Defrosted water treatment structure for refrigerator

Abstract

A condensed water and defrosted water treatment structure for use in a refrigerator is provided. One drain hose can be employed regardless of the number of evaporators, thereby obtaining a cost-down effect in manufacturing refrigerators. In addition, an inflow of ambient air into an evaporator through a drain hose can he prevented.

1 . A defrosted water treatment structure for use in a refrigerator, comprising:
 a plurality of drain tubes extended from a ceiling of machine room, through which the water generated on an outer surface of an evaporator flows;   a drain hose having an inlet portion into which the plurality of drain tubes are inserted and combined; and   a drain pan provided on a bottom of the machine room, in order to gather the water dropped out of the drain hose.   
     
     
         2 . The structure according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of an outer circumference face of each drain tube in close contact with an inner circumference face of the inlet portion. 
     
     
         3 . The structure according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a latch part protruded on the inner circumference face of the inlet portion; and   a protrusion part protruded on an outer circumference face of the drain tube.   
     
     
         4 . The structure according to  claim 3 , wherein the latch part is formed on a portion of the inner circumference face of the inlet portion or formed in an annular shape on the inner circumference face of the inlet portion. 
     
     
         5 . The structure according to  claim 3 , wherein the protrusion part is surrounded in an annular shape on an outer circumference face of the drain tube, or formed on a portion of the outer circumference face of the drain tube. 
     
     
         6 . The structure according to  claim 3 , wherein the drain hose is configured to be fixedly coupled to the drain tube by a movement of the latch part along the surface of the protrusion part to be latched by the protrusion part. 
     
     
         7 . The structure according to  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the latch part and the protrusion part is slanted such that the sectional area becomes narrower toward an end part thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The structure according to  claim 1 , further comprising a ledge for preventing ambient air from being introduced into the drain tube provided in an inner portion of the inlet portion. 
     
     
         9 . The structure according to  claim 8 , wherein the ledge is provided as many as the drain tube. 
     
     
         10 . The structure according to  claim 8 , wherein the ledge is configured as a shape of plate, and the edge portions except the upper edge portion of the ledge contact to the inner surface of the inlet portion. 
     
     
         11 . The structure according to  claim 8 , wherein the ledge has a tubular shape with a predetermined diameter. 
     
     
         12 . the structure according to  claim 8 , wherein an upper end of the ledge is higher than a lower end of the drain tube, and is lower than an upper end of the inlet portion.