# US 10,309,696 B2 · Refrigerator

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- Number: US 10,309,696 B2
- Document ID: US10309696B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/816,734
- Filed: 2017-11-17
- Published: 2018-03-29
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2011-05-31
- Assignees: LG Electronics Inc.
- Applicants: LG Electronics Inc.
- Inventors: Jaehoon Shin; Yanggyu Kim; Heayoun Sul; Yongjoo Park
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309696B2

## CPC

- F25B 21/02: using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect
- F25B 25/00: Machines, plants or systems, using a combination of modes of operation covered by two or more of the groups F25B1/00 - F25B23/00
- F25D 11/025: {using primary and secondary refrigeration systems}
- F25D 11/04: specially adapted for storing deep-frozen articles (F25D11/02 takes precedence)
- F25D 17/065: {with compartments at different temperatures}
- F25D 25/025: {Drawers}
- F25B 2321/0251: by a gas
- F25B 2321/0252: by liquids or two-phase fluids
- F25D 2317/061: through special compartments
- F25D 2317/063: with air guides
- F25D 2317/067: characterised by air ducts
- F25D 2400/28: Quick cooling
- F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- 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)

## Abstract

A refrigerator includes a main body in which a first storage compartment is defined, and a heat exchange chamber defined in the main body. An evaporator received in the heat exchange chamber. A second storage compartment is provided in the first storage compartment and a quick cooling module to cool an inside of the second storage compartment is provided, where the quick cooling module heat-exchanges with a refrigerant pipe of the evaporator. The quick cooling module includes a thermal conductive unit in thermal conduction with the refrigerant pipe, and a thermoelectric device having a first surface in thermal conduction with the thermal conductive unit to heat-exchange with the thermal conductive unit when current is supplied and a second surface facing the second storage compartment.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A refrigerator, comprising:
an outer case;
a refrigeration compartment disposed inside the outer case;
a freezer compartment disposed adjacent to the refrigeration compartment;
a deep freezer compartment disposed inside the freezer compartment, the deep freezer compartment having at a super low temperature that is lower than a temperature of the freezer compartment;
an insulation case to partition the freezer compartment and the deep freezer compartment;
a drawer disposed in the deep freezer compartment, wherein at least a rear surface of the insulation case is adjacent a rear surface of the freezer compartment;
an evaporator having refrigerant disposed therein;
a compressor to compress the refrigerant;
a deep cooling module to cool air in the deep freezer compartment to the super low temperature, the deep cooling module comprising:
a thermoelectric device having a heat emission surface and a heat absorption surface,
a heat dissipation member in contact with the heat absorption surface,
a fan disposed adjacent to the heat dissipation member to supply air cooled by heat-exchange with the heat dissipation member into the deep freezer compartment, and
a thermal conductor in contact with the heat emission surface and the evaporator so that heat emitted from the heat emission surface may be transmitted to the evaporator;
a first heat exchange chamber disposed behind the freezer compartment to receive the evaporator;
a second heat exchange chamber disposed in front of the first heat exchange chamber to receive at least a portion of the heat dissipation member; and
a partition that partitions the second heat exchange chamber from the first heat exchange chamber,
wherein a front surface of the second heat exchange chamber comprises an opening to allow air to circulate between the second heat exchange chamber and the deep freezer compartment.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein a volume of the second heat exchange chamber is less than a volume of the deep freezer compartment.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the partition is configured to form a rear surface of the freezer compartment.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the partition is an inner case that partitions the first heat exchange chamber from the deep freezer compartment.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein the second heat exchange chamber is disposed within the partition.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising:
an inner case disposed within the outer case; and
an insulation material disposed between the inner case and the outer case,
wherein a front surface of the partition forms a rear surface of the deep freezer compartment, and a rear surface of the partition forms a front surface of the first heat exchange chamber.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the second heat exchange chamber comprises a cool air circulation kit having a cool air flow duct,
wherein a rear surface of the cool air circulation kit is in contact with the front surface of the partition.