REFRIGERATOR

• US 20150300722A1
• Filed: 06/26/2015
• Published: 10/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: LIM, Jae Hoon, AN, Jae Koog, CHAE, Jong Eun, PARK, Sang Min
• Granted Patent: US 9,360,239 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/302 having inlet or outlet ports
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/4015 Bayonet connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/4023 Means for connecting filter housings to supports
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/02 Filters adapted for location in special places, e.g. pipe-lines, pumps, stop-cocks, B01D35/05 takes precedence; water pipe system filters E03B3/18, E03B7/07; dirt catchers in sewers E03F; filters or strainers for pipe-lines in general B08B, E03F; object or dirt catching devices in sinks or the like E03C1/26; suction strainers or filters for pumps F04B53/005, F04D29/70
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/027 rigidly mounted in or on tanks or reservoirs B01D35/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/30 Filter housing constructions
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/001 Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2307/12 as part of household appliances such as dishwashers, laundry washing machines or vacuum cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 11/00 Compression machines, plants or systems, using turbines, e.g. gas turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 11/00 Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/021 Sliding doors
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/126 Water cooler
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/121 the refrigerator is characterised by a water filter for the water/ice dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/122 the refrigerator is characterised by a water tank for the water/ice dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 25/025 Drawers
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 31/002 Liquid coolers, e.g. beverage cooler receptacle coolers F25D31/006

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a refrigerator. In the refrigerator, a water purifying unit including a filter unit to purify water supplied from a water supply source is arranged adjacent to a drawer type storage container in an otherwise useless space of a storage compartment.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, comprising:

a water tank to store water purified by a filter while the filter is provided to purify water from a water supply source; and

a valve assembly to be coupled to the water tank through a connecting portion having a part arranged in a direction different from a longitudinal axis of the water tank, the valve assembly being configured to be couplable to the filter and the valve assembly controlling movement of water to the water tank; and

wherein a space is arranged inside the refrigerator to accommodate the water tank, the valve assembly, and the filter while the filter is coupled to the valve assembly,

wherein and the water tank is configured to be horizontally extended along the filter while the filter is coupled to the valve assembly, the water tank is configured to be vertically arranged with respect to the filter while the filter is coupled to the valve assembly, and the water tank is parallel to the filter within the space while the filter is coupled to the valve assembly,

wherein the valve assembly is directly couplable to the water tank.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising;

a holding member provided to the valve assembly and arranged to support at least a part of the filter while the filter is coupled to the valve assembly.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the water tank is positioned above the filter.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein filter and the water tank have cylindrical cross sections.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein an outlet of the valve assembly and an inlet of the water tank are connected by a connector line that includes a vertical portion.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the valve assembly comprises:

a housing having a inlet and a outlet,

a head arranged to be movable within the housing, and

wherein the head is configured to open a first water path between the inlet and the outlet by linearly moving without rotation from a first position to a second position within the housing and open a second water path between the inlet and the outlet through the filter by linearly moving without rotation from the second position to the first position within the housing.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the valve assembly is in a filter mode when the head is in the first position, and the valve assembly is in a bypass mode when the head is in the second position.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 7, the filter including at least one coupling protrusion to directly be coupled to the head, while the filter is coupled to the valve assembly.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the space accommodating the water tank, the valve assembly and the filter while the filter is coupled to the valve assembly is provided in a refrigerated portion.

3. (canceled)