Balancing pressure within freezer compartment of refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator including a refrigerator compartment, a freezer compartment, an ice maker compartment, a machine compartment, a first evaporator, a second evaporator, and a pressure balancing conduit. The ice maker compartment is configured to store ice and receive air from the freezer compartment. The machine compartment is located outside the freezer and ice maker compartments and houses one or more of a compressor, a condenser, a fan, or a coolant tank. The first evaporator is configured to cool air within the refrigerator compartment. The second evaporator is configured to cool air within the freezer compartment. The pressure balancing conduit is configured to balance air pressure within the freezer compartment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a refrigerator compartment;   a freezer compartment;   an ice maker compartment configured to store ice and receive air from the freezer compartment;   a machine compartment located outside the freezer compartment and refrigerator compartment, wherein the machine compartment houses one or more of a compressor, a condenser, a fan, or a coolant tank;   a first evaporator configured to cool air within the refrigerator compartment;   a second evaporator configured to cool air within the freezer compartment; and   a pressure balancing conduit configured to balance air pressure within the freezer compartment.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure balancing conduit fluidly connects the freezer compartment to the machine compartment. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the machine compartment is disposed below the freezer compartment. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 3 , wherein the pressure balancing conduit is formed by a pipe including a first section, a second section, each extending in a first direction, and a third section extending in a second direction between the first section and the second section. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 4 , wherein the second direction is substantially orthogonal to the first direction. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a drip pan disposed beneath the refrigerator compartment and the second section drains fluid to the drip pan.   
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a supply duct extending between the freezer compartment and the ice compartment and as cold air is routed through the supply duct to the ice compartment air pressure in the freezer compartment decreases, wherein the pressure balancing conduit is configured to draw air from the machine compartment to the freezer compartment to substantially equalize air pressure between the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment.   
     
     
         8 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a refrigerator compartment;   a freezer compartment;   an ice maker compartment configured to store ice and receive air from the freezer compartment;   a first evaporator configured to cool air within the refrigerator compartment;   a second evaporator configured to cool air within the freezer compartment; and   a pressure balancing conduit fluidly connecting the freezer compartment to the refrigerator compartment and configured to substantially equalize air pressure between the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment.   
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein the pressure balancing conduit fluidly connects the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment to a machine compartment, wherein the machine compartment houses one or more of a compressor, a condenser, a fan, or a coolant tank. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a drip pan disposed beneath the refrigerator compartment and the pressure balancing conduit drains fluid to the drip pan.   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein the pressure balancing conduit includes a pipe including, a first section extending in a vertical direction and terminating at the freezer compartment, a second section extending away from the first section and terminating at the refrigerator compartment, and a curved section extending from the first section and terminating at the back panel. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the second section is oblique to the first section. 
     
     
         13 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a refrigerator compartment;   a freezer compartment;   an ice maker compartment configured to store ice and receive air from the freezer compartment;   a machine compartment located outside the freezer compartment and refrigerator compartment, wherein the machine compartment houses one or more of a compressor, a condenser, a fan, or a coolant tank;   a first evaporator configured to cool air within the refrigerator compartment;   a second evaporator configured to cool air within the freezer compartment; and   a pressure balancing conduit fluidly connecting the refrigerator compartment to the freezer compartment and configured to balance air pressure within the freezer compartment.   
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a supply duct extending from the freezer compartment to the ice maker compartment and configured to route cold air from the freezer compartment to the ice maker compartment.   
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein the pressure balancing conduit defines an aperture configured to receive air from the refrigerated compartment. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a body forming the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment; and   a door forming the ice maker compartment and defining a first vent, wherein the door is movable with respect to the body between an open position, in which the refrigerator compartment is open and a first open end of the pressure balancing conduit is fluidly disconnected from the first vent, and a closed position, in which the first vent is fluidly connected to the first open end of the pressure balancing conduit.   
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 16 , wherein the pressure balancing conduit includes a second end fluidly connected to the freezer compartment. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator of  claim 17 , wherein when the door is in the closed position, a face forming the first open end of the pressure balancing conduit contacts the first vent. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a supply duct extending from the freezer compartment to the ice maker compartment and configured to route cold air from the freezer compartment to the ice maker compartment, wherein the supply duct is integrally formed with the pressure balancing conduit.   
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator of  claim 19 , wherein the supply duct includes a third end fluidly connected to the freezer compartment and the second end and the third end are spaced apart from one another in a vertical direction.