BRPI0605388B1 - refrigerator. - Google Patents

Description

Patent Descriptive Report for "COOLER".

Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a single door cooler having a no-frost cooling module.

Background of the Invention

The no-frost system consists of an air cooling system that employs one or more fans, evaporators and ducts that are installed in a region not visible to the user, and the evaporator, when cooling the air, also dehumidifies it, removing the humidity of the refrigerated environment, and accumulating ice on its surface, which is removed by an automatic defrosting system.

The components of a basic no-frost system comprise an evaporator, a fan and a duct system, which is intended to promote cold air supply in the freezer and refrigerator compartments and to promote air return from these compartments to the evaporator. , and a temperature control system of said compartments. The "no-frost" system is usually used in two-door refrigerators (with insulated compartments), and has the advantages of better freezing quality, better cooling and distribution of cold air in the compartments. - the refrigerator, as well as eliminating the need for periodic defrosting of the evaporator (s) from the refrigerator compartment (s), which is normally carried out manually or semi-automatically (via defrost).

In single door refrigerators, the consumer or user should initiate the defrost operation by pressing a button that shuts off the product until the thermostat bulb located on the evaporator reaches 6o C.

The defrosting process is usually done by natural convection and takes 7 to 10 hours to complete. It is common for users to accelerate defrosting by opening the refrigerator door and using a fan to blow warm ambient air into the refrigerator. During this time, the food will thaw if it remains in the freezer compartment and this is why the appliance user manual recommends removing the food during the defrosting process. This is the main reason for the user's discontent of this type of product, especially due to the high frequency of this operation (usually every one or two weeks). In addition, ice formation in the evaporator causes loss of performance, resulting in increased temperature in the freezer and refrigerated compartments.

Objectives of the Invention

According to the above context, it is an object of the present invention to provide a one-door refrigerator with the no-frost concept, eliminating the need for the user to defrost and remove food from the freezer compartment as mentioned above, ultimately ending user dissatisfaction. Brief Description of the Invention

The objectives of the present invention are fully achieved by the cooler proposed herein.

The cooler proposed here is of the type comprising an external door and two internal compartments and comprises a cooling module integrated by an air diffuser, fan-associated motor, a defrost heater evaporator, an accumulator and an drain.

The refrigeration module is fully disposed inside the internal compartment.

The refrigeration module generates an air flow that circulates through the internal compartment, follows it through the internal compartment and returns to the refrigeration module through at least one insufflation duct. In this context, it should be noted that the supply duct is disposed in the inner compartment which does not contain the cooling module.

Preferably, the cooling module has its longitudinal geometrical axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal geometrical axis of the refrigerator. In this embodiment, air flow returns to the refrigeration module through at least one return duct, which extends into the inner compartment ( compartment) to the internal compartment (freezer) to the refrigeration module.

However, optionally, the cooling module, being disposed next to the inner compartment, has longitudinal longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal longitudinal axis of the refrigerator. In this option, the air flow from the cooling module is directed to the internal compartment (freezer) and the internal compartment (refrigerator) through at least one insufflation duct.

Brief Description of the Figures

The present invention will hereinafter be described in more detail based on the following figures which show:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the no-frost cooling module of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the no-frost cooling module of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a front view of the refrigerator, with the door removed, showing the no-frost refrigeration module installed vertically in the refrigerator;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the refrigerator showing the no-frost cooling module installed vertically therein;

Figure 5 is a further cross-sectional view of a portion of the refrigerator showing the no-frost cooling module installed vertically therein; Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the refrigerator showing the vertically installed no-frost refrigeration module and schematically the circulation of cold air within the refrigerator;

Figure 7 is a further schematic view of the refrigerator containing the no-frost refrigeration module installed vertically therein;

Figure 8 is an alternative construction of the refrigerator with respect to that shown in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a further alternative construction of the refrigerator with respect to those shown in Figures 7 and 8;

Figure 10 is a schematic view of the refrigerator containing the no-frost cooling module installed horizontally therein; and

Figure 11 - An alternative construction of the refrigerator compared to that shown in Figure 10. Detailed Description of the Invention

Figures 1 and 2 show a no-frost cooling module according to the present invention. The cooling module 1 comprises a fan 2, a motor 3, an evaporator with defrost heater 4, an air diffuser 5, an accumulator 6 and a drain container 7.

Figures 3, 4 and 5 show the cooling module installed vertically inside a refrigerator 8 which comprises a single outer door and at least two internal compartments of different cooling ranges (preferably a freezer and a refrigerated compartment). ). In these figures, the cooling module 1 is in a position such that its longitudinal geometrical axis is substantially parallel to the longitudinal geometrical axis of the refrigerator 8.

Figure 6 schematically shows the air circulation within a cooler 8 having a cooling module 1 according to the present invention.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 show technical alternatives for the vertical mounting of cooling module 1 within one of the compartments of a refrigerator 8. Preferably, the refrigerator 8 provides an internal compartment 9 or freezer and a compartment. internal compartment 10 or refrigerated compartment, and a water drain 11.

Figure 7 shows a basic system construction, while Figure 8 shows a return duct construction 12, and Figure 9 shows a supply duct construction 13.

Figures 7 to 9 also show schematically and by arrows the air circulation within the refrigerator 8 for three constructions as well as the temperature distribution.

Figures 10 and 11 show a no-frost cooling module 1 horizontally installed inside a refrigerator 8, i.e. module 1 is installed inside the refrigerator 8 such that its longitudinal geometrical axis is arranged substantially per - pendular to the longitudinal axis of the refrigerator 8.

Figures 10 and 11 show technical alternatives for horizontal mounting of the cooling module 1 within a refrigerator 8 of a door with a freezer compartment 9, a refrigerated compartment 10 and a water drain 11. Figure 10 shows a basic construction of the system, while Figure 11 shows a supply duct construction 14. Figures 10 to 11 show schematically, by arrows, the air circulation inside the cooler 8 for the two constructions as well as the distribution of temperatures.

Having described preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the scope of the present invention encompasses other possible variations, being limited only by the content of the appended claims, including the possible equivalents thereof.

Claims (4)

1.Cooler comprising an external door, at least two internal compartments (9, 10), and a cooling module (1) integrated by an air diffuser (5), a motor (3) associated with a fan (2 ), an evaporator with a defrost heater (4) and a drain pan (7), characterized in that: the refrigeration module (1) is integrally disposed within at least one of the internal compartments (9, 10); the refrigeration module (1) generates an air flow, the air flow circulates from one of the internal compartments (9, 10) to the other of the internal compartments (9, 10) and returns to the refrigeration module (1) by means of at least one supply duct (13, 14) or at least one return duct (12); and the supply duct (13, 14) being arranged in at least one of the internal compartments (9, 10). A cooler according to claim 1, characterized in that the longitudinal axis of the cooling module (1) is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the refrigerator (8). 3.Cooler according to claim 1, characterized in that: the return duct (12) extends through at least one of the inner compartments (9, 10) to the other of the inner compartments (9, 10) to the cooling module (1). A cooler according to claim 1, characterized in that: the cooling module (1) is arranged near at least one of the internal compartments (9, 10), having its longitudinal geometrical axis substantially perpendicular to the geometrical axis. longitudinal of the refrigerator (8); and the air flow from the cooling module (1) is directed to at least one of the internal compartments (9, 10) and to the other of the internal compartments (9, 10) through at least one insufflation duct (13, 14).