# US 11,306,960 B2 · Refrigerator having detachable cooling module > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,306,960 B2 - Document ID: US11306960B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/715,939 - Filed: 2019-12-16 - Published: 2020-06-25 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2018-12-19 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Dae Jin Hong; Il Sung Bae; Byung Kwan Yang; Byung Woo Jeon; Sun Gi Hong - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11306960B2 ## CPC - F25D 17/08: using ducts - F25D 19/02: plug-in type - F25D 17/062: {in household refrigerators} - F25D 19/00: Arrangement or mounting of refrigeration units with respect to devices {or objects to be refrigerated, e.g. infrared detectors} - F25D 23/025: {Secondary closures} - F25D 2317/067: characterised by air ducts - F25D 2500/02: Geometry problems - 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 including a cabinet in which a storeroom is formed and including a duct opening; a cooling module detachably coupled to the cabinet and including an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, a module body having a space in which the evaporator is accommodated, and a duct module detachably coupled to the module body to guide cold air produced from the evaporator to the storeroom, wherein the duct opening, the duct module and the storeroom are arranged so that, when the duct module is detached from the module body, the duct module is passable through the duct opening to be removed through the storeroom. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet in which a storeroom is formed and including a duct opening; a cooling module detachably coupled to the cabinet and including an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, a module body having a space in which the evaporator is accommodated, and a duct module having an opening and being detachably coupled to the module body to guide cold air produced from the evaporator through the opening of the duct module to the storeroom, wherein the duct opening, the duct module and the storeroom are arranged so that, when the duct module is detached from the module body, the duct module is passable through the duct opening to be removed through the storeroom, and the refrigerator further comprises a cover installable so as to cover the duct opening while the duct module is coupled to the module body and to form a portion of a rear wall of the storeroom, and having an opening so that, when the cover is installed, the cold air produced from the evaporator is guided through the opening of the duct module and then through the opening of the cover to the storeroom. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein, when the duct module is removed, the evaporator is exposed, and thereby accessible, through the storeroom and the duct opening. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the cooling module comprises a base plate underneath the module body, and the compressor and the condenser are coupled to the base plate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising: a sealing member arranged where the cooling module and the cabinet are coupled to each other. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein the sealing member is arranged along an outer edge of a periphery of the duct opening. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein the sealing member has a portion extending along a periphery of the space. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the duct module comprises: a fan configured to circulate air in the storeroom, a fan case having a fan inlet formed to guide air that has exchanged heat with the evaporator to the fan, and a fan cover having a cover hole formed to guide air blown by the fan to the storeroom. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein the fan is fixed to the fan cover, and the fan cover is detachable from the fan case. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the duct module comprises a duct inlet formed to guide air in the storeroom to the evaporator. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the cabinet comprises a separation plate dividing the storeroom into a first storeroom and a second storeroom, and the duct module comprises a first duct module to discharge cold air into the first storeroom, and a second duct module to discharge cold air into the second storeroom. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the separation plate is detachably coupled to the cabinet or the module body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the duct opening comprises a first duct opening through which the first duct module is passable to be removed through the first storeroom, and a second duct opening through which the second duct module is passable to be removed through the second storeroom. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the cabinet forms a cooling module receiving space which is opened to outside of the refrigerator when the cooling module is detached from the cabinet, and, when the cooling module is coupled to the cabinet, the cooling module is accommodated in the cooling module receiving space. ### Claim 14 A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet in which a storeroom is formed and including a duct opening; an evaporator; a module body in which the evaporator is accommodated; and a duct module having an opening and being detachably coupled the module body to guide air from the evaporator through the opening of the duct module to the storeroom, wherein the duct opening, the module body and the storeroom are arranged so that, when the duct module is detached from the module body, the duct module is passable through the duct opening to be removed through the storeroom, and, when the duct module is removed, the evaporator is accessible through the storeroom and the duct opening, and the refrigerator further comprises a cover installable so as to cover the duct opening while the duct module is coupled to the module body and to form a portion of a rear wall of the storeroom, and having an opening so that, when the cover is installed, the air from the evaporator is guided through the opening of the duct module and then through the opening of the cover to the storeroom. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The refrigerator of claim 14, further comprising: a cooling module including the module body and the evaporator, and further including a compressor and a condenser, wherein the cooling module is detachably coupled to the cabinet. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The refrigerator of claim 14, wherein the module body is detachably coupled to the cabinet, and the refrigerator further comprising: a sealing member arranged where the module body and the cabinet are coupled to each other. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The refrigerator of claim 14, wherein the duct module comprises: a fan configured to circulate air in the storeroom; a fan case having a fan inlet formed to guide air that has exchanged heat with the evaporator to the fan; and a fan cover having a cover hole formed to guide air blown by the fan to the storeroom. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The refrigerator of claim 14, further comprising: a separation plate detachably installed in the cabinet to divide the storeroom, wherein the duct opening comprises a first duct opening arranged on one side of the separation plate and a second duct opening arranged on the other side of the separation plate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The refrigerator of claim 15, wherein the cabinet forms a receiving space which is opened to outside of the refrigerator when the cooling module is detached from the cabinet, and, when the cooling module is coupled to the cabinet, the cooling module is accommodated in the receiving space.