Refrigerator

By setting up drawer support in the refrigerator storage room and forming air-conditioning passages and air-conditioning outlets inside it, the problem of small volume of the existing refrigerator storage room is solved, and the storage room volume is increased and rapid and uniform cooling is achieved.

CN120101403APending Publication Date: 2025-06-06LG ELECTRONICS INC
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202510498137.2
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Applications(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2017-09-22
Filing Date
2018-09-19
Publication Date
2025-06-06

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

In the design of the existing refrigerator, due to the gap between the evaporator and the inner shell, the thickness of the evaporator, and the thickness of the air-conditioning outlet pipe, the volume of the storage room is reduced, making it difficult to increase the capacity of the refrigerator.

Method used

A refrigerator is designed, and the storage room is equipped with a drawer support. The drawer support not only supports the drawer, but also has the function of an air-conditioning outlet pipe. By forming air-conditioning passages and multiple air-conditioning outlets inside the drawer support, uniform dispersion of air-conditioning and rapid cooling of the storage room are achieved.

Benefits of technology

By maximizing the front and rear depth of the storage room, the storage room volume is increased, while reducing the number of components, simplifying the structure, ensuring rapid and uniform cooling of the storage room.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

A refrigerator includes: a storage compartment; the cooling module comprises a cooling module main body, a heat absorption part with an evaporator and an evaporation fan, and a heat dissipation part with a compressor, a condenser and a condensation fan, and the heat absorption part and the heat dissipation part are configured in the cooling module main body; a drawer support disposed in the storage chamber, the drawer support including an internal passage through which the air discharged from the heat absorbing portion passes and a cold air discharge port through which the air in the internal passage is discharged to the storage chamber; the cooling module main body comprises a first main body which is opposite to the storage chamber and comprises a discharge port for discharging the air of the heat absorption part and a heat absorption part air inlet for sucking the air of the storage chamber, and a second main body which sucks the external air from the external air inlet to the heat dissipation part and discharges the air of the heat dissipation part from the external air outlet; the vertical height of the compressor is smaller than the transverse length; the vertical heights of the condenser and the evaporator are smaller than the transverse length; the transverse length of the evaporator is greater than that of the condenser; the evaporation fan overlaps the evaporator in the vertical direction, and the condensation fan is disposed between the compressor and the condenser.
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Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the application with application number 2018800617760, application date September 19, 2018, and invention name “Refrigerator” as the parent application. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly to a refrigerator having a drawer support for supporting a drawer. Background Art

[0003] A refrigerator is a device that cools or preserves objects to be cooled, such as food, medicine, and cosmetics (hereinafter referred to as food for convenience of explanation) at low temperatures to prevent them from spoiling or deteriorating.

[0004] The refrigerator includes a storage chamber for storing food and a refrigeration cycle device for cooling the storage chamber. The refrigeration cycle device may include a compressor, a condenser, an expansion mechanism, and an evaporator in which a refrigerant circulates.

[0005] The refrigerator may include a freezing chamber maintained in a temperature range below zero and a refrigerating chamber maintained in a temperature range above zero, and such a freezing chamber or refrigerating chamber may be cooled using at least one evaporator.

[0006] The refrigerator involved in the prior art may include an outer shell and an inner shell located inside the outer shell and forming a space with a front open. Such a refrigerator may be provided with a cold air discharge pipe, which is arranged inside the inner shell and separates the inside of the inner shell into a storage chamber and a heat exchange chamber. In addition, an evaporator and an evaporation fan may be arranged in the heat exchange chamber. In addition, the refrigerator may be provided with an additional mechanical chamber outside the inner shell, in which a compressor, a condenser and a condensation fan may be arranged, and the compressor in the mechanical chamber may be connected to the evaporator in the heat exchange chamber by a refrigerant pipe.

[0007] In addition, the related art refrigerator as described above may include a baffle that partitions the interior of the body into a plurality of storage chambers, and at least one of the plurality of storage chambers may accommodate a drawer that can be drawn out to the outside of the storage chamber.

[0008] The structure adopted by the refrigerator involved in the prior art as described above is that the evaporator, the cold air discharge duct and the evaporation fan are arranged together inside the inner shell, and the evaporator is arranged between the cold air discharge duct and the inner wall of the inner shell. The problem with such a refrigerator is that the volume of the storage room is reduced due to the gap between the evaporator and the inner shell, the thickness of the evaporator in the front-to-back direction, the thickness of the cold air discharge duct in the front-to-back direction, and the gap between the evaporator and the cold air discharge duct, and it is difficult to significantly increase the capacity of the refrigerator. Summary of the invention

[0009] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator which can achieve lightness while increasing the internal volume of a storage chamber provided with a drawer bracket by maximizing the depth of the storage chamber in the front-to-back direction, and can quickly and evenly cool the entire storage chamber provided with the drawer bracket.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that can not only prevent the height of the refrigerator from being too high, but also reduce the material cost of the refrigerant pipe used to connect the heat dissipation part and the heat absorption part.

[0012] Technical solutions to the problem

[0013] A refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a body, which is formed with a storage chamber and a cooling module accommodating space; a cooling module, which is arranged in the cooling module accommodating space and has a heat absorbing portion and a heat dissipating portion; a drawer support, which is arranged inside the storage chamber; a drawer, which is supported by the drawer support, and has an internal channel formed inside the drawer support for cold air flowing from the heat absorbing portion to pass through, and a plurality of cold air outlets formed on the drawer support for discharging cold air in the internal channel in opposite directions.

[0014] The drawer support may be formed with at least one connecting portion for connecting the left side space of the drawer support and the right side space of the drawer support. In addition, a plurality of cold air outlets may be formed in a portion other than the connecting portion.

[0015] The drawer support may be provided with a plurality of drawer guides for guiding the sliding of the drawer. The plurality of drawer guides may be spaced apart and arranged on the drawer support along the up-down direction. At least one of the plurality of cold air outlets may be opened toward between the plurality of drawer guides.

[0016] The drawer support may be arranged long along the front-rear direction inside the storage chamber. In addition, the heat absorbing portion may be arranged long along the left-right direction. A portion of the drawer support and a portion of the heat absorbing portion may overlap along the up-down direction.

[0017] The body may include a body baffle separating the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber. The drawer support may be orthogonal to the body baffle. A portion of the drawer support may be configured on the upper side or the lower side of the cooling module.

[0018] The drawer support may include: a pair of side bodies facing the top, bottom, back and side surfaces of the storage chamber; and a front body connecting the front ends of the pair of side bodies. The plurality of cold air outlets may include: a first side outlet opening in one of the pair of side bodies; and a second side outlet opening in the other of the pair of side bodies.

[0019] An internal passage may be formed between the pair of side bodies.

[0020] The drawer support may be recessed to form a cooling module receiving groove for receiving a portion of the cooling module.

[0021] The drawer support may be formed with a suction port for allowing air blown from the heat absorption portion to flow into the inner passage. The suction port may be opened in the drawer support along the up-down direction or the front-back direction.

[0022] The heat dissipation portion may be disposed biased toward one of the left side and the right side in the cooling module, and the heat absorption portion may be disposed beside the heat dissipation portion.

[0023] The cooling module includes a cooling module baffle that divides the interior of the cooling module into a heat absorbing portion accommodating space for accommodating the heat absorbing portion and a heat dissipating portion accommodating space for accommodating the heat dissipating portion. The heat absorbing portion accommodating space may be larger than the heat dissipating portion accommodating space.

[0024] The drawer support may be formed with a suction port into which cold air flowing from the heat absorption part flows, and the suction port may be communicated with the heat absorption part accommodating space.

[0025] The cooling module may be formed with a heat absorbing portion air inlet for drawing cold air from the storage chamber where the drawer support is disposed into the heat absorbing portion accommodating space.

[0026] The heat absorption part may include: an evaporator disposed horizontally and arranged to guide cold air in a horizontal direction; and an evaporation fan disposed on the upper part of the evaporator, wherein a suction port is formed on at least one of the top surface and the bottom surface of the evaporation fan.

[0027] The left-right length of the evaporator may be greater than the front-rear length of the evaporator and the up-down length of the evaporator.

[0028] The evaporation fan may include a centrifugal fan having a central axis of rotation in a vertical direction.

[0029] The heat absorbing part may further include a heat absorbing part insulation member for thermally insulating the outside from the evaporator. The thickness of the heat absorbing part insulation member may be smaller than the thickness of the insulation member of the body.

[0030] The cooling module may include a cooling module body forming an appearance of the cooling module and accommodated in the cooling module accommodation space.

[0031] The cooling module body may include: a lower body and an upper body, which are separated along the up and down direction; a pair of side bodies, which are separated along the left and right direction; a rear body, which connects the rear parts of the pair of side bodies; and a front body, which connects the front parts of the pair of side bodies, and the heat dissipation part and the heat absorption part can be configured to be separated along the left and right direction between the pair of side bodies.

[0032] The heat dissipation unit may include: a compressor that compresses refrigerant; a condenser that condenses the refrigerant compressed in the compressor; and a condensing fan that blows external air to the condenser. The condensing fan may be arranged in front of the condenser, and the compressor may be arranged in front of the condensing fan.

[0033] The cooling module may further include a cooling module body, wherein the cooling module body is formed with an air inlet for sucking external air into the heat dissipating portion and an air outlet for discharging the external air passing through the heat dissipating portion.

[0034] The rear body and the side body of the cooling module body may surround the heat dissipation part.

[0035] The air inlet may include a rear air inlet formed in the rear body and a side air inlet formed in the side body. In addition, the air outlet may be formed in front of the side air inlet in the side body and separated from the side air inlet in the front-rear direction.

[0036] Effects of the Invention

[0037] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the following advantages are provided: the drawer support for supporting the drawer also has the function of a cold air discharge duct, thereby minimizing the number of components and maximizing the depth of the storage room in the front-to-back direction, so that the cold air discharged from the drawer support is dispersed and discharged in opposite directions to each other, and in the process can quickly and evenly cool the entire storage room.

[0038] Furthermore, it has the following advantages: the refrigerant pipe connecting the heat absorption part and the heat dissipation part does not pass through the main body, which not only makes it easy to manufacture the main body but also makes it easy to install the entire cooling module, and can minimize the length of the refrigerant pipe between the compressor and the evaporator, thereby reducing the material cost of the refrigerant pipe.

[0039] Furthermore, the invention has the following advantages: without increasing the overall height of the refrigerator to be too high, the noise of the cooling module can be minimized from being transmitted to the front of the refrigerator.

[0040] Furthermore, there is an advantage that, while minimizing the overall size of the cooling module, a sufficient heat transfer area can be ensured for the evaporator, and even if the internal volume of the storage chamber is increased, the evaporator can quickly and effectively cool the storage chamber.

[0041] Furthermore, it has the following advantages: the height of the cooling module can be minimized, and the internal volume of the storage chamber can be maximized without making the overall height of the refrigerator too high.

[0042] Furthermore, the present invention has the following advantages: the cold air of the storage room is sucked into the heat absorption part accommodating space through the heat absorption part air inlet of the cooling module, thereby minimizing the number of components and further expanding the storage room inner volume. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] Figure 1 It is a figure which shows the inside of the refrigerator involved in the embodiment of this invention.

[0044] Figure 2 It is a perspective view showing the back and side surfaces of the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A three-dimensional view of the cooling module when it is separated from the main body shown.

[0046] Figure 4 It is a longitudinal sectional view showing a compressor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] Figure 5 It is enlarged to show Figure 4 The "D" portion of the diagram is shown.

[0048] Figure 6 2 is a perspective view showing a drawer support and a cooling module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0049] Figure 7 It is an exploded perspective view of a cooling module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] Figure 8 It is a top view showing the interior of a cooling module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] Fig. 9 It is a longitudinal sectional view showing a heat dissipation unit and a storage chamber according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0052] Fig.10 It is a longitudinal sectional view showing a heat absorbing section and a storage chamber according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] Fig.11 It is a cross-sectional view showing a storage room provided with a drawer support member according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] Fig.12 It is a front view showing an enlarged view of a storage room provided with a drawer support member according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] The specific embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0056] Figure 1 is a diagram showing the interior of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the back and side of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 yes Figure 2A three-dimensional view of the cooling module when it is separated from the main body shown.

[0057] The refrigerator may include: a body 1 formed with a storage chamber; a door 2 opening and closing the storage chamber; and a cooling module 3 cooling the storage chamber. In addition, the refrigerator may include: a drawer support 6 disposed inside the storage chamber; and a drawer 8 supported by the drawer support 6.

[0058] The front of the storage chamber of the body 1 may be open. At least one storage chamber may be formed in the body 1. In the case where the body 1 is formed with a plurality of storage chambers, the plurality of storage chambers may include a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber.

[0059] The body 1 may include: a left wall 15 and a right wall 16 spaced apart in the left-right direction; an upper wall 17 for connecting the upper portions of the left wall 15 and the right wall 16 ; and a lower wall 18 for connecting the lower portions of the left wall 15 and the right wall 16 .

[0060] The body 1 may further include a body baffle 11. A freezing chamber F and a refrigerating chamber R may be formed in the body 1. A plurality of storage chambers separated by the body baffle 11 may be formed in the body 1. The body baffle 11 may be disposed between the freezing chamber F and the refrigerating chamber R, and may separate the freezing chamber F and the refrigerating chamber R into cooling spaces independent of each other.

[0061] An example of the main body baffle 11 may be a horizontal baffle disposed along the horizontal direction between the left side wall 15 and the right side wall 16. In this case, the main body baffle 11 may be as follows: Figure 1 In this case, the main body baffle 11 can separate the freezer compartment F and the refrigerator compartment R up and down, one of the freezer compartment F and the refrigerator compartment R can be located on the upper side of the main body baffle 11, and the other of the freezer compartment F and the refrigerator compartment R can be located on the lower side of the main body baffle 11.

[0062] Another example of the main body baffle 11 may be a vertical baffle disposed along the up-down direction between the upper wall 17 and the lower wall 18. In this case, the main body baffle 11 may separate the freezer compartment F and the refrigerator compartment R from left to right, one of the freezer compartment F and the refrigerator compartment R may be located on the left side of the main body baffle 11, and the other of the freezer compartment F and the refrigerator compartment R may be located on the right side of the main body baffle 11.

[0063] Hereinafter, a case where the main body baffle 11 is horizontally formed on the main body 1 to vertically partition the freezing chamber F and the refrigerating chamber R will be described as an example.

[0064] The body 1 may include a housing 12 forming the appearance of the body 1. The housing 12 may be in a hexahedral shape as a whole. The body 1 may include a freezing chamber inner housing 13 having a freezing chamber F formed therein and a refrigerating chamber inner housing 14 having a refrigerating chamber R formed therein.

[0065] The front sides of the freezing chamber inner shell 13 and the refrigerating chamber inner shell 14 may be open, and each may have a hexahedral shape having an upper plate, a lower plate, a left plate, a right plate, and a rear plate.

[0066] When the freezer compartment F is located below the refrigerator compartment R, the upper plate of the freezer compartment F, the lower plate of the refrigerator compartment R, and the heat insulating member (not shown) between the upper plate of the freezer compartment F and the lower plate of the refrigerator compartment R may constitute the main body baffle 11.

[0067] On the contrary, when the refrigerating chamber F is located below the freezing chamber F, the lower plate of the freezing chamber F, the upper plate of the refrigerating chamber R, and the insulating member (not shown) between the lower plate of the freezing chamber F and the upper plate of the refrigerating chamber R can constitute the main body baffle 11.

[0068] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, a cooling module accommodating space S1 for accommodating the cooling module 3 may be formed in the body 1. The cooling module accommodating space S1 may be formed to be close to the storage room equipped with the drawer support 6.

[0069] As an example, when the drawer support 6 is configured in a lower storage chamber relatively located at the lower side among multiple storage chambers, the cooling module accommodating space S1 can be arranged to be close to the lower storage chamber. In this case, the cooling module accommodating space S1 can be formed in the lower or central part of the main body 1.

[0070] As another example, in a case where the drawer support 6 is configured in an upper storage chamber that is relatively located on the upper side among multiple storage chambers, the cooling module accommodating space S1 can be arranged to be close to the upper storage chamber. In this case, the cooling module accommodating space S1 can be arranged to be close to the upper storage chamber. In this case, the cooling module accommodating space S1 can be formed in the central part or the upper part of the main body 1.

[0071] In order to minimize the transmission of noise generated in the cooling module 3 to the front of the refrigerator, the cooling module accommodating space S1 may be formed in a portion other than the front of the body 1. The cooling module accommodating space S1 is preferably formed at a position close to both the freezing chamber F and the refrigerating chamber R. In addition, the cooling module accommodating space S1 is preferably formed at a position close to the storage chamber equipped with the drawer support 6 in the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber.

[0072] The cooling module accommodating space S1 may be formed behind one of the upper wall 17, the lower wall 18, and the body baffle 11, in which case, it is possible to minimize the transmission of noise generated in the cooling module 3 to the front of the refrigerator.

[0073] like Figure 3As shown, the cooling module accommodating space S1 may be in a shape that is recessed toward the front at the back of the body 1. When the cooling module 3 is accommodated in the cooling module accommodating space S1, as shown in FIG. Figure 2 As shown, a portion of the cooling module 3 may be exposed to the outside, and the cooling module accommodating space S1 may be open on at least one of the left side and the right side of the body 1 and the back side.

[0074] The cooling module accommodating space S1 may be located at the rear of the body 1. When the body 1 is divided into a front portion and a rear portion based on the center of the front-rear direction of the body 1, the cooling module accommodating space S1 may be located at the rear portion.

[0075] The main body 1 may include: an upper facing surface 1C, located on the upper side of the cooling module 3 and facing the top surface of the cooling module 3; a lower facing surface 1D, located on the lower side of the cooling module 3 and facing the bottom surface of the cooling module 3; and a front facing surface 1E, located in front of the cooling module 3 and facing the front of the cooling module 3.

[0076] The cooling module accommodating space S1 may be substantially in the shape of a right hexahedron. The left-right direction X length of the cooling module accommodating space S1 may be respectively greater than the up-down direction Z length of the cooling module accommodating space S1 and the front-to-back direction Y length of the cooling module accommodating space S1. In addition, the front-to-back direction Y length of the cooling module accommodating space S1 may be greater than the up-down direction Z length of the cooling module accommodating space S1.

[0077] The door 2 may be configured to open and close the storage compartment. The door 2 may be connected to the body 1 in a rotatable manner or in a slidable manner. The door 2 may include a plurality of doors 21, 22, and the plurality of doors 21, 22 may include a freezer compartment door 21 for opening and closing the freezer compartment F and a refrigerator compartment door 22 for opening and closing the refrigerator compartment R.

[0078] The cooling module 3 may be a refrigeration cycle device that uses a refrigerant to absorb the heat of the air flowing in the storage room and dissipates the absorbed heat to the outside air. The cooling module 3 may include a heat absorbing portion A (see Figure 8 ) and a heat dissipation portion B for releasing heat to the outside air (refer to Figure 8 ).

[0079] The cooling module 3 may be disposed in the cooling module accommodating space S1 of the body 1. The cooling module 3 may absorb heat from the air in the storage room when installed in the body 1, and may release heat to the outside air sucked into the cooling module 3 from outside.

[0080] The cooling module 3 can be arranged behind one of the upper wall 17, the lower wall 18 and the body baffle 11. In this case, not only can the volume of the freezing chamber F and the refrigerating chamber R be maximized, but also the height of the entire refrigerator can be prevented from being too high. In addition, the noise of the cooling module 3 can be minimized from being transmitted to the front of the refrigerator.

[0081] If the cooling module 3 is arranged above the upper wall 17 or below the lower wall 18, the overall height of the refrigerator may be too high. On the other hand, as described above, if the cooling module 3 is arranged behind one of the upper wall 17, the lower wall 18 and the main body baffle 11, the overall height of the refrigerator does not need to be too high.

[0082] As an example, when the cooling module 3 is arranged behind the main body baffle 11, at least a portion of the cooling module 3 may face the main body baffle 11 in the horizontal direction. The cooling module 3 may be located behind the main body baffle 11 in the front-to-back direction Y, and at least a portion of the cooling module 3 may face the back of the main body baffle 11 in the front-to-back direction Y. The back of the main body baffle 11 may be the front side facing surface 1E of the main body baffle 11 that is located in front of the cooling module 3 and faces the front of the cooling module 3.

[0083] As another example, when the cooling module 3 is arranged behind the upper wall 17, at least a portion of the cooling module 3 may face the upper wall 17 in the horizontal direction. The cooling module 3 may be located behind the upper wall 17 in the front-to-back direction Y, and at least a portion of the cooling module 3 may face the back of the upper wall 17 in the front-to-back direction Y. The back of the upper wall 17 may be the front side facing surface 1E of the upper wall 17 that is located in front of the cooling module 3 and faces the front of the cooling module 3.

[0084] As another example, when the cooling module 3 is arranged behind the lower wall 18, at least a portion of the cooling module 3 may face the lower wall 18 in the horizontal direction. The cooling module 3 may be located behind the lower wall 18 in the front-to-back direction Y, and at least a portion of the cooling module 3 may face the back of the lower wall 18 in the front-to-back direction Y. The back of the lower wall 18 may be the front side facing surface 1E of the lower wall 18 that is located in front of the cooling module 3 and faces the front of the cooling module 3.

[0085] In addition, the cooling module 3 can absorb the cold air of the storage room containing the drawer support 6 and blow it to the drawer support 6 after cooling it in the heat absorption part A. The cooling module 3 can Figure 6 and Figure 8 ) The cooled cold air is blown toward the drawer support 6. In addition, the cooling module 3 can directly inhale the cold air of the storage room equipped with the drawer support 6, and can inhale it through an additional air inlet duct (not shown).

[0086] In the case where the refrigerator includes an additional air inlet duct for guiding the cold air of the storage room to the heat absorption part A, the number of components may increase, the installation process of the air inlet duct is required, and the effective volume of the storage room of the air inlet duct may be reduced. That is, the refrigerator preferably sucks the cold air of the storage room into the cooling module 3 without providing an additional air inlet duct. In this case, the effective volume of the storage room can be maximized and the refrigerator can be made as lightweight as possible.

[0087] A cold air passage through which cold air flowing in the cooling module 3 passes may be formed in the drawer support 6. The drawer support 6 may guide the cold air blown from the cooling module 3 to the storage room.

[0088] That is, the cooling module 3 can blow the cold air cooled by the evaporator 34 to the cold air passage of the drawer support 6, and such cold air can be discharged from the drawer support 6 to the storage room after passing through the cold air passage of the drawer support 6. The cold air passage of the drawer support 6 will be described in detail below.

[0089] In this case, the drawer support 6 can serve as a cold air discharge duct for discharging cold air into the storage room. The refrigerator does not need to add an additional cold air discharge duct in the storage room, and can use the drawer support 6 to discharge the cold air flowing from the cooling module 3 into the storage room.

[0090] The storage room equipped with the drawer support 6 can be formed by the top surface, the bottom surface, the back surface and a pair of side surfaces separated in the left and right directions of the inner shell accommodating the drawer support 6. The drawer support 6 can be configured to be separated from the pair of side surfaces respectively between the pair of side surfaces. The drawer support 6 can be orthogonal to the body baffle 11.

[0091] When the body baffle 11 is arranged horizontally, the drawer support 6 can be arranged vertically. When the body baffle 11 is arranged vertically, the drawer support 6 can be arranged horizontally.

[0092] The drawer 8 can be inserted into the storage room and accommodated in the storage room, and when accommodated in the storage room, it can be led out in the front direction of the storage room. In addition, the drawer 8 can be accommodated between the left side wall 15 of the body 1 and the drawer support 6 so as to be led out, and can be accommodated between the right side wall 15 of the body 1 and the drawer support 6 so as to be led out.

[0093] A plurality of drawers 8 may be accommodated inside the storage room, in which case the plurality of drawers 8 may include a left drawer 8A between the left side wall 15 of the body 1 and the drawer support 6 and a right drawer 8B between the right side wall 15 of the body 1 and the drawer support 6 .

[0094] The left drawer 8A and the right drawer 8B can be respectively accommodated in a plurality of drawers in the storage chamber.

[0095] As described above, the cooling module 3 can be arranged behind one of the upper wall 17, the lower wall 18 and the main body baffle 11, and the drawer support 6 acts as a cold air discharge pipe for discharging cold air into the storage room, thereby maximizing the effective volume (especially the depth in the front-to-back direction) of the storage room equipped with the drawer support 6. Assuming that the overall size of the refrigerator is the same, the maximum effective volume can be ensured.

[0096] The cooling module 3 as described above may include a compressor 31 (see Figure 4 ).

[0097] Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a compressor according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 5 It is enlarged to show Figure 4 The "D" portion of the diagram is shown.

[0098] The compressor 31 of this embodiment may be a reciprocating compressor in which the piston 142 reciprocates inside the cylinder 141, and may be a compressor in which the gas flowing between the piston 142 and the cylinder 141 can replace a lubricant such as oil.

[0099] To this end, a cylinder side bearing surface 141a can be formed on the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder 141, a piston side bearing surface 142a can be formed on the outer circumferential surface of the piston 142, and a bearing hole 141b for guiding the gas between the cylinder side bearing surface 141a and the piston side bearing surface 142a can be formed in the cylinder 141.

[0100] As described above, the gas introduced to the cylinder-side bearing surface 141 a and the piston-side bearing surface 142 a can function as lubricant like oil.

[0101] The compressor 31 as described above does not require an oil supply device for supplying oil between the piston 142 and the cylinder 141, and does not require an additional space for accommodating oil to be formed inside the compressor 31. In the case where the compressor 31 does not include an oil supply device, its structure can be simplified, and the overall size of the compressor can be minimized to achieve miniaturization.

[0102] As described above, the compressor 31 that does not require an oil supply device can improve the space utilization rate of the heat dissipation portion B, especially the space around the compressor 31, and can make the cooling module 3 compact.

[0103] The compressor 31 will be described in detail below.

[0104] The compressor 31 may include a housing 110, a reciprocating motor 130, a cylinder 141, and a piston 142. The housing 110 may form an exterior of the compressor 31. The housing 110 may have an internal space.

[0105] The housing 110 may be provided with a suction pipe 112 for guiding the refrigerant into the housing 110. The suction pipe 112 may be connected to the housing 110 such that one end thereof is located in the inner space of the housing 110.

[0106] The housing 110 may be provided with a discharge pipe 113 for guiding the compressed refrigerant to the outside. The discharge pipe 113 may be connected to the housing 110 such that one end thereof is located inside the housing 110 .

[0107] A frame 120 for supporting the reciprocating motor 130 and the cylinder 41 may be disposed inside the housing 110. The reciprocating motor 130 may be disposed in the internal space. The reciprocating motor 130 may have a stator 131 and a moving member 132. The stator 131 may include a stator and a coil combined with the stator, and the moving member 132 may include a magnet that is reciprocated by the stator 131 and a magnet bracket for fixing the magnet.

[0108] The cylinder 141 may have a space formed therein so that the piston 142 can reciprocate. The inner peripheral surface of the cylinder 141 may have a cylinder-side bearing surface 141 a formed thereon.

[0109] The piston 142 may be connected to the moving member 132 so as to reciprocate together with the moving member 132. The piston 142 may be formed with an intake passage E for guiding the refrigerant to be sucked into the cylinder 141. A compression space S2 for compressing the refrigerant passing through the intake passage E may be formed between the piston 142 and the cylinder 141.

[0110] The piston 142 may include one end that forms the compression space S2 together with the cylinder 141 , and a through hole for guiding the refrigerant in the suction flow path E to the compression space S2 may be formed at the one end.

[0111] The suction flow path E may be formed inside the piston 142 in the same direction as the reciprocating direction of the piston 142. The suction flow path E may be formed to be long in the longitudinal direction of the piston 142.

[0112] A piston side bearing surface 142a facing the cylinder side bearing surface 141a may be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the piston 142. The cylinder side bearing surface 141a and the piston side bearing surface 142a may be formed in a manner facing each other, and when gas flows therebetween, the cylinder side bearing surface 141a and the piston side bearing surface 142a may function as a gas bearing.

[0113] The compressor 31 can guide the gas refrigerant compressed in the compression space S2 to flow between the cylinder side bearing surface 141a and the piston side bearing surface 142a. To this end, a bearing hole 141b for guiding the gas refrigerant compressed in the compression space S2 to flow between the cylinder side bearing surface 141a and the piston side bearing surface 142a can be formed through the cylinder 141.

[0114] In addition, the compressor 31 may further include: an intake valve 143 provided on the piston 142 for opening and closing the intake flow path E; and an exhaust valve 144 provided on the cylinder 141 for opening and closing the compression space S2 formed between the cylinder 141 and the piston 142 .

[0115] In addition, the compressor 31 may further include: a discharge cover 146 forming a space for accommodating the discharge valve 144 ; and a spring 147 disposed inside the discharge cover 146 to pressurize the discharge valve 144 in the direction of the piston 142 .

[0116] The discharge pipe 113 may be connected to the discharge cap 146 . When the discharge valve 144 is opened, the gas refrigerant flowing into the discharge cap 146 may be guided to the outside of the compressor 31 through the discharge pipe 113 .

[0117] Furthermore, the compressor 31 may further include resonance springs 151 and 152 for guiding the resonance movement of the piston 142 , thereby reducing the vibration caused by the movement of the piston 142 and the noise caused thereby.

[0118] In an example of a compressor 31 that does not require an oil supply device, the gas in the compression space S2 can flow directly into the bearing hole 141b and, after passing through the bearing hole 141b, flow between the cylinder side bearing surface 141a and the piston side bearing surface 142a. In this case, the bearing hole 141b can be formed so that one end faces the compression space S2 and the other end faces the piston side bearing surface 142a.

[0119] In another example of a compressor 31 that does not require an oil supply device, the gas compressed in the compression space S2 and flowing in the discharge pipe 113 or the gas of the discharge cover 146 can be sequentially guided toward the bearing hole 141b through the gas guide unit 200 and the gas channel 120a formed on the frame 120, and the gas guided to the bearing hole 141b can flow between the cylinder side bearing surface 141a and the piston side bearing surface 142a through the bearing hole 141b.

[0120] The gas guide unit 200 may include a gas pipe for guiding the gas of the discharge pipe 113 or the discharge cover 146 to the gas passage 120a. One end of the gas pipe may be connected to the discharge pipe 113, and the other end may be connected to the gas passage 120a. In addition, the bearing hole 141b may be formed such that one end thereof faces the gas passage 120a, and the other end faces the piston-side bearing surface 142a.

[0121] In the compressor 31 as described above, when the reciprocating motor 130 is powered on, the moving member 132 reciprocates relative to the stator 131. The piston 142 coupled to the moving member 132 reciprocates along a straight line inside the cylinder 141, and the gas refrigerant in the suction pipe 112 is sucked into the compression space S2 through the suction flow path E and compressed in the compression space S2, and the compressed gas refrigerant is discharged through the discharge pipe 113.

[0122] When the compressor 31 as described above is driven, a portion of the compressed gas refrigerant in the compression space S2 can flow between the cylinder side bearing surface 141a and the piston side bearing surface 142a after passing through the bearing hole 141b, and can minimize the friction between the piston 142 and the cylinder 141.

[0123] Figure 6 is a perspective view showing a drawer support and a cooling module according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of a cooling module according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8 is a top view showing the interior of a cooling module according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a heat dissipation unit and a storage chamber according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig.10 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a heat absorbing portion and a storage chamber according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig.11 is a cross-sectional view showing a storage room provided with a drawer support member according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig.12 It is a front view showing an enlarged view of a storage room provided with a drawer support member according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0124] like Fig.11 As shown, the storage room equipped with the drawer support 6 can be divided into a left space S11 of the drawer support 6 and a right space S12 of the drawer support 6 based on the drawer support 6 .

[0125] An internal passage 61 for passing the cold air flowing from the heat absorbing part A may be formed inside the drawer support 6. In addition, a plurality of cold air outlets 62 and 63 for discharging the cold air in the internal passage 61 in opposite directions may be formed in the drawer support 6.

[0126] In addition, at least one connecting portion 64 for connecting the left space S11 of the drawer support 6 and the right space S12 of the drawer support 6 may be formed on the drawer support 6. The connecting portion 64 may not be directly connected to the internal channel 61, but may be formed in a manner that is distinguished from the internal channel 61. The connecting portion 64 may be formed in a manner that the drawer support 6 is open along the left-right direction X. A plurality of connecting portions 64 may be formed on the drawer support 6, and the plurality of connecting portions 64 may be spaced apart along the up-down direction Z or along the front-back direction Y on the drawer support 6.

[0127] Cold air in the left space S11 of the drawer support 6 may flow to the right space S12 of the drawer support 6 through the connecting portion 64 , and cold air in the right space S12 of the drawer support 6 may flow to the left space S11 of the drawer support 6 through the connecting portion 64 .

[0128] The plurality of cool air outlets 61 , 62 may be formed in a portion other than the communicating portion 64 .

[0129] The drawer support 6 may be provided with a plurality of drawer guides 65 for guiding the sliding of the drawer 8 , and the plurality of drawer guides 65 may be provided in a manner spaced apart from each other in the up-down direction on the drawer support 6 .

[0130] One example of the drawer guide 65 may be a guide rail portion recessed or protruding from the drawer support 6. Another example of the drawer guide 65 may be a guide rail combined with the drawer support 6 and formed with a guide groove or guide rib for slidingly guiding the drawer 8.

[0131] A left drawer guide facing the drawer guide 65 arranged on the left side of the drawer support 6 may be provided on the left side wall 15 of the main body 1, and a right drawer guide facing the drawer guide 65 arranged on the right side of the drawer support 6 may be provided on the right side wall 16 of the main body 1.

[0132] The left drawer guide and the right drawer guide may be formed by guide rail portions recessed or protruding from the body 1 , or may be formed by guide rails combined with the body 1 and formed with guide grooves or guide ribs for slidingly guiding the drawer 8 .

[0133] At least one of the plurality of cold air outlets 61 and 62 may be opened toward between the plurality of drawer guides 65 .

[0134] The plurality of cold air outlets 61 and 62 may include an upper cold air outlet opening toward the upper side of the uppermost drawer guide among the plurality of drawer guides 65. In addition, the plurality of cold air outlets 61 and 62 may include a lower cold air outlet opening toward the lower side of the uppermost drawer guide among the plurality of drawer guides 65. In addition, the cold air outlet opening toward the middle of the plurality of drawer guides 65 among the plurality of cold air outlets 61 and 62 may be a center cold air outlet opening that is larger than the lower cold air outlet opening and lower than the upper cold air outlet opening.

[0135] The drawer support 6 can be arranged longer in the front-rear direction inside the storage room. Figure 7 As shown, the heat absorbing portion A may be arranged long in the left-right direction. The drawer support 6 and the heat absorbing portion A are preferably configured to rapidly absorb the cold air in the storage room and discharge it after cooling.

[0136] like Fig. 9 As shown, a portion of the drawer support 6 and a portion of the heat absorbing portion A may overlap in the up-down direction. A portion of the drawer support 6 may be disposed on the upper side or the lower side of the cooling module 3 .

[0137] The cooling module 3 may include a compressor 31 in which a refrigerant circulates, a condenser 32 , an expansion mechanism (not shown), and an evaporator 34 .

[0138] The compressor 31 can compress the refrigerant flowing from the evaporator 34. The condenser 32 can condense the refrigerant compressed in the compressor 31 by exchanging heat with the outside air. The expansion mechanism is used to reduce the pressure of the refrigerant condensed in the condenser 32, and can be composed of an electronic expansion valve such as LEV or EEV or a capillary tube.

[0139] The cooling module 3 may further include a condensing fan 35 for blowing external air toward the condenser 32. The compressor 31 may be arranged close to the condenser 32, and the condensing fan 35 may blow external air toward the condenser 32 and the compressor 31. The external air in this specification is the air outside the refrigerator sucked into the heat dissipation part B in the room where the refrigerator is installed.

[0140] The evaporator 34 can evaporate the refrigerant decompressed by the expansion mechanism through heat exchange with the cold air flowing from the storage chamber. At least one evaporator 34 may be provided in the cooling module 3 .

[0141] The cooling module 3 may further include an evaporation fan 36 for circulating the cold air in the storage room to the evaporator 34 and the storage room. The compressor 31, the condenser 32 and the condensation fan 35 may constitute a heat dissipation part B that releases heat to the outside air. Figure 8 As shown, the heat dissipation portion B may be disposed in a manner biased toward one side of the left side and the right side of the cooling module 3 .

[0142] The evaporator 34 and the evaporation fan 36 may constitute a heat absorbing part A for absorbing heat from the air in the storage room. Figure 8 As shown, the heat absorbing part A can be arranged next to the heat dissipating part B.

[0143] The refrigerator may be in a hexahedral shape as a whole, and the heat dissipating part B and the heat absorbing part A may be arranged on the left and right. The heat dissipating part B and the heat absorbing part A may be separated in the left-right direction X.

[0144] In the refrigerator of this embodiment, the compressor 31, the condenser 32, the expansion mechanism, and the evaporator 34 constituting the refrigeration cycle device may all constitute the cooling module 3, and the refrigerant pipe for guiding the refrigerant may be arranged only in the cooling module 3. That is, the refrigerant pipe for connecting the compressor 31 and the condenser 32, the refrigerant pipe for connecting the condenser and the expansion mechanism, the refrigerant pipe for connecting the expansion mechanism and the evaporator, and the refrigerant pipe for connecting the evaporator and the compressor may all be arranged inside the cooling module 3.

[0145] When the refrigerant pipe is only arranged in the cooling module 3 as described above, the refrigerant pipe does not need to be arranged in the main body 1, especially does not need to be arranged inside the storage room, and the main body 1 does not need a refrigerant pipe through hole or a refrigerant pipe guide for passing the refrigerant pipe.

[0146] If the evaporator is disposed inside the inner shell forming the storage chamber, and the refrigerant pipe passes through the inner shell, the manufacturing process of the main body 1 may be complicated and the refrigerant pipe connection operation may be complicated.

[0147] However, as described in the present invention, when the evaporator 34 is located outside the inner shell forming the storage chamber, there is no need to set a refrigerant pipe through hole or a refrigerant pipe guide in the main body 1, and the production of the main body 1 and the installation of the evaporator 34 can be easily achieved.

[0148] Furthermore, as described in the present invention, when the compressor 31, the condenser 32, and the evaporator 34 constitute a cooling module 3 and are arranged close to each other, the length of the refrigerant pipe guiding the refrigerant can be minimized and the manufacturing cost of the refrigerator can be reduced.

[0149] In addition, in the refrigerator, the heat dissipation part B may be located in front of the heat absorption part A. However, in this case, the compressor 31 as a part of the heat dissipation part B may be close to the front of the refrigerator, and the compressor 31 is preferably as far away from the front of the refrigerator as possible.

[0150] like Figure 8 As shown, when the heat dissipation part B is located next to the heat absorption part A, the compressor 31 constituting the heat dissipation part B can be as far away from the front of the refrigerator as possible, which can minimize the transmission of the noise generated in the compressor 31 to the front of the main body 1.

[0151] That is, the heat dissipation part B is preferably closer to the back of the main body 1 on the front side of the main body 1 and the back side of the main body 1. In order to minimize the size of the cooling module 3, especially the length Y of the cooling module 3 in the front-to-back direction and the length Z of the cooling module 3 in the up-and-down direction, the heat absorption part A is preferably located next to the heat dissipation part B.

[0152] As shown in the present embodiment, when the heat absorbing portion A is located next to the heat dissipating portion B, at least one of the compressor 31, the evaporator 34, and the condenser 32 may face one of the upper wall 17, the body baffle 11, and the lower wall 18 in the front-rear direction Y. In addition, a virtual extended surface extending from the rear end of one of the upper wall 17, the body baffle 11, and the lower wall 18 in the horizontal direction may meet the compressor 31, the evaporator 34, and the condenser 32, and the compressor 31, the evaporator 34, and the condenser 32 may overlap with one of the upper wall 17, the body baffle 11, and the lower wall 18 in the horizontal direction, respectively.

[0153] The cooling module 3 may be configured to allow cold air flowing from the storage room to flow toward the heat absorbing part A and allow outside air to flow toward the heat dissipating part B. To this end, a cooling module baffle 40 for separating the heat dissipating part B and the heat absorbing part A may be included.

[0154] like Figure 8 As shown, the cooling module baffle 40 can separate the interior of the cooling module 3 into a space S3 for accommodating the heat dissipation part B and a space S4 for accommodating the heat absorption part A.

[0155] Another example of the cooling module baffle 40 may be composed of an evaporator shell disposed outside the heat absorbing part A and surrounding the heat absorbing part A, or may separate the heat dissipation part B inside the evaporator shell from the heat absorbing part A outside the evaporator shell. In this case, a heat absorbing part accommodating space S4 for accommodating the heat absorbing part A may be formed inside the cooling module baffle 40. In addition, the heat dissipation part accommodating space S3 for accommodating the heat dissipation part B may be located outside the cooling module baffle 40.

[0156] The heat absorption portion accommodating space S4 may be larger than the heat dissipation portion accommodating space S3.

[0157] The cooling module baffle 40 may be formed in a substantially hexahedral shape, and a heat absorbing portion accommodating space S4 may be formed therein. The cooling module baffle 40 may be in a hexahedral shape that is longer in the left-right direction X, and the left-right direction X length of the cooling module baffle 40 may be greater than the front-to-back direction Y length of the cooling module baffle 40 and the up-down direction Z length of the cooling module baffle 40, respectively.

[0158] In the case where the cooling module baffle 40 is formed in a hexahedral shape, the cooling module baffle 40 may include a baffle case 40A having an open upper surface and a baffle top cover 40B covering the upper surface of the baffle case 40A.

[0159] The cooling module 3 preferably ensures a space that can accommodate the evaporator 34 to the greatest extent, and the overall length L3 of the evaporator 34 in the left-right direction X is preferably greater than 1 / 2 of the length of the body 1 in the left-right direction X. Among them, as long as the left-right direction X width of the space S3 occupied by the heat dissipation portion B can be fully ensured, the overall length L3 of the evaporator 34 in the left-right direction X is preferably formed to be as long as possible along the left-right direction X.

[0160] In addition, if Fig.10 As shown, the height H1 of the cooling module 3 may be greater than the height H2 of one of the upper wall 17 , the body baffle 11 , and the lower wall 18 .

[0161] When the cooling module 3 is disposed behind the lower wall 18, the height from the bottom surface of the body 1 to the top surface of the cooling module 3 may be greater than the height from the bottom surface of the body 1 to the top surface of the lower wall 18. In this case, the upper end of the cooling module 3 does not overlap with the top surface of the lower wall 18 in the horizontal direction, and only a portion between the upper end and the lower end of the cooling module 3 may overlap with the back surface of the lower wall 18 in the horizontal direction.

[0162] The cooling module 3 may further include a cooling module body 41. The cooling module body 41 may form the appearance of the cooling module 3 and may be accommodated in the cooling module accommodation space S1. The cooling module body 41 may be accommodated together with the heat absorbing part A and the heat dissipating part B in the cooling module accommodation space S1.

[0163] The cooling module 3 can be installed in the cooling module accommodating space S1 when both the heat absorbing part A and the heat dissipating part B are installed in the cooling module main body 41. On the other hand, the cooling module 3 can be installed in the cooling module main body 41 when the cooling module main body 41 is installed in the cooling module accommodating space S1. Such an assembly of the heat absorbing part A, the heat dissipating part B and the cooling module main body 41 can be manufactured separately from the main body 1 and then installed in the main body 1.

[0164] The cooling module body 41 may include: a lower body 45 and an upper body 46 separated in the up and down directions; a pair of side bodies 47, 48 separated in the left and right directions; a rear body 49 for connecting the rear parts of the pair of side bodies 47, 48; and a front body 50 for connecting the front parts of the pair of side bodies 47, 48.

[0165] The heat dissipating portion B and the heat absorbing portion A may be disposed so as to be spaced apart from each other between the pair of side body parts 47 and 48. The overall height H1 of the cooling module 3 may be determined by the height of the cooling module body 41.

[0166] The cooling module body 41 may form a storage chamber by a portion of its outer surface. As an example, an opening may be formed in the freezer inner shell 13, and the cooling module body 41 may be configured to block the opening of the freezer inner shell 13, and the outer surface of the cooling module body 41 and the inner surface of the freezer inner shell 13 may together form a freezer chamber F. A portion of the cooling module body 41 may be inserted into the refrigerating chamber R and protrude from the freezer chamber F.

[0167] As another example, an opening may be formed in the refrigerating chamber inner shell 14, the cooling module body 41 may be configured to block the opening of the refrigerating chamber inner shell 14, and the outer surface of the cooling module body 41 and the inner surface of the freezing chamber inner shell 14 may together form a freezing chamber F. In addition, the outer surface of the cooling module body 41 and the inner surface of the refrigerating chamber inner shell 14 may together form a refrigerating chamber R. A portion of the cooling module body 41 may be inserted into the refrigerating chamber R and protrude therein.

[0168] In addition, the body 1 may also include an additional cooling module cover (not shown) for covering a portion of the cooling module body 41 protruding toward the refrigerating chamber R or a portion of the cooling module body 41 protruding toward the freezing chamber F. In this case, the cooling module cover may form the freezing chamber F together with the inner surface of the freezing chamber inner shell 13, and may form the refrigerating chamber R together with the inner surface of the refrigerating chamber inner shell 14.

[0169] Hereinafter, the heat absorbing portion A will be described in detail.

[0170] like Fig.10 As shown, the evaporator 34 may be separated from the rear end 1E of one of the upper wall 17, the body baffle 11, and the lower wall 18 in the front-to-rear direction Y. The rear end 1E of one of the upper wall 17, the body baffle 11, and the lower wall 18 may be Figure 3 Hereinafter, for the sake of consistency in terminology, the rear end of one of the upper wall 17, the body baffle 11, and the lower wall 18 will be referred to as the front facing surface 1E.

[0171] like Fig.10 As shown, the longitudinal distance L1 between the front facing surface 1E and the evaporator 34 may be smaller than the longitudinal length L2 of the structural elements located in front of the cooling module 3 among the upper wall 17 , the body baffle 11 and the lower wall 18 .

[0172] The evaporator 34 may be arranged horizontally. The evaporator 34 may guide the cold air in a horizontal direction. The evaporator 34 may include: a refrigerant tube 34A through which the refrigerant passes; and at least one heat conducting sheet 34B, which is combined with the refrigerant tube 34A and is used to guide the cold air in a horizontal direction. The heat conducting sheet 34B may be arranged vertically in a state of being connected to the refrigerant tube 34A.

[0173] When the heat conductive sheet 34B is placed vertically, it can guide the air in the horizontal direction (ie, the left-right direction or the front-back direction).

[0174] When the heat conductive sheet 34B guides the cold air along the front-rear direction Y, the heat conductive sheet 34B may include a left guide surface and a right guide surface for guiding the cold air along the front-rear direction Y. When the heat conductive sheet 34B guides the cold air along the left-right direction X, the heat conductive sheet 34B may include a front guide surface and a rear guide surface for guiding the cold air along the left-right direction X.

[0175] The left-right length L3 of the evaporator 34 may be greater than 1 / 2 of the left-right length of the cooling module 3. The evaporator 34 may be configured such that its left-right length L3 is greater than its front-to-back length Y. The evaporator 34 may be configured such that its left-right length L3 is greater than its top-to-bottom length Z. The evaporator 34 may be configured such that its top-to-bottom length Y is greater than its top-to-bottom length Z.

[0176] The heat absorbing part A may further include a drain pan 37 (see Figure 7 and Fig.10 ), the drain pan 37 is arranged below the evaporator 34 and is used to receive condensed water falling from the evaporator 34.

[0177] The evaporation fan 36 may be a centrifugal fan having an inlet formed on at least one of its bottom and top surfaces and an outlet formed on the top and bottom surfaces. At least a portion of such a centrifugal fan may be arranged on the upper side of the evaporator so as to overlap the evaporator in the vertical direction.

[0178] The evaporation fan 36 may be accommodated in the heat absorption portion accommodation space S4 together with the evaporator 34. The evaporation fan 36 may be arranged above the evaporator 34. The evaporation fan 36 is preferably arranged on the opposite side of the drain pan 37 with respect to the evaporator 34, and may be arranged horizontally above the evaporator 34.

[0179] The evaporation fan 36 may be disposed closer to one of the rear body 49 and the front body 50 of the cooling module body 41 in the front-rear direction Y. The evaporation fan 36 may be disposed under a portion of the drawer support 6 .

[0180] The rotating shaft of the evaporation fan 36 may be a vertical central shaft, and the cold air of the evaporator 34 located below the evaporation fan 36 may be sucked upward and discharged horizontally. The evaporation fan 36 may have a discharge port 36A formed at the upper portion thereof for discharging the cold air.

[0181] Heat absorbing part air inlets 41A and 40C for sucking cold air from the storage room into the heat absorbing part accommodating space S4 may be formed in the cooling module 3. Such heat absorbing part air inlets 41A and 40C may be connected to the storage room.

[0182] An external suction hole 41A may be formed in the cooling module body 41 , and an internal suction hole 40C may be formed in the cooling module baffle 40 . The external suction hole 41A and the internal suction hole 40C may be an air inlet of a heat absorbing part.

[0183] The cold air in the storage room may be sucked into the heat absorption portion accommodating space S4 through the external suction hole 41A in the cooling module body 41 and through the internal suction hole 40C in the cooling module baffle 40 .

[0184] The cooling module 3 may be provided with outlets 40D and 41B through which the cold air blown from the evaporation fan 36 passes, thereby blowing the cold air into the drawer support 6. The outlets 40D and 41B of the cooling module 3 may be formed in the cooling module 3 in an area facing the storage chamber, especially facing the drawer support 6.

[0185] The cooling module baffle 40 may be formed with an inner discharge hole 40D, and the cooling module body 41 may be formed with an outer discharge hole 41B. The discharge port 37 of the evaporation fan 36 and the discharge ports 40D and 41B of the cooling module 3 may communicate with the suction port 67 of the drawer support 6.

[0186] The air blown from the evaporation fan 36 may pass through the internal discharge hole 40D of the cooling module baffle 40 and the external discharge hole 41B of the cooling module body 41 , and then be sucked into the suction port 67 of the drawer support 6 .

[0187] In addition, the heat absorbing part A may further include a heat absorbing part insulation member 39 for heat insulating the outside from the evaporator 34. The heat absorbing part insulation member 39 may be constructed on the inner surface of the cooling module body 41. The heat absorbing part insulation member 39 may be constructed on the cooling module baffle 40. In the case where the cooling module baffle 40 is a hexahedron, the heat absorbing part insulation member 39 may be constructed on at least one of the outer surface and the inner surface of the cooling module baffle 40.

[0188] The heat absorbing part insulation 39 may be an insulation part having higher insulation performance than the insulation part 19 of the main body 1. The thickness of the heat absorbing part insulation 39 may be smaller than the thickness of the insulation part 19 of the main body 1. The heat absorbing part insulation 39 may be composed of a vacuum insulation panel (VIP), and the insulation part 19 of the main body 1 may be a common insulation part such as polyurethane.

[0189] When the heat absorbing part insulation member 39 is a vacuum insulation panel (VacummInsulation Panel, VIP), the heat absorbing part accommodating space S4 can be maximized, so that the size of the evaporator 34 can be maximized and the cooling module 3 can be made maximally compact.

[0190] Hereinafter, the heat dissipation portion B will be described in detail.

[0191] The heat dissipation portion B is preferably arranged so that its length in the vertical direction Y, that is, its height is relatively low. The compressor 31 is preferably provided so that the overall height of the heat dissipation portion B is not high.

[0192] The piston 142 (see Figure 4 ) may be longer in a first direction of the movement direction of the piston 142 than in a second direction orthogonal to the movement direction of the piston 142. The compressor 31 may lie sideways and be arranged long in the horizontal direction. The compressor 31 may be arranged long in the left-right direction X or long in the front-back direction Y. The compressor 31 is not limited to being arranged long in the left-right direction X or the front-back direction Y, and may also be arranged long in an inclined direction that is inclined to the left-right direction X and the front-back direction Y, respectively.

[0193] When the compressor 31 is arranged long along the left-right direction X, the piston 142 can reciprocate along the left-right direction X. When the compressor 31 is arranged long along the front-back direction X, the piston 142 can reciprocate along the front-back direction Y. When the compressor 31 is arranged long along the inclined direction, the piston 142 can reciprocate along the inclined direction.

[0194] When the compressor 31 is arranged horizontally and lying sideways, Figure 8 and Fig. 9 As shown, the height H3 of the compressor 31 may be smaller than the horizontal length L5 of the compressor 31 .

[0195] The height H3 of the compressor 31 may be less than 0.8 times the horizontal length L5 of the compressor 31. The condenser 32 may be arranged long along the longitudinal direction of the compressor 31. The longitudinal direction of the condenser 32 may be the same as the longitudinal direction of the compressor 31. Figure 8 and Fig. 9, the horizontal length L7 of the condenser 32 may be greater than the vertical length L8 of the condenser 32 .

[0196] The length of the condenser 32 in the first direction may be greater than the length in the second direction.

[0197] When the piston 142 of the compressor 31 reciprocates along the left-right direction X, the left-right direction X length of the condenser 32 may be greater than the up-down direction Z length of the condenser 32 and the front-back direction Y length of the condenser 32 .

[0198] When the piston 142 of the compressor 31 reciprocates along the front-to-back direction Y, the front-to-back direction Y length of the condenser 32 may be greater than the up-down direction Z length of the condenser 32 and the left-right direction X length of the condenser 32 .

[0199] The condensing fan 35 may be disposed between the condenser 32 and the compressor 31. The condensing fan 35 may be disposed in front of the condenser 32, and the compressor 31 may be disposed in front of the condensing fan 35.

[0200] The condensing fan 35 may face the condenser 32 and the compressor 31 in the front-rear direction Y. The condensing fan 35 may be arranged long along the long direction of the compressor 31. The long direction of the condensing fan 35 and the long direction of the compressor 31 may be the same. The length of the condensing fan 35 in the first direction may be greater than the length in the second direction.

[0201] When the piston 142 of the compressor 31 reciprocates along the left-right direction X, the length of the condensing fan 35 in the left-right direction X may be respectively greater than the length of the condensing fan 35 in the up-down direction Z and the length of the condensing fan 35 in the front-back direction Y. In addition, when the piston 142 of the compressor 31 reciprocates along the front-back direction Y, the length of the condensing fan 35 in the front-back direction Y may be respectively greater than the length of the condensing fan 35 in the up-down direction Z and the length of the condenser 32 in the left-right direction X.

[0202] The cooling module 3 may be provided with air inlets 42 and 43 for drawing outside air into the heat dissipation portion B and an air outlet 44 for discharging air passing through the heat dissipation portion B. The air inlets 42 and 43 and the air outlet 44 may be formed in the cooling module body 41 .

[0203] The cooling module body 41 is provided with air inlets 42 and 43 for taking in external air into the heat dissipation portion B, and an air outlet 44 for discharging the air that has passed through the heat dissipation portion B to the outside of the cooling module 3 .

[0204] The rear body 49 and the side body 47 of the cooling module body 41 may surround the heat dissipation portion B.

[0205] The condenser 32 is preferably located before the compressor 31 in the flow direction of the air passing through the heat dissipation portion B. The condenser 32 is preferably arranged closer to the air inlets 42, 43 and the air outlet 44, and the compressor 31 is preferably arranged closer to the air outlet 44.

[0206] The air inlets 42, 43 may include a rear air inlet 42 formed in the rear body 49 and a side air inlet 43 formed in the side body 47. The air outlet 44 may be formed in the side body 47 in front of the side air inlet 43 and spaced apart from the side air inlet 43 in the front-rear direction.

[0207] The heat dissipation portion B may be arranged in a manner biased toward one side of the left and right sides of the cooling module 3, and the side air inlet 43 and the air outlet 44 may be formed only in one side body 47 of the pair of side bodies that is closer to the condenser 32, the condensing fan 35, and the compressor 31. In addition, the rear air inlet 42 may be formed only in a region of the rear body 49 that faces the condenser 32 in the front-rear direction Y.

[0208] In addition, refer to Figure 8 , the horizontal length L9 of the condensing fan 35 may be greater than the horizontal length L7 of the condenser 32 and the horizontal length L5 of the compressor 31 .

[0209] The condensing fan 35 may be arranged to be longer along the left-right direction X. The length of the condensing fan 35 in the left-right direction X may be greater than the left-right length of the condenser 32 and the left-right length of the compressor 31 .

[0210] The condensing fan 35 may include a pair of fan units 35A and 35B sequentially arranged along the first direction. The pair of fan units 35A and 35B may be sequentially arranged along the left-right length direction of the compressor 31 .

[0211] The condensing fan 35 may include a pair of fan units 35A and 35B disposed between the condenser 32 and the compressor 31. The fan units 35A and 35B may include: a shield for guiding external air; a motor provided on the shield; and a fan provided on the rotating shaft of the motor. The fans of the fan units 35A and 35B may be propeller fans.

[0212] The left-right direction X length of each of the pair of fan units 35A and 35B may be smaller than the left-right direction length of the condenser 32 and the left-right direction length of the compressor 31. However, the sum of the left-right direction length of one of the pair of fan units 35A and 35B and the left-right direction length of the other of the pair of fan units 35A and 35B may be larger than the left-right direction length of the condenser 32 and the left-right direction length of the compressor 31.

[0213] A pair of fan units 35A and 35B can be directed toward different areas of the condenser 32. After the external air exchanges heat with the condenser 32, it can be dispersed and sucked into the pair of fan units 35A and 35B. The air blown from the pair of fan units 35A and 35B can be blown toward the heat exchanger 31.

[0214] When the condensing fan 35 is composed of a large fan unit, its overall height is relatively high. On the other hand, when it is composed of a pair of fan units 35A and 35B as described in the present embodiment, the vertical length of the condensing fan 35, that is, the height of the condensing fan 35 can be relatively low. Compared with the case where a large fan unit of the cooling module 3 is used as the condensing fan 35, the height of the cooling module 3 can be lower and can be made compact.

[0215] As described above, the condensing fan 35 including the pair of fan units 35A and 35B may generate noise due to a beat phenomenon. In order to reduce such noise, the plurality of fan units 35A and 35B are preferably driven at the same rotation speed.

[0216] The pair of fan units 35A and 35B may be configured to adjust their respective air volumes. In this case, in order to reduce noise, it is preferable to detect the respective rotation speeds of the pair of fan units 35A and 35B and then control them to change their rotation speeds.

[0217] For example, as a result of detecting the respective rotation speeds of the pair of fan units 35A and 35B, when the rotation speeds of the first fan unit and the second fan unit are the same or the difference between them is within a set value, the first fan unit and the second fan unit can be controlled so as to maintain the respective rotation speeds of the first fan unit and the second fan unit. On the other hand, when the difference between the rotation speeds of the first fan unit and the second fan unit exceeds the set value, the first fan unit and the second fan unit can be controlled so as to adjust the rotation speed of at least one of the rotation speeds of the first fan unit and the second fan unit so as to make the respective rotation speeds the same or the difference between them is within the set value.

[0218] Next, the detailed structure of the drawer support 6 will be described.

[0219] The drawer support 6 may include: a pair of side bodies 71 , 72 facing the side surfaces of the top, bottom, back and sides of the storage chamber; and a front body 73 for connecting the front ends of the pair of side bodies 71 , 72 .

[0220] The inner passage 61 may be formed between the pair of side bodies 71, 72. The inner passage 61 may include: a vertical passage formed long along the up-down direction Z; and a plurality of horizontal passages branched from the vertical passage and formed long substantially along the front-rear direction Y.

[0221] The plurality of cold air outlets 62 , 63 may include a first side outlet 62 opened in one of the pair of side bodies 71 , 72 , and a second side outlet 63 opened in the other of the pair of side bodies 71 , 72 .

[0222] The first side outlet 62 may be a hole in one of the pair of side bodies 71, 72 that is open toward the left side of the storage chamber. A plurality of first side outlets 62 may be formed in one of the pair of side bodies 71, 72, and such a plurality of first side outlets 62 may be spaced approximately along the front-to-back direction along one of the pair of side bodies 71, 72. Furthermore, a plurality of first side outlets 62 may be spaced along the up-down direction. The first side outlet 62 may be formed into a group of holes spaced approximately along the front-to-back direction, and such a plurality of groups of holes may be spaced from each other in the up-down direction Z.

[0223] The second side outlet 63 may be a hole in the other of the pair of side bodies 71, 72 that is open toward the right side of the storage chamber. A plurality of second side outlets 63 may be formed in the other of the pair of side bodies 71, 72, and such a plurality of second side outlets 63 may be spaced approximately along the front-to-back direction along the other of the pair of side bodies 71, 72. In addition, a plurality of second side outlets 63 may be spaced along the up-down direction. The second side outlet 63 may be formed into a group of holes spaced approximately along the front-to-back direction, and such a plurality of groups of holes may be spaced from each other in the up-down direction Z.

[0224] That is, the plurality of first side outlets 62 and the plurality of second side outlets 63 may be uniformly arranged as a whole from the area close to the back of the storage chamber to the area close to the door 2. In addition, the plurality of first side outlets 62 and the plurality of second side outlets 63 may each form a plurality of groups in the up-down direction Z.

[0225] The plurality of first side outlets 62 and the plurality of second side outlets 63 may each be formed in a plurality of horizontal channels in the internal channel 61 .

[0226] The drawer support 6 may be recessed to form a cooling module receiving groove 66 for receiving a part of the cooling module 3 .

[0227] The drawer support 6 may be formed with a suction port 67, through which the air blown from the heat absorption part A flows into the internal passage 61. The suction port 67 may be formed in a manner that is connected to the heat absorption part accommodating space S4 formed in the cooling module 3. The suction port 67 may be open in the drawer support 6 along the up-down direction or the front-back direction. In the case where the suction port 67 is located above the heat absorption part accommodating space S4, the suction port 67 may be open in the up-down direction. In the case where the suction port 67 is located in front of the heat absorption part accommodating space S4, the suction port 67 may be open in the front-back direction.

[0228] The suction port 67, the internal passage 61, the first side outlet 62, and the second side outlet 63 may function as a cold air passage capable of dispersing the air blown from the heat absorption part A to the left and right in the center of the storage room.

[0229] Hereinafter, the effects of the present invention configured as described above will be described as follows.

[0230] For convenience of explanation, the freezing chamber F is a lower storage chamber located below the main body baffle 11, and the refrigerating chamber R is an upper storage chamber located above the main body baffle 11.

[0231] The cooling module 3 can be inserted into the cooling module accommodating space S1 at the rear or side of the body 1 and can be used in a state where it is installed in the body 1. When installed in the body 1, the cooling module 3 can operate in a state where the evaporation fan 36 is connected to the suction port 67 of the drawer support 6 and the heat absorption part air inlet 41A, 40C is connected to the storage room where the drawer support 6 is arranged.

[0232] When the compressor 31 is driven, the compressor 31 can compress the refrigerant, and the refrigerant compressed in the compressor 31 can be recovered to the compressor 31 after passing through the condenser 32, the expansion mechanism and the evaporator 34 in sequence. When the compressor 31 is driven as described above, the refrigerant may not flow into the body 1, but only flow inside the cooling module 3.

[0233] When the evaporation fan 36 is driven, cold air in the storage room where the drawer support 6 is disposed may be sucked into the heat absorption portion accommodating space S4 through the heat absorption portion air inlets 41A and 40C.

[0234] The cold air sucked into the heat absorption portion accommodating space S4 may flow along the evaporator 34 in a horizontal direction, and in the process, the heat may be taken away by the refrigerant passing through the evaporator 34 , and may be sucked into the evaporation fan 36 for blowing.

[0235] The cold air blown from the evaporating fan 36 can utilize the suction port 67 of the drawer support 6 to pass through the internal channel 61 which is the interior of the drawer support 6. The cold air in the internal channel 61 can be dispersed left and right to the first side outlet 62 and the second side outlet 63 which are open in opposite directions to each other. The cold air passing through the first side outlet 62 can be discharged in the left direction with the drawer support 6 as a reference, and the cold air passing through the second side outlet 63 can be discharged in the right direction with the drawer support 6 as a reference.

[0236] When the cold air is discharged as described above, one drawer support 6 can disperse the cold air in two directions, namely, the left space S11 of the drawer support 6 and the right space S12 of the drawer support 6. At the same time, when the cold air is discharged as described above, the drawer support 6 can evenly discharge the cold air in the entire range of the area close to the door 2 and the area far from the door 2 along the front-to-back direction.

[0237] The storage room provided with the drawer support 6 can be uniformly cooled along the front-rear direction thereof as a whole, and can uniformly cool the left space S11 and the right space S12, and thus can be uniformly cooled along the left-right direction thereof as a whole.

[0238] In the refrigerator of this embodiment, after the cold air formed in the storage room of the main body 1 moves to the heat absorption part accommodating space S4 of the cooling module 3 for cooling, it can be evenly dispersed and discharged along the up and down direction Z, the left and right direction X, and the front and back direction Y on both sides of the drawer support 6.

[0239] In addition, when the condensing fan 35 is driven, the air outside the refrigerator can be sucked into the cooling module 3 through the rear air inlet 42 and the side air inlet 43, and heat exchanged with the refrigerant in the process of passing through the condenser 32 so that the refrigerant dissipates heat, and then, it can be blown to the compressor 31 through a pair of fan units 35A and 35B. The external air blown to the compressor 31 can dissipate heat from the compressor 31, and then be discharged to the side of the body 1 through the air outlet 44.

[0240] In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments. The cooling module 3 may also include a pair of separated heat absorbing parts A, and the heat dissipation part B is located between such a pair of heat absorbing parts A. The air inlet 42, 43 and the air outlet 44 of the cooling module 3 may also be formed on the back side of the cooling module 3.

[0241] The above description is only an example of the technical concept of the present invention. A person skilled in the art in the technical field to which the present invention belongs may make various modifications and variations without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention.

[0242] Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are only for illustrating the technical concept of the present invention, and are not intended to limit it. The scope of the technical concept of the present invention is not limited by such embodiments.

[0243] The protection scope of the present invention should be interpreted by the attached claims, and should be interpreted as all technical ideas within the equivalent scope thereof belong to the right scope of the present invention.

[0244] Industrial Applicability

[0245] According to the embodiments of the present invention, a drawer support for supporting a drawer also has the function of a cold air discharge duct, thereby minimizing the number of components and maximizing the depth of the storage chamber in the front-rear direction, and thus has significant industrial applicability.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, in, include: a body defining a storage chamber and forming an opening portion for access to the storage chamber; A cooling module accommodating space is formed by being recessed from the outer surface of the body; A cooling module is arranged in the cooling module accommodating space and includes a cooling module body, a heat absorbing part, a heat dissipating part and a cooling module baffle, wherein the heat absorbing part is provided inside the cooling module body and includes an evaporator and an evaporation fan, the heat dissipating part is provided inside the cooling module body and includes a compressor, a condenser and a condensation fan, and the cooling module baffle separates the heat absorbing part and the heat dissipating part; a door disposed in front of the body to open or close the opening, the door overlapping the cooling module in a front-to-rear direction; a drawer support member disposed inside the storage chamber and comprising an internal passage through which the air exhausted from the heat absorbing portion passes and a cold air outlet, and the cold air outlet exhausts the air in the internal passage toward the storage chamber; as well as A drawer supported by the drawer support; The cooling module body includes a first body and a second body, the first body facing the storage chamber and including an outlet for discharging air passing through the heat absorption part and an air inlet for the heat absorption part for sucking air from the storage chamber, the second body connected to the first body along a frame of the first body, including an external air inlet and an external air outlet, the external air inlet sucking external air into the heat dissipation part, and the external air outlet discharging air from the heat dissipation part; The compressor is composed of a reciprocating compressor arranged horizontally in a shape in which the height in the vertical direction is smaller than the length in the horizontal direction; The reciprocating compressor comprises: motor; A piston connected to the motor and reciprocating; a cylinder, accommodating the piston to form a compression space; and A discharge valve, opening and closing the compression space; The cylinder is formed with a bearing hole for guiding a portion of the refrigerant compressed in the compression space to the outer peripheral surface of the piston, and the refrigerant functions as a gas bearing between the piston and the cylinder; The condenser and the evaporator are both arranged horizontally in such a way that the height in the vertical direction is smaller than the horizontal length, and the horizontal length of the evaporator is larger than the horizontal length of the condenser; The evaporation fan is disposed so as to overlap the evaporator in a vertical direction, and the condensation fan is disposed between the compressor and the condenser.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, in, The door has a length in the up-down direction that can cover from the lower end to the upper end of the body, and the cooling module is inserted from the rear side of the body and overlaps with the door in the front-rear direction.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, in, The cooling module accommodating space is formed by opening at least one of the two side surfaces and the back surface of the body, and the second body includes a pair of side bodies and a rear body of the cooling module body; The external air inlet and the external air outlet are formed on at least one of the side body and the rear body.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, in, The first body of the cooling module constitutes the upper body of the cooling module body; The outlet is arranged at the center of the upper body and overlaps with the drawer support in the up and down direction. The heat absorption part air inlet is arranged at a corner side of the upper body, which is located at the opposite side area of ​​the external air inlet and the external air outlet with the outlet as the center.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, in, The body includes a surface forming a space for accommodating the cooling module and a wall having a set height (H2) from a lower end of the body, and the height (H1) of the cooling module is greater than the set height (H2) of the wall based on the lower end of the body; A vertical height (H3) of the reciprocating compressor is smaller than a set height (H2) of the wall.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, in, The condensing fan includes a pair of fan units arranged in a transverse direction so as to have a transverse length longer than a transverse length of the condenser and a transverse length of the compressor; The condenser is configured to be closer to the external air inlet than the external air outlet, based on the condensing fan; The compressor is configured to be closer to the external air outlet than to the external air inlet, based on the condensing fan.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, in, The vertical height of the condensing fan is greater than the vertical height of the compressor and the vertical height of the condenser. The vertical height of the condenser is greater than the vertical height of the compressor.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 1, in, The drawer support extends in the up-down direction to partition the storage chamber in the left-right direction, and is overlapped with the center of the cooling module body to be connected to the discharge port; The cold air outlet is formed on the side wall of the drawer support, and the heat absorption part air inlet is arranged adjacent to the side corner of the cooling module body so that the air discharged from the cold air outlet flows into the heat absorption part air inlet.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 1, in, The outlet is provided in one piece on the cooling module body so that the air discharged from the heat absorbing part through the outlet flows into the drawer support; The surface of the drawer support member facing the cooling module body includes a suction port connected to one of the discharge ports.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 1, in, The drawer support extends in the up-down direction to divide the storage chamber in the left-right direction, and a plurality of cold air outlets are formed at intervals in the up-down direction of the drawer support; A first cool air outlet port at the uppermost end of the plurality of cool air outlet ports has a size larger than a second cool air outlet port located below the first cool air outlet port.