Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator including a thermoelectric module that includes a module plate having an opening, a first heat sink, a second heat sink, a thermoelectric element to be disposed in the opening so that one surface of the thermoelectric element contacts the first heat sink and another surface of the thermoelectric element, opposite the one surface, contacts the second heat sink, a fastening member that is configured to couple the first heat sink and the second heat sink to the module plate by being passed through the first heat sink, the module plate, and the second heat sink, having a head portion and a connecting portion having a diameter smaller than the head portion, a washer member supported between the head portion and the first heat sink, and a nut member to which the connecting portion is fastened and that is supported by the second heat sink.

1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a storage compartment; and   a thermoelectric module to cool the storage compartment,   wherein the thermoelectric module includes:
 a module plate having an opening; 
 a first heat sink to be provided on one side of the module plate; 
 a second heat sink to be provided on another side of the module plate; 
 a thermoelectric element to be disposed in the opening so that while the thermoelectric element is disposed in the opening, one surface of the thermoelectric element contacts the first heat sink and another surface of the thermoelectric element, opposite the one surface, contacts the second heat sink; 
 a fastening member, configured to couple the first heat sink and the second heat sink to the module plate by being passed through the first heat sink, the module plate, and the second heat sink, having a head portion and a connecting portion having a diameter smaller than the head portion; 
 a washer member supported between the head portion and the first heat sink; and 
 a nut member to which the connecting portion is fastened and that is supported by the second heat sink. 
   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the first heat sink includes a through-hole through which the fastening member passes, and
 the washer member includes an insertion portion protruding toward the through-hole and insertable into the through-hole.   
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the washer member is formed of a material having lower thermal conductivity than a metal to reduce heat transfer between the fastening member and the first heat sink. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the washer member includes a washer through-hole through which the fastening member passes. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 4 , wherein the washer member includes a boss protruding around the washer through-hole. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the washer member includes a flow guide protruding to control a flow of air. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 6 , wherein the first heat sink includes:
 a first sink base; and   a plurality of first fins protruding along a direction perpendicular to one surface of the first sink base,   a plurality of first channels between the plurality of first fins, and   the plurality of first channels include first basic channels and at least one first wide channel having a greater width than the first basic channels.   
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , wherein the washer member is disposed in the at least one first wide channel. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the second heat sink includes a through-hole through which the fastening member passes, and
 the nut member includes an insertion portion protruding toward the through-hole and insertable into the through-hole.   
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the nut member includes:
 a nut body formed of a material having lower thermal conductivity than a metal to reduce heat transfer between the fastening member and the second heat sink; and   a nut, having screw threads formed on an inner circumferential surface to fasten the fastening member, formed of a metal material, provided inside the nut body.   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the nut member includes a nut through-hole into which the fastening member is insertable. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the nut member includes a boss protruding around a nut through-hole. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the nut member includes a flow guide protruding to control a flow of air. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein the second heat sink includes:
 a second sink base; and   a plurality of second fins protruding along a direction perpendicular to one surface of the second sink base,   a plurality of second channels are formed between the plurality of second fins, and   the plurality of second channels include second basic channels and at least one second wide channel having a greater width than the second basic channels.   
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 14 , wherein the nut member is disposed in the at least one second wide channel.