Cold air circulating apparatus for use in Kimchi refrigerator

Abstract

A cold air circulating apparatus for use in a Kimchi refrigerator includes temperature sensors installed in storage compartments for sensing current temperature inside the storage compartments, respectively, a pair of communication passages formed to be spaced apart from each other in a partition wall, dampers installed in the communication passages for selectively opening or closing the communication passages, respectively, and a control unit for outputting a driving control signal to open or close the dampers based on information on the difference between the current temperatures inside the storage compartments detected by the temperature sensors, thereby circulating cold air between the storage compartments through the communication passages.

1 . A cold air circulating apparatus for use in a Kimchi refrigerator having at least two storage compartments partitioned by a partition wall, the apparatus comprising:
 temperature sensors installed in the storage compartments for sensing current temperature inside the storage compartments, respectively;   a pair of communication passages which are formed to be spaced apart from each other in the partition wall;   dampers installed in the communication passages for selectively opening or closing the communication passages, respectively; and   a control unit for outputting a control signal to open or close the dampers based on information on the difference between the current temperatures inside the storage compartments detected by the temperature sensors.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit controls the dampers to open in case where temperature in one of the storage compartments is higher than a preset temperature therefor, and also higher than temperature in another storage compartment, to thereby circulate cold air between the storage compartments through the communication passages. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a pair of ventilating fans installed in each communication passage, to promote the circulation of the cold air between the storage compartments.   
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the ventilating fans in each pair are operationally oppositely installed each other with the damper therebetween, and wherein the control unit controls each one of the ventilating fans in each pair to run in a manner to blow out the cold air passing through the communication passages. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein a first one of the communication passages is closer to cooling means in the Kimch refrigerator, and wherein the circulation is made in such a manner that the cold air in said another storage compartment is blown out to said one storage compartment through the fist communication passage and the cold air in said one storage compartment is blown out to said another storage compartment through a second communication passage. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein each of the ventilating fans includes an AC type fan. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a ventilating fan installed in each of the communication passages to promote the circulation of the cold air between the storage compartments.   
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the control unit controls the ventilating fans to run in a manner to blow out the cold air passing through the communication passages, respectively. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein a first one of the communication passages is closer to cooling means in the Kimch refrigerator, and wherein the circulation is made in such a manner that the cold air in said another storage compartment is blown out to said one storage compartment through the fist communication passage and the cold air in said one storage compartment is blown out to said another storage compartment through a second communication passage. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein each of the ventilating fans includes a DC type fan. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the communication passages are arranged in parallel horizontally. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the communication passages are arranged in series vertically. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a ventilating fan installed in any selected one of the communication passages, to promote the circulation of the cold air between the storage compartments.   
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the control unit controls the ventilating fan to run in a manner to blow out the cold air passing through the selected communication passage. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the selected communication passage is closer to cooling means in the Kimch refrigerator, and wherein the circulation is made in such a manner that the cold air in said another storage compartment is blown out to said one storage compartment through the fist communication passage by the ventilating fan and the cold air in said one storage compartment is blown out to said another storage compartment through another communication passage. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the ventilating fan includes a DC type fan.