Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator may include a cabinet defining a low-temperature storage space and a machine chamber in which a compressor and a condenser are disposed; and an evaporator disposed in rear of the storage space, wherein air flows upwards along the evaporator and thus cools down to lower a temperature of the storage space. The evaporator may include a cooling pipe in and along which refrigerant flows; and a plurality of cooling fins surrounding an outer face of the cooling pipe. The cooling pipe may be constructed so that the refrigerant flows downward along and in the cooling pipe.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a cabinet configured to define a storage space and a machine chamber; and   an evaporator disposed at the storage space, wherein the evaporator is configured such that air is to flow upwards through the evaporator and thus to lower a temperature of the storage space,   wherein the evaporator includes:
 a cooling pipe configured to allow refrigerant to flow from an inlet to an outlet; and 
 a plurality of cooling fins surrounding an outer face of the cooling pipe, 
 wherein the cooling pipe is configured such that the refrigerant is to flow downward in the cooling pipe from the inlet to the outlet. 
   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling pipe includes:
 a plurality of horizontal extending portions configured such that the horizontal extending portions are arranged and spaced apart from each other in a vertical direction; and   a plurality of bent portions configured such that each of the bent portions is separately connecting adjacent horizontal extending portions to each other,   wherein the plurality of horizontal extending portions include:
 a plurality of first horizontal extending portions configured such that the first horizontal extending portions are arranged in a first column; and 
 a plurality of second horizontal extending portions configured such that the second horizontal extending portions are arranged in a second column and are spaced from the first horizontal extending portions, wherein the first column is spaced apart from the second column in a front-rear direction, 
 wherein the plurality of bent portions include:
 a first bent portion connecting two adjacent first horizontal extending portions, of the plurality of first horizontal extending portions, spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction; 
 a second bent portion connecting two adjacent second horizontal extending portions, of the plurality of second horizontal extending portions, spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction; and 
 a third bent portion connecting one of the first horizontal extending portions and one of the second horizontal extending portions positioned at a same vertical level and spaced apart in a horizontal direction. 
 
   
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein each of the horizontal extending portions separately includes a first end and a second end,
 wherein the first bent portion extends from the first end of one of the first horizontal extending portions to the first end of another one of the first horizontal extending portions, and the second bent portion extends from the first end of one of the second horizontal extending portions to the first end of another one of the second horizontal extending portions,   wherein the third bent portion extends from the second end of the one of the first horizontal extending portions to the second end of the another one of the second horizontal extending portions.   
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 3 , wherein the first bent portions are vertically arranged with each other, the second bent portions are vertically arranged with each other, and the third bent portions are vertically arranged with each other. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 3 , wherein each of the first horizontal extending portions separately includes the first end and the second end, and each of the second horizontal extending portion separately includes the first end and the second end,
 wherein the first bent portion extends between the first ends of the two adjacent first horizontal extending portions spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction;   wherein the second bent portion extends between the first ends of the two adjacent second horizontal extending portions spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction;   wherein the third bent portion extends between the second ends of the first and second horizontal extending portions positioned at the same vertical level and spaced apart in the horizontal direction.   
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 5 , wherein the cooling pipe is an integral structure. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein each of the cooling fins separately includes:
 a body portion; and   a through-hole passing through a center of the body portion. and configured such that the cooling pipe is to be inserted into the through-hole.   
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , wherein the cooling fins are arranged and spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal direction of the horizontal extending portion. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein the body portion has a plurality of peak portions radially extending away from the center of the body portion and a plurality of valley portions radially extending away from the center of the body portion, and the peak portions and the valley portions are alternately arranged along a circular direction at a predefined angular spacing from the center of the body portion. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 9 , wherein each of the peak portions is curved, and each of the valley portions is curved. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein each of the peak portions separately protrudes in a first direction corresponding to a first length direction of the horizontal extending portion.
 wherein each of the valley portions separately protrudes in a second direction corresponding to a second length direction of the horizontal extending portion.   
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein each of the peak portions protrudes in a separate radial direction away from the center of the body portion,
 wherein each of the valley portions is recessed in a separate radial direction away from the center of the body portion.   
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , wherein each of the cooling fins separately includes a fastening portion protruding from the body portion and around the through-hole, and configured such that the cooling pipe is to fasten to the fastening portion. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein the fastening portion has an inner face to connect to the outer face of the cooling pipe. 
     
     
         15 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a storage space; and   an evaporator disposed at the storage space, wherein the evaporator includes:
 a cooling pipe having an inlet at a top end of the evaporator and an outlet at a bottom end of the evaporator, and configured to allow refrigerant to flow from the inlet at the top end of the evaporator to the outlet at the bottom end of the evaporator; and 
 a plurality of cooling fins configured such that each of the fins to contact a surface of the cooling pipe, 
 wherein the cooling pipe is configured such that the refrigerant is to flow in a first direction in the cooling pipe from the inlet to the outlet without flowing in an second direction opposite to the first direction. 
   
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator of  claim 15 , wherein the evaporator is configured such that air is to flow in the second direction through the cooling pipe and to cool based on the cooling pipe. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 15 , wherein the cooling pipe includes:
 a plurality of horizontal extending portions configured such that the horizontal extending portions are arranged and spaced apart from each other in the first direction; and   a plurality of bent portions configured such that each of the bent portions is separately connecting adjacent horizontal extending portions to each other,   wherein the plurality of horizontal extending portions include:
 a plurality of first horizontal extending portions configured such that the first horizontal extending portions are arranged in a first column; and 
 a plurality of second horizontal extending portions configured such that the second horizontal extending portions are arranged in a second column and are spaced from the first horizontal extending portions, wherein the first column is spaced apart from the second column. 
   
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of bent portions include:
 a first bent portion connecting two adjacent first horizontal extending portions, of the plurality of first horizontal extending portions, spaced apart from each other in the first direction;   a second bent portion connecting two adjacent second horizontal extending portions, of the plurality of second horizontal extending portions, spaced apart from each other in the first direction; and   a third bent portion connecting one of the first horizontal extending portions and one of the second horizontal extending portions positioned at a same vertical level and spaced apart in a third direction transverse to the first direction and traverse to the second direction.   
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator of  claim 17 , wherein each of the cooling fins separately includes:
 a body portion; and   a through-hole passing through a center of the body portion, and configured such that the cooling pipe is to be inserted into the through-hole.   
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator of  claim 19 , wherein the cooling fins are arranged and spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal direction of the horizontal extending portion, wherein the body portion has a plurality of peak portions radially extending away from the center of the body portion and a plurality of valley portions radially extending away from the center of the body portion.