Ice maker for refrigerator and method for making same

Abstract

An ice maker includes a compressor, installed in the inside of a refrigerator door, for compressing a refrigerant; a condenser for condensing the compressed refrigerant from the compressor; an expansion valve for expanding the condensed refrigerant; and an ice making tray, having a channel through which the refrigerant from the expansion valve flows, allowing heat-exchange between the refrigerant introduced through the channel and water in the ice making tray to perform a process of making ice through the heat-exchange.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ice maker for a refrigerator, the ice maker comprising:
 a compressor, installed in the inside of a refrigerator door, operable for compressing a refrigerant;   a condenser, installed in the inside of the refrigerator door, operable for condensing the compressed refrigerant from the compressor;   an expansion valve, installed in the inside of the refrigerator door, operable for expanding the condensed refrigerant; and   an ice making tray, comprising a channel through which the expanded refrigerant from the expansion valve flows, and operable for allowing heat-exchange between the expanded refrigerant introduced through the channel and water in the ice making tray to perform a process of making ice from the water through the heat-exchange.   
     
     
         2 . The ice maker for a refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the channel comprises:
 a separate refrigerant pipe through which the refrigerant flows and that is mounted on a lower portion of the ice making tray.   
     
     
         3 . The ice maker for a refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the channel is integrally formed with the ice making tray. 
     
     
         4 . The ice maker for a refrigerator of  claim 3 , wherein the ice making tray comprises:
 an inlet and an outlet for the channel that are formed respectively at one side and the other side of the lower area at one end of the ice making tray, and   wherein the expansion valve is coupled to the inlet and the compressor is coupled to the outlet.   
     
     
         5 . The ice maker for a refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the compressor comprises:
 a small-sized compressor installable in the inside of the refrigerator door.   
     
     
         6 . A method for making ice, the method comprising:
 compressing a refrigerant in a compressor which is installed in the inside of a refrigerator door;   condensing the compressed refrigerant in a condenser which is installed in the inside of the refrigerator door;   expanding the condensed refrigerant in an expansion valve which is installed in the inside of the refrigerator door;   flowing the refrigerant from the expansion valve in a channel disposed in an ice making tray installed in the inside of the refrigerator door; and   freezing water in the ice making tray through heat-exchange with the refrigerant in the channel.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the channel comprises:
 a separate refrigerant pipe through which the refrigerant flows and that is mounted on a lower portion of the ice making tray.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the channel is integrally formed with the ice making tray. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the ice making tray comprises:
 an inlet and an outlet for the channel that are formed respectively at one side and the other side of the lower area at one end of the ice making tray, and   wherein the expansion valve is coupled to the inlet and the compressor is coupled to the outlet.   
     
     
         10 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a refrigerator body;   a main refrigeration system coupled to the refrigerator body and comprising a first compressor, a first condenser, a first expansion valve, and an evaporator; and   a second refrigeration system coupled to the refrigerator body and comprising:
 a second compressor, installed in the inside of a refrigerator door, operable for compressing a refrigerant; 
 a second condenser, installed in the refrigerator door, operable for condensing the compressed refrigerant from the second compressor; 
 a second expansion valve, installed in the refrigerator door, operable for expanding the condensed refrigerant; and 
 an ice making tray, comprising a channel through which the expanded refrigerant from the second expansion valve flows, and operable for allowing heat-exchange between the expanded refrigerant introduced through the channel and water in the ice making tray to perform a process of making ice from the water through the heat-exchange. 
   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the channel comprises:
 a separate refrigerant pipe through which the refrigerant flows and that is mounted on a lower portion of the ice making tray.   
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the channel is integrally formed with the ice making tray. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , wherein the ice making tray comprises:
 an inlet and an outlet for the channel that are formed respectively at one side and the other side of the lower area at one end of the ice making tray, and   wherein the second expansion valve is coupled to the inlet and the second compressor is coupled to the outlet.   
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the second compressor comprises:
 a small-sized compressor installable in the inside of the refrigerator door.