Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, an evaporator, a bypass pipe, and a valve device. The condenser condenses refrigerant discharged from the compressor, and the expansion valve expands the refrigerant condensed in the condenser. The evaporator evaporates the refrigerant expanded in the expansion valve, and the bypass pipe allows the refrigerant discharged from the compressor to move toward an inlet of the evaporator. The valve device allows the refrigerant discharged from the compressor to selectively move toward the bypass pipe or the condenser. The valve device comprises an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet. The refrigerant discharged from the compressor flows into the inlet. The refrigerant is discharged toward the condenser through the first outlet, and is discharged toward the bypass pipe through the second outlet. The first outlet has a diameter larger than that of the second outlet.

1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a compressor;   a condenser condensing refrigerant discharged from the compressor;   an expansion valve expanding the refrigerant condensed in the condenser;   an evaporator evaporating the refrigerant expanded in the expansion valve;   a bypass pipe allowing the refrigerant discharged from the compressor to move toward an inlet of the evaporator; and   a valve device allowing the refrigerant discharged from the compressor to selectively move toward the bypass pipe or the condenser,   wherein the valve device comprises:   an inlet into which the refrigerant discharged from the compressor flows;   a first outlet through which the refrigerant is discharged toward the condenser; and   a second outlet through which the refrigerant is discharged toward the bypass pipe, the first outlet having a diameter larger than that of the second outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the inlet has a diameter larger than that of the second outlet. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein water generated by defrosting falls down into a tray under the evaporator, and a portion of the bypass pipe is disposed between the tray and the evaporator. 
     
     
         4 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a compressor;   a condenser condensing refrigerant discharged from the compressor;   an expansion valve expanding the refrigerant condensed in the condenser;   a plurality of evaporators evaporating the refrigerant expanded in the expansion valve;   a bypass pipe allowing the refrigerant discharged from the compressor to move toward an inlet of the evaporator;   a valve device allowing the refrigerant discharged from the compressor to selectively move toward the bypass pipe or the condenser; and   a condenser intake-side pipe allowing the refrigerant having passed through the valve device to move to the condenser, the condenser intake-side pipe having a diameter larger than that of the bypass pipe.   
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator according to  claim 4 , further comprising a compressor discharge-side pipe connecting the valve device with the compressor, the compressor discharge-side pipe having a diameter larger than that of the bypass pipe. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator according to  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of evaporators comprises a freezer compartment evaporator and a refrigeration compartment evaporator, and the bypass pipe comprises a first bypass pipe selectively connected with one of the plurality of evaporators and a second bypass pipe selectively connected with the other of the plurality of evaporators. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator according to  claim 6 , wherein the first bypass pipe is connected with the valve device and the second bypass pipe diverges from the first bypass pipe. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator according to  claim 6 , wherein the valve device comprises;
 a first valve provided in the a condenser intake-side pipe to selectively communicated the compressor with the condenser; and   a second valve provided in the first bypass pipe to selectively connect the compressor with each of the evaporators, and   the second bypass pipe diverges from the first bypass pipe.   
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator according to  claim 6 , wherein each of the bypass pipes is separately connected with the valve device such that refrigerant discharged from the compressor flows selectively to each of bypass pipes.