US20070107452A1 - Refrigerator having independent sterilization duct - Google Patents
Refrigerator having independent sterilization duct Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20070107452A1 US20070107452A1 US11/410,839 US41083906A US2007107452A1 US 20070107452 A1 US20070107452 A1 US 20070107452A1 US 41083906 A US41083906 A US 41083906A US 2007107452 A1 US2007107452 A1 US 2007107452A1
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- duct
- sterilizer
- chilled air
- refrigerator according
- blower
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 230000001954 sterilising effect Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 24
- 238000004659 sterilization and disinfection Methods 0.000 title abstract description 9
- 150000002500 ions Chemical class 0.000 claims abstract description 84
- 239000001257 hydrogen Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 35
- 229910052739 hydrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 35
- UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Hydrogen Chemical compound [H][H] UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 29
- 238000007664 blowing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 5
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 claims description 22
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 claims description 22
- -1 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 claims description 14
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 claims description 13
- 239000000919 ceramic Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000004698 Polyethylene Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 229920000573 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 150000002431 hydrogen Chemical class 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000004332 deodorization Methods 0.000 abstract description 7
- 241000894006 Bacteria Species 0.000 description 8
- 230000001877 deodorizing effect Effects 0.000 description 8
- 235000013305 food Nutrition 0.000 description 8
- 125000004435 hydrogen atom Chemical group [H]* 0.000 description 6
- 241000700605 Viruses Species 0.000 description 5
- 239000000356 contaminant Substances 0.000 description 4
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- CBENFWSGALASAD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ozone Chemical compound [O-][O+]=O CBENFWSGALASAD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000012141 concentrate Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000004794 expanded polystyrene Substances 0.000 description 2
- 235000019645 odor Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 241000251468 Actinopterygii Species 0.000 description 1
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000019688 fish Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003993 interaction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000013372 meat Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000005192 partition Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000638 solvent extraction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 235000013311 vegetables Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D17/00—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
- F25D17/04—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection
- F25D17/042—Air treating means within refrigerated spaces
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D17/00—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
- F25D17/04—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection
- F25D17/06—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation
- F25D17/062—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation in household refrigerators
- F25D17/065—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation in household refrigerators with compartments at different temperatures
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D17/00—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
- F25D17/04—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection
- F25D17/042—Air treating means within refrigerated spaces
- F25D17/045—Air flow control arrangements
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D2317/00—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
- F25D2317/04—Treating air flowing to refrigeration compartments
- F25D2317/041—Treating air flowing to refrigeration compartments by purification
- F25D2317/0415—Treating air flowing to refrigeration compartments by purification by deodorizing
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D2317/00—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
- F25D2317/06—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation
- F25D2317/067—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation characterised by air ducts
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D2317/00—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
- F25D2317/06—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation
- F25D2317/068—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation characterised by the fans
- F25D2317/0681—Details thereof
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D2400/00—General features of, or devices for refrigerators, cold rooms, ice-boxes, or for cooling or freezing apparatus not covered by any other subclass
- F25D2400/06—Refrigerators with a vertical mullion
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator in which a sterilization duct is arranged independently from a chilled air duct for distributing chilled air into compartments to sterilize and deodorize so that the compartments can be maintained clean.
- a refrigerator is structured to maintain compartments such as a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment at suitable temperatures for accommodating foods so that the foods accommodated in the compartments can be kept fresh for a long time.
- compartments such as a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment at suitable temperatures for accommodating foods so that the foods accommodated in the compartments can be kept fresh for a long time.
- vegetables, meat, fish, and various raw and cooked foods are accommodated.
- the compartments become impregnated with odors emitted from various foods and mold, bacteria, and viruses propagate in the compartments so that the compartments can be considered unhealthy and unpleasant for a user.
- the sterilizer and the deodorizer of the conventional refrigerator includes a cover having an inlet for suctioning air from the compartments and a discharge port for discharging the suctioned air to the compartments again, a high voltage generator and an ozone generating electrode, which are installed in the cover, an ion generating electrode, and a blower fan such that air introduced into the cover is sterilized and deodorized in the cover by ozone gas and is emitted into the compartments again so that the air circulating within the compartments becomes clean.
- the sterilizer and the deodorizer of the conventional refrigerator are disposed between shelves and the sterilized and deodorized air is discharged into their vicinity, the sterilized and deodorized air does not propagate into the space of the compartments uniformly so that the sterilizing and deodorizing effect is deteriorated.
- the sterilizer and the deodorizer of the conventional refrigerator sterilizes and deodorizes air only therein, the sterilizer and the deodorizer of the conventional refrigerator cannot effectively sterilize and deodorize air in the compartments.
- the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an aspect of the invention is to provide a refrigerator in which a sterilizer duct is disposed in the vertical direction independent from a chilled air duct to discharge air containing active hydrogen and negative ions uniformly into compartments through a sterilizer duct.
- the present invention provides a refrigerator including at least one compartment, a chilled air duct for supplying chilled air to the compartment, a sterilizer duct installed in the compartment independent from the chilled air duct, and an ion generator for supplying sterilizing air through the sterilizer duct to the compartment.
- the refrigerator further includes a cooling fan for blowing the chilled air to the chilled air duct, and a blower fan for blowing air in the compartment to the sterilizer duct, wherein a plurality of chilled air discharge ports and sterilized air discharge ports are respectively formed in the chilled air duct and the sterilizer duct at regular intervals.
- the chilled air duct may be disposed at the central region of the rear side of the compartment, and the sterilizer duct may be disposed at a corner of the rear side of the compartment.
- the ion generator may be made of a micro plasma ion generator (MPI) for generating negative ions and active hydrogen, and may be disposed in the sterilizer duct.
- MPI micro plasma ion generator
- the refrigerator further includes a blower duct, coupled with the sterilizer duct, in which the blower fan is installed, a rotation duct coupled with the blower duct, and a driving motor for rotating the rotation duct, wherein the sterilizer duct is installed to rotate together with the blower duct.
- the driving motor is installed in a housing fixed to a rear wall of the compartment, and a rotation shaft of the driving motor is coupled with a hub provided in the center of the rotation duct to rotate the rotation duct.
- the blower fan is coupled with a fan motor fixed in a hub provided at the center of the blower duct to rotate.
- the sterilizer duct, the blower duct, and the rotation duct may have a cylindrical shape and rotate.
- An insertion protrusion and an insertion recess may be formed in the end rims of the blower duct, and insertion protrusions and insertion recesses may be formed in respective ends of the blower duct and the rotation duct such that the insertion protrusion of the sterilizer duct is inserted into the insertion recess of the blower duct and the insertion protrusion of the blower duct is inserted into the insertion recess of the rotation duct for the convenient separation from and coupling with each other.
- the inner surface of the sterilizer duct is coated with anti-electrification material, such as polyethylene.
- the refrigerator further includes a distribution duct installed between the sterilizer duct and the chilled air duct to communicate and block the chilled air duct to and from the sterilizer duct, wherein the ion generator is installed in the sterilizer duct or the distribution duct.
- the distribution duct may have first and second exits, and a cooling fan disposed in an entrance of the distribution duct.
- the sterilizer duct and the chilled air duct are respectively connected to the first and second exits of the distribution duct such that chilled air blown by the cooling fan flows the sterilizer duct and the chilled air duct through the distribution duct.
- the refrigerator further includes a damper installed between the first and second exits within the distribution duct to open and close the first and second exits.
- the damper is driven by a driving motor to adjust an opening degree of the first and second exits.
- the ion generator may be disposed at the side of the first exit connected to the sterilizer duct within the distribution duct.
- the refrigerator further includes a chilled air supply duct connected to the entrance of the distribution duct, wherein a plurality of introducing holes for introducing air in the compartment is formed in the front side of the chilled air supply duct, and an evaporator is installed in the chilled air supply duct together with the cooling fan.
- FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a refrigerator, in which a sterilizer duct for sterilizing and deodorizing air in compartments is disposed in a refrigerator compartment parallel to a chilled air duct according to a first embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a structure of the sterilizer duct according to the first embodiment of the present invention for enabling the sterilizer duct to rotate;
- FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the structure of the sterilizer duct in FIG. 2 ;
- FIGS. 4 to 6 are views illustrating directional change of a discharge port of the sterilizer duct according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 4 shows the direction of the discharge port is changed such that air containing sterilizing ions is emitted toward a wall of a compartment, FIG. 5 shows the direction of the discharge port is changed such that air containing sterilizing ions is discharged toward the central region of the compartment, and FIG. 6 shows the direction of the discharge port is changed such that air containing sterilizing ions is discharged toward a rear wall of the compartment; and
- FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 1 and shows the air discharged from the sterilizer duct according to the first embodiment of the present invention distributed into the compartments;
- FIG. 8 is a front view illustrating a refrigerator, in which a sterilizer duct for sterilizing and deodorizing air in compartments is disposed in a refrigerator compartment parallel to a chilled air duct according to a second embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the sterilizer duct in FIG. 8 and shows that chilled air is distributed into the sterilizer duct and the chilled air duct through a distribution duct in which a damper and an ion generator are installed;
- FIGS. 10 to 12 are views illustrating operation of the damper installed in the distribution duct according to the second embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 10 shows that the damper installed in the distribution duct closes the chilled air duct completely and opens the sterilizer duct fully such that all the chilled air discharged from a cooling fan is supplied into the sterilizer duct, FIG. 11 shows that the damper opens the chilled air duct fully and closes the sterilizer duct completely such that all the chilled air is supplied into the chilled air duct, and FIG. 12 shows that the damper opens the chilled air duct fully and partially opens the sterilizer duct such that some of the chilled air is supplied into the sterilizer duct; and
- FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along the line B-B in FIG. 8 and shows the chilled air containing active hydrogen and sterilizing ions, generated by the ion generator, is uniformly distributed into the compartments through the sterilizer duct.
- FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a refrigerator, in which a sterilizer duct for sterilizing and deodorizing air in compartments is disposed in a refrigerator compartment parallel to a chilled air duct according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
- the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention has an open-front box-shaped cabinet 1 having a space for accommodating foods, a partition 2 for partitioning the cabinet 1 into two compartments 3 and 4 , and two doors 5 and 6 hinged to the front side of the cabinet 1 to open and close the compartments 3 and 4 .
- the two compartments 3 and 4 serve as a freezer compartment 3 for accommodating foods under 0 (zero) degrees centigrade (preferably, 16 degrees centigrade below zero to 21 degrees centigrade below zero) and as a refrigerator compartment 4 for accommodating foods above zero degrees centigrade (preferably, 3 degrees centigrade to 5 degrees centigrade), thus, hereinafter the compartment 3 is referred to as the freezer compartment 3 and the compartment 4 is referred to as the refrigerator compartment 4 .
- the freezer compartment 3 and the refrigerator compartment 4 have shelves 7 and accommodating boxes 8 (See FIG. 7 ).
- a chilled air duct 10 is disposed in the vertical direction to distribute the chilled air into the oval space of the refrigerator compartment 4 uniformly, and a sterilizer duct 60 is disposed in the vertical direction independently from the chilled air duct 10 to discharge the sterilized and deodorized air and a great deal of active hydrogen and negative ions into the refrigerator.
- a blower fan 17 and an evaporator 18 communicate with the chilled air duct 10 to supply the chilled air into the chilled air duct 10 (See FIG. 7 ), and in the chilled air duct 10 and the sterilizer duct 60 , a plurality of chilled air discharge ports 11 and sterilized air discharge ports 61 are arranged at regular intervals.
- the chilled air duct 10 is disposed at the central region of the refrigerator compartment 4 , and the sterilizer duct 60 installed independently from the chilled air duct 10 is disposed at a corner of the refrigerator compartment 4 , thereby supplying the chilled air and the sterilized and deodorized air into the refrigerator compartment 4 , respectively.
- the chilled air duct 10 and the sterilizer duct 60 may be disposed at each corner of the rear side of the refrigerator compartment 4 , or the chilled air duct 10 may be disposed at a corner and the sterilizer duct 60 may be disposed at the central region.
- the sterilizer duct 60 is installed to rotate in the refrigerator compartment 4 to sterilize and deodorize air in the refrigerator compartment 4 rapidly and effectively.
- a structure in which the sterilizer duct 60 is installed to rotate in the refrigerator compartment 4 is described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6 .
- FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a structure of the sterilizer duct according to the first embodiment of the present invention for enabling the sterilizer duct to rotate
- FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the structure of the sterilizer duct in FIG. 2 .
- the refrigerator includes a blower duct 70 for circulating air in the refrigerator compartment 4 , a rotation duct 80 for rotating the sterilizer duct 60 forward and backward such that the air passed through the sterilizer duct 60 is distributed into the refrigerator compartment 4 uniformly, and a housing 90 for rotatably supporting the rotation duct 80 .
- the sterilizer duct 60 in which a plurality of sterilized air discharge ports 61 is formed, has a cylindrical shape having an opened lower side and a closed upper side, and includes an ion generator 40 installed in the vicinity of the opened lower side to discharge a great deal of active hydrogen and negative ions into the refrigerator compartment 4 through the sterilizer duct 60 .
- the sterilizer duct 60 is made of expanded polystyrene having a surface resistivity higher than 10 12 ⁇ /sq and causes an electrification phenomenon with the ions emitted from the ion generator 40 , thereby annihilating the ions and decreasing the quantity of emitted ions.
- the inner surfaces of the sterilizer duct 60 are coated with polyethylene, an anti-electrification material.
- the ion generator 40 is a micro plasma ion (MPI) generator designed to generate only hydrogen ions (H + ) by a plasma discharge under atmospheric pressure.
- the MPI generator generates electrons around the MPI generator to generate active hydrogen (hydrogen atoms) and the active hydrogen reacts with ambient active oxygen to neutralize harmful active oxygen, to annihilate source bacteria by being absorbed in cells of source bacteria such as viruses and mold, and to be able to sterilize without discharging unhealthy positive ions in the air.
- the ion generator 40 implemented by the MPI generator includes a ceramic plate 41 serving as a positive ion generator and a needle-shaped electrode 42 serving as a negative ion generator.
- a positive high voltage is applied to the ceramic plate 41 , water (H 2 O) in the air is ionized due to the plasma discharge so that hydrogen ions (H + ) are generated, and when a negative high voltage is applied to the needle-shaped electrode 42 , positive ions are accumulated around the needle-shaped electrode 42 due to the plasma discharge and a great deal of electrons are emitted from the needle-shaped electrode 42 to the air.
- the electrons are captured by oxygen molecules (O 2 ) to generate super-oxide anions (O 2 ⁇ ) so that the needle-shaped electrode 42 generates electrons and the super-oxide anions.
- the electrons are generated from the ceramic plate 41 and are combined with hydrogen ions passing near the needle-shaped electrode 42 to generate hydrogen atoms (or active hydrogen).
- the hydrogen ions generated from the ceramic plate 41 are combined with the electrons emitted from the needle-shaped electrode 42 to form hydrogen atoms, thus emitted elements finally become hydrogen atoms and super-oxide anions.
- the hydrogen atoms and the super-oxide anions are mixed with air passing through the sterilizer duct 60 and finally discharged into the refrigerator compartment 4 so that bacteria and viruses are sterilized and source bacteria of mold are removed and the air is thereby deodorized.
- the blower duct 70 has a cylindrical shape having the same diameter as that of the sterilizer duct 60 and opened ends to circulate air in the refrigerator compartment 4 through the sterilizer duct 60 and is coupled with the sterilizer duct 60 , and includes a blower fan 75 installed therein.
- a hub 73 connected to a plurality of ribs 74 extended from the inner circumference of the blower duct 70 is provided, and a fan motor 76 is installed in the hub 73 so that the blower fan 75 is coupled with the fan motor 76 .
- the fan motor 76 is coupled with the hub 73 of the blower duct 70 , a rotation shaft 77 of the fan motor 76 is inserted into a shaft hole 75 a formed at the center of the blower fan 75 so that the blower fan 70 is installed in the blower duct 70 , whereby air in the refrigerator compartment 4 can be supplied into the sterilizer duct 60 through the blower duct 70 .
- the rotation duct 80 is provided with a hub 83 connected to a plurality of ribs 84 extended from the inner circumference of the blower duct 80 at the center thereof, and the hub 83 is formed with a shaft hole 83 a such that the rotation duct 80 is allowed to be connected to a driving motor 91 described later.
- the rotation duct 80 has a cylindrical shape having the same diameter as that of the blower duct 70 and is coupled with the blower duct 70 coupled with the sterilizer duct 60 .
- insertion protrusions 62 and 72 are formed respectively, and in the upper rims thereof, insertion recesses 71 and 81 are formed respectively.
- the housing 90 fixed to the rear wall of the refrigerator compartment 4 includes the driving motor 91 for rotating the rotation duct 80 .
- the driving motor 91 includes a rotation shaft 92 upwardly protruded and inserted into the shaft hole 83 a formed in the hub 83 of the rotation duct 80 .
- the housing 90 may be coupled with the rear wall of the refrigerator compartment 4 by screws or other ways.
- the rotation shaft 92 of the driving motor 91 is inserted into the shaft hole 83 a of the rotation duct 80 such that the rotation duct 80 is installed to rotate in the housing 90
- the insertion protrusion 72 of the blower duct 70 is inserted into the insertion recess 81 of the rotation duct 80
- the insertion protrusion 62 of the sterilizer duct 60 is inserted into the insertion recess 71 of the blower duct 70 such that the sterilizer duct 60 is coupled with the blower duct 70 , so that the sterilizer duct 60 , the blower duct 80 , and the rotation duct 80 are rotatably supported by the housing 90 .
- the sterilizer duct 60 , the blower duct 70 , and the rotation duct 80 are separated from each other easily and quickly.
- FIGS. 4 to 6 are views illustrating directional change of a discharge port of the sterilizer duct according to the first embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 7 shows the air discharged from the sterilizer duct according to the first embodiment of the present invention is distributed into an oval space in the compartments.
- the ion generator 40 is driven simultaneously with driving the fan motor 76 to rotate the blower fan 75 such that air in the refrigerator compartment 4 is introduced into the blower duct 70 through the lower side of the rotation duct 80 by the blower fan 75 so that the introduced air flows through the sterilizer duct 60 and is mixed with a great deal of the active hydrogen and negative ions emitted from the ion generator 40 .
- the sterilized and deodorized air by being mixed with the active hydrogen and negative ions flows upward in the sterilizer duct 60 , and is distributed uniformly toward a side wall of the refrigerator compartment 4 in the vertical direction through the respective sterilized air discharge ports 61 , so that as shown in FIG. 7 , the sterilized and deodorized air sterilizes and deodorizes the whole refrigerator compartment 4 rapidly.
- the driving motor 91 is driven to rotate the rotation shaft 92 at a predetermined angle counterclockwise, then, as shown in FIG. 5 , the rotation duct 80 coupled with the driving motor 91 and the blower duct 70 and the sterilizer duct 60 coupled with the rotation duct 80 rotate together so that the sterilized air discharge ports 61 of the sterilizer duct 60 are disposed toward the central region of the refrigerator compartment 4 .
- the driving motor 91 is further driven to rotate the rotation shaft 92 at a predetermined angle counterclockwise, then, as shown in FIG. 6 , the rotation duct 80 , the blower duct 70 , and the sterilizer duct 60 rotate together so that the sterilized air discharge ports 61 of the sterilizer duct 60 are disposed toward the rear wall of the refrigerator compartment 4 .
- the rotation speed of the blower fan 75 is reduced so that the quantity and rate of airflow passing through the sterilizer duct 60 can be reduced.
- the ion generator 40 , the fan motor 76 , and the driving motor 71 are stopped to prevent further sterilization and deodorization by the sterilizer duct 60 .
- the sterilizer duct, the blower duct, and the rotation duct have circular cross-sections, but the shapes are not limited to this, and may have a polygonal shape.
- FIGS. 8 to 13 a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 8 to 13 .
- identical numerals are assigned to the similar components of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and thus the detailed description will be omitted.
- FIG. 8 is a front view illustrating a refrigerator, in which a sterilizer duct for sterilizing the refrigerator compartment and deodorizing air in compartments is disposed in the refrigerator compartment parallel to a chilled air duct according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
- a chilled air duct 10 installed in the vertical direction such that the chilled air is uniformly distributed into the refrigerator compartment 4
- a sterilizer duct 20 installed parallel to the chilled air duct 10 in the vertical direction to discharge sterilized and deodorized air and to emit a great deal of active hydrogen and negative ion to the whole space of the refrigerator compartment 4 .
- a distribution duct 30 connected to the sides (depicted as the lower sides in FIG. 8 ) of the chilled air duct 10 and the sterilizer duct 20 , and a chilled air supply duct 15 connected to the distribution duct 30 and provided with a cooling fan 17 and an evaporator 18 installed therein.
- a plurality of chilled air discharge ports 11 and sterilized air discharge ports 21 arranged at regular intervals, and in the front side of the chilled air supply duct 15 is formed, a plurality of air introducing holes 16 for introducing air in the refrigerator compartment 4 into the chilled air supply duct 15 (See FIG. 13 ).
- a damper 50 for adjusting the chilled air blown by the cooling fan 17 passing through the chilled air duct 10 and the sterilizer duct 20
- an ion generator 40 for emitting a great deal of active hydrogen and negative ions into the refrigerator compartment 4 through the sterilizer duct 20 .
- the sterilizer duct 20 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is made of expanded polystyrene having surface resistivity higher than 10 12 ⁇ /sq and the inner surfaces of the sterilizer duct 20 are coated with polyethylene, an anti-electrification material.
- FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the sterilizer duct in FIG. 8 and shows that chilled air is distributed into the sterilizer duct and the chilled air duct through the distribution duct in which the damper and an ion generator are installed.
- the distribution duct 30 has an approximately Y-shaped structure coupled with a cover plate 30 a and having an entrance 31 and first and second exits 32 and 33 , respectively formed in ends thereof.
- the chilled air duct 15 is inserted into and coupled with the entrance 31 , the sterilizer duct 20 is inserted into and coupled with the first exit 32 , and the chilled air duct 10 is inserted into and coupled with the second exit 33 .
- the chilled air blown from the chilled air supply duct 15 to the distribution duct 30 is distributed into the chilled air duct 10 and the sterilizer duct 20 .
- the damper 50 is installed to selectively open the first and second exits 32 and 33 .
- the damper 50 is made of a plate of the same size as cross-sections of the first and second exits 32 and 33 , has an end connected to a driving motor 51 and an opposite end hinged to the cover plate 30 a of the distribution duct 30 to be rotated by the driving motor 51 so as to control the opening degree of the first and second exits 32 and 33 .
- the ion generator 40 is disposed at a side of the first exit connected to the sterilizer duct 20 within the distribution duct 30 such that the sterilized and deodorized air and a great deal of active hydrogen and negative ions are distributed to the sterilizer duct 20 .
- the ion generator 40 may be installed in the entrance of the sterilizer duct 20 .
- the ion generator 40 implemented by the MPI generator includes a ceramic plate 41 serving as a positive ion generator and a needle-shaped electrode 42 serving as a negative ion generator. Hydrogen atoms and super-oxide anions generated by the interaction between the ceramic plate 41 and the needle-shaped electrode 42 flow from the first exit 32 to the sterilizer duct 20 to sterilize bacteria and viruses contained in air and to remove source bacteria of mold.
- the damper 50 controls the quantity and flow rate of the chilled air sent to the sterilizer duct 20 to adjust opening degree of the first exit 32 of the distribution duct 30 such that the quantity of the active hydrogen and ions generated by the ion generator 40 , more precisely the quantity of super-oxide anions is optimized, and it will be described hereafter with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12 .
- the damper 50 activates the driving motor 51 to close the second exit 33 connected to the chilled air duct 10 completely and to fully open the first exit 32 connected to the sterilizer duct 20 .
- the cooling fan 17 and the ion generator 50 are activated, all the chilled air sent from the chilled air supply duct 15 to the distribution duct 30 flows through the sterilizer duct 20 so that a great deal of active hydrogen and ions are emitted to the chilled air in a short time, resulting in sterilizing and deodorizing the chilled air. Further, as shown in FIG. 13 , the chilled air containing a great deal of active hydrogen and ions goes out of the sterilized air discharge port 21 of the sterilizer duct 20 and is uniformly distributed into an entire space of the refrigerator 4 , resulting in rapidly sterilizing and deodorizing the refrigerator 4 .
- the damper 50 drives the driving motor 51 to fully open the second exit 33 connected to the chilled air duct 10 and to close the first exit 32 connected to the sterilizer duct 20 completely, and stops the ion generator 40 to send chilled air without negative ions and active hydrogen to the chilled air duct 10 .
- the flow rate of the chilled air flowing through the sterilizer duct 20 is very fast so that the chilled air containing the active hydrogen and negative ions rapidly flows out of the sterilizer duct 20 , thus to more effectively prevent the electrification phenomenon of the negative ions in the sterilizer duct 20 and to send the chilled air containing the active hydrogen and negative ions far away from the refrigerator 4 .
- the refrigerator of the present invention includes the sterilizer duct disposed in the vertical direction in the refrigerator compartment independent from the chilled air duct to emit active hydrogen and negative ions into the entire space of the refrigerator compartment uniformly through the sterilizer duct so that the entire space of the refrigerator compartment can be effectively sterilized and deodorized.
- the sterilizer duct is installed to rotate such that the flow direction and flow rate of air passing through the sterilizer duct are conveniently controlled, the emission amount, the emission rate, and the emission direction of the active hydrogen and negative ions can be optimized.
- the damper is installed in the distribution duct connected to the sterilizer duct to conveniently control the quantity and flow rate of air passing through the sterilizer duct, the emission amount and the emission rate of the active hydrogen and negative ions, and the operation time of the ion generator can be optimized, thus the power consumption is also reduced.
Abstract
A refrigerator includes a chilled air duct and a sterilizer duct independently installed in the vertical direction to uniformly emit active hydrogen and negative ions for sterilization and deodorization into an entire space of a compartment. The sterilizer duct is vertically installed in the compartment in parallel relation to the chilled air duct and an MPI generator for the sterilization and deodorization is installed in an end thereof. In the first embodiment of the present invention, the sterilizer duct is coupled with a blower duct in which a blower fan for blowing air into the sterilizer duct, and the blower duct may be coupled with a rotation duct connected to a driving motor installed in a housing. In the second embodiment, the sterilizer duct and the chilled air duct have a single entrance and two exits and may be coupled with respective exits of a distribution duct in which a damper is installed.
Description
- This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application Nos. 2005-110217 and 2005-110218, both filed on Nov. 17, 2005, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator in which a sterilization duct is arranged independently from a chilled air duct for distributing chilled air into compartments to sterilize and deodorize so that the compartments can be maintained clean.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- Generally, a refrigerator is structured to maintain compartments such as a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment at suitable temperatures for accommodating foods so that the foods accommodated in the compartments can be kept fresh for a long time. In this refrigerator, vegetables, meat, fish, and various raw and cooked foods are accommodated.
- Thus, unless the compartments are cleaned periodically, the compartments become impregnated with odors emitted from various foods and mold, bacteria, and viruses propagate in the compartments so that the compartments can be considered unhealthy and unpleasant for a user.
- In order to remove bacteria, viruses, and odors, there is proposed a refrigerator in which a sterilizer and a deodorizer are installed in the compartments, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 6-82151.
- The sterilizer and the deodorizer of the conventional refrigerator includes a cover having an inlet for suctioning air from the compartments and a discharge port for discharging the suctioned air to the compartments again, a high voltage generator and an ozone generating electrode, which are installed in the cover, an ion generating electrode, and a blower fan such that air introduced into the cover is sterilized and deodorized in the cover by ozone gas and is emitted into the compartments again so that the air circulating within the compartments becomes clean.
- However, since the sterilizer and the deodorizer of the conventional refrigerator are disposed between shelves and the sterilized and deodorized air is discharged into their vicinity, the sterilized and deodorized air does not propagate into the space of the compartments uniformly so that the sterilizing and deodorizing effect is deteriorated.
- Moreover, since the sterilizer and the deodorizer of the conventional refrigerator sterilizes and deodorizes air only therein, the sterilizer and the deodorizer of the conventional refrigerator cannot effectively sterilize and deodorize air in the compartments.
- The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an aspect of the invention is to provide a refrigerator in which a sterilizer duct is disposed in the vertical direction independent from a chilled air duct to discharge air containing active hydrogen and negative ions uniformly into compartments through a sterilizer duct.
- It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a refrigerator in which an ion generator for generating active hydrogen and sterilizing ions is installed near an end of a sterilizer duct to improve the sterilizing and deodorizing effect.
- It is a still another aspect of the present invention to provide a refrigerator in which a sterilizer duct is installed to rotate such that air passing through the sterilizer duct can be discharged into compartments in multiple directions.
- It is a still another aspect of the present invention to provide a refrigerator capable of conveniently adjusting quantity and rate of air passing through a sterilizer duct.
- In accordance with one aspect, the present invention provides a refrigerator including at least one compartment, a chilled air duct for supplying chilled air to the compartment, a sterilizer duct installed in the compartment independent from the chilled air duct, and an ion generator for supplying sterilizing air through the sterilizer duct to the compartment.
- The refrigerator further includes a cooling fan for blowing the chilled air to the chilled air duct, and a blower fan for blowing air in the compartment to the sterilizer duct, wherein a plurality of chilled air discharge ports and sterilized air discharge ports are respectively formed in the chilled air duct and the sterilizer duct at regular intervals.
- The chilled air duct may be disposed at the central region of the rear side of the compartment, and the sterilizer duct may be disposed at a corner of the rear side of the compartment.
- The ion generator may be made of a micro plasma ion generator (MPI) for generating negative ions and active hydrogen, and may be disposed in the sterilizer duct.
- The refrigerator further includes a blower duct, coupled with the sterilizer duct, in which the blower fan is installed, a rotation duct coupled with the blower duct, and a driving motor for rotating the rotation duct, wherein the sterilizer duct is installed to rotate together with the blower duct.
- The driving motor is installed in a housing fixed to a rear wall of the compartment, and a rotation shaft of the driving motor is coupled with a hub provided in the center of the rotation duct to rotate the rotation duct.
- The blower fan is coupled with a fan motor fixed in a hub provided at the center of the blower duct to rotate.
- The sterilizer duct, the blower duct, and the rotation duct may have a cylindrical shape and rotate.
- An insertion protrusion and an insertion recess may be formed in the end rims of the blower duct, and insertion protrusions and insertion recesses may be formed in respective ends of the blower duct and the rotation duct such that the insertion protrusion of the sterilizer duct is inserted into the insertion recess of the blower duct and the insertion protrusion of the blower duct is inserted into the insertion recess of the rotation duct for the convenient separation from and coupling with each other.
- The inner surface of the sterilizer duct is coated with anti-electrification material, such as polyethylene.
- The refrigerator further includes a distribution duct installed between the sterilizer duct and the chilled air duct to communicate and block the chilled air duct to and from the sterilizer duct, wherein the ion generator is installed in the sterilizer duct or the distribution duct.
- The distribution duct may have first and second exits, and a cooling fan disposed in an entrance of the distribution duct. The sterilizer duct and the chilled air duct are respectively connected to the first and second exits of the distribution duct such that chilled air blown by the cooling fan flows the sterilizer duct and the chilled air duct through the distribution duct.
- The refrigerator further includes a damper installed between the first and second exits within the distribution duct to open and close the first and second exits. The damper is driven by a driving motor to adjust an opening degree of the first and second exits.
- The ion generator may be disposed at the side of the first exit connected to the sterilizer duct within the distribution duct.
- The refrigerator further includes a chilled air supply duct connected to the entrance of the distribution duct, wherein a plurality of introducing holes for introducing air in the compartment is formed in the front side of the chilled air supply duct, and an evaporator is installed in the chilled air supply duct together with the cooling fan.
- 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.
- These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
-
FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a refrigerator, in which a sterilizer duct for sterilizing and deodorizing air in compartments is disposed in a refrigerator compartment parallel to a chilled air duct according to a first embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a structure of the sterilizer duct according to the first embodiment of the present invention for enabling the sterilizer duct to rotate; -
FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the structure of the sterilizer duct inFIG. 2 ; - FIGS. 4 to 6 are views illustrating directional change of a discharge port of the sterilizer duct according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which
FIG. 4 shows the direction of the discharge port is changed such that air containing sterilizing ions is emitted toward a wall of a compartment,FIG. 5 shows the direction of the discharge port is changed such that air containing sterilizing ions is discharged toward the central region of the compartment, andFIG. 6 shows the direction of the discharge port is changed such that air containing sterilizing ions is discharged toward a rear wall of the compartment; and -
FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A inFIG. 1 and shows the air discharged from the sterilizer duct according to the first embodiment of the present invention distributed into the compartments; -
FIG. 8 is a front view illustrating a refrigerator, in which a sterilizer duct for sterilizing and deodorizing air in compartments is disposed in a refrigerator compartment parallel to a chilled air duct according to a second embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the sterilizer duct inFIG. 8 and shows that chilled air is distributed into the sterilizer duct and the chilled air duct through a distribution duct in which a damper and an ion generator are installed; - FIGS. 10 to 12 are views illustrating operation of the damper installed in the distribution duct according to the second embodiment of the present invention, in which
FIG. 10 shows that the damper installed in the distribution duct closes the chilled air duct completely and opens the sterilizer duct fully such that all the chilled air discharged from a cooling fan is supplied into the sterilizer duct,FIG. 11 shows that the damper opens the chilled air duct fully and closes the sterilizer duct completely such that all the chilled air is supplied into the chilled air duct, andFIG. 12 shows that the damper opens the chilled air duct fully and partially opens the sterilizer duct such that some of the chilled air is supplied into the sterilizer duct; and -
FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along the line B-B inFIG. 8 and shows the chilled air containing active hydrogen and sterilizing ions, generated by the ion generator, is uniformly distributed into the compartments through the sterilizer duct. - 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 the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.
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FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a refrigerator, in which a sterilizer duct for sterilizing and deodorizing air in compartments is disposed in a refrigerator compartment parallel to a chilled air duct according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 1 , the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention has an open-front box-shaped cabinet 1 having a space for accommodating foods, apartition 2 for partitioning thecabinet 1 into twocompartments doors cabinet 1 to open and close thecompartments - Generally, the two
compartments freezer compartment 3 for accommodating foods under 0 (zero) degrees centigrade (preferably, 16 degrees centigrade below zero to 21 degrees centigrade below zero) and as arefrigerator compartment 4 for accommodating foods above zero degrees centigrade (preferably, 3 degrees centigrade to 5 degrees centigrade), thus, hereinafter thecompartment 3 is referred to as thefreezer compartment 3 and thecompartment 4 is referred to as therefrigerator compartment 4. - In order to arrange various foods accommodated in the
freezer compartment 3 and therefrigerator compartment 4 effectively, thefreezer compartment 3 and therefrigerator compartment 4 haveshelves 7 and accommodating boxes 8 (SeeFIG. 7 ). - In the rear side of the
refrigerator compartment 4, achilled air duct 10 is disposed in the vertical direction to distribute the chilled air into the oval space of therefrigerator compartment 4 uniformly, and asterilizer duct 60 is disposed in the vertical direction independently from the chilledair duct 10 to discharge the sterilized and deodorized air and a great deal of active hydrogen and negative ions into the refrigerator. - In the rear side of the
refrigerator compartment 4, ablower fan 17 and anevaporator 18 communicate with the chilledair duct 10 to supply the chilled air into the chilled air duct 10 (SeeFIG. 7 ), and in thechilled air duct 10 and thesterilizer duct 60, a plurality of chilledair discharge ports 11 and sterilizedair discharge ports 61 are arranged at regular intervals. - The chilled
air duct 10 is disposed at the central region of therefrigerator compartment 4, and thesterilizer duct 60 installed independently from the chilledair duct 10 is disposed at a corner of therefrigerator compartment 4, thereby supplying the chilled air and the sterilized and deodorized air into therefrigerator compartment 4, respectively. - Alternatively, the chilled
air duct 10 and thesterilizer duct 60 may be disposed at each corner of the rear side of therefrigerator compartment 4, or the chilledair duct 10 may be disposed at a corner and thesterilizer duct 60 may be disposed at the central region. - The
sterilizer duct 60 is installed to rotate in therefrigerator compartment 4 to sterilize and deodorize air in therefrigerator compartment 4 rapidly and effectively. Hereinafter, a structure in which thesterilizer duct 60 is installed to rotate in therefrigerator compartment 4 is described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6. -
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a structure of the sterilizer duct according to the first embodiment of the present invention for enabling the sterilizer duct to rotate, andFIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the structure of the sterilizer duct inFIG. 2 . - As shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3 , the refrigerator according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention includes ablower duct 70 for circulating air in therefrigerator compartment 4, arotation duct 80 for rotating thesterilizer duct 60 forward and backward such that the air passed through thesterilizer duct 60 is distributed into therefrigerator compartment 4 uniformly, and ahousing 90 for rotatably supporting therotation duct 80. - The
sterilizer duct 60, in which a plurality of sterilizedair discharge ports 61 is formed, has a cylindrical shape having an opened lower side and a closed upper side, and includes anion generator 40 installed in the vicinity of the opened lower side to discharge a great deal of active hydrogen and negative ions into therefrigerator compartment 4 through thesterilizer duct 60. - Generally, the
sterilizer duct 60 is made of expanded polystyrene having a surface resistivity higher than 1012 Ω/sq and causes an electrification phenomenon with the ions emitted from theion generator 40, thereby annihilating the ions and decreasing the quantity of emitted ions. In order to remove the electrification of the ions, the inner surfaces of thesterilizer duct 60 are coated with polyethylene, an anti-electrification material. - The
ion generator 40 is a micro plasma ion (MPI) generator designed to generate only hydrogen ions (H+) by a plasma discharge under atmospheric pressure. The MPI generator generates electrons around the MPI generator to generate active hydrogen (hydrogen atoms) and the active hydrogen reacts with ambient active oxygen to neutralize harmful active oxygen, to annihilate source bacteria by being absorbed in cells of source bacteria such as viruses and mold, and to be able to sterilize without discharging unhealthy positive ions in the air. - The
ion generator 40 implemented by the MPI generator includes aceramic plate 41 serving as a positive ion generator and a needle-shapedelectrode 42 serving as a negative ion generator. When a positive high voltage is applied to theceramic plate 41, water (H2O) in the air is ionized due to the plasma discharge so that hydrogen ions (H+) are generated, and when a negative high voltage is applied to the needle-shapedelectrode 42, positive ions are accumulated around the needle-shapedelectrode 42 due to the plasma discharge and a great deal of electrons are emitted from the needle-shapedelectrode 42 to the air. - Since a great deal of the electrons emitted to air are very unstable, the electrons are captured by oxygen molecules (O2) to generate super-oxide anions (O2−) so that the needle-shaped
electrode 42 generates electrons and the super-oxide anions. - When the needle-shaped
electrode 42 discharges the electrons, the electrons are generated from theceramic plate 41 and are combined with hydrogen ions passing near the needle-shapedelectrode 42 to generate hydrogen atoms (or active hydrogen). As such, the hydrogen ions generated from theceramic plate 41 are combined with the electrons emitted from the needle-shapedelectrode 42 to form hydrogen atoms, thus emitted elements finally become hydrogen atoms and super-oxide anions. - The hydrogen atoms and the super-oxide anions are mixed with air passing through the
sterilizer duct 60 and finally discharged into therefrigerator compartment 4 so that bacteria and viruses are sterilized and source bacteria of mold are removed and the air is thereby deodorized. - The
blower duct 70 has a cylindrical shape having the same diameter as that of thesterilizer duct 60 and opened ends to circulate air in therefrigerator compartment 4 through thesterilizer duct 60 and is coupled with thesterilizer duct 60, and includes ablower fan 75 installed therein. - In order to install the
blower fan 75 in theblower duct 70, at the center of theblower duct 70, ahub 73 connected to a plurality ofribs 74 extended from the inner circumference of theblower duct 70 is provided, and afan motor 76 is installed in thehub 73 so that theblower fan 75 is coupled with thefan motor 76. - Thus, the
fan motor 76 is coupled with thehub 73 of theblower duct 70, arotation shaft 77 of thefan motor 76 is inserted into ashaft hole 75 a formed at the center of theblower fan 75 so that theblower fan 70 is installed in theblower duct 70, whereby air in therefrigerator compartment 4 can be supplied into thesterilizer duct 60 through theblower duct 70. - The
rotation duct 80 is provided with ahub 83 connected to a plurality ofribs 84 extended from the inner circumference of theblower duct 80 at the center thereof, and thehub 83 is formed with ashaft hole 83a such that therotation duct 80 is allowed to be connected to a drivingmotor 91 described later. - Like the
blower duct 70, therotation duct 80 has a cylindrical shape having the same diameter as that of theblower duct 70 and is coupled with theblower duct 70 coupled with thesterilizer duct 60. To this end, in the lower rims of thesterilizer duct 60 and theblower duct 70,insertion protrusions - The
housing 90 fixed to the rear wall of therefrigerator compartment 4 includes the drivingmotor 91 for rotating therotation duct 80. The drivingmotor 91 includes arotation shaft 92 upwardly protruded and inserted into theshaft hole 83 a formed in thehub 83 of therotation duct 80. Thehousing 90 may be coupled with the rear wall of therefrigerator compartment 4 by screws or other ways. - Thus, as shown in
FIG. 3 , therotation shaft 92 of the drivingmotor 91 is inserted into theshaft hole 83 a of therotation duct 80 such that therotation duct 80 is installed to rotate in thehousing 90, theinsertion protrusion 72 of theblower duct 70 is inserted into theinsertion recess 81 of therotation duct 80, theinsertion protrusion 62 of thesterilizer duct 60 is inserted into theinsertion recess 71 of theblower duct 70 such that thesterilizer duct 60 is coupled with theblower duct 70, so that thesterilizer duct 60, theblower duct 80, and therotation duct 80 are rotatably supported by thehousing 90. - The
sterilizer duct 60, theblower duct 70, and therotation duct 80 are separated from each other easily and quickly. - FIGS. 4 to 6 are views illustrating directional change of a discharge port of the sterilizer duct according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and
FIG. 7 shows the air discharged from the sterilizer duct according to the first embodiment of the present invention is distributed into an oval space in the compartments. - As shown in
FIG. 4 , when an ion detector installed in therefrigerator compartment 4 and a contaminant detector (not shown) determine that a great deal of active hydrogen and ion is required for sterilization and deodorization of therefrigerator compartment 4, theion generator 40 is driven simultaneously with driving thefan motor 76 to rotate theblower fan 75 such that air in therefrigerator compartment 4 is introduced into theblower duct 70 through the lower side of therotation duct 80 by theblower fan 75 so that the introduced air flows through thesterilizer duct 60 and is mixed with a great deal of the active hydrogen and negative ions emitted from theion generator 40. - The sterilized and deodorized air by being mixed with the active hydrogen and negative ions flows upward in the
sterilizer duct 60, and is distributed uniformly toward a side wall of therefrigerator compartment 4 in the vertical direction through the respective sterilizedair discharge ports 61, so that as shown inFIG. 7 , the sterilized and deodorized air sterilizes and deodorizes thewhole refrigerator compartment 4 rapidly. - In order to concentrate the active hydrogen and the negative ions to the central region of the
refrigerator compartment 4, the drivingmotor 91 is driven to rotate therotation shaft 92 at a predetermined angle counterclockwise, then, as shown inFIG. 5 , therotation duct 80 coupled with the drivingmotor 91 and theblower duct 70 and thesterilizer duct 60 coupled with therotation duct 80 rotate together so that the sterilizedair discharge ports 61 of thesterilizer duct 60 are disposed toward the central region of therefrigerator compartment 4. - Moreover, in order to concentrate the active hydrogen and the negative ions to the rear wall of the
refrigerator compartment 4, the drivingmotor 91 is further driven to rotate therotation shaft 92 at a predetermined angle counterclockwise, then, as shown inFIG. 6 , therotation duct 80, theblower duct 70, and thesterilizer duct 60 rotate together so that the sterilizedair discharge ports 61 of thesterilizer duct 60 are disposed toward the rear wall of therefrigerator compartment 4. - When the driving
motor 91 is driven to continuously rotate therotation shaft 92 of the drivingmotor 91 clockwise and counterclockwise within a predetermined angular range, air containing a great deal of the active hydrogen and the negative ions can be distributed into the whole space of therefrigerator compartment 4 through thesterilizer duct 60 more rapidly. - When the ion detector and the contaminant detector determine that air in the
refrigerator compartment 4 is sterilized and deodorized to some degree, the rotation speed of theblower fan 75 is reduced so that the quantity and rate of airflow passing through thesterilizer duct 60 can be reduced. - After a predetermined time has lapsed, when it is determined that the sterilization and the deodorization of air in the
refrigerator compartment 4 is completed, theion generator 40, thefan motor 76, and the drivingmotor 71 are stopped to prevent further sterilization and deodorization by thesterilizer duct 60. - Although in the first embodiment of the present invention the sterilizer duct, the blower duct, and the rotation duct have circular cross-sections, but the shapes are not limited to this, and may have a polygonal shape.
- Next, a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 8 to 13. Hereinafter, in the refrigerator according to this embodiment, identical numerals are assigned to the similar components of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and thus the detailed description will be omitted.
-
FIG. 8 is a front view illustrating a refrigerator, in which a sterilizer duct for sterilizing the refrigerator compartment and deodorizing air in compartments is disposed in the refrigerator compartment parallel to a chilled air duct according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 8 , in the rear side of therefrigerator compartment 4 of the refrigerator according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disposed, achilled air duct 10 installed in the vertical direction such that the chilled air is uniformly distributed into therefrigerator compartment 4, and asterilizer duct 20 installed parallel to thechilled air duct 10 in the vertical direction to discharge sterilized and deodorized air and to emit a great deal of active hydrogen and negative ion to the whole space of therefrigerator compartment 4. - Moreover, in the rear side of the
refrigerator compartment 4 are disposed adistribution duct 30 connected to the sides (depicted as the lower sides inFIG. 8 ) of thechilled air duct 10 and thesterilizer duct 20, and a chilledair supply duct 15 connected to thedistribution duct 30 and provided with a coolingfan 17 and anevaporator 18 installed therein. - In the front sides of the
chilled air duct 10 and thesterilizer duct 10 is formed, a plurality of chilledair discharge ports 11 and sterilizedair discharge ports 21 arranged at regular intervals, and in the front side of the chilledair supply duct 15 is formed, a plurality ofair introducing holes 16 for introducing air in therefrigerator compartment 4 into the chilled air supply duct 15 (SeeFIG. 13 ). - Inside the
distribution duct 30 are installed adamper 50 for adjusting the chilled air blown by the coolingfan 17 passing through thechilled air duct 10 and thesterilizer duct 20, and anion generator 40 for emitting a great deal of active hydrogen and negative ions into therefrigerator compartment 4 through thesterilizer duct 20. - Like the
sterilizer duct 60 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, thesterilizer duct 20 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is made of expanded polystyrene having surface resistivity higher than 1012 Ω/sq and the inner surfaces of thesterilizer duct 20 are coated with polyethylene, an anti-electrification material. - Thus, when the cooling
fan 17 is driven, air introduced into thechilled air duct 15 is chilled through theevaporator 18, flows to thechilled air duct 10 and/or thesterilizer duct 20 through thedistribution duct 30, is discharged from the chilledair discharge ports 11 and the sterilizedair discharge ports 21, and then is distributed into therefrigerator compartment 4. -
FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the sterilizer duct inFIG. 8 and shows that chilled air is distributed into the sterilizer duct and the chilled air duct through the distribution duct in which the damper and an ion generator are installed. As shown inFIG. 9 , thedistribution duct 30 has an approximately Y-shaped structure coupled with acover plate 30 a and having anentrance 31 and first andsecond exits - The
chilled air duct 15 is inserted into and coupled with theentrance 31, thesterilizer duct 20 is inserted into and coupled with thefirst exit 32, and thechilled air duct 10 is inserted into and coupled with thesecond exit 33. Thus, the chilled air blown from the chilledair supply duct 15 to thedistribution duct 30 is distributed into thechilled air duct 10 and thesterilizer duct 20. - Between the first and
second exits distribution duct 30, thedamper 50 is installed to selectively open the first andsecond exits damper 50 is made of a plate of the same size as cross-sections of the first andsecond exits motor 51 and an opposite end hinged to thecover plate 30 a of thedistribution duct 30 to be rotated by the drivingmotor 51 so as to control the opening degree of the first andsecond exits - The
ion generator 40 is disposed at a side of the first exit connected to thesterilizer duct 20 within thedistribution duct 30 such that the sterilized and deodorized air and a great deal of active hydrogen and negative ions are distributed to thesterilizer duct 20. Naturally, theion generator 40 may be installed in the entrance of thesterilizer duct 20. - As described in the first embodiment, the
ion generator 40 implemented by the MPI generator includes aceramic plate 41 serving as a positive ion generator and a needle-shapedelectrode 42 serving as a negative ion generator. Hydrogen atoms and super-oxide anions generated by the interaction between theceramic plate 41 and the needle-shapedelectrode 42 flow from thefirst exit 32 to thesterilizer duct 20 to sterilize bacteria and viruses contained in air and to remove source bacteria of mold. - The
damper 50 controls the quantity and flow rate of the chilled air sent to thesterilizer duct 20 to adjust opening degree of thefirst exit 32 of thedistribution duct 30 such that the quantity of the active hydrogen and ions generated by theion generator 40, more precisely the quantity of super-oxide anions is optimized, and it will be described hereafter with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12. - As shown in
FIG. 10 , when the ion detector installed in therefrigerator compartment 4 and the contaminant detector (not shown) determine that there is a great deal of active hydrogen and ions required for the purpose of sterilization and deodorization of therefrigerator 4, thedamper 50 activates the drivingmotor 51 to close thesecond exit 33 connected to thechilled air duct 10 completely and to fully open thefirst exit 32 connected to thesterilizer duct 20. - In this status, the cooling
fan 17 and theion generator 50 are activated, all the chilled air sent from the chilledair supply duct 15 to thedistribution duct 30 flows through thesterilizer duct 20 so that a great deal of active hydrogen and ions are emitted to the chilled air in a short time, resulting in sterilizing and deodorizing the chilled air. Further, as shown inFIG. 13 , the chilled air containing a great deal of active hydrogen and ions goes out of the sterilizedair discharge port 21 of thesterilizer duct 20 and is uniformly distributed into an entire space of therefrigerator 4, resulting in rapidly sterilizing and deodorizing therefrigerator 4. - As shown in
FIG. 11 , the ion detector and the contaminant detector determine that the sterilization and deodorization of air in therefrigerator 4 is completed, thedamper 50 drives the drivingmotor 51 to fully open thesecond exit 33 connected to thechilled air duct 10 and to close thefirst exit 32 connected to thesterilizer duct 20 completely, and stops theion generator 40 to send chilled air without negative ions and active hydrogen to thechilled air duct 10. - Meanwhile, as shown in
FIG. 12 , when thedamper 50 opens thechilled air duct 10 fully and thesterilizer duct 20 partially to control the opening degree of thesecond exit 32, the flow rate of the chilled air flowing through thesterilizer duct 20 is very fast so that the chilled air containing the active hydrogen and negative ions rapidly flows out of thesterilizer duct 20, thus to more effectively prevent the electrification phenomenon of the negative ions in thesterilizer duct 20 and to send the chilled air containing the active hydrogen and negative ions far away from therefrigerator 4. - As described above, the refrigerator of the present invention includes the sterilizer duct disposed in the vertical direction in the refrigerator compartment independent from the chilled air duct to emit active hydrogen and negative ions into the entire space of the refrigerator compartment uniformly through the sterilizer duct so that the entire space of the refrigerator compartment can be effectively sterilized and deodorized.
- Moreover, in the refrigerator according to the present invention, since the sterilizer duct is installed to rotate such that the flow direction and flow rate of air passing through the sterilizer duct are conveniently controlled, the emission amount, the emission rate, and the emission direction of the active hydrogen and negative ions can be optimized.
- Further, since the damper is installed in the distribution duct connected to the sterilizer duct to conveniently control the quantity and flow rate of air passing through the sterilizer duct, the emission amount and the emission rate of the active hydrogen and negative ions, and the operation time of the ion generator can be optimized, thus the power consumption is also reduced.
- 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 this embodiment without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents, and that various may be made with reference to the embodiments of the present invention.
Claims (20)
1. A refrigerator comprising:
at least one compartment;
a chilled air duct for supplying chilled air to the compartment;
a sterilizer duct installed in the compartment independent from the chilled air duct; and
an ion generator for supplying sterilizing air through the sterilizer duct to the compartment.
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a cooling fan for blowing the chilled air to the chilled air duct; and
a blower fan for blowing air in the compartment to the sterilizer duct,
wherein a plurality of chilled air discharge ports and sterilized air discharge ports are respectively formed in the chilled air duct and the sterilizer duct at regular intervals.
3. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the chilled air duct is disposed at the central region of the rear side of the compartment, and the sterilizer duct is disposed at a corner of the rear side of the compartment.
4. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the ion generator is made of a micro plasma ion (MPI) generator for generating negative ions and active hydrogen, and is disposed in the sterilizer duct.
5. The refrigerator according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a blower duct, coupled with the sterilizer duct, in which the blower fan is installed;
a rotation duct coupled with the blower duct; and
a driving motor for rotating the rotation duct,
wherein the sterilizer duct is installed to rotate together with the blower duct
6. The refrigerator according to claim 5 , wherein the driving motor is installed in a housing fixed to a rear wall of the compartment, and a rotation shaft of the driving motor is coupled with a hub provided in the center of the rotation duct to rotate the rotation duct.
7. The refrigerator according to claim 5 , wherein the blower fan is coupled with a fan motor fixed in a hub provided at the center of the blower duct to rotate.
8. The refrigerator according to claim 5 , wherein the sterilizer duct, the blower duct, and the rotation duct have a cylindrical shape and rotate.
9. The refrigerator according to claim 8 , wherein an insertion protrusion and an insertion recess are formed in the end rims of the blower duct, and insertion protrusions and insertion recesses are formed in respective ends of the blower duct and the rotation duct such that the insertion protrusion of the sterilizer duct is inserted into the insertion recess of the blower duct and the insertion protrusion of the blower duct is inserted into the insertion recess of the rotation duct for the convenient separation from and coupling with each other.
10. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the sterilizer duct is coated with anti-electrification material.
11. The refrigerator according to claim 10 , wherein the anti-electrification material comprises polyethylene.
12. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , further comprising a distribution duct installed between the sterilizer duct and the chilled air duct to communicate and block the chilled air duct to and from the sterilizer duct,
wherein the ion generator is installed in the sterilizer duct or the distribution duct.
13. The refrigerator according to claim 12 , wherein the sterilizer duct includes a plurality of sterilized air discharge ports formed at regular intervals such that negative ions generated by the ion generator are uniformly distributed into the entire space of the compartment through the respective sterilized air discharge ports.
14. The refrigerator according to claim 13 , wherein the ion generator is made of a micro plasma ion (MPI) generator for generating active hydrogen and the negative ions.
15. The refrigerator according to claim 13 , wherein the distribution duct has first and second exits, and a cooling fan disposed in an entrance of the distribution duct;
the sterilizer duct and the chilled air duct are respectively connected to the first and second exits of the distribution duct such that chilled air blown by the cooling fan flows the sterilizer duct and the chilled air duct through the distribution duct.
16. The refrigerator according to claim 15 , further comprising a damper installed between the first and second exits within the distribution duct to open and close the first and second exits.
17. The refrigerator according to claim 15 , wherein the damper is driven by a driving motor to adjust an opening degree of the first and second exits.
18. The refrigerator according to claim 15 , wherein the ion generator is disposed at the side of the first exit connected to the sterilizer duct within the distribution duct.
19. The refrigerator according to claim 15 , further comprising a chilled air supply duct connected to the entrance of the distribution duct,
wherein a plurality of introducing holes for introducing air in the compartment is formed in the front side of the chilled air supply duct, and an evaporator is installed in the chilled air supply duct together with the cooling fan.
20. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the ion generator comprises:
a ceramic plate serving as a positive ion generator; and
a needle-shaped electrode serving as a negative ion generator.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
KR10-2005-0110218 | 2005-11-17 | ||
KR1020050110217A KR20070052506A (en) | 2005-11-17 | 2005-11-17 | Refrigerator |
KR10-2005-0110217 | 2005-11-17 | ||
KR1020050110218A KR20070052507A (en) | 2005-11-17 | 2005-11-17 | Refrigerator |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20070107452A1 true US20070107452A1 (en) | 2007-05-17 |
Family
ID=37726869
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/410,839 Abandoned US20070107452A1 (en) | 2005-11-17 | 2006-04-26 | Refrigerator having independent sterilization duct |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20070107452A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1788327A2 (en) |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.,KOREA, REPUBLIC OF Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:KIM, KYUNG HOON;PARK, RAE EUN;KWON, JUN HYOUN;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:017828/0315 Effective date: 20060420 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |