US20050056046A1 - Leakage current interruption formation in refrigerator door - Google Patents

Leakage current interruption formation in refrigerator door Download PDF

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Publication number
US20050056046A1
US20050056046A1 US10/938,648 US93864804A US2005056046A1 US 20050056046 A1 US20050056046 A1 US 20050056046A1 US 93864804 A US93864804 A US 93864804A US 2005056046 A1 US2005056046 A1 US 2005056046A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
refrigerator
door
leakage current
main body
ground line
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US10/938,648
Inventor
Won-Bok Lee
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
LG Electronics Inc
Original Assignee
LG Electronics Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by LG Electronics Inc filed Critical LG Electronics Inc
Assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC. reassignment LG ELECTRONICS INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: LEE, WON-BOK
Publication of US20050056046A1 publication Critical patent/US20050056046A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D23/00—General constructional features
    • F25D23/02—Doors; Covers
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D29/00—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
    • F25D29/006—Safety devices
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D23/00—General constructional features
    • F25D23/02—Doors; Covers
    • F25D23/028—Details

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a leakage current interruption formation in a refrigerator door for interrupting leakage current flowing in the refrigerator door and causing static electricity generated from the door to flow into a main body of a refrigerator.
  • FIG. 1 a is a circuit diagram of a refrigerator according to a prior art.
  • a ground line 10 is configured along with main power lines of a power cord 15 formed on circuit wiring of a refrigerator as shown in FIG. 1 a .
  • Such a conventional ground line 10 is generally grounded to an electric charging portion (i.e., metal portion, do not display) of the refrigerator. Further, it is configured such that the leakage current flows out to the ground through the ground line 10 when electric leakage occurs in the refrigerator. In the prior art, it is also configured such that a micro leakage current flows out to the ground through the ground line 10 .
  • the ground line 10 of the refrigerator main body is connected to a hinge of the refrigerator door.
  • the leakage current flowing between the refrigerator main body and the door flows out to the ground through the ground line 10 .
  • FIGS. 1 b and 1 c are sectional and front views of the refrigerator according to the prior art, respectively.
  • the ground line 10 of FIG. 1 a is connected to a door hinge 20 of the refrigerator.
  • the door hinge 20 is a metal structure connected to the refrigerator main body, and is connected to the door so as to prevent the door from drooping and being removed and to open and close the door.
  • the leakage current occurring in the refrigerator main body is transmitted to a door, a door handle, and the like via the door hinge 20 . Accordingly, the instant the user comes into contact with the door or the door handle, the user can sense the micro current.
  • the leakage current flows out through the main ground line 10 of the power cord 15 in the refrigerator main body.
  • the leakage current of the refrigerator main body is transmitted to the refrigerator door. Therefore, some problems such as unpleasant sensation in use of the refrigerator and doubt about performance of the refrigerator caused from the leakage current may occur in the conventional refrigerator.
  • an object of the present invention is to provide a leakage current interruption formation in a refrigerator door which can interrupt a leakage current flowing into the refrigerator door from a refrigerator main body via a door hinge and allows static electricity generated in the refrigerator door to flow out to the refrigerator main body.
  • a leakage current interruption formation in a refrigerator door comprising a ground line which is formed in power lines of a refrigerator circuit and connected to a refrigerator main body, a door hinge which is formed in the refrigerator main body for opening and closing a refrigerator door; and a unidirectional switching element which is formed between the ground line and the door hinge to interrupt a leakage current generated from the refrigerator main body.
  • the unidirectional switching element comprises a diode.
  • FIG. 1 a is a circuit diagram of a refrigerator according to a prior art
  • FIG. 1 b is a sectional view of the refrigerator according to the prior art
  • FIG. 1 c is a front view of the refrigerator according to the prior art
  • FIG. 2 a is a sectional view of a refrigerator according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 b is a view showing flow of leakage current and static electricity of a refrigerator door according to the present invention.
  • a refrigerator circuit according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 a.
  • FIG. 2 a is a sectional view of a refrigerator according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 b is a view showing flow of leakage current and static electricity of the refrigerator door according to the present invention.
  • a ground line 10 of a power cord 15 connected to a refrigerator main body is connected to a door hinge 130 .
  • a diode 110 is connected between the ground line 10 of the power cord 15 of the refrigerator main body and the door hinge 130 of the refrigerator main body.
  • the diode 110 which is a unidirectional switching element, interrupts the leakage current flowing in from the refrigerator main body.
  • the diode is proposed as a unidirectional switching element in the embodiment of the present invention, any other elements that perform the same function as the unidirectional switching element may be employed in the present invention.
  • the diode 110 operates so that the static electricity generated in the door and the door handle can flow out through the ground line 10 of the refrigerator power cord 15 .
  • the diode 110 is provided between the ground line 10 and the refrigerator door hinge 130 .
  • the ground line 10 of the power cord 15 is connected to a cathode of the diode 110 .
  • the door hinge 130 is connected to an anode of the diode 110 .
  • the leakage current occurs in the electronic components of the refrigerator main body, the leakage current is transmitted to the cathode of the diode 110 . At this time, the diode 110 interrupts the flow of the leakage current. As a result, since the leakage current is prevented from flowing in the door, the door handle, and the like, the instant a part of user's human body comes into contact with the door 120 or the door handle, it is possible to prevent the user from sensing the leakage current.
  • the static electricity produced in the door and the door handle is transmitted to the anode of the diode 110 through the door hinge 130 . Accordingly, the static electricity is transmitted to the refrigerator main body through the diode 110 . In addition, the static electricity flows to the ground via the ground line 10 connected to the refrigerator main body. As a result, since the generation of the static electricity is suppressed, the user can safely open and close the door 120 of the refrigerator.
  • the present invention can primarily interrupt the leakage current generated in the refrigerator main body. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user from sensing the leakage current which is generated when the user comes into contact with the door or the door handle. Furthermore, in the present invention, the static electricity generated in the door and the door handle flows to the ground through the ground line connected to the refrigerator main body. Accordingly, the user can safely open and close the door of the refrigerator without an unpleasant sensation.
  • the diode is provided between the hinge and the ground line of the refrigerator circuit. Accordingly, the present invention has a basic technical feature in that even in the case that the wall outlet is not grounded, the leakage current flowing from the refrigerator main body is interrupted and the static electricity generated in the door is discharged to the outside of the refrigerator.

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a leakage current interruption formation in a refrigerator door for interrupting a leakage current of the refrigerator door. According to the present invention, a ground line of a refrigerator main body is connected to a door hinge. In addition, there is a feature in that a diode is connected between the door hinge and the ground line of the refrigerator main body. Therefore, the leakage current flowing into the door hinge from the door of the refrigerator can be interrupted and static electricity generated in the door can also flow to the refrigerator main body.

Description

    BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • 1. Field of Invention
  • The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a leakage current interruption formation in a refrigerator door for interrupting leakage current flowing in the refrigerator door and causing static electricity generated from the door to flow into a main body of a refrigerator.
  • 2. Description of the Prior Art
  • A leakage current interruption formation in a refrigerator door according to a prior art will be described as follows.
  • FIG. 1 a is a circuit diagram of a refrigerator according to a prior art.
  • In the prior art, a ground line 10 is configured along with main power lines of a power cord 15 formed on circuit wiring of a refrigerator as shown in FIG. 1 a. Such a conventional ground line 10 is generally grounded to an electric charging portion (i.e., metal portion, do not display) of the refrigerator. Further, it is configured such that the leakage current flows out to the ground through the ground line 10 when electric leakage occurs in the refrigerator. In the prior art, it is also configured such that a micro leakage current flows out to the ground through the ground line 10.
  • The ground line 10 of the refrigerator main body is connected to a hinge of the refrigerator door. In addition, when electric leakage occurs in the refrigerator, the leakage current flowing between the refrigerator main body and the door flows out to the ground through the ground line 10.
  • However, if a wall outlet is not grounded, there is no place to which the micro leakage current flowing in the refrigerator main body flows out. Therefore, the micro leakage current can be sensed by a sensitive user.
  • FIGS. 1 b and 1 c are sectional and front views of the refrigerator according to the prior art, respectively.
  • As shown in the figures, the ground line 10 of FIG. 1 a is connected to a door hinge 20 of the refrigerator. The door hinge 20 is a metal structure connected to the refrigerator main body, and is connected to the door so as to prevent the door from drooping and being removed and to open and close the door.
  • In such a refrigerator, the flow of the leakage current occurring in the refrigerator main body progresses as follows.
  • Main Ground Refrigerator Main Body Door Hinge Door and Door Handle
  • That is, the leakage current occurring in the refrigerator main body is transmitted to a door, a door handle, and the like via the door hinge 20. Accordingly, the instant the user comes into contact with the door or the door handle, the user can sense the micro current.
  • Therefore, in a conventional case where the main ground line 10 is configured in the power cord 15, the leakage current flows out through the main ground line 10 of the power cord 15 in the refrigerator main body. However, if a wall outlet in a general home is not grounded, the leakage current of the refrigerator main body is transmitted to the refrigerator door. Therefore, some problems such as unpleasant sensation in use of the refrigerator and doubt about performance of the refrigerator caused from the leakage current may occur in the conventional refrigerator.
    • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a leakage current interruption formation in a refrigerator door which can interrupt a leakage current flowing into the refrigerator door from a refrigerator main body via a door hinge and allows static electricity generated in the refrigerator door to flow out to the refrigerator main body.
  • According to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the object, there is provided a leakage current interruption formation in a refrigerator door, comprising a ground line which is formed in power lines of a refrigerator circuit and connected to a refrigerator main body, a door hinge which is formed in the refrigerator main body for opening and closing a refrigerator door; and a unidirectional switching element which is formed between the ground line and the door hinge to interrupt a leakage current generated from the refrigerator main body.
  • Preferably, the unidirectional switching element comprises a diode.
    • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
  • FIG. 1 a is a circuit diagram of a refrigerator according to a prior art;
  • FIG. 1 b is a sectional view of the refrigerator according to the prior art;
  • FIG. 1 c is a front view of the refrigerator according to the prior art;
  • FIG. 2 a is a sectional view of a refrigerator according to the present invention; and
  • FIG. 2 b is a view showing flow of leakage current and static electricity of a refrigerator door according to the present invention.
    • DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
  • Hereinafter, a leakage current interruption formation in a refrigerator door according to the present invention will be described in detail. A refrigerator circuit according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 a.
  • FIG. 2 a is a sectional view of a refrigerator according to the present invention. FIG. 2 b is a view showing flow of leakage current and static electricity of the refrigerator door according to the present invention.
  • As shown in the figures, in the present invention, a ground line 10 of a power cord 15 connected to a refrigerator main body is connected to a door hinge 130. In addition, a diode 110 is connected between the ground line 10 of the power cord 15 of the refrigerator main body and the door hinge 130 of the refrigerator main body. The diode 110, which is a unidirectional switching element, interrupts the leakage current flowing in from the refrigerator main body. Although the diode is proposed as a unidirectional switching element in the embodiment of the present invention, any other elements that perform the same function as the unidirectional switching element may be employed in the present invention. Furthermore, the diode 110 operates so that the static electricity generated in the door and the door handle can flow out through the ground line 10 of the refrigerator power cord 15.
  • That is, the diode 110 is provided between the ground line 10 and the refrigerator door hinge 130. The ground line 10 of the power cord 15 is connected to a cathode of the diode 110. The door hinge 130 is connected to an anode of the diode 110. As a result, the leakage current flowing from electronic components of the refrigerator main body to the door 120 is interrupted. Then, the static electricity generated in the door 120 flows out through the ground line 10 configured in the power cord 15 of the refrigerator.
  • As shown in FIG. 2 b, if the leakage current occurs in the electronic components of the refrigerator main body, the leakage current is transmitted to the cathode of the diode 110. At this time, the diode 110 interrupts the flow of the leakage current. As a result, since the leakage current is prevented from flowing in the door, the door handle, and the like, the instant a part of user's human body comes into contact with the door 120 or the door handle, it is possible to prevent the user from sensing the leakage current.
  • On the other hand, the static electricity produced in the door and the door handle is transmitted to the anode of the diode 110 through the door hinge 130. Accordingly, the static electricity is transmitted to the refrigerator main body through the diode 110. In addition, the static electricity flows to the ground via the ground line 10 connected to the refrigerator main body. As a result, since the generation of the static electricity is suppressed, the user can safely open and close the door 120 of the refrigerator.
  • According to the leakage current interruption formation in the refrigerator door of the present invention, the following advantages can be expected.
  • Even in the case where the wall outlet is not grounded, the present invention can primarily interrupt the leakage current generated in the refrigerator main body. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user from sensing the leakage current which is generated when the user comes into contact with the door or the door handle. Furthermore, in the present invention, the static electricity generated in the door and the door handle flows to the ground through the ground line connected to the refrigerator main body. Accordingly, the user can safely open and close the door of the refrigerator without an unpleasant sensation.
  • According to the present invention as described above, the diode is provided between the hinge and the ground line of the refrigerator circuit. Accordingly, the present invention has a basic technical feature in that even in the case that the wall outlet is not grounded, the leakage current flowing from the refrigerator main body is interrupted and the static electricity generated in the door is discharged to the outside of the refrigerator.
  • The scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described and illustrated above but is defined by the appended claims. It will be apparent that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and changes thereto within the scope of the invention defined by the claims. Therefore, the true scope of the present invention should be defined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

Claims (2)

1. A leakage current interruption formation in a refrigerator, comprising:
a ground line formed in power cord of a refrigerator circuit and connected to a main body of the refrigerator;
a door hinge formed in the refrigerator main body, the door hinge being a structure for opening and closing a refrigerator door; and
a unidirectional switching element formed between the ground line and the door hinge for interrupting a leakage current generated from the refrigerator main body.
2. The leakage current interruption formation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the unidirectional switching element comprises a diode.
US10/938,648 2003-09-17 2004-09-13 Leakage current interruption formation in refrigerator door Abandoned US20050056046A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
KR2003-0064578 2003-09-17
KR1020030064578A KR20050028190A (en) 2003-09-17 2003-09-17 A leakage current interception formation of refrigerator door

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Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070276543A1 (en) * 2006-05-22 2007-11-29 Lg Electronics Inc. Malfunction preventing device for refrigerator and method thereof
CN103542685A (en) * 2012-07-13 2014-01-29 海尔集团公司 Compressor pipeline insulating method and device and anti-creeping refrigerator
US20170248903A1 (en) * 2016-02-29 2017-08-31 Kyocera Document Solutions Inc. Image forming apparatus
EP3246632A1 (en) * 2016-05-19 2017-11-22 Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag Domestic appliance and door for a domestic appliance
US11401099B2 (en) 2019-12-20 2022-08-02 California Innovations Inc. Soft-sided insulated container with hard-sided liner

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR102306952B1 (en) * 2014-03-22 2021-10-01 삼성전자주식회사 Refrigerator

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1614255A (en) * 1927-01-11 philbin
US2966651A (en) * 1955-03-10 1960-12-27 Hubbell Inc Harvey Three to two-wire plug adapter with grounding pigtail
US3965465A (en) * 1974-05-16 1976-06-22 Alexander Jerry L Self timing switch
US4720764A (en) * 1987-03-02 1988-01-19 Alden Research Foundation Operator static grounding cord
US5719739A (en) * 1994-01-13 1998-02-17 Horiguchi; Noboru Static eliminator
US6367273B2 (en) * 1998-06-18 2002-04-09 Hitachi, Ltd. Refrigerator

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1614255A (en) * 1927-01-11 philbin
US2966651A (en) * 1955-03-10 1960-12-27 Hubbell Inc Harvey Three to two-wire plug adapter with grounding pigtail
US3965465A (en) * 1974-05-16 1976-06-22 Alexander Jerry L Self timing switch
US4720764A (en) * 1987-03-02 1988-01-19 Alden Research Foundation Operator static grounding cord
US5719739A (en) * 1994-01-13 1998-02-17 Horiguchi; Noboru Static eliminator
US6367273B2 (en) * 1998-06-18 2002-04-09 Hitachi, Ltd. Refrigerator

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070276543A1 (en) * 2006-05-22 2007-11-29 Lg Electronics Inc. Malfunction preventing device for refrigerator and method thereof
US8109106B2 (en) 2006-05-22 2012-02-07 Lg Electronics Inc. Malfunction preventing device for refrigerator and method thereof
CN103542685A (en) * 2012-07-13 2014-01-29 海尔集团公司 Compressor pipeline insulating method and device and anti-creeping refrigerator
US20170248903A1 (en) * 2016-02-29 2017-08-31 Kyocera Document Solutions Inc. Image forming apparatus
US10234816B2 (en) * 2016-02-29 2019-03-19 Kyocera Document Solutions Inc. Image forming apparatus with conductive handle
EP3246632A1 (en) * 2016-05-19 2017-11-22 Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag Domestic appliance and door for a domestic appliance
WO2017198502A1 (en) * 2016-05-19 2017-11-23 Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag Domestic appliance and door for a domestic appliance
US10837650B2 (en) 2016-05-19 2020-11-17 Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag Domestic appliance and door for a domestic appliance
US11401099B2 (en) 2019-12-20 2022-08-02 California Innovations Inc. Soft-sided insulated container with hard-sided liner

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AS Assignment

Owner name: LG ELECTRONICS INC., KOREA, REPUBLIC OF

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:LEE, WON-BOK;REEL/FRAME:015786/0113

Effective date: 20040812

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION