Hot water supplying device and refrigerator having the same

Abstract

Disclosed are a heater and hot water supplying device having the same. A temperature stabilizing unit is formed by arranging an inlet and an outlet of a water container close to each other. Under this configuration, cool water introduced into a water path of the water container via the inlet serves to cool hot water to be discharged via the outlet of the water container. This may prevent the hot water from being overheated to temperature more than a preset value. As a result, this may prevent damage of thermal lines of a heating element, due to overheating, the overheating occurring as water inside the water container is overheated.

1 . A hot water supplying device, comprising:
 a water supply pipe configured to supply water;   a dispenser installed at the end of the water supply pipe, and configured to discharge water supplied through the water supply pipe;   a water container connected to an intermediate portion of the water supply pipe, and having at least one water path including an inlet and an outlet; and   a heating element coupled to the water container such that water flowing along the water path of the water container is heated,   wherein a temperature stabilizing unit is installed at an intermediate portion of the water path such that a first section from the inlet to the intermediate portion of the water path is heat-exchanged with a second section from the intermediate portion to the outlet of the water path.   
     
     
         2 . The hot water supplying device of  claim 1 , wherein a linear distance from the inlet to the outlet of the water path is formed to be shorter than that from the inlet or outlet to an intermediate portion of the inlet and the outlet. 
     
     
         3 . The hot water supplying device of  claim 2 , wherein the water path is configured such that an interval between the first section and the second section in a direction perpendicular to the water path, is greater than an interval between the inlet and the outlet in a direction perpendicular to the water path. 
     
     
         4 . The hot water supplying device of  claim 1 , wherein the water path is configured such that at least part of a section from the inlet to the outlet is formed in a zigzag or spiral shape. 
     
     
         5 . The hot water supplying device of  claim 1 , wherein the heating element is coupled to the water container so as to accommodate at least part of the temperature stabilizing unit. 
     
     
         6 . The hot water supplying device of  claim 1 , wherein the heating element is coupled to the water container so as to be positioned outside the temperature stabilizing unit. 
     
     
         7 . The hot water supplying device of  claim 6 , wherein the heating element is formed outside an inlet section and an outlet section of the water container. 
     
     
         8 . The hot water supplying device of  claim 1 , wherein the water container is formed in a plate shape, and the water path is formed on one side surface of the water container in a recess shape. 
     
     
         9 . The hot water supply device of  claim 8 , wherein the heating element is formed in a plate shape, and is coupled to one side surface of the water container where the water path has been formed. 
     
     
         10 . The hot water supplying device of  claim 1 , wherein the water container is formed in a tube shape having an inner space. 
     
     
         11 . The hot water supplying device of  claim 10 , wherein the heating element is wound on an outer circumferential surface of the water container. 
     
     
         12 . The hot water supplying device of  claim 11 , wherein an inlet is inserted into the water container by a particular depth from an upper end, and an outlet is formed close to the inlet so as to be communicated with the inner space. 
     
     
         13 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 a refrigerator door;   a water supply pipe configured to supply water from the outside; and   a heater provided at the refrigerator door, and configured to heat water supplied from the water supply pipe,   wherein the heater includes:   a water container connected to an intermediate portion of the water supply pipe, and having at least one water path including an inlet and an outlet; and   a heating element coupled to the water container such that water flowing along the water path of the water container is heated,   wherein a temperature stabilizing unit is installed at an intermediate portion of the water path such that a first section from the inlet to the intermediate portion of the water path is heat-exchanged with a second section from the intermediate portion to the outlet of the water path.   
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein a linear distance from the inlet to the outlet of the water path is formed to be shorter than that from the inlet or outlet to an intermediate portion of the inlet and the outlet. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 14 , wherein the water path is configured such that an interval between the first section and the second section in a direction perpendicular to the water path, is greater than an interval between the inlet and the outlet in a direction perpendicular to the water path. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein the water container is fanned in a plate shape, and the water path is formed on one side surface of the water container in a recess shape, and
 wherein the heating element is formed in a plate shape, and is coupled to one side surface of the water container where the water path has been formed.   
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein the water container is formed in a tube shape having an inner space, and
 wherein the heating element is wound on an outer circumferential surface of the water container.   
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein the refrigerator door includes a dispenser configured to discharge hot water heated by the heater or cool water supplied through the water supply pipe. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator of  claim 18 , wherein an upper end of the water supply pipe is divided into a cool water pipe and a hot water pipe for supplying cool water and hot water, respectively, and
 wherein a switching valve is provided at part of the water supply pipe where the cool water pipe and the hot water pipe are diverged from each other.