초록 ▼

Disclosed is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a body, a refrigerator door for opening/closing a front surface of the body, with the refrigerator door having an opening, an auxiliary door for opening/closing the opening of the refrigerator door, and a damping unit coupled to a hinge shaft of

Disclosed is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a body, a refrigerator door for opening/closing a front surface of the body, with the refrigerator door having an opening, an auxiliary door for opening/closing the opening of the refrigerator door, and a damping unit coupled to a hinge shaft of the auxiliary door to control an opening/closing speed of the auxiliary door. The damping unit includes a case, a rotating member rotatably installed in the case, oil filled in the case to apply resistance against rotation of the rotating member, a fixing member coupled to an end portion of a rotating shaft of the rotating member to rotate together with the rotating member, and an elastic member provided between the case and the fixing member to apply elastic force to the fixing member in a direction opposite to an opening direction of the auxiliary door. It is possible to stably rotate the auxiliary door while controlling the rotational speed of the auxiliary door.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A refrigerator comprising: a body;a refrigerator door for opening and closing a front surface of the body, the refrigerator door having an opening;an auxiliary door for opening and closing the opening of the refrigerator door; anda damping unit coupled to a hinge shaft of the auxiliary door to co

1. A refrigerator comprising: a body;a refrigerator door for opening and closing a front surface of the body, the refrigerator door having an opening;an auxiliary door for opening and closing the opening of the refrigerator door; anda damping unit coupled to a hinge shaft of the auxiliary door to control an opening and closing speed of the auxiliary door,wherein the damping unit includes a case with a hollow structure and an open upper portion, a case cover to cover the open upper portion of the case, a rotating member rotatably installed in the case, oil filled in the case to apply resistance against rotation of the rotating member, a fixing member coupled to an end portion of a rotating shaft, protruding out of the case cover, of the rotating member, to rotate together with the rotating member, and an elastic member provided between the case and the fixing member to apply elastic force to the fixing member in a direction opposite to an opening direction of the auxiliary door,wherein the elastic member includes a first lever section provided at a first end of the elastic member and directly fixed to the case or the case cover, and a second lever section provided at a second end of the elastic member and directly fixed to the fixing member. 2. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastic member includes a torsion spring having a body with an annular coil shape configured to surround the rotating shaft. 3. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fixing member is formed with a slot into which the second lever section is accommodated. 4. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 3, wherein the slot includes a guide section along which the second lever section slidably moves, and a stopper section for restricting movement of the second lever section. 5. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 3, wherein the slot is located at a predetermined position of the fixing member to apply torsional force to the torsion spring such that the auxiliary door is securely maintained in a closed position. 6. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hinge shaft is integrally formed with the rotating shaft. 7. A refrigerator comprising: a body;a refrigerator door for opening and closing a front surface of the body, the refrigerator door having an opening;an auxiliary door for opening and closing the opening of the refrigerator door; anda damping unit coupled to a hinge shaft of the auxiliary door to control an opening and closing speed of the auxiliary door,wherein the damping unit includes an oil damper having a case with a hollow structure and an open upper portion, a case cover to cover the open upper portion of the case, a rotating member rotatably installed in the case, and oil filled in the case to apply resistance against rotation of the rotating member, an engagement member coupled to a portion of the rotating member protruding out of the case cover, to rotate together with the rotating member, and an elastic member to apply elastic force to the engagement member in a direction opposite to an opening direction of the auxiliary door,wherein the elastic member has one end directly fixed to the case or case cover and an opposite end directly fixed to the engagement member. 8. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 7, wherein the engagement member includes a head section having a hinge hole into which the hinge shaft is inserted, a receiving section for receiving the elastic member, and a coupling section coupled to the rotating member. 9. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 8, wherein the elastic member includes a torsion spring, which surrounds the receiving section and the opposite end is fixed to the head section. 10. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 9, wherein the head section is formed with a slot into which the opposite end of the torsion spring is accommodated. 11. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 10, wherein the slot includes a guide section along which the opposite end of the torsion spring slidably moves, and a stopper section for restricting movement of the opposite end of the torsion spring. 12. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 10, wherein the slot is located at a predetermined position of the head section to apply torsional force to the torsion spring such that the auxiliary door is securely maintained in a closed position. 13. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 10, wherein the engagement member is integrally formed with the rotating member. 14. A damping unit for a door on a refrigerator comprising: a damper comprising:a case with a hollow structure and an open upper portion;a case cover to cover the open upper portion of the case, the case being filled with oil to provide resistance against rotation of a rotating member, wherein the rotating member comprises a rotating shaft and is rotatably installed in the case;a fixing member coupled to a portion of the rotating shaft protruding out of the case cover; andan elastic member between the fixing member and the case cover, to apply an elastic force to the fixing member in a direction opposite to a rotating direction of the fixing member,wherein the elastic member has a first lever section directly fixed to the case or case cover and a second lever section directly fixed to the fixing member. 15. The damping unit as claimed in claim 14, wherein the elastic member is a torsion spring. 16. The damping unit as claimed in claim 15, wherein the fixing member has a slot for fixing or guiding the second lever section of the torsion spring such that torsional force can be applied to the torsion spring according to the rotation direction of the fixing member. 17. The damping unit as claimed in claim 16, wherein a position of the slot formed in the fixing member is selected to adjust torsional force of the torsion spring. 18. The damping unit as claimed in claim 14, wherein the rotating shaft has an end portion protruding out of a perforation hole of the case cover. 19. The damping unit as claimed in claim 18, wherein the fixing member is formed with an insertion hole into which the end portion of the rotating shaft is inserted. 20. The damping unit as claimed in claim 19, wherein the insertion hole has a polygonal shape to allow the fixing member to rotate together with the rotating shaft.