation module for a refrigerator is disclosed. The cold air circulation module includes a cold air flow path configured to guide cold air generated by a cold air generation unit of a refrigerator to a removable produce box, and a closing mechanism configured to selectively discharge the cold air from within the produce box, where the closing mechanism comprises a discharge port comprising a plurality of discharge holes disposed on a front side of a produce storage unit, where the produce storage unit is configured to accommodate the removable produce box.

According to a third embodiment, a refrigerator is disclosed including a refrigerator main body, a cold air generation unit configured to generate cold air within the refrigerator main body, a produce storage unit configured to accommodate a produce box, and a cold air circulation module configured to supply the cold air to the produce box. The cold air circulation module includes a closing mechanism configured to selectively discharge the cold air from within the produce box, where the closing mechanism includes a discharge port having a plurality of discharge holes disposed on a front side of the produce storage unit, and a knob slidably mounted to the discharge port, where an amount of the cold air discharged through the discharge port is adjustable based on a position of the knob.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view illustrating an exemplary refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view illustrating an exemplary cold air circulation module for a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway perspective view illustrating an exemplary produce box for a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of an exemplary airflow control mechanism according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of an exemplary airflow control mechanism according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating exemplary detection sensors, an exemplary controller and an exemplary display of a refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here.

One or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which one or more exemplary embodiments of the disclosure can be easily determined by those skilled in the art. As those skilled in the art will realize, the described exemplary embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure, which is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein.

It is noted that the drawings are schematic and are not necessarily dimensionally illustrated. Relative sizes and proportions of parts in the drawings may be exaggerated or reduced in size, and a predetermined size is merely exemplary and not limiting. The same reference numerals designate the same structures, elements, or parts illustrated in two or more drawings in order to exhibit similar characteristics.

The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure illustrate ideal exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure in more detail. As a result, various modifications of the drawings are expected. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments are not limited to a specific form of an illustrated region, and for example, may include modifications in form due to manufacturing choices.

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view illustrating an exemplary refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view illustrating an exemplary cold air circulation module for a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway perspective view illustrating an exemplary produce box for a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of an exemplary airflow control device. FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of an exemplary airflow control device.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, a refrigerator 60 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include a refrigerator main body 10 forming an outer shell of the refrigerator 60, a door (not shown) configured to selectively open and close an internal space of the refrigerator main body 10, a cold air generation unit 30 configured to generate cold air, a produce storage unit 40 configured to accommodate a produce box 50, and a cold air circulation module 100 configured to circulate cold air through the produce box 50.

According to some embodiments, the refrigerator may be a top-mount-type refrigerator having a freezing compartment 11 positioned above a refrigeration compartment 12. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto but may be applied to different types of refrigerators.

The refrigerator main body 10 may be divided into a freezing compartment 11 and a refrigeration compartment 12 by a barrier 13. For example, the freezing compartment 11 may be provided in an upper portion of the refrigerator main body 10, and the refrigeration compartment 12 may be provided in a lower portion of the refrigerator main body 10. The freezing compartment 11 and the refrigeration compartment 12 may be opened and closed using doors (not pictured).

The doors may include a freezing compartment door and a refrigeration compartment door. The freezing compartment door may shield the freezing compartment 11 by sealing an upper front edge of the refrigerator main body 10. The refrigeration compartment door may shield the refrigeration compartment 12 by sealing a lower front edge of the refrigerator main body 10.

The cold air generation unit 30 generates cold air for cooling the freezing compartment 11 and the refrigeration compartment 12. For this purpose, the cold air generation unit 30 may include devices for producing a freezing cycle to generate cold air. The devices may include, for example, a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator, which together are capable of producing a freezing cycle. A heat exchange process using a refrigerant produces a freezing cycle, and the freezing cycle includes the stages of compression, condensation, expansion and evaporation, performed by the compressor, the condenser, the expansion valve and the evaporator, respectively. The air within the refrigerator may be cooled to produce cold air by exchanging heat with the refrigerant.

The produce storage unit 40 may include a guide shelf 41 installed in the refrigerator main body 10, for example, at a lower portion of the refrigeration compartment 12, and an accommodation space, where the produce box 50 can be positioned within the accommodation space while being covered by the guide shelf 41. A sealing member 43 may be provided on a front edge portion of the guide shelf 41 to provide a water-tight seal between the guide shelf and the produce box when the produce box is placed within the accommodation space.

A space (gap) between a rear portion of the guide shelf 41 and a rear portion of the produce box 50 allows cold air to be introduced into the produce box 50. For example, cold air generated by the cold air generation unit 30 may be provided to the produce box 50 through the space between the guide shelf 41 and the produce box 50.

A bottom surface of the accommodation space may include a slanted surface 42a inclined downward along an insertion direction of the produce box 50 (e.g., slanted down toward the rear of the refrigerator). A user can easily insert the produce box 50 into the accommodation space of the produce storage unit 40 with a relatively small force. For example, when a user inserts the produce box 50 into the accommodation space of the produce storage unit 40, the weight of the produce box 50 is added to the force applied by the user. This enables a user to quickly insert the produce box 50 into the accommodation space using a relatively small force.

According to some embodiments, the weight of the produce box 50 may be used to help move the produce box 50 along the slant surface 42a of the accommodation space, and after the produce box 50 has been inserted into the accommodation space of the produce storage unit 40, a water-tight seal is reliably maintained between the produce box 50 and the sealing member 43 using the weight of the produce box 50.

The cold air circulation module 100 includes a cold air flow path 110 and a closing mechanism 120 (e.g., a door or valve). The cold air circulation module 100 may selectively discharge the cold air existing within the produce box 50 using the closing mechanism 120.

In this regard, the cold air flow path 110 may include a main flow path 111 configured to guide the cold air generated in the cold air generation unit 30 toward the produce storage unit 40, a first auxiliary flow path 112 configured to guide the cold air supplied from the main flow path 111 into the produce box 50, and a second auxiliary flow path 113 configured to guide the cold air supplied from the main flow path 111 along an outer surface of the produce box 50.

The cold air generated in the cold air generation unit 30 is moved toward the first auxiliary flow path 112 and the second auxiliary flow path 113 using the main flow path 111. The cold air diverted to the first auxiliary flow path 112 may pass through the interior of the produce box 50 and may return to the cold air generation unit 30. The cold air diverted to the second auxiliary flow path 113 may move along an outer surface of the produce box 50 and return to the cold air generation unit 30. The cold air diverted to the first auxiliary flow path 112 may be held in the produce box 50 or released from the produce box 50 using the closing mechanism 120.

The closing mechanism 120 is configured to selectively discharge the cold air from within the produce box 50. The closing mechanism 120 may include a discharge port 121 including a plurality of discharge holes 121a formed at the front side of the produce storage unit 40, and a knob 122 slidably mounted to the discharge port 121 used to adjust the amount of the cold air flowing through the discharge port 121.

When a user wishes to keep the internal temperature and humidity of the produce box 50 at a specific temperature and humidity (e.g., a temperature of 2.5 degrees C. to 3 degrees C. and a humidity of 87%) for maintaining produce in a fresh state, the user may operate the knob 122 to adjust the amount of the cold air discharged through the discharge port 121. This makes it possible to maintain the internal temperature and humidity of the produce box 50 at an appropriate level for optimal freshness.

For example, if it is determined that the internal temperature of the produce box 50 is lower than the appropriate level, the user may operate the knob 122 to open the discharge port 121. This allows an increased amount of cold air to be discharged through the discharge port 121. If it is determined that the internal temperature of the produce box 50 is higher than the appropriate level, the user may operate the knob 122 so that the discharge port 121 is at least partially closed. This makes it possible to reduce the amount of the cold air discharged through the discharge port 121 or to block the cold air completely. In this way, the amount of the cold air discharged through the discharge port 121 may be adjusted based on the internal temperature of the produce box 50 and the internal humidity of the produce box 50.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating exemplary detection sensors, an exemplary controller and an exemplary display device of a refrigerator 500 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

The refrigerator 500 may include a refrigerator main body, a door, a cold air generation unit, a cold air circulation module, detection sensors 200, controller 300 and a display device 400.

Components not depicted, such as the refrigerator main body 10, the door, the cold air generation unit 30 and the cold air circulation module 100 of the refrigerator of the present embodiment are the same as the refrigerator main body 10, the door, the cold air generation unit 30 and the cold air circulation module 100 of the exemplary refrigerator of FIG. 1. Thus, detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

The detection sensors 200 may include a temperature sensor 210 used to measure the internal temperature of the produce box 50 and a humidity sensor 220 used to measure the internal humidity of the produce box 50. The temperature sensor 210 and the humidity sensor 220 measure the internal temperature and humidity of the produce box 50 and may transmit the measured temperature and humidity values to the controller 300.

The controller 300 may receive the measured temperature and humidity values from the detection sensors 200 and calculate an operation range of the closing mechanism 120. Based on the operation range, the closing mechanism 120 is opened, partially opened, or closed, to cause the measured temperature and humidity values to reach the predetermined temperature and humidity values. The controller 300 may provide the measured temperature and humidity values and the operation range information of the closing mechanism 120 to the display device 400.

The operation range of the closing mechanism 120 may be adjusted according to the movement of the knob 122 along the discharge port 121. A graphical scale or range of values may be displayed to indicate a position of the knob 122 in relation to the discharge port 121. This enables a user to move the knob 122 to a specific range or value (e.g., on a graphical scale) provided by the controller 300 to adjust the amount of the cold air discharged from the discharge port 121 based on the range or value selected.

The display device 400 is configured to display information received from the controller 300 on a display screen. The display device 400 may display, on the display screen, the measured temperature and humidity values received from the controller 300 and the operation range information of the closing mechanism 120.

As described above, according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the flow of cold air may be selectively controlled to keep the internal temperature and humidity of the produce box relatively constant. The relatively constant internal temperature and humidity of the produce box is advantageous for optimally maintaining the freshness of produce stored within the produce box.

Although exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art will understand that the present disclosure may be implemented in various ways without changing the necessary features or the spirit of the present disclosure.

Therefore, it should be understood that the exemplary embodiments described above are not limiting, but only an example in all respects. The scope of the present disclosure is expressed by claims below, not the detailed description, and it should be construed that all changes and modifications achieved from the meanings and scope of claims and equivalent concepts are included in the scope of the present disclosure.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. The exemplary embodiments disclosed in the specification of the present disclosure do not limit the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure will be interpreted by the claims below, and it will be construed that all techniques within the scope equivalent thereto belong to the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, comprising:

a refrigerator main body;

a cold air generation unit disposed within the refrigerator main body and configured to generate cold air;

a produce storage unit configured to accommodate a produce box; and

a cold air circulation module configured to provide cold air to the produce box,

wherein the cold air circulation module comprises:

a cold air flow path configured to guide cold air from the cold air generation unit to the produce box; and

a closing mechanism configured to selectively discharge cold air from the produce box.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the closing mechanism comprises:

a discharge port comprising a plurality of discharge holes disposed on a front side of the produce storage unit; and

a knob slidably mounted to the discharge port and configured to adjust an amount of cold air discharged through the discharge port based on the position of the knob.

3. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the cold air flow path comprises:

a main flow path configured to guide the cold air generated by the cold air generation unit toward the produce box;

a first auxiliary flow path connected to the main flow path to provide cold air to the produce box, wherein the closing mechanism is configured to selectively discharge the cold air flowing along the first auxiliary flow path; and

a second auxiliary flow path connected to the main flow path to move cold air along an outer surface of the produce box.

4. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the produce storage unit comprises:

a guide shelf disposed within the refrigerator main body;

an accommodation space comprising a slanted bottom surface inclined downward along an insertion direction of the produce box, wherein an upper portion of the accommodation space is closed by the guide shelf; and

a sealing member disposed at a front side of the guide shelf to provide a water-tight seal between the guide shelf and the produce box when the produce box is placed within the accommodation space.

5. The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein the slanted bottom surface of the accommodation space reduces an amount of force required to move the produce box into the accommodation space.

6. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the cold air circulation module further comprises:

detection sensors configured to measure an internal temperature and an internal humidity of the produce box; and

a controller configured to calculate an operation range of the closing mechanism at which the internal temperature and the internal humidity measured by the detection sensors reach a predetermined temperature and a predetermined humidity using the closing mechanism.

7. The refrigerator of claim 6, further comprising a display device configured to display the operation range of the closing mechanism.

8. A refrigerator, comprising:

a refrigerator main body;

a cold air generation unit configured to generate cold air within the refrigerator main body;

a produce storage unit configured to accommodate a produce box; and

a cold air circulation module configured to supply cold air to the produce box, wherein the cold air circulation module comprises: a closing mechanism configured to selectively discharge cold air from the produce box, wherein the closing mechanism comprises a discharge port comprising: a plurality of discharge holes disposed on a front side of the produce storage unit; and a knob slidably mounted to the discharge port, wherein an amount of cold air discharged through the discharge port is adjustable by changing a position of the knob.

9. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the cold air circulation module further comprises detection sensors configured to measure an internal temperature and an internal humidity of the produce box.

10. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the detection sensors comprise a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor.

11. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the cold air circulation module further comprises a controller configured to calculate an operation range of the closing mechanism at which the internal temperature and the internal humidity measured by the detection sensors reach a predetermined temperature and a predetermined humidity using the closing mechanism.

12. The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein the cold air circulation module further comprises a display device configured to display the operation range of the closing mechanism.

13. A cold air circulation module for a refrigerator, the circulation module comprising:

a cold air flow pathway configured to guide cold air generated by a cold air generation unit of a refrigerator to a removable produce box; and

a closing mechanism configured to selectively discharge cold air from the produce box, wherein the closing mechanism comprises a discharge port comprising a plurality of discharge holes disposed on a front side of a produce storage unit, wherein the produce storage unit is configured to accommodate the removable produce box.

14. The cold air circulation module of claim 13, wherein the closing mechanism further comprises a knob slidably mounted to the discharge port and configured to adjust an amount of cold air discharged through the discharge port.

15. The cold air circulation module of claim 13, wherein the cold air flow pathway comprises:

a main flow path configured to guide cold air generated by the cold air generation unit toward the produce box;

a first auxiliary flow path connected to the main flow path to provide cold air to the produce box, wherein the closing mechanism is configured to selectively discharge the cold air flowing along the first auxiliary flow path; and

a second auxiliary flow path connected to the main flow path to move cold air along an outer surface of the produce box.

16. The cold air circulation module of claim 13, further comprising detection sensors configured to measure an internal temperature and an internal humidity of the produce box.

17. The cold air circulation module of claim 16, wherein the detection sensors comprise a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor.

18. The cold air circulation module of claim 17, further comprising a controller configured to calculate an operation range of the closing mechanism at which the internal temperature and the internal humidity measured by the detection sensors reach a predetermined temperature and a predetermined humidity using the closing mechanism.

19. The cold air circulation module of claim 18, further comprising a display device configured to display the operation range of the closing mechanism.