Patent · US Expired

Method for controlling a dew prevention heater for a refrigerator

US5542258A · kind A · utility

8Cited by
6References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 9, 1995
Grant dateAug 6, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 9, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF25D2700/14
  • WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a freezing compartment and refrigerating compartment. Dew prevention heaters are provided for the respective compartments. The dew prevention heater for the freezing compartment cannot be activated if the freezer temperature is above 0.degree. C., but it can be activated if that temperature is below 0.degree. C. as follows: if the compressor is on, then the heater is always on; and if the compressor is off, then the heater will cycle on and off at a frequency dependent upon the magnitude of the temperature outside of the refrigerator. The activation of the dew prevention heater for the refrigerating compartment is independent of the temperature of the refrigerating compartment. Rather, that heater is "off" if the compressor is "off", and if the compressor is "on", the heater will cycle on and off at a frequency dependent upon the temperature outside of the refrigerator.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.