# US 10,119,749 B2 · Refrigerator

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- Number: US 10,119,749 B2
- Document ID: US10119749B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/914,997
- Filed: 2014-08-26
- Published: 2016-07-21
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2013-09-05
- Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Jae Ho Baek; Yong Soo Kyong; Jea Won Lee; Jeong Su Han
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119749B2

## CPC

- F25D 23/12: Arrangements of compartments additional to cooling compartments; Combinations of refrigerators with other equipment, e.g. stove
- A23L 2/04: Extraction of juices (machines or apparatus for extracting juice A23N1/00, A47J19/00)
- A23L 2/38: Other non-alcoholic beverages (drinks from legumes A23L11/60)
- B01F 23/231: by bubbling (mixers with gas or liquid agitation, e.g. with air supply tubes B01F33/40)
- B01F 23/2319: {Methods of introducing gases into liquid media}
- B01F 23/2362: {for aerating or carbonating within receptacles or tanks, e.g. distribution machines (B01F23/2361 takes precedence)}
- B01F 23/2363: {Mixing systems, i.e. flow charts or diagrams; Arrangements, e.g. comprising controlling means}
- B67D 1/0062: {inside the carbonator}
- F25D 23/126: {Water cooler}
- A23V 2002/00: Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
- B01F 23/2364: {using security elements, e.g. valves, for relieving overpressure}
- F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B)
- A23L: FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PREPARATION OR TREATMENT THEREOF (preservation thereof A23B)
- B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06)
- B67D: DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes B08B9/02; emptying or filling of bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels, or similar containers, not otherwise provided for B67C; water supply E03; pipe systems F17D; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D; measuring volume, volume flow, mass flow or liquid level, metering by volume G01F; coin-freed or like apparatus G07F)
- A23V: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND LACTIC OR PROPIONIC ACID BACTERIA USED IN FOODSTUFFS OR FOOD PREPARATION

## Abstract

A refrigerator having a carbonated water production device, according to one concept of the present invention, comprises: a pressure regulator for adjusting and emitting the pressure of carbon dioxide emitted from a carbon dioxide cylinder; a solenoid switch valve for controlling the supply of the carbon dioxide discharged from the pressure regulator to a carbonated water tank; a connection channel for connecting the pressure regulator and the solenoid switch valve; and a relief valve arranged in the connection channel so as to discharge the carbon dioxide of the connection channel to the atmosphere if the pressure of the carbon dioxide of the connection channel is greater than a predetermined pressure limit. Thus, the pressure of the carbon dioxide of the connection channel is capable of being maintained at a predetermined pressure limit or less, and solenoid malfunction can be prevented so as to improve reliability and stability of a system.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A refrigerator comprising:
a main body;
a carbonated water tank in which carbon dioxide and water are mixed to produce carbonated water;
a carbon dioxide cylinder in which carbon dioxide is charged;
a pressure regulator which adjusts a pressure of carbon dioxide discharged from the carbon dioxide cylinder and discharges the carbon dioxide;
a solenoid switch valve which regulates supplying of the carbon dioxide discharged from the pressure regulator to the carbonated water tank;
a connection channel which connects the pressure regulator and the solenoid switch valve; and
a relief valve which is provided in the connection channel to discharge carbon dioxide in the connection channel to the atmosphere when a pressure of the carbon dioxide in the connection channel is greater than a predetermined pressure limit,
wherein the relief valve includes:
a relief valve body;
a relief main channel formed in the relief valve body and having both ends each in communication with the connection channel;
a relief discharge channel formed in the relief valve body and having one end in communication with the relief main channel and the other end having an opening facing the outside; and
a relief switch member which moves forward or backward due to a pressure of carbon dioxide in the relief main channel and opens or closes the relief discharge channel.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein a pressure of carbon dioxide which flows into the solenoid switch valve is maintained equal to or less than the predetermined pressure limit by operating the relief valve, and a malfunction of the solenoid switch valve due to a high pressure is prevented.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the predetermined pressure limit is determined to be in the range of 9.5 to 11.5 bar.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the relief valve further includes:
a relief elastic member which elastically supports the relief switch member.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein when the pressure of carbon dioxide in the connection channel is greater than the predetermined pressure limit, the relief switch member moves in one direction and opens the relief discharge channel, and when the pressure of the carbon dioxide in the connection channel is less than the predetermined pressure limit, the relief switch member moves in a direction opposite the one direction, and closes the relief discharge channel.

### Claim 6

A refrigerator comprising:
a main body;
a storage chamber provided in the main body;
a door which opens or closes the storage chamber;
a carbonated water tank in which carbon dioxide and water are mixed to produce carbonated water;
a carbon dioxide cylinder in which carbon dioxide is charged;
a pressure regulator which adjusts a pressure of carbon dioxide discharged from the carbon dioxide cylinder and discharges the carbon dioxide;
a solenoid switch valve which regulates supplying of the carbon dioxide discharged from the pressure regulator to the carbonated water tank;
a connection channel which connects the pressure regulator and the solenoid switch valve;
a notifier which notifies of a replacement time of the carbon dioxide cylinder;
a low pressure sensor integrated relief valve which sends a low pressure signal when a pressure of carbon dioxide in the connection channel is less than a predetermined replacement pressure, and discharges the carbon dioxide in the connection channel to the atmosphere when the pressure of the carbon dioxide in the connection channel is greater than a predetermined pressure limit; and
a controller which receives the low pressure signal sent from the low pressure sensor integrated relief valve and controls the notifier to notify of a replacement time of the carbon dioxide cylinder.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the notifier includes a display unit provided on the door.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein a pressure of carbon dioxide which flows into the solenoid switch valve is maintained equal to or less than the predetermined pressure limit by operating the low pressure sensor integrated relief valve, and a malfunction of the solenoid switch valve due to a high pressure is prevented.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the predetermined replacement pressure is determined to be in the range of 7.3 to 7.7 bar.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the predetermined pressure limit is determined to be in the range of 9.5 to 11.5 bar.

### Claim 11 (depends on 6)

The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the low pressure sensor integrated relief valve is installed at an inlet of the solenoid switch valve.

### Claim 12 (depends on 6)

The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the low pressure sensor integrated relief valve includes:
a valve body;
a valve main channel formed in the valve body and having both ends each in communication with the connection channel;
a diaphragm mounted in the valve body;
a partition space partitioned from the valve main channel by the diaphragm;
a pusher which moves forward or backward due to a pressure of carbon dioxide in the valve main channel;
a micro switch pressed by the pusher and turned on or off; and
a pusher elastic member which elastically supports the pusher.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein when the pressure of carbon dioxide in the connection channel is less than the replacement pressure, the pusher moves in one direction, is separated from the micro switch, and turns on the micro switch, and when the pressure of the carbon dioxide in the connection channel is greater than the replacement pressure, the pusher moves in a direction opposite the one direction, presses the micro switch, and turns off the micro switch.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein when the micro switch is turned on, the micro switch sends a low pressure signal to the controller.

### Claim 15 (depends on 6)

The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the low pressure sensor integrated relief valve includes:
a valve body;
a valve main channel formed in the valve body and having both ends each in communication with the connection channel;
a valve discharge channel formed in the valve body and having one end in communication with the valve main channel, and the other end having an opening facing the outside;
a valve switch member which moves forward or backward due to a pressure of carbon dioxide of the valve main channel and opens or closes the valve discharge channel; and
a valve elastic member which elastically supports the valve switch member.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The refrigerator of claim 15, wherein when the pressure of carbon dioxide in the connection channel is greater than the predetermined pressure limit, the valve switch member moves in one direction and opens the valve discharge channel, and when the pressure of the carbon dioxide in the connection channel is less than the predetermined pressure limit, the switching member moves in the other direction and closes the valve discharge channel.

### Claim 17

A method of controlling a refrigerator including a carbonated water tank in which carbon dioxide and water are mixed to produce carbonated water, a carbon dioxide cylinder in which carbon dioxide is charged, a pressure regulator which adjusts a pressure of carbon dioxide discharged from the carbon dioxide cylinder and discharges the carbon dioxide, a solenoid switch valve which regulates supplying of the carbon dioxide discharged from the pressure regulator to the carbonated water tank, a connection channel which connects the pressure regulator and the solenoid switch valve, a notifier which notifies of a replacement time of the carbon dioxide cylinder, and a low pressure sensor integrated relief valve provided in the connection channel, the method comprising:
sensing a pressure of carbon dioxide in the connection channel by the low pressure sensor integrated relief valve;
displaying a replacement time by the notifier when the sensed pressure is less than a predetermined replacement pressure; and
discharging the carbon dioxide in the connection channel to the atmosphere by the low pressure sensor integrated relief valve when the sensed pressure is greater than a predetermined pressure limit.