GB2568547A

GB2568547A - Refrigerator for a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2568547A
Application number: GB1719313.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lovelock Owen
Original assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Ltd
Current assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Ltd
Priority date: 2017-11-21
Filing date: 2017-11-21
Publication date: 2019-05-22
Anticipated expiration: 2037-11-21
Also published as: GB201719313D0; GB2568547B

Abstract

A refrigerator 10 for a vehicle, mountable to a part of the vehicle (e.g. rear seat cross beam 22, figure 2) and comprising a body 30 defining a volume for receiving goods (e.g. drinks and food), and a door (43, figure 1) comprising a panel having a surface that follows an arc 70, wherein the door is moveable along the arc between closed and open positions. The fridge may comprise one or more flocked seals comprising fibres having a length of about 1 mm. The fridge may comprise actuation means 64 (e.g. drive motor) for moving the door and sensor means (55, figure 4) for sensing if an object is coincident with the opening. Actuation control means (65) may be configured to operate the drive motor according to an opening sequence to move the door from closed to open position for a first opening time period at a first opening speed, and subsequently for a second opening time period at a faster second opening speed. The door may move from open to closed position for a first closing time period at a first closing speed, and subsequently for a second closing time period at a slower second closing speed.

Description

REFRIGERATOR FOR A VEHICLE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator for a vehicle. Aspects of the invention relate to a refrigerator for a vehicle, and to a vehicle comprising a refrigerator.

BACKGROUND

There is a growing demand for vehicles to provide improved functionality and capability within the cabin. Such improved functionality may serve to improve the comfort provided by the vehicle, or the entertainment or utility capabilities of the vehicle, for example.

Each new component that is included in the interior of a vehicle requires space and so must be packaged within the vehicle in a space-efficient manner.

Any particular component that is included in an interior of a vehicle must therefore be positioned and mounted preferably where it does not interfere with other components of the vehicle and preferably does not significantly reduce the remaining space within the vehicle, but is still conveniently located for the user whilst providing the desired functional effect.

It is an object of embodiments of the invention to at least mitigate one or more of the problems of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects and embodiments of the invention provide a refrigerator for a vehicle, and a vehicle including a refrigerator as claimed in the appended claims.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a refrigerator for a vehicle, the refrigerator being mountable to a part of the vehicle and comprising a body defining a volume for receiving goods to be refrigerated, an opening for providing access to the volume, and a door that is moveable between a closed position in which the opening is covered by the door and an open position in which access through the opening is permitted, wherein the door comprises a panel having a surface that follows an arc, and wherein the door is moveable along the arc between the closed position and the open position.

Such an arrangement may provide a refrigerator that may provide a desired internal volume for storing and refrigerating goods, in a space-efficient package. That is, the arcuate nature of the door and its arcuate path of movement provides a functional arrangement in a reduced volume, e.g. compared with a vertically extending and vertically moving door.

The arc may be of a notional circle having a plane that is substantially vertical when the refrigerator is mounted to the part of the vehicle.

In certain embodiments, the refrigerator may comprise a pair of guiderails, wherein the door may be moveable along the pair of guiderails between the closed position and the open position. Therefore, a particularly effective mechanical interface between the door and the remainder of the refrigerator may be provided in a manner that may be efficiently manufactured and assembled.

The refrigerator may comprise one or more seals for providing sealing against the door when the door is in the closed position. Such one or more seals may reduce the heat transfer through the opening (and thereby improve the efficiency of the refrigerator).

In certain embodiments, the seal may comprise a flocked seal, wherein optionally the flocked seal comprises fibres each having a length of about 1 mm. The flocked seal may provide adequate sealing whilst also providing a relatively low-friction surface such that movement of the door relative to the seal is not significantly impeded. A flocked seal having fibres that are about 1 mm in length is found to be a particularly effective arrangement in this regard.

The flocked seal may comprise an elastomeric material having a flocked outer surface. Such a material may elastically deform upon contact with another component (e.g. the door) so as to provide improved sealing.

In certain embodiments, the refrigerator may comprise actuation means for moving the door between the closed position and the open position. The actuation means may include a rotating component for engaging the door to move the door between the closed position and the open position upon rotation of the rotating component. Such an arrangement is particularly suited for moving the door when mounted on guiderails.

The actuation means may comprise an actuator (e.g. a drive motor) for moving the door between the closed position and the open position.

In certain embodiments, the door may include one or more toothed racks and the rotating component may comprise one or more pinions that are each engageable with the one or more toothed racks such that rotation of the one or more pinions causes movement of the door between the closed position and the open position. Such an arrangement is particularly reliable and carries a negligible risk of slippage between the actuation means and the door.

In certain embodiments, the refrigerator may comprise actuation control means for controlling operation of the actuation means. Such actuation control means may control the door in a manner in which the perceived quality of the refrigerator is enhanced.

The actuation control means may comprise an actuation controller that is communicably coupled to the actuation means so as to control the actuation means (e.g. control the operational state of the actuation means).

For example, in certain embodiments, the actuation control means may be configured to operate the actuation means according to an opening sequence to move the door from the closed position to the open position, wherein the opening sequence may comprise operating the actuation means at a first opening speed for a first opening time period and subsequently operating the actuation means at a second opening speed that is greater than the first opening speed for a second opening time period.

Additionally or alternatively, the actuation control means may be configured to operate the actuation means according to a closing sequence to move the door from the open position to the closed position, wherein the closing sequence may comprise operating the actuation means at a first closing speed for a first closing time period and subsequently operating the actuation means at a second closing speed that is less than the first closing speed for a second closing time period.

The refrigerator may comprise sensor means for sensing if an object is coincident with the opening, the sensor means being communicably coupled to the actuation control means, wherein the actuation control means may be configured to control operation of the actuation means to prevent movement of the door from the open position to the closed position if the sensor means sense that an object is coincident with the opening. Such an arrangement may prevent an object becoming trapped in the door.

The sensor means may comprise any one or more sensors arranged to detect the presence of an object that is coincident with the opening.

In certain embodiments, the refrigerator may comprise cooling control means configured to control the temperature of the refrigerator. The cooling control means may be configured to receive vehicle status data from the vehicle wherein the vehicle status data is indicative of an active state of the vehicle or an inactive state of the vehicle, and the cooling control means may be configured to control the temperature of the refrigerator in dependence on the vehicle status data. That is, the refrigerator may be switched on or off automatically in dependence on a state of the vehicle.

The cooling control means may comprise a cooling controller that is communicably coupled to the refrigerator in order to be capable of controlling an operating state (e.g. temperature) of the refrigerator. In certain embodiments, the cooling controller may have an input for receiving vehicle status data.

The cooling control means may be configured to adjust the temperature of the refrigerator to, or maintain the temperature of the refrigerator at, a refrigeration temperature when the vehicle status data received by the cooling control means is indicative of the active state of the vehicle.

Additionally or alternatively, the cooling control means may be configured to permit the temperature of the refrigerator to return to or remain at an ambient temperature of the surroundings of the refrigerator when the vehicle status data received by the cooling control means is indicative of the inactive state of the vehicle.

The refrigerator may comprise mounting means for mounting the refrigerator to a part of the vehicle. The part of the vehicle to which the mounting means are for mounting the refrigerator may comprise a cross beam of the vehicle. In such an embodiment, due to the location of the refrigerator in the vehicle, the arcuate door and arcuate path of the door provide a particularly space-efficient arrangement in the limited space available around the cross beam. The location of the refrigerator may advantageously enable a user to easily access into the refrigerator.

The mounting means may comprise one or more mounts, such as one or more brackets.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a vehicle comprising the refrigerator described above.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a vehicle comprising a refrigerator mounted to a cross beam of the vehicle. In certain embodiments, the refrigerator may include any of the features of the above-described refrigerator.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a refrigerator having any one or more features of the above-described refrigerator. Such a refrigerator may or may not have a door comprising a panel having a surface that follows an arc, wherein the door may or may not be moveable along the arc between the closed position and the open position.

Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

Figure 1 shows a refrigerator for a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows the refrigerator of Figure 1 mounted in a part of a vehicle;

Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the refrigerator of Figure 1;

Figure 4 shows an exploded view of a door assembly of the refrigerator of Figure 1;

Figure 5 shows an internal view of a part of the refrigerator of Figure 1;

Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a part of the refrigerator of Figure 1; and

Figure 7 shows a vehicle that may include a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 shows a refrigerator 10 for a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 2, the refrigerator 10 may be provided in a vehicle between two seats 20 (e.g. rear seats) of the vehicle. In particular, the refrigerator 10 is provided with mounting means in the form of a mount for mounting the refrigerator 10 to a part of the vehicle. In certain embodiments, the refrigerator 10 may be mountable to a cross beam (e.g. a rear seat cross car beam) of the vehicle. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the mounting means are provided in the form of a bracket 24 that mounts the refrigerator 10 to the cross beam 22 of the vehicle. The mounting of the refrigerator 10 to the cross beam of the vehicle permits a robust connection to be made such that the vehicle.

An exploded view of the refrigerator 10 is shown in Figure 3 in which it can be seen that the refrigerator 10 comprises a body 30 defining a volume for receiving goods, such as drinks or food, to be refrigerated. The body 30 has an opening 30a that provides access to the internal volume of the body 30 so as to permit goods to be introduced and subsequently removed from the internal volume. The refrigerator 10 has a door 43 that is moveable between a closed position in which the opening 30a is covered by the door 43, and an open position in which access through the opening 30a is permitted.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the door 43 comprises multiple components (which are described in further detail below). However, in alternative embodiments, the door may comprise a single component such as a single panel.

In the non-limiting embodiment shown in the figures, the door 43 forms part of a door assembly 38. An exploded view of the door assembly 38 (which is described in further detail below) is shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a part of the refrigerator 10 in which it can be seen that the opening 30a is bound by edges of the body 30 that follow the path of an arc 70. That is, the edges that bound the opening 30a are shaped so as to follow, in a given cross-section, a part of the circumference of a notional circle. The plane of the notional circle extends vertically (i.e. when the refrigerator 10 is mounted in the vehicle).

The door 43 is shaped to fit over the opening 30a in the closed position and prevent access therethrough. As such, the door 43 has a surface that is also shaped so as to follow the arc 70. In particular, the curvature of the door 43 (which follows the arc 70) is along the axial length of the door 43. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the door is not curved in a direction along its width, however this may not be the case in alternative embodiments.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the door 43 comprises an inner panel 44, an outer panel 48, and an intermediate panel 46 disposed between the inner panel 44 and the outer panel 48.

The door 43 may additionally comprise a trim component 50 to cover one or more joints or other features of the door 43. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, each of the inner panel 44, intermediate panel 46 and outer panel 48 are shaped to follow the path of the arc 70 when the door 43 is assembled as part of the refrigerator 10.

As shown in Figure 4, the intermediate panel 46 and outer panel 48 together define a pair of channels 47 at each side of the door 43. This arrangement advantageously facilitates easy assembly of the door 43 in the door assembly 38 in contrast to an arrangement in which the channels are formed into a single-piece door.

The door assembly 38 includes a door frame 42 that defines a pair of guiderails 42a. When assembled, each of the guiderails are received in the channels 47 of the door 43 such that the door 43 is moveable along the guiderails 42a between the closed and the open positions. The guiderails 47 (and the door frame 42 more generally) are shaped to follow the arc 70 in an assembled configuration. As such, due to the shape of the guiderails 42a and the shape of the door 43, the door 43 is moveable along the guiderails along the arc 70 between the closed position and the open position. In particular, the channels 47 and guiderails 42a cooperate so as to retain the door 43 in the door assembly 38 (i.e. restrict movement of the door 43 relative to the door frame 42 in directions perpendicular to the plane of the door 43) whilst permitting sliding of the door 43 between the open and the closed positions. In particular, the door 43 may move downwardly from the closed position to the open position, and may move upwardly from the open position to the closed position. In alternative embodiments, the door 43 may include protrusions or rails that may be received within channels of the door frame to achieve the same effect.

The refrigerator 10 includes actuation means in the form of an actuator for moving the door between the closed position and the open position. In certain embodiments, the actuation means may include one or more rotating components for engaging the door 43 to move the door 43 between the closed position and the open position upon rotation of the one or more rotating components. In the non-limiting embodiment shown in the figures, the actuation means comprises a drive motor 64 and a worm gearbox assembly 62 coupled thereto. The worm gearbox assembly 62 is drivably connected to a pair of pinions 56 (which form the above-mentioned rotating components) that are mounted on a shaft 58 so that the pinions 56 are rotatable by drive motor 64, via the worm gearbox assembly 62. Some or all of the components of the actuation means may be mounted to a motor mount substrate 40 that forms part of the door assembly 38. As shown in Figure 6, the body 30 may define a recess 30b that accommodates components of the actuation means, such as the drive motor 64 and pinions 56. Advantageously, the actuation means are disposed radially inwardly of the arc 70, thereby making efficient use of the available space.

The pinions 56 protrude through apertures 41 in the motor mount substrate 40. A non-protruding part of each pinion 56 is covered by a cap 60. The motor mount substrate 40 is fixed to the door frame 42 by fixing means in the form of fixings, such as screws 54. A pair of longitudinal seals 52 are provided between the motor mount substrate 40 and the door frame 42 for reducing heat flow into the body 30 through the opening 30a.

Figure 5 shows an internal view of the refrigerator 10 with the inner panel 44 of the door 43 in the closed position. The inner panel 44 of the door 43 includes a pair of toothed racks 56a each extending longitudinally (i.e. vertically) along the inner panel

44. The toothed racks 56a each follow the contours of the inner panel 44 and so follow the arc 70 when assembled. When assembled, the pinions 56 each mesh with the toothed racks 56a such that rotation of the pinions 56 causes movement of the door 43 along the guiderails 42a. Therefore, the drive motor 64 may be operated to cause movement of the door 43 between the closed position and the open position along the arc 70.

The motor mount substrate 40 additionally supports a lower door seal 40a and an upper door seal 40b. When the door assembly 38 is assembled, the lower door seal 40a protrudes so as to contact the inner surface (i.e. the inner panel 44) of the door 43. The lower door seal 40a may be made of an elastomeric material that is compressed due to the presence of the door 43 and thereby provides sealing against the door 43. The lower door seal 40a also permits the door 43 to move between the closed position and open position. For this reason, it is preferable for the lower door seal 40a to have a low-friction coating or other surface property that permits sliding of the door 43 relative thereto. In one embodiment, a low-friction interface may be provided by a flock coating on the lower door seal 40a. In particularly effective embodiments, the flock coating may comprise fibres each having a length of about 1 mm as this is found to provide adequate sealing (i.e. adequate control of heat flow into the body via opening 30a) whilst avoiding significantly inhibiting sliding of the door 43.

In certain embodiments the upper door seal 40b comprises an elastomeric material that may contact an upper edge of the door 43 when the door is in the closed position to provide a seal. The upper door seal 40b may define or be coincident with an end point of the range of movement permitted by the door 43.

The longitudinal seals 52, the lower door seal 40a and the upper door seal 40b delimit a substrate opening 40c in the motor mount substrate 40. When the refrigerator 10 is assembled, the substrate opening 40c is adjacent to the opening 30a in the body 30 such that the combination of the longitudinal seals 52, the lower door seal 40a and the upper door seal 40b reduce the magnitude of heat flow into the body 30 through the opening 30a. As such, the effectiveness and efficiency of the refrigerator 10 may be improved. In other embodiments any number or arrangement of seals may be provided to improve the effectiveness and/or efficiency of the refrigerator 10. The seals may be provided on components other than the motor mount substrate 40 (which may not be present in certain embodiments).

The refrigerator 10 may include an actuation means controller 65 (as shown in Figure 4) that is configured to control operation of the actuation means (e.g. control operation of the drive motor 64). In particular, the actuation means controller 65 may control the opening and closing of the door 43 in accordance with a predetermined opening and closing sequence, respectively. For example, the actuation means controller 65 may control the actuation means to provide a “soft opening” and/or a “soft closing” of the door 43. Such movement may enhance the perceived quality of the refrigerator 10.

As an illustrative example, an opening sequence may determine the speed of movement of the door 43 when moving from the closed position to the open position. The opening sequence may comprise operating the drive motor 64 at a first opening speed for a first opening time period and subsequently operating the drive motor 64 at a second opening speed that is greater than the first opening speed for a second opening time period.

Similarly, a closing sequence may determine the speed of movement of the door 43 when moving from the open position to the closed position. The closing sequence may comprise operating the drive motor 64 at a first closing speed for a first closing time period and subsequently operating the drive motor 64 at a second closing speed that is less than the first closing speed for a second closing time period.

In certain embodiments, the refrigerator 10 may comprise sensor means 55 in the form of one or more sensors for sensing if an object is coincident with the opening 30a. In particular, the sensor means 55 may be communicably coupled to the actuation control means 65, wherein the actuation control means 65 may be configured to control operation of the drive motor 64 to prevent movement of the door 43 from the open position to the closed position if the sensor means 55 sense that an object is coincident with the opening 30a.

The opening and or closing of the door 43 may be user activated by any known actuation means. In certain embodiments, the opening and/or closing of the door 43 may be actuated by one or more buttons or sensors (e.g. including a proximity sensor or a gesture detecting sensor).

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the refrigerator 10 may also be provided with light emitting means in the form of a light emitter such as an LED 68. The light emitting means may emit light 68a towards goods stored within the refrigerator 10. A diffuser 66 may also be provided for diffusing light 68a emitted by the light emitting means. The light emitting means may be controlled so as to emit light when the door 43 is in any position that is not the closed position.

As shown in Figure 6, the refrigerator 10 may store and refrigerate goods such as a drinks bottle 72b and/or a cup 72a (or other drinks receptacle). The goods may be stored in the refrigerator 10 in an upright configuration. In the non-limiting embodiment shown in the figures, the refrigerator 10 is provided with a holder 33 (shown in more detail in Figure 3) that is received in the base of the volume defined by the body 30 and is configured to receive and support articles such as drinks bottles and/or drinks receptacles therein. The holder 33 depicted in Figure 3 includes first recesses 33a for each receiving and supporting a drinks receptacle such as a cup 72a, and includes a second recess 33b for receiving and supporting a drinks bottle 72b. The holder 33 preferably supports the received goods sufficiently such that the risk of the goods being damaged during normal movement of the vehicle is negligible. The holder 33 may be removable from the refrigerator 10 by the user, e.g. to create additional storage room in the refrigerator for other goods that are to be refrigerated. In some embodiments, the refrigerator may include a bottle neck holder (not shown) instead of or in accompaniment to the holder 33 for supporting the neck of a bottle.

Returning to Figure 3, it can be seen that the refrigerator 10 may be provided with one or more exterior covers for improving the aesthetic appearance of the refrigerator 10. In particular, in the embodiment shown in the figures, a front cover 36 is provided that covers a front and top portion of the refrigerator 10. The front cover 36 has a front cover opening 36a to permit access therethrough and through the opening 30a of the body 30. The refrigerator 10 shown in Figure 3 additionally includes a pair of side covers 32 and a rear cover 34. In certain embodiments, any or all of the covers may comprise or include thermally insulating material for thermally insulating the body 30. The rear cover 34 may be materially and/or structurally reinforced to improve its ability to withstand impacts (e.g. a rear impact on the vehicle). The rear cover 34 may permit ventilation of the refrigerator into the interior of the vehicle. The rear cover 34 may have a stepped overhang 34a (as shown in Figure 3) so that the presence of the refrigerator 10 does not interfere with vehicle features and components that are rearward of the refrigerator 10. For example, the stepped overhang 34a may accommodate the presence of a load space floor panel of the vehicle that is rearward of the refrigerator. Additionally or alternatively, the stepped overhang 34a may permit a spare wheel or other component stowed in the load space of the vehicle to be accessed.

Figure 7 shows a vehicle 100 that may incorporate the refrigerator 10 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

In use, the refrigerator may be operated when the vehicle is in an active state. For example, the vehicle may be in an active state when the ignition is switched on, when the vehicle is otherwise switched into a state in which it may be driven, or when the vehicle is otherwise “activated” (e.g. unlocked). An inactive state may be considered to be any state of the vehicle that is not the active state (e.g. when the ignition is switched off or the vehicle is locked).

The refrigerator 10 may include cooling control means 31 in the form of a cooling controller (shown in Figure 3) that is configured to control the temperature of the refrigerator 10.

In certain embodiments, the cooling control means 31 may be configured to receive vehicle status data from the vehicle wherein the vehicle status data is indicative of an active state of the vehicle or an inactive state of the vehicle. The cooling control means 31 may be configured to control the temperature of the refrigerator 10 in dependence on the vehicle status data. For example, the cooling control means 31 may adjust the temperature of the refrigerator 10 to, or maintain the temperature of the refrigerator at, a refrigeration temperature (e.g. around 5°C) when the vehicle status data received by the cooling control means 31 is indicative of the active state of the vehicle. Additionally, the cooling control means 31 may be configured to permit the temperature of the refrigerator 10 to return to or remain at an ambient temperature of the surroundings of the refrigerator 10 when the vehicle status data received by the cooling control means 31 is indicative of the inactive state of the vehicle (i.e. no active cooling may be provided if the vehicle is in the inactive state).

In certain embodiments, the refrigerator 10 may be operated at any suitable temperature. For example, the refrigerator 10 could be operated at, below or close to 0Ό and therefore function as a freezer.

It will be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention can be realised in the form of hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software. Any such software may be stored in the form of volatile or non-volatile storage such as, for example, a storage device like a ROM, whether erasable or rewritable or not, or in the form of memory such as, for example, RAM, memory chips, device or integrated circuits or on an optically or magnetically readable medium such as, for example, a CD, DVD, magnetic disk or magnetic tape. It will be appreciated that the storage devices and storage media are embodiments of machine-readable storage that are suitable for storing a program or programs that, when executed, implement embodiments of the present invention. Accordingly, embodiments provide a program comprising code for implementing a system or method as claimed in any preceding claim and a machine readable storage storing such a program. Still further, embodiments of the present invention may be conveyed electronically via any medium such as a communication signal carried over a wired or wireless connection and embodiments suitably encompass the same.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed. The claims should not be construed to cover merely the foregoing embodiments, but also any embodiments which fall within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A refrigerator for a vehicle, the refrigerator being mountable to a part of the vehicle and comprising a body defining a volume for receiving goods to be refrigerated, an opening for providing access to the volume, and a door that is moveable between a closed position in which the opening is covered by the door and an open position in which access through the opening is permitted, wherein the door comprises a panel having a surface that follows an arc, and wherein the door is moveable along the arc between the closed position and the open position.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the arc is of a notional circle having a plane that is substantially vertical when the refrigerator is mounted to the part of the vehicle.

3. The refrigerator of claim 1 or 2, comprising a pair of guiderails, wherein the door is moveable along the pair of guiderails between the closed position and the open position.

4. The refrigerator of claim 3, comprising one or more seals for providing sealing against the door when the door is in the closed position.

5. The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein the one or more seals comprises a flocked seal, wherein optionally the flocked seal comprises fibres each having a length of about 1 mm.

6. The refrigerator of claim 4 or 5, wherein the flocked seal comprises an elastomeric material having a flocked outer surface.

7. The refrigerator of any preceding claim, comprising actuation means for moving the door between the closed position and the open position.

8. The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein the actuation means includes a rotating component for engaging the door to move the door between the closed position and the open position upon rotation of the rotating component.

9. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the door includes one or more toothed racks and the rotating component comprises one or more pinions that are each engageable with the one or more toothed racks such that rotation of the one or more pinions causes movement of the door between the closed position and the open position.

10. The refrigerator of any of claims 7 to 9, comprising actuation control means for controlling operation of the actuation means.

11. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the actuation control means are configured to operate the actuation means according to an opening sequence to move the door from the closed position to the open position, wherein the opening sequence comprises operating the actuation means at a first opening speed for a first opening time period and subsequently operating the actuation means at a second opening speed that is greater than the first opening speed for a second opening time period.

12. The refrigerator of claim 10 or 11, wherein the actuation control means are configured to operate the actuation means according to a closing sequence to move the door from the open position to the closed position, wherein the closing sequence comprises operating the actuation means at a first closing speed for a first closing time period and subsequently operating the actuation means at a second closing speed that is less than the first closing speed for a second closing time period.

13. The refrigerator of any of claims 10 to 12, comprising sensor means for sensing if an object is coincident with the opening, the sensor means being communicably coupled to the actuation control means, wherein the actuation control means are configured to control operation of the actuation means to prevent movement of the door from the open position to the closed position if the sensor means sense that an object is coincident with the opening.

14. The refrigerator of any preceding claim, comprising cooling control means configured to control the temperature of the refrigerator.

15. The refrigerator of claim 14, wherein the cooling control means are configured to receive vehicle status data from the vehicle wherein the vehicle status data is indicative of an active state of the vehicle or an inactive state of the vehicle, and the cooling control means are configured to control the temperature of the refrigerator in dependence on the vehicle status data.

16. The refrigerator of claim 15, wherein the cooling control means are configured to adjust the temperature of the refrigerator to, or maintain the temperature of the refrigerator at, a refrigeration temperature when the vehicle status data received by the cooling control means is indicative of the active state of the vehicle.

17. The refrigerator of claim 16, wherein the cooling control means are configured to permit the temperature of the refrigerator to return to or remain at an ambient temperature of the surroundings of the refrigerator when the vehicle status data received by the cooling control means is indicative of the inactive state of the vehicle.

18. The refrigerator of any preceding claim, comprising mounting means for mounting the refrigerator to the part of the vehicle.

19. The refrigerator of claim 18, wherein the part of the vehicle to which the mounting means are for mounting the refrigerator comprises a cross beam of the vehicle.

20. A vehicle comprising the refrigerator according to any preceding claim.