Refrigerator equipped with apparatus for producing carbonated water
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B01F-003/04
F25D-023/12
출원번호
US-0189600
(2014-02-25)
등록번호
US-9421503
(2016-08-23)
우선권정보
KR-10-2013-0022345 (2013-02-28)
발명자
/ 주소
An, Jae Koog
Hwang, Kyung Ho
Park, Sang Min
출원인 / 주소
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
대리인 / 주소
Staas & Halsey LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
5
초록▼
A refrigerator is disclosed. The refrigerator includes a body, a carbonated water tank to produce carbonated water through mixing of clean water with carbon dioxide gas, a sensor unit inserted, at least a portion thereof, into the carbonated water tank, to sense an internal state of the carbonated w
A refrigerator is disclosed. The refrigerator includes a body, a carbonated water tank to produce carbonated water through mixing of clean water with carbon dioxide gas, a sensor unit inserted, at least a portion thereof, into the carbonated water tank, to sense an internal state of the carbonated water tank, and a holding unit disposed at one side of the carbonated water tank while holding the sensor unit in a fixed state. Through this configuration, it is possible to achieve easy coupling of the sensor unit and lines to the carbonated water tank while preventing water leakage even when the internal pressure of the carbonated water tank is high.
대표청구항▼
1. A refrigerator comprising: a body;a carbonated water tank provided at an interior of the body, to produce carbonated water through mixing of clean water with carbon dioxide gas;a sensor unit to sense an internal state of the carbonated water tank; anda holding unit seated on a top of the carbonat
1. A refrigerator comprising: a body;a carbonated water tank provided at an interior of the body, to produce carbonated water through mixing of clean water with carbon dioxide gas;a sensor unit to sense an internal state of the carbonated water tank; anda holding unit seated on a top of the carbonated water tank, to hold lines to guide the clean water, the carbon dioxide gas and the carbonated water to be introduced into and discharged from the carbonated water tank, and to hold the sensor unit,wherein the holding unit comprises a holding plate, to which the sensor unit is fixed, and a lattice-shaped reinforcement member provided at a lower surface of the holding plate. 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the holding unit has a cover shape to cover one side of the carbonated water tank. 3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the holding unit comprises: a plate support provided at a peripheral portion of the holding plate, to be supported by the carbonated water tank. 4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising: a gasket provided between the carbonated water tank and the holding unit such that the gasket contacts one side of the carbonated water tank, to prevent occurrence of water leakage from the carbonated water tank. 5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the carbonated water tank comprises a tank hole formed at one side of the carbonated water tank, to receive at least a portion of the sensor unit. 6. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the holding unit further comprises: a unit guide extending from a lower surface of the holding plate, to have a protruded shape, the unit guide having a hollow portion to guide the sensor unit. 7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein: the sensor unit comprises a water level sensor; andthe holding unit comprises a sensor seat to fix the water level sensor. 8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the water level sensor comprises a sensor flange provided at one end of the water level sensor, to be seated on the sensor seat. 9. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the water level sensor is fixed, at one end thereof, to the holding unit while being provided, at the other end thereof, with a water level sensing rod extending into the carbonated tank. 10. The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the water level sensing rod comprises: a ground rod to set a reference for sensing of a water level;a low water level sensing rod having a long length, to approach a bottom of the carbonated water tank so as to sense a low water level; anda high water level sensing rod having a shorter length than the low water level sensing rod, to approach the top of the carbonated water tank so as to sense a high water level. 11. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising: lines to guide the clean water, the carbon dioxide gas, and the carbonated water,wherein the holding unit comprises fitting tubes each fixed, at one end thereof, to the holding unit while communicating, at the other end thereof, with a corresponding one of the lines. 12. The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein the carbonated water tank is provided, at one side thereof, with line guides extending from the carbonated water tank, to have a protruded shape, each of the line guides having hollow portion to be coupled, at an end thereof, with one end of a corresponding one of the fitting tubes. 13. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising: a water tank to store the clean water; anda carbon dioxide gas cylinder stored with the carbon dioxide gas. 14. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit is threadedly coupled to the holding unit. 15. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the carbonated water tank is made of a stainless steel material. 16. A refrigerator comprising: a body;a storage chamber defined in the body while having an opened front side;a door to open or close the opened front side of the storage chamber;a water tank to store clean water;a carbonated water production module mounted to a back surface of the door, the carbonated water production module comprising a carbon dioxide gas cylinder stored with carbon dioxide gas, and a carbonated water tank to produce carbonated water through mixing of the clean water with the carbon dioxide gas;a sensor unit to sense an internal state of the carbonated water tank; anda holding unit disposed at one side of the carbonated water tank while holding the sensor unit and lines to guide the clean water and the carbon dioxide gas in a fixed state. 17. The refrigerator according to claim 16, further comprising: a gasket provided between the carbonated water tank and the holding unit such that the gasket contacts one side of the carbonated water tank, to prevent leakage of the carbonated water. 18. The refrigerator according to claim 16, wherein the sensor unit comprises at least one of: a water level sensor to sense a water level of the carbonated water tank;a relief valve to adjust an excessive internal pressure of the carbonated water tank; anda temperature sensor to sense a temperature of the carbonated water in the carbonated water tank. 19. A refrigerator comprising: a body;a storage chamber defined in the body while having an opened front side;a door to open or close the opened front side of the storage chamber; anda carbonated water production module mounted to a back surface of the door, to produce carbonated water,wherein the carbonated water production module comprises: a carbon dioxide gas cylinder stored with carbon dioxide gas,a carbonated water tank to produce and store carbonated water, anda holding unit disposed at one side of the carbonated water tank while being inserted, at least a portion thereof, into the carbonated water tank, to hold at least one sensor unit in a fixed state. 20. The refrigerator according to claim 19, further comprising: a gasket provided between the carbonated water tank and the holding unit such that the gasket contacts one side of the carbonated water tank, to prevent occurrence of water leakage from the carbonated water tank. 21. A refrigerator comprising: a body;a storage chamber defined in the body while having an opened front side;a door to open or close the opened front side of the storage chamber; anda carbonated water production module mounted to a back surface of the door, to produce carbonated water,wherein the carbonated water production module comprises: a carbon dioxide gas cylinder stored with carbon dioxide gas,a carbonated water tank to produce carbonated water through mixing of clean water with the carbon dioxide gas, and to store the produced carbonated water,lines to guide the clean water, the carbon dioxide gas and the carbonated water to be introduced into and discharged from the carbonated water tank, anda holding unit coupled to a top of the carbonated water tank, to hold the lines in a fixed state, the lines extending through the holding unit. 22. The refrigerator according to claim 21, further comprising: a sensor unit to sense an internal state of the carbonated water tank,wherein the sensor unit is held by the holding unit, and has at least a portion extending into the carbonated water tank. 23. The refrigerator according to claim 21, further comprising: a gasket provided between the carbonated water tank and the holding unit such that the gasket contacts one side of the carbonated water tank, to prevent occurrence of water leakage from the carbonated water tank. 24. A refrigerator comprising: a body;a carbonated water tank provided at an interior of the body, to produce carbonated water through mixing of clean water with carbon dioxide gas;a gas regulator to reduce a pressure of the supplied carbon dioxide from a carbon dioxide gas cylinder to the carbonated water tank;a sensor unit to sense an internal state of the carbonated water tank;a holding unit seated on a top of the carbonated water tank, to hold lines to guide the clean water, the carbon dioxide gas and the carbonated water to be introduced into and discharged from the carbonated water tank, and to hold the sensor unit; anda safety device comprising a cylinder connector to be coupled to one side of the carbon dioxide gas cylinder, the safety device being pivotable to selectively move in an extension or retraction direction such that the carbon dioxide gas cylinder and the gas regulator selectively come into contact with each other. 25. The refrigerator according to claim 24, wherein the sensing unit further comprises a relief valve to relieve a pressure of the carbonate water tank if the pressure within the carbonated water tank is too high.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (5)
Kazuma Yasuo,JPX, Apparatus and method for manufacturing carbonated water.
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