Drain device and refrigerator having the same

Abstract

Disclosed are a drain device and a refrigerator having the same, wherein a drain pipe is formed to have a single passage, an extension portion is disposed in the middle of the passage, and a drain valve opened and closed by defrosted water or am air pressure difference is provided in the extension portion, resulting in simplification of a structure of the drain device, reduction of a fabricating cost, and facilitation of an installation even in a small space.

1 . A drain device comprising:
 a drain pipe having openings at both sides thereof so as to have a single passage in a longitudinal direction; and   a valve member movably inserted in the drain pipe and configured to selectively open and close the passage of the drain pipe, wherein an extension portion is formed by extending in a radial direction in the middle of the passage of the drain pipe, and the extension portion is formed to be greater than a diameter of the valve member such that the passage is open when the valve member moves in the radial direction of the passage.   
     
     
         2 . The drain device of  claim 1 , wherein the drain pipe is configured such that centers of both the opening are formed on different axes based upon the extension portion. 
     
     
         3 . The drain device of  claim 1 , wherein the drain pipe is configured such that inner diameters of both the opening are different based upon the extension portion. 
     
     
         4 . The drain device of  claim 1 , wherein a guide is protruded from an inner circumferential surface of the passage to be inclined downwardly. 
     
     
         5 . The drain device of  claim 1 , wherein the extension portion is configured such that an extended length thereof is different in a circumferential direction. 
     
     
         6 . The drain device of  claim 1 , wherein the extension portion is configured such that an extended inclination angle is different in a circumferential direction. 
     
     
         7 . The drain device of  claim 1 , wherein the extension portion is configured such that a start height thereof is different in a circumferential direction. 
     
     
         8 . The drain device of  claim 1 , wherein the valve member is formed in a shape of a ball. 
     
     
         9 . A drain device comprising:
 a drain pipe provided with first and second passages in a longitudinal direction, both ends of each passage being open, and an extension portion present between the first passage and the second passage, the extension portion extending greater than a diameter of the second passage; and   a valve member inserted into the extension valve to selectively open and close the second passage, wherein a center in an axial direction of the first passage and that of the second passage have a preset interval therebetween.   
     
     
         10 . The drain device of  claim 9 , wherein an inner diameter of the first passage is different from an inner diameter of the second passage. 
     
     
         11 . The drain device of  claim 10 , wherein the inner diameter of the first passage is greater than the inner diameter of the second passage. 
     
     
         12 . The drain device of  claim 9 , wherein a guide for preventing separation of the valve member is formed between the first passage and the extension portion to be inclined downwardly. 
     
     
         13 . The drain device of  claim 9 , wherein the extension portion is configured such that a length extended from the second passage is different in a circumferential direction. 
     
     
         14 . The drain device of  claim 9 , wherein the extension portion is configured such that a inclination angle extended from the second passage is different in a circumferential direction. 
     
     
         15 . The drain device of  claim 9 , wherein the extension portion is configured such that a height at an extension-started point from the second passage is different in a circumferential direction. 
     
     
         16 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a refrigerator main body having at least one storage chamber for keeping foods;   an evaporator disposed in the refrigerator main body to generate cold air;   a discharge unit disposed below the evaporator to urge defrosted water generated from the evaporator discharged out; and   a drain device disposed at the discharge unit and configured to discharge the defrosted water generated from the evaporator and guide external air into the storage chamber of the refrigerator main body, wherein the drain device is configured according to  claim 1 .