Ice making system and method for ice making of refrigerator

Abstract

The present invention is characterized in that a refrigerant pipe through which low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant flows is directly provided in a tray, that fast icing is possible even an ice maker is installed at a refrigerating chamber, and that transparent ice can be formed.

1 . An ice making system of a refrigerator, comprising:
 a compressor compressing a refrigerant;   a condenser through which the refrigerant passing the compressor flows;   an expansion valve in which the refrigerant passing the condenser is expanded into a low temperature and low pressure state;   a tray in which potable water for ice-making is stored, an inside of the tray being partitioned into a plurality of spaces;   an ejector separating ice made in the tray;   an ice making pipe branched from an outlet side of the expansion valve and buried in the tray; and   a heat-generating element buried in the tray.   
   
   
       2 . The ice making system of the refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the ice making pipe and the heat-generating element are bent several times and arranged in a parallel direction or an intersecting direction with respect to a rotation shaft of the ejector. 
   
   
       3 . The ice making system of the refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant expanded to a low temperature and a low pressure flows into the ice making pipe during the ice making process,
 the heat-generating element is activated, and an inner-circumference surface of the tray is heated during the ice separation process.   
   
   
       4 . The ice making system of the refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the tray is provided in a refrigerating chamber. 
   
   
       5 . The ice making system of the refrigerator according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a container installed at a rear of a door of the refrigerating chamber, in which ice separated from the tray is dropped and stored.   
   
   
       6 . The ice making system of the refrigerator according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a freezing chamber provided below the refrigerating chamber;   an evaporator installed at a rear of the freezing chamber; and   a cold air duct extended along a rear of the refrigerating chamber and a ceiling in order to directly supply cold air supplied from the evaporator into the container.   
   
   
       7 . The ice making system of the refrigerator according to  claim 4 , wherein the tray is exposed to cold air of the refrigerating chamber. 
   
   
       8 . An ice making system of a refrigerator, comprising:
 a compressor compressing a refrigerant;   a condenser through which the refrigerant passing the compressor flows;   an expansion valve in which the refrigerant passing the condenser is expanded into a low temperature and a low pressure state;   a tray partitioned into a plurality of ice making spaces and generating heat on its own by a current supply during ice separation;   an ejector separating ice made in the tray; and   an ice making pipe branched from an outlet side of the expansion valve and buried in the tray.   
   
   
       9 . The ice making system of the refrigerator according to  claim 8 , wherein the tray is provided in a refrigerating chamber. 
   
   
       10 . The ice making system of the refrigerator according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a container installed at a rear of a door of the refrigerating chamber, in which ice separated from the tray is dropped and stored.   
   
   
       11 . The ice making system of the refrigerator according to  claim 9 , wherein the tray is exposed to cold air of the refrigerating chamber. 
   
   
       12 . The ice making system of the refrigerator according to  claim 8 , wherein the tray is an injection moulding including conductive materials. 
   
   
       13 . The ice making system of the refrigerator according to  claim 8 , wherein the ice making pipe is bent several times and arranged in a parallel direction or an intersecting direction with respect to a rotation shaft of the ejector. 
   
   
       14 . An ice making system of a refrigerator, comprising:
 a compressor compressing a refrigerant;   a condenser through which the refrigerant passing the compressor flows;   an expansion valve in which the refrigerant passing the condenser is expanded into a low temperature and low pressure state;   a tray in which poatable water for ice-making is stored and generating heat on its own by a current supply during ice separation process; and   an ice making pipe branched from an outlet side of the expansion valve and extended into an inner space of the tray, and at least some of the ice making pipe are immersed in the water stored in the tray.   
   
   
       15 . The ice making system of the refrigerator according to  claim 14 , wherein low-temperature refrigerant flows into the ice making pipe during the ice making process,
 high-temperature refrigerant flows into the ice making pipe during the ice separation process.   
   
   
       16 . The ice making system of the refrigerator according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 an ice separation pipe branched from an outlet side of the compressor or the condenser and extended to an inlet side of the ice making pipe, and allowing high-temperature refrigerant to flow into the ice making pipe during the ice separation process; and   a return pipe branched from an outlet side of the ice making pipe and connected to an outlet side of the compressor or the condenser, through which high-temperature refrigerant flows during the ice separation process.   
   
   
       17 . The ice making system of the refrigerator according to  claim 14 , wherein the tray is rotated after self-generating heat. 
   
   
       18 . The ice making system of the refrigerator according to  claim 14 , wherein the tray is provided in a refrigerating chamber. 
   
   
       19 . The ice making system of the refrigerator according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a container installed at a rear of a door of the refrigerating chamber, in which ice separated from the tray is dropped and stored.   
   
   
       20 . The ice making system of the refrigerator according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a freezing chamber provided below the refrigerating chamber;   an evaporator installed at a rear of the freezing chamber; and   a cold air duct extended along a rear of the refrigerating chamber and a ceiling in order to directly supply cold air supplied from the evaporator into the container.   
   
   
       21 . An ice making system of a refrigerator including:
 a compressor compressing a refrigerant;   a condenser through which the refrigerant passing the compressor flows;   an expansion valve in which the refrigerant passing the condenser is expanded into a low-temperature and low-pressure state;   a tray in which potable water for ice-making is stored and generating heat on its own by a current supply during a ice separation process;   an ice making pipe branched from an outlet side of the expansion valve and extended into an inner space of the tray, and at least some of the ice making pipe are immersed in the water stored in the tray; and   a heat-generating element attached to a surface of the ice making pipe.   
   
   
       22 . The ice making system of the refrigerator according to  claim 21 , wherein the tray is rotated after self-generating heat. 
   
   
       23 . The ice making system of the refrigerator according to  claim 21 , wherein low-temperature refrigerant flows into the ice making pipe during an ice making process,
 ice is separated from the ice making pipe due to the activation of the heat-generating element during the ice separation process.   
   
   
       24 . The ice making system of the refrigerator according to  claim 21 , wherein the tray is provided in the refrigerating chamber. 
   
   
       25 . The ice making system of the refrigerator according to  claim 24 , further comprising:
 a container installed at a rear of a door of the refrigerating chamber, in which ice separated from the tray is dropped and stored.   
   
   
       26 . The ice making system of the refrigerator according to  claim 24 , further comprising:
 a freezing chamber provided below the refrigerating chamber;   an evaporator installed at a rear of the freezing chamber; and   a cold air duct extended along a rear of the refrigerating chamber and a ceiling in order to directly supply cold air supplied from the evaporator into the container.   
   
   
       27 . The ice making system of the refrigerator according to  claim 21 , wherein the heat-generating element includes a heater generating heat as the current is applied thereto. 
   
   
       28 . A method for ice making of a refrigerator, comprising the steps of:
 immersing some of an ice making pipe in the water, as the water is stored in an inner space of a tray where the ice making pipe is accommodated;   forming ice on the surface of the ice making pipe, as low-temperature refrigerant flows into the ice making pipe;   separating ice from a surface of the tray in order to move the ice;   rotating the tray; and   separating ice from the ice making pipe.   
   
   
       29 . The method for ice making of the refrigerator according to  claim 28 , wherein ice moving starts after completely converting water supplied to the tray into ice. 
   
   
       30 . The method for ice making of the refrigerator according to  claim 28 , wherein in the step of separating ice from a surface of the tray, the tray self-generates heat as current is applied thereto. 
   
   
       31 . The method for ice making of the refrigerator according to  claim 28 , wherein in the step of separating ice from the ice making pipe, high-temperature refrigerant flows into the ice making pipe. 
   
   
       32 . The method for ice making of the refrigerator according to  claim 28 , wherein in the step of separating ice from the ice making pipe, a heat-generating element attached to a surface of the ice making pipe is heated.