Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator which includes a discharge part having a drain pipe to receive defrost water from an evaporator and to discharge the defrost water, and a drain valve coupled with the drain pipe, to discharge the defrost water and selectively permit or intercept inflow of the external air. The drain valve includes a connection part to connect the discharge part, a valve body having a defrost water flowing hole communicating with the discharge part along a moving direction of the defrost water, and an air flowing port communicating with the defrost water flowing hole traversely to the moving direction of the defrost water, a backflow preventing part coupled with the valve body, to discharge the defrost water to the outside and intercept flowing of external air, and an open/close member having a passing hole communicating with the defrost water flowing hole along the moving direction of the defrost water.

1 . A refrigerator comprising a refrigerator body having at least one storage compartment and an evaporator to generate cool air to be supplied into the storage compartments, the refrigerator comprising: 
 a discharge part comprising a drain pipe to receive defrost water from the evaporator and to discharge the defrost water; and    a drain valve coupled with a terminal of the drain pipe, to discharge the defrost water and to selectively permit or to intercept inflow of external air.    
   
   
       2 . A refrigerator comprising a refrigerator body having at least one storage compartment and an evaporator to generate cool air to be supplied into the storage compartments, the refrigerator comprising: 
 a discharge part having a drain pipe to receive defrost water from the evaporator and to discharge the defrost water; and    a drain valve coupled with a terminal of the drain pipe, to discharge the defrost water and to selectively permit or to intercept inflow of external air,    wherein the drain valve comprises: 
 a connection part to connect the discharge part to the drain valve,  
 a valve body having a defrost water flowing hole communicating with the discharge part along a moving direction of the defrost water, and an air flowing port communicating with the defrost water flowing hole traversely to a moving direction of the defrost water, which is coupled with the connection part,  
 a backflow preventing part coupled with the valve body to thereby communicate, to discharge the defrost water to an outside and to intercept flowing of the external air, and  
 an open/close member comprising a passing hole communicating with the defrost water flowing hole along the moving direction of the defrost water, provided inside the valve body so as to be elevatable between the connection part and the backflow preventing part.  
   
   
   
       3 . The refrigerator according to  claim 2 , wherein the open/close member comprises: 
 a main body including the passing hole; and    a flange part formed on at least one terminal region of the main body.    
   
   
       4 . The refrigerator according to  claim 3 , wherein the valve body further comprises a support part, the support part being engaged with the flange part at a closed state wherein the open/close member closes the air flowing port, to thereby support the open/close member.  
   
   
       5 . The refrigerator according to any  claim 2 , wherein the backflow preventing part comprises a cut part, the cut part being opened by a weight of the defrost water which flows into the backflow preventing part.  
   
   
       6 . The refrigerator according to  claim 5 , wherein the backflow preventing part is shaped with a funnel in section.  
   
   
       7 . The refrigerator according to  claim 6 , wherein the air flowing port penetrates along a circumferential direction of the valve body so as to communicate with the defrost water flowing hole.  
   
   
       8 . The refrigerator according to  claim 2 , wherein the discharge part comprises: 
 a drain receiving part to receive the defrost water from the evaporator, and comprising a drain port; and    a drain pipe, one side of which is connected with the discharge part and the other side of which is connected to the drain valve, to thereby guide the defrost water from the drain receiving part to the drain valve.    
   
   
       9 . A refrigerator comprising at least one storage compartment, a refrigerator body having a component compartment to receive therein a variety of components, at least one doors to open and close the storage compartment, and an evaporator provided in a rear of the storage compartment, to generate cool air to be supplied into the storage compartment, comprising: 
 a drain receiving part to collect defrost water from the evaporator generated when the evaporator is defrosted;    a drain pipe to discharge the defrost water collected in the drain receiving part to the component compartment; and    a drain valve coupled with a terminal of the drain pipe in a lengthwise direction of the drain pipe, to selectively permit or to intercept flowing of internal air of the component compartment perpendicular to a discharge direction of the defrost water.    
   
   
       10 . The refrigerator according to  claim 9 , wherein the drain valve comprises: 
 a connection part to connect the drain valve with the drain pipe;    a valve body coupled with the connection part, and comprising a defrost water flowing hole communicating with the drain pipe along a moving direction of the defrost water and an air flowing port communicating with the defrost water flowing hole perpendicular to the discharge direction of the defrost water;    a backflow preventing part coupled with the valve body to communicate, to discharge the defrost water to an outside and to intercept external air from flowing thereinto; and    an open/close member provided inside the valve body so as to be elevatable between the connection part and the backflow preventing part, and comprising a passing hole communicating with the defrost water flowing hole along the discharge direction of the defrost water.    
   
   
       11 . The refrigerator according to  claim 10 , wherein the open/close member comprises: 
 a main body including the passing hole; and    a flange part formed on at least one terminal region of the main body.    
   
   
       12 . The refrigerator according to  claim 11 , Wherein the valve body further comprises a support part, the support part being engaged with the flange part when the open/close member closes the air flowing port, to thereby support the open/close member.  
   
   
       13 . The refrigerator according to  claim 10 , wherein the backflow preventing part comprises a cut part, the cut part being opened by a weight of the defrost water which flows into the backflow preventing part.  
   
   
       14 . A refrigerator comprising at least one storage compartment, a refrigerator body having a component compartment to receive therein a variety of components, at least one door to open and close the storage compartment, and an evaporator provided in a rear of the storage compartment, to generate cool air to be supplied into the storage compartment, comprising: 
 a drain pipe to discharge the defrost water collected in the drain receiving part to the component compartment; and    a drain valve provided in a terminal of the drain pipe, and comprising: 
 an air flowing port to flow air transversely to a discharge direction of the defrost water,  
 an open/close member elevatably provided, to thereby open and close the air flowing port, and to pass the defrost water when the air flowing port is closed, and  
 a backflow preventing part disposed in the lower side of the open/close member, to discharge the defrost water due to the self weight thereof, and intercept inflow of external air.  
   
   
   
       15 . The refrigerator according to  claim 14 , wherein the open/close member comprises: 
 a main body comprising a passing hole through which the defrost water passes; and    a flange part formed on at least one terminal region of the main body.    
   
   
       16 . The refrigerator according to  claim 15 , wherein the drain valve further comprises: 
 a valve body elevatably accommodating the open/close member, and including the air flowing port along a circumferential direction thereof, and    a defrost water flowing hole communicating with the passing hole internally along the discharge direction of the defrost water so that the defrost water can pass therethrough.    
   
   
       17 . The refrigerator according to  claim 14 , wherein the backflow preventing part comprises a cut part, the cut part being opened by a weight of the defrost water which flows into the backflow preventing part.