Refrigerator and refrigerant circulation apparatus and method for making ice

Abstract

In one embodiment, a refrigerator comprises: a main body configured to have a storage space for storing food; a door provided on the main body configured to open and close to allow access to the storage space comprise, wherein the door includes an ice-making compartment and machine compartment. The machine compartment can include a compressor, a condenser and an expansion valve. The ice-making compartment can include an ice machine that includes a tray capable of receiving and containing water; and a refrigerant pipe coupled to the compressor, the condenser, the expansion valve, and the tray, the refrigerant pipe configured to cool the tray by conduction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a main body configured to have a storage space for storing food;   a door provided on the main body configured to open and close to allow access to the storage space comprise, wherein the door includes an ice-making compartment and machine compartment;   wherein the machine compartment includes a compressor, a condenser and an expansion valve;   wherein the ice-making compartment includes an ice machine that includes a tray capable of receiving and containing water; and   a refrigerant pipe coupled to the compressor, the condenser, the expansion valve, and the tray, the refrigerant pipe configured to cool the tray by conduction.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the tray functions as an evaporator based on a cooling cycle for generating ice in the ice machine. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the refrigerant pipe is configured to be in contact with a lower surface of the tray. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 3 , wherein the part of the refrigerant pipe which is in contact with the tray is formed in a “U” shape. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the door includes a machine compartment, the machine compartment and the ice-making compartment are partitioned from each other by an insulating member, and the compressor and the condenser are disposed in the machine compartment. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 5 , wherein one surface constituting the machine compartment of the door has a through-hole formed in a surface of the door so that the machine compartment can allow air flow with the machine compartment exterior. 
     
     
         7 . A refrigerant circulation method for ice making in a refrigerator, the method comprising the steps of:
 compressing refrigerant by a compressor included on a door of the refrigerator;   condensing the refrigerant by a condenser which is included on the door and is coupled to the compressor;   expanding the refrigerant by an expansion valve included on the door and is coupled to the condenser; and   evaporating the refrigerant so as to cool the tray by conduction from a refrigerant pipe of which at least a part is in contact with one surface of a tray included in the door.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the tray functions as an evaporator based on a cooling cycle for generating ice in an ice machine. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein, in the evaporating step, the condenser is cooled by exterior air introduced from outside into the door via a through-hole which is formed to allow air flow from outside the door. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein at least a part of the refrigerant pipe is configured to be in contact with a lower surface of the tray. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the part of the refrigerant pipe which is in contact with the tray is formed in a “U” shape. 
     
     
         12 . A refrigerator door comprising:
 a machine compartment including a compressor, a condenser and an expansion valve;   an ice machine in an ice-making compartment, wherein the ice machine includes a tray capable of receiving and accommodating water; and   a refrigerant pipe coupled to the compressor, the condenser and the expansion valve, and the refrigerant configured to cool the tray by conduction.   
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , wherein the tray functions as an evaporator based on a cooling cycle for generating ice in the ice machine. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , wherein at least a part of the refrigerant pipe is configured to be in contact with a lower surface of the tray. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 14 , wherein the part of the refrigerant pipe which is in contact with the tray is formed in a “U” shape. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , wherein the door includes a machine compartment, the machine compartment and the ice-making compartment are partitioned from each other by an insulating member, and the compressor and the condenser are disposed in the machine compartment. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 16 , wherein one surface constituting the machine compartment of the door has a through-hole formed there through, and through the through-hole when the door is open.