Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator includes an ice maker in a freezer and a water supply apparatus in a refrigerator chamber. The water supply apparatus is at a higher position than that of the ice maker and supplies water to the ice maker. The water supply apparatus includes a water tank configured to store water for making ice, a motor at one side of the water tank, a gear or other mechanism engaged with a driving shaft of the motor, and a second shaft connected to the gear, configured to open and close a water supply passage or hole in the water tank.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 an ice maker in a freezer; and   a water supply apparatus in a refrigerator chamber at a higher position than that of the ice maker, configured to supply water to the ice maker.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the water supply apparatus comprises:
 a water tank configured to store water;   a motor at one side of the water tank;   a gear engaged with a driving shaft of the motor; and   a second shaft connected to the gear, configured to open and close a water supply passage or hole in the water tank.   
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising a stopper at one end of the shaft, configured to block or stop the water supply hole at one end of the shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein the shaft is angled or curved in one direction. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the water supply apparatus further comprises a timer configured to set an operation time of the motor. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 5 , wherein when the time set in the timer elapses, a rotation direction of the motor changes to close the water supply passage or hole. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising a support guide configured to support the shaft, at or on an upper portion of the water tank. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the ice maker comprises an automatic ice maker. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein a height difference between the water supply apparatus and the ice maker creates pressure in the tank to supply water to the ice maker. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the water tank has a rectangular shape. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein an outer peripheral surface of the gear comprises a partial or complete saw-tooth wheel. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein a set of gear teeth on the driving shaft engages with a set of gear teeth on the gear. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein the water supply passage or hole is at a lower side of the water tank. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein when the water supply passage or hole is partially or entirely open, the water in the tank is continuously supplied to the ice maker. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , wherein the support guide is configured to prevent the shaft from separating from the tank. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator of  claim 3 , wherein the stopper comprises an anticorrosive and/or rustproof material. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 16 , wherein the stopper comprises a rubber and/or silicone. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft rotates directly.