A distributor distributes fluid to plural fluid outlets, the fluid flowing from a fluid inlet. The distributor includes plural branching flow paths having an upstream branching flow path, and downstream branching flow paths located closer to the fluid outlets than is the upstream branching flow path, and an intermediate flow path provided between the upstream branching flow path and one or more of the downstream branching flow paths, the intermediate flow path connecting the upstream branching flow path and the at least one of the downstream branching flow paths. The intermediate flow path has one end connected to the upstream branching flow path at a position facing one of the ends of the upstream branching flow path and the other end connected to one or more of the downstream branching flow paths at a center of the downstream branching flow path, and causes the fluid flowing from the one end to change a flow direction of the fluid and then flow out of the other end.

A CO.sub.2 cooling system includes a compression stage in which CO.sub.2 refrigerant is compressed; a cooling stage in which the CO.sub.2 refrigerant releases heat; a CO.sub.2 liquid receiver in which the CO.sub.2 refrigerant is accumulated in liquid and gaseous states; an evaporation stage in which the CO.sub.2 refrigerant, having released heat in the cooling stage, absorbs heat. The evaporation stage has first and second evaporation sectors; a first metering device for feeding CO.sub.2 refrigerant into the first evaporation sector at a first pressure; and a second metering device for feeding CO.sub.2 refrigerant into the second evaporation sector at a second pressure. The first metering device and the second metering device are operated independently from one another. A plurality of CO.sub.2 transfer lines connects the compression stage, the cooling stage, the CO.sub.2 liquid receiver and the evaporation stage. The CO.sub.2 refrigerant is circulable in a closed-loop circuit.

A refrigeration appliance includes a fresh food compartment for storing food items in a refrigerated environment having a target temperature above 0° C., a freezer compartment for storing food items in a sub-freezing environment having a target temperature below 0° C., a system evaporator for providing a cooling effect to at least one of the fresh food compartment and the freezer compartment, and an ice maker disposed within the fresh food compartment for freezing water into ice pieces. The ice maker includes an ice mold with an upper surface comprising a plurality of cavities formed therein for the ice pieces, a heater disposed on the ice mold and an ice maker refrigerant tube abutting at least one lateral side surface of the ice mold and cooling the ice mold to a temperature below 0° C. via thermal conduction.

A method, which is for controlling a temperature of a refrigerating compartment, includes cooling the refrigerating compartment, cooling the freezing compartment, determining a temperature of the refrigerating compartment, and based on the temperature of the refrigerating compartment, controlling the refrigerating compartment to a constant temperature range by controlling opening and closing of first and second passages of a three-way valve of the refrigerator to alternate cooling the refrigerating compartment and cooling the freezing compartment.

A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator includes a plurality of refrigerant flow paths, configured to reduce the drift of the refrigerant. The refrigerator includes a refrigeration cycle including a compressor, a condenser, a plurality of refrigerant flow paths branched at a downstream of the condenser, the plurality of refrigerant flow paths each including a pressure reducing device, and an evaporator connected to the plurality of refrigerant flow paths, and a processor including a switching valve configured to individually switch an open or closed state of each of the plurality of refrigerant flow paths, the processor being configured to adjust a flow rate of refrigerant flowing in each of the plurality of refrigerant flow paths by individually duty-controlling an opening and closing time of each of the plurality of refrigerant flow paths by controlling the switching valve.

A refrigerator and a method of controlling a refrigerator are provided. The refrigerator may include a machine room defined in or at one side of a storage compartment, a base that defines a bottom surface of the machine room, a compressor seated on the base to compress a refrigerant, a condenser that condenses a refrigerant compressed in the compressor, the condenser being disposed on or at one side of the compressor, a drain pan disposed on the base to store condensed water generated in the condenser, and a fan assembly coupled to the base to generate an air flow within the machine room. The fan assembly may include a plurality of condensation fans.

A refrigerator includes an ice-making unit disposed in the door and can make ice through direct cooling by a refrigerant without using cold air flow. A cold air generation system operates to circulate the refrigerant for supplying a cold air flow for the refrigerator. A refrigerant pipe is installed in the refrigerator main body to branch off some refrigerant from the cold air generation system. An ice-making pipe is installed within the ice-making unit and receives the refrigerant from the refrigerant pipe. Water freezes into ice through heat transfer between the ice-making unit and the ice-making pipe containing refrigerant. A soft pipe is disposed around a hinge shaft of the refrigerator main body and the door and configured to interconnect the ice-making pipe and the refrigerant pipe in a twistable manner.

An ice-maker in a refrigerator is capable of producing ice pieces through directly cooling by a refrigerant circulating in a cold air generation system. An ice-making pipe is installed within the ice-making unit and has the refrigerant flowing therein. A refrigerant pipe is installed in the refrigerator main body for receiving the refrigerant from the cold air generation system. A flexible pipe is disposed around hinged end portions (e.g., corners) of the refrigerator main body and the door and configured to interconnect the ice-making pipe and the refrigerant pipe in an extendable manner. A control valve can cut off a flow of the refrigerant flowing between the ice-making pipe and the refrigerant pipe, for example when the door is to be removed for repair or replacement.

A refrigerator is provided that may include at least one compressor that compresses a refrigerant, a condenser that condenses the refrigerant compressed in the at least one compressor, a refrigerant tube that guides the refrigerant condensed in the condenser, a plurality of evaporation passages, in which expansion devices may be respectively disposed, the plurality of evaporation passages branching from the refrigerant tube, a flow adjuster disposed in the refrigerant tube to supply the refrigerant into at least one evaporation passage of the plurality of evaporation passages, a plurality of evaporators, respectively, connected to the plurality of evaporation passages to evaporate the refrigerant decompressed in the plurality of expansion devices, and a liquid refrigerant supply device disposed at an outlet-side of the condenser to separate a liquid refrigerant of the refrigerant heat-exchanged in the condenser, thereby supplying the liquid refrigerant into the flow adjuster.

The present invention provides a vending machine having a compartment whose preset internal temperature is lower than those of compartments in conventional commonly-used beverage vending machines, and yet being capable of limiting energy required for cooling the interiors of its compartments. A vending machine 1 for cooling and dispensing products has at least three compartments (right compartment 4, center compartment 5, and left compartment 6) which are defined by heat-insulated walls (partition walls) 3 and which are for cooling products contained therein. The right, center and left compartments 4, 5, 6 are disposed side by side in a row. The preset internal temperature for the center compartment 5, which lies between the right and left compartments 4, 6, is lower than those for the right and left compartments 4, 6.