Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a storage space defined in a cabinet and a machine room arranged under the storage space. To implement a cooling system, a compressor, a condenser, and a heat dissipation fan are included in the machine room. In addition, a control module is provided in the machine room to face an outlet of the machine room. The control module is installed at a position close to the entrance of the machine room and configured to be separated frontward from the machine room, and thus accessibility to the control module can be enhanced.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a cabinet having a storage space;   a door assembly configured to open and close at least a portion of the storage space;   a machine room defined below the storage space, the machine room having an inlet and an outlet that are defined at a front surface thereof;   a cooling system disposed in the machine room, the cooling system comprising a compressor, a condenser, and a heat dissipation fan;   a control module that is disposed inside the machine room; and   an installation rail that is disposed at an upper part of the machine room,   wherein the control module is coupled to the installation rail and configured to move in and out of the outlet along the installation rail.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the installation rail extends parallel to the outlet. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the control module further comprises a guide end that protrudes from sides of the control module and faces the installation rail. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover plate disposed at the upper part of the machine room,
 wherein a lower surface of the cover plate is provided with the installation rail.   
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the installation rail is installed at a side of the outlet. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the installation rail includes a pair of installation rails provided by being spaced apart from each other, and
 wherein the installation rails are coupled to opposite side surfaces of the control module and extend in parallel to each other.   
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the installation rail includes a first rail and a second rail that are spaced apart from each other and disposed in parallel, and
 wherein the control module is disposed between the first rail and the second rail.   
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , further comprising a cover plate disposed at the upper part of the machine room,
 wherein the first rail comprises:   a first fixed frame that is fixed to a lower surface of the cover plate; and   a first guide frame having a first guide channel to which a portion of a side surface of the control module is fitted.   
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein the first guide channel is opened in a front thereof such that an edge of a side surface of a receiving casing constituting the control module is fitted into the first guide channel. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein the first guide channel opens in a direction parallel to the outlet. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein the first guide frame comprises an upper surface part, a side surface part, and a lower end fixing part that are connected to each other to have a “U” shape, and
 wherein the first guide channel is defined between the upper surface part, a side surface part, and a lower end fixing part. 
 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the control module further comprises a guide end that protrudes from sides of the control module, and
 wherein the guide end is fitted to each of the first guide channel.   
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , further comprising a cover plate disposed at the upper part of the machine room,
 wherein the first rail and the second rail are configured separately from each other, and   the first rail and the second rail are assembled to the cover plate independently of each other.   
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein the first fixed frame and a second fixed frame are located at complementary positions to each other, and
 wherein the first rail and the second rail form a rectangular shape as a whole.   
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet and the outlet are formed in a front cover located at a front of the machine room,
 wherein, when the front cover is removed from the front surface of the machine room, a front part of the control module is exposed to a front side of the machine room.   
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the control module is installed in the machine room, and
 wherein the control module is disposed to be adjacent to the front surface of the machine room so as to face the outlet.   
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the control module is installed in the upper part of the machine room adjacent to the outlet, and
 wherein when the control module is installed in the machine room, a discharge space is defined between a lower surface of the control module and a bottom surface of the machine room.   
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the control module comprises:
 a receiving casing that is coupled to the upper part of the machine room, the receiving casing defining a receiving space in a center thereof; and   a main control board disposed in the receiving space and connected to an external part by one or more wires, and   wherein the receiving casing is coupled to the installation rail.   
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator of  claim 18 , wherein the control module defines a wire connection space outside the receiving space, the wire connection space surrounding at least a portion of the receiving space, and
 wherein the control module further comprises a partition wall disposed between the receiving space and the wire connection space.   
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising a separation wall that is disposed in the machine room and divides the machine room into (i) an introduction space that receives the condenser and (ii) a discharge space that receives the compressor and the control module,
 wherein the installation rail is mounted on an upper surface of the machine room and spaced apart from a bottom surface of the machine room.