GB2397638A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

A separate compartment manufactured as part of a refrigerator or made separately and installed in an existing refrigerator which maintains a temperature, lower than room temperature but higher than that of the main compartment of the refrigerator for the purpose of storing certain foodstuffs. The compartment uses the refrigerator's own cooling system to lower the temperature but has its own thermostat and heater. The equilibrium temperature of the compartment can be varied by the operator.

Description

SPECIFICATION

This invention relates to a variable temperature food storage compartment In most households food is usually kept at one of two temperatures. In the Ridge ( approx 4 degrees centigrade) or at as room temperature (approx 20 degrees centigrade).

Many foodstuffs do not keep, handle or taste their best when stored at temperatures as low as those usually found in a refrigerator or as high as room temperature. For example, at room temperature tomatoes will quickly perish, but storing them in a Ridge destroys their flavour. Butter is too runny if left at room temperature but is difficult to spread straight from the bridge.

To overcome this problem it is proposed to install a thermally insulated compartment within a refrigerator so that the compartment is cooled by the refrigerator's own cooling system, but can also be warmed by its own regulated heat source. In this way an environment which can be maintained at a constant temperature, higher than the refrigerator temperature is created.

When switched off the temperature of the compartment will fall to the equilibrium temperature of the bridge. Then when switched on, a variable temperature sensor (of which many types are cheaply commercially available) makes a circuit powering a heater. When the compartment has reached a pre-set temperature, the sensor breaks the heater circuit, preventing further warming and the compartment will eventually cool due to the action of the fridge's own cooling unit. When the temperature of the compartment falls below the pre-set temperature, the sensor will make the heating circuit again.

In this way the temperature of the compartment can be maintained within approximately 1 degree centigrade of a temperature, pre-determined by the operator.

The compartment may be built as an integral part of a fledge or made separately and installed into an existing Ridge.

The compartment should be thermally insulated form the main part of the Ridge to slow down the heating / cooling cycle, prevent excessive energy consumption and avoid raising the temperature of the main refrigerator compartment to an unacceptable level.

Claims (1)

1. A compartment made as an integral part of a Ridge, or manufactured separately and installed within an existing bridge, for the purpose of storing foodstuffs between room temperature and the temperature of the main part of the bridge.

   A compartment within a Ridge such that a range of temperatures higher than that of the main compartment of the Ridge may be selected by the user.

   A temperature controlled compartment which relies on the cooling system of a Ridge to reduce the temperature but which has dedicated temperature control and heating circuitry.