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US 11,624,542 B2Granted
Refrigerator
AssigneeLG Electronics Inc.
InventorChiun Sung
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A refrigerator includes a main body defining a storage space, a cryogenic freezing compartment having an insulation space that is independent with respect to the storage space, an evaporator disposed inside the storage space to cool the storage space, and a thermoelectric module assembly disposed at one side of the cryogenic freezing compartment so that the cryogenic freezing compartment is cooled to a temperature less than that of the storage space. The thermoelectric module assembly includes a thermoelectric module, a cold sink coming into contact with a heat absorption surface of the thermoelectric module and disposed in the cryogenic freezing compartment, and a heat sink coming into contact with a heat generation surface of the thermoelectric module. The heat sink is cooled by introducing a refrigerant supplied to the evaporator.
Claims20
A refrigerator comprising:
- a main body defining a storage space;
- a cryogenic compartment defining an insulation space configured to maintain a compartment temperature independent of a temperature in the storage space;
- an evaporator located inside of the storage space and configured to cool the storage space;
- and
- a thermoelectric device assembly located at the cryogenic compartment and configured to cool the cryogenic compartment to the compartment temperature that is less than the temperature of the storage space,
- wherein the thermoelectric device assembly comprises:
- a thermoelectric device comprising a heat absorption surface and a heat generation surface,
- a cold sink located in the cryogenic compartment and configured to contact the heat absorption surface of the thermoelectric device, and
- a heat sink that contacts the heat generation surface of the thermoelectric device and that is configured to be cooled by refrigerant supplied to the evaporator,
- wherein the heat sink comprises:
- a sink body the defines an accommodation space configured to receive refrigerant therein,
- a cover plate that covers at least a portion of the accommodation space and that contacts the heat generation surface, and
- a heat exchange fin located inside of the accommodation space and configured to guide flow of refrigerant in the sink body,
- wherein the accommodation space comprises a recess that is recessed relative to a front surface of the sink body and that defines a front open surface of the accommodation space, and
- wherein the cover plate covers the front open surface of the accommodation space.
12 more elements
A refrigerator comprising:
- a main body defining a storage space;
- a cryogenic compartment defining an insulation space configured to maintain a compartment temperature independent of a temperature in the storage space;
- an evaporator located inside of the storage space and configured to cool the storage space;
- and
- a thermoelectric device assembly located at the cryogenic compartment and configured to cool the cryogenic compartment to the compartment temperature that is less than the temperature of the storage space,
- wherein the thermoelectric device assembly comprises:
- a thermoelectric device comprising a heat absorption surface and a heat generation surface,
- a cold sink located in the cryogenic compartment and configured to contact the heat absorption surface of the thermoelectric device, and
- a heat sink that contacts the heat generation surface of the thermoelectric device and that is configured to be cooled by refrigerant supplied to the evaporator,
- wherein the heat sink comprises:
- a sink body the defines an accommodation space configured to receive refrigerant therein,
- a cover plate that covers at least a portion of the accommodation space and that contacts the heat generation surface, and
- a heat exchange fin located inside of the accommodation space and configured to guide flow of refrigerant in the sink body, and
- wherein the heat sink further comprises a fin fixing part disposed in the accommodation space and configured to fix the heat exchange fin at a position that is spaced apart from an inner surface of the accommodation space.
11 more elements
A refrigerator comprising:
- a main body defining a storage space;
- a cryogenic compartment defining an insulation space configured to maintain a compartment temperature independent of a temperature in the storage space;
- an evaporator located inside of the storage space and configured to cool the storage space;
- and
- a thermoelectric device assembly located at the cryogenic compartment and configured to cool the cryogenic compartment to the compartment temperature that is less than the temperature of the storage space,
- wherein the thermoelectric device assembly comprises:
- a thermoelectric device comprising a heat absorption surface and a heat generation surface,
- a cold sink located in the cryogenic compartment and configured to contact the heat absorption surface of the thermoelectric device, and
- a heat sink that contacts the heat generation surface of the thermoelectric device and that is configured to be cooled by refrigerant supplied to the evaporator,
- wherein the heat sink comprises:
- a sink body the defines an accommodation space configured to receive refrigerant therein,
- a cover plate that covers at least a portion of the accommodation space and that contacts the heat generation surface, and
- a heat exchange fin located inside of the accommodation space and configured to guide flow of refrigerant in the sink body,
- wherein the heat exchange fin comprises:
- a plurality of contact parts that are in surface contact with the cover plate and that are configured to exchange heat with the cover plate, and
- a fin connection part that is bent from an end of each of the plurality of contact parts and that connects the plurality of contact parts to one another, and
- wherein the plurality of contact parts and the fin connection part are arranged in a width direction of the heat exchange fin.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.