Refrigerator having pressure equilibrium apparatus

Abstract

A refrigerator having a pressure equilibrium apparatus, including a through hole formed through a main body for communicating a refrigerating space of the main body with the outside therethrough, a case inserted into the through hole and provided with opened upper and lower surfaces, and a switching unit, installed in the case and rotated by its own weight to open and close the case, for achieving pressure equilibrium between the refrigerating space and the outside of the main body.

1 . A refrigerator having a pressure equilibrium apparatus, comprising: 
 a through hole formed through a main body for communicating a refrigerating space of the main body with the outside therethrough;    a case inserted into the through hole and provided with opened upper and lower surfaces; and    a switching unit, installed in the case and rotated by its own weight to open and close the case, for achieving pressure equilibrium between the refrigerating space and the outside of the main body.    
   
   
       2 . The refrigerator as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the switching unit includes: 
 a hinge body hinged to the case such that both ends of the hinge body contact the inner surface of the case;    a sealing protrusion horizontally extended from one side of the hinge body so that one portion of the inside of the case is sealed by the sealing protrusion; and    a weight body horizontally extended from the other side of the hinge body so that the other portion of the inside of the case is sealed by the weight body.    
   
   
       3 . The refrigerator as set forth in  claim 2 , 
 wherein an upper protrusion is formed on the inner surface of the case so as to contact the upper surface of the sealing protrusion, and a lower protrusion is formed on the inner surface of the case so as to contact the lower surface of the weight body.    
   
   
       4 . The refrigerator as set forth in  claim 2 , 
 wherein a cavity is formed in the upper surface of the weight body, and a counterweight made of metal is inserted into the cavity.    
   
   
       5 . The refrigerator as set forth in  claim 3 , 
 wherein a cavity is formed in the upper surface of the weight body, and a counterweight made of metal is inserted into the cavity.    
   
   
       6 . The refrigerator as set forth in  claim 1 , 
 wherein a cover is attached to the outer surface of the main body corresponding to the through hole, and a filter net is installed on the cover.    
   
   
       7 . The refrigerator as set forth in  claim 2 , 
 wherein a cover is attached to the outer surface of the main body corresponding to the through hole, and a filter net is installed on the cover.    
   
   
       8 . The refrigerator as set forth in  claim 3 , 
 wherein a cover is attached to the outer surface of the main body corresponding to the through hole, and a filter net is installed on the cover.    
   
   
       9 . The refrigerator as set forth in  claim 4 , 
 wherein a cover is attached to the outer surface of the main body corresponding to the through hole, and a filter net is installed on the cover.    
   
   
       10 . The refrigerator as set forth in  claim 1 , 
 wherein a flange is formed on the circumference of the upper end of the case so that the case is caught by the outer surface of the main body around the periphery of the through hole.    
   
   
       11 . The refrigerator as set forth in  claim 2 , 
 wherein a flange is formed on the circumference of the upper end of the case so that the case is caught by the outer surface of the main body around the periphery of the through hole.    
   
   
       12 . The refrigerator as set forth in  claim 3 , 
 wherein a flange is formed on the circumference of the upper end of the case so that the case is caught by the outer surface of the main body around the periphery of the through hole.    
   
   
       13 . The refrigerator as set forth in  claim 6 , 
 wherein a flange is formed on the circumference of the upper end of the case so that the case is caught by the outer surface of the main body around the periphery of the through hole.    
   
   
       14 . The refrigerator as set forth in  claim 2 , 
 wherein the transverse length of the sealing protrusion is longer than that of the weight body.    
   
   
       15 . The refrigerator as set forth in  claim 3 , 
 wherein the transverse length of the sealing protrusion is longer than that of the weight body.    
   
   
       16 . The refrigerator as set forth in  claim 4 , 
 wherein the transverse length of the sealing protrusion is longer than that of the weight body.    
   
   
       17 . The refrigerator as set forth in  claim 1 , 
 wherein the through hole is placed above a bucket of an evaporator installed in the main body.    
   
   
       18 . The refrigerator as set forth in  claim 2 , 
 wherein the through hole is placed above a bucket of an evaporator installed in the main body.    
   
   
       19 . The refrigerator as set forth in  claim 16 , 
 wherein the through hole is placed above a bucket of an evaporator installed in the main body.