Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator which includes a main body having a storage chamber and an evaporator mounted inside the main body. The main body includes an inner case defining the storage chamber, an outer case forming an exterior appearance, and a heat insulator filled between the inner case and the outer case. A reinforcement sheet having a shape corresponding to an outer surface of the inner case is mounted to the outer surface of the inner case adjacent to the evaporator to reinforce the inner case. Accordingly, noise generation due to deformation of the inner case can be minimized. And, the manufacturing process of the main body can be simplified, thereby increasing productivity.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application Nos. 2006-0114808 and 2007-0054432, filed on Nov. 20, 2006 and Jun. 4, 2007 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to a refrigerator. More particularly, to a refrigerator which is capable of preventing abnormal noise due to deformation of an inner case.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]A conventional refrigerator includes a main body having a storage chamber, a door hingedly mounted to the main body for movement between opened and closed positions to access the storage chamber, and a cooling device mounted to the main body to cool down the storage chamber. The cooling device includes an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, a refrigerant expansion unit, and pipes connecting these components. The evaporator ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a refrigerator which is capable of minimizing noise generation due to the deformation of an inner case by reinforcing the inner case adjacent to an evaporator.

Problems solved by technology

And, the contraction deformation of the inner case intermittently causes noise.

The noise results from the phenomenon that the inner case and the foam heat insulator are made from different materials, and their deformations due to the temperature change differ.

However, sticking the adhesive paper tape to the outer surface of the inner case is very troublesome and makes the manufacturing process complicated.

Also, when the adhesive paper tape gets loose, or is stuck unevenly, it is difficult to achieve the sufficient noise reduction.

Further, because the curved portions are formed at the outer surface of the inner case adjacent to the evaporator, it is difficult to stick the adhesive tape evenly to the outer surface of the inner case.

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