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US 7,950,245 B2Granted
Refrigerator related technology
AssigneeLG Electronics Inc.
InventorsYoun Seok Lee, Jang Seok Lee, Min Kyu Oh, Kyeong Yun Kim, Su Nam Chae
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a refrigerator, cold air discharged from a cold air fan is guided by a guide member such that it flows directly to an evaporator. The guide member reduces flow of air through a gap between an inner surface of a cold air generating compartment and the evaporator. The guide member also includes a drainage portion configured to guide defrost water generated at the cold air fan to a position beneath the evaporator.
Claims19
A refrigerator comprising:
- a body;
- a storage compartment defined in a first portion of the body;
- a cold air generating compaitment defined in an upper portion of the body, the upper portion of the body being positioned above the storage compartment when the refrigerator is oriented in an ordinary operating orientation;
- an evaporator positioned in the cold air generating compartment;
- a cold air fan positioned in the cold air generating compartment and configured to promote movement of air within the cold air generating compartment in a flow direction that passes over the evaporator, the cold air fan and the evaporator being arranged horizontally when the refrigerator is oriented in the ordinary operating orientation such that the flow direction of air passing over the evaporator is a horizontal direction;
- and
- a guide member arranged between the cold air fan and the evaporator and configured to guide cold air flowing from the cold air fan toward the evaporator such that the cold air passes along the evaporator,
- wherein the guide member at least partially obstructs a gap between the evaporator and a lower surface of the cold air generating compartment.
5 more elements
A refrigerator comprising:
- a body;
- a storage compartment defined in a first portion of the body;
- a cold air generating compartment defined in an upper portion of the body, the upper portion of the body being positioned above the storage compartment when the refrigerator is oriented in an ordinary operating orientation;
- an evaporator positioned in the cold air generating compartment;
- a holder configured to support the evaporator in the cold air generating compartment in a manner that defines a gap between a surface of the cold air generating compartment and the evaporator;
- a cold air fan positioned in the cold air generating compartment and configured to promote movement of air within the cold air generating compartment in a flow direction that passes over the evaporator, the cold air fan and the evaporator being arranged horizontally when the refrigerator is oriented in the ordinary operating orientation such that the flow direction of air passing over the evaporator is a horizontal direction;
- a drain pan arranged beneath the evaporator and configured to collect defrost water generated at the evaporator and defrost water generated at the cold air fan;
- and
- a guide member that is inclined, that extends from the cold air fan to the drain pan, and that is configured to reduce flow of cold air into the gap defined between the surface of the cold air generating compartment and the evaporator.
6 more elements
A refrigerator comprising:
- a body;
- a storage compartment defined in a first portion of the body;
- a machinery compartment which accommodates one or more elements of a refrigeration cycle, the machinery compartment defined in an upper portion of the body and separated from the storage compartment, the upper portion of the body being positioned above the storage compartment when the refrigerator is oriented in an ordinary operating orientation;
- a pair of cold air generating compartments arranged in an upper portion of the body adjacent to the machinery compartment and separated from the storage compartment;
- a pair of evaporators positioned in the cold air generating compartments respectively;
- a pair of cold air fans positioned in the cold air generating compartments respectively and configured to promote movement of air in a flow direction that passes over the evaporator, the cold air fans and the evaporator being arranged horizontally when the refrigerator is oriented in the ordinary operating orientation such that the flow direction of air passing over the evaporator is a horizontal direction;
- and
- a pair of guide members arranged between the cold air fans and the evaporator respectively and configured to guide cold air flowing from the cold air fans toward the evaporator such that the cold air passes along the evaporator.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.