Wicking pad for refrigerator

Abstract

A water-removing system for a refrigerator comprises a water reservoir pan, a first line of wicking pad array, and a second line of wicking pad array. The water reservoir pan is for collecting water from compressor. The first line of wicking pad array comprises wavy wicking pads, and each of the wavy wicking pads has a horizontal cross-sectional shape of an extended “S” and is disposed in a direction of air flow from the fan motor to the wavy wicking pads, so that a length of the wavy wicking pad for the air flow is increased rather than a straight cross-sectional shape, and lower portions of the wavy wicking pads are immersed in the water reservoir pan. The second line is disposed behind of the first line so that each of the wavy wicking pads of the second line is disposed between two wavy wicking pads of the first line.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A water-removing system for a refrigerator having an compressor and fan motor, the water-removing device comprising:
 a water reservoir pan configured for collecting water from an evaporator;   a first line of wicking pad array comprising a plurality of wavy wicking pads, each of which having a horizontal cross-sectional shape of an extended “S” and being disposed in a direction of air flow from the fan motor to the plurality of wavy wicking pads, so that a length of the wavy wicking pad for the air flow is increased rather than a straight cross-sectional shape, wherein lower portions of the wavy wicking pads are immersed in the water reservoir pan; and   a second line of wicking pad array comprising a plurality of wavy wicking pads, each of which having a horizontal cross-sectional shape of an extended “S” and being disposed in the direction of air flow from the fan motor so that a length of the wavy wicking pad for the air flow is increased rather than a straight cross-sectional shape, and the second line of wicking pad array being disposed behind of the first line of wicking pad array so that each of the wavy wicking pads of the second line of wicking pad array is disposed between two wavy wicking pads of the first line of wicking pad array, wherein lower portions of the wavy wicking pads are immersed in the water reservoir pan,   wherein the air flow from the fan motor reaches each of the wavy wicking pads of the first and second line of wicking pad arrays directly.   
     
     
         2 . The water-removing system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the wavy wicking pads comprises a pair of straight linear portions provided on both end portions of the extended “S” portion and aligned in the direction of air flow. 
     
     
         3 . The water-removing system of  claim 2 , wherein each of the pair of straight linear portions has a length shorter that a length of the extended “S” portion. 
     
     
         4 . The water-removing system of  claim 1 , wherein the first line of wicking pad array comprises one or more holders, each of which being configured for holding the wavy wicking pads. 
     
     
         5 . The water-removing system of  claim 4 , wherein the second line of wicking pad array comprises one or more holders, each of which being configured for holding the wavy wicking pads. 
     
     
         6 . The water-removing system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a right air guide disposed on and covering a right side of the first and second wicking pad arrays so as to prevent the air flow from deviating from the first and second wicking pad arrays and to guide the air flow through between the wavy wicking pads;   a left air guide disposed on and covering a left side of the first and second wicking pad arrays so as to prevent the air flow from deviating from the first and second wicking pad arrays and to guide the air flow through between the wavy wicking pads; and   a top air guide disposed on and covering a top side of the first and second wicking pad arrays so as to prevent the air flow from deviating from the first and second wicking pad arrays and to guide the air flow through between the wavy wicking pads,   wherein the right, left, and top air guides are configured to minimize a loss of pressure of the air flow and increase an efficiency of the water-removing system.   
     
     
         7 . The water-removing system of  claim 6 , wherein a front portion of the first wicking pad array opens toward the fan motor. 
     
     
         8 . The water-removing system of  claim 7 , wherein each of the right, left, and top air guides comprises an air-guiding portion tilted outwards or inwards. 
     
     
         9 . The water-removing system of  claim 8 , wherein the air-guiding portions of the right, left, and top air guides enclose the fan motor. 
     
     
         10 . The water-removing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a third line of wicking pad array comprising a plurality of wavy wicking pads, each of which having a horizontal cross-sectional shape of an extended “S” and being disposed in the direction of air flow from the fan motor so that a length of the wavy wicking pad for the air flow is increased rather than a straight cross-sectional shape, and the third line of wicking pad array being disposed behind of the second line of wicking pad array so that each of the wavy wicking pads of the third line of wicking pad array is disposed between two wavy wicking pads of the second line of wicking pad array, wherein lower portions of the wavy wicking pads are immersed in the water reservoir pan. 
     
     
         11 . The water-removing system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the wavy wicking pads has a general shape of rectangle. 
     
     
         12 . The water-removing system of  claim 11 , wherein each of the wavy wicking pads has a wavy structure in the horizontal direction of the air flow. 
     
     
         13 . The water-removing system of  claim 12 , wherein each of the wavy wicking pads has a straight linear structure in a vertical direction.