	US 11,927,387 B2
	Refrigerator
Youngho Yi, Seoul (KR); and Byounghwan Kim, Seoul (KR)
Assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC., Seoul (KR)
Filed by LG ELECTRONICS INC., Seoul (KR)
Filed on Dec. 16, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/552,948.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2021-0001534 (KR), filed on Jan. 6, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0214101 A1, Jul. 7, 2022
Int. Cl. B67D 3/00 (2006.01); F25D 23/02 (2006.01); F25D 23/12 (2006.01)

CPC F25D 23/126 (2013.01) [B67D 3/0025 (2013.01); B67D 3/008 (2013.01); F25D 23/028 (2013.01); F25D 2323/02 (2013.01)]

20 Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a cabinet to form a storage space;

a door to open and close the storage space;

a dispenser to be disposed on the door;

a water tank to be detachably disposed from the door, and the water tank including a drain port to discharge water from the water tank;

a pipe component to provide a passage for discharging water from the water tank; and

a valve body configured to move in a longitudinal direction within the pipe component to open and close an opening and closing surface of the pipe component,

wherein the valve body includes:

a body extension to extend from the valve body toward an inner surface of the passage; and

a leak prevention ring to be provided around the body extension and configured to provide a seal between the pipe component and the valve body when the opening and closing surface is closed by the valve body

wherein the pipe component includes:

an outer wall to form part of an outer surface; and

an inner wall spaced apart from the outer wall and having a smaller diameter than the outer wall, wherein the leak prevention ring is to contact with the inner wall when the opening and closing surface is closed by the valve body,

wherein the valve body includes:

a first valve body to be inserted within the inner wall and to move in the longitudinal direction within the pipe component; and

a second valve body disposed along a circumferential surface of the first valve body, and the second valve body to contact a portion of the inner wall, and

wherein the body extension extends from the second valve body in a direction toward the pipe component,

wherein the valve body includes a coupling ring to seal a gap between the first valve body and the second valve body, and

wherein the body extension is to have a cross-sectional area that increases from a center of the valve body toward the inner wall and includes an inclined part to be in contact with the coupling ring.