Control system for a refrigerator with two evaporating temperatures
US6286326A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 26, 1999 |
| Grant date | Sep 11, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 26, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02B40/00
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
An improved refrigerator that combines means for directing cooling to a fresh-food compartment and a freezer compartment with a variable-capacity compressor. During fresh-food cooling the compressor volumetric capacity is reduced to match capacity of the expansion device. The means for directing cooling may be a multiple evaporators. Another option is a single evaporator with a reversing fan and flaps that respond to the direction of air flow to direct air flow between the evaporator and each compartment. Another embodiment comprises a natural-convection evaporator with dampers for directing air flow. This last embodiment also allows automatic defrost with a natural-convection evaporator.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.