KR101536042B1 - A system and method of temperature equalization applied to the door of electrical home appliances - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention can be applied to the doors 12, 24, 30 of household appliances by circulating air in the freezing compartment 23, the freezer compartment 11 or the refrigerator compartment 16, The present invention relates to a temperature uniformization method and system applied to a temperature uniformization method. The circulation includes forced movement of air between one or more air inlet openings and one or more air outlet openings (15, 25, 35, 36), wherein the forced movement is performed by one or more air inlet openings And is provided by the action of the ventilation fan 13, 26, 37. The openings are located in areas of different temperatures in the compartment and are interconnected by air flow guide means (14, 27, 34) which may be provided by conduits.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a system and a method for uniformizing a temperature applied to a door of a home appliance,

The present invention relates to a household appliance, and more particularly, to a temperature equalizing system for application to doors of refrigerating apparatuses, wherein when defrosting is performed in each cycle of the compressor (commonly known as 'cycle defrosting'), The refrigerating devices may be of the "cycle defrost" type and are known to be technically frost free or frost free when defrosting is autonomously controlled by a refrigerator ) Automatic type, or it may be a manual type when user intervention is required to effect defrosting, and such a system may be applied regardless of whether the product has one, two or more doors.

From the earliest mankind, there was a need to preserve food to enable the storage of food. The first household refrigerators were produced in 1913 by Fred W. Wolf Junior of Chicago, and were called Domelre (Domestic Electric Refrigerator). In 1925, the first refrigerators were built that included refrigeration boxes and motors, compressors and condensers (three of which previously existed independently and were located next to or under the refrigerator) in one single unit.

Between 1890 and 1929, refrigerators used toxic gases as refrigerants. Some examples include ammonia (NH ₃ ), methyl chloride (CH ₃ CL) and sulfur dioxide (SO ₂ ). In 1928, American engineer Thomas Midgley developed chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as a replacement for toxic gases (CCL ₂ F ₂ ) in such CFCs.

Unfortunately, in 1973, American chemists Frank Sherwood Rowland and Mario Molina began to warn of the harmful effects of CFC on the Earth's ozone layer. The refrigeration gas used to replace CFCs, R22 and R12 gases in household refrigerators for the past two decades is R 134a.

In addition to the development of refrigeration systems, the development of the application of new materials with temperature control systems, forced ventilation systems, automatic defrosting systems, better performance, design, ergonomics, aesthetics, .

During the decade of the 1990s, electric power consumption of household appliances, especially refrigerators, was of great concern. There have been implementations of these 10-year energy consumption rating tags, and refrigerators have accordingly been classified according to their energy consumption levels. Thus, the present invention considers the continuing interest to reduce the energy consumption levels of domestic refrigerators and is intended to contribute to the continual reduction of such consumption levels.

Prior art analysis

A refrigerator is described in US 5,826,437 entitled " Refrigeration for Discharging Cool Air from a Door ", in which the door of the refrigerator compartment includes a conduit buried therein, Temperature air intake opening and a number of cryogenic air diffusion openings also located on the inner side. Figures 3 and 4 of the cited document, again set forth as Figures 1 and 2 herein, show the side sections of the refrigerator compartment and the door in question, respectively. As can be observed therefrom, a fan (90) is installed in the suction opening (83) of the vertical conduit (80) terminating in the diffusion openings (81) of the upper and lower regions of the door. In order to improve the cooling of the food stored on the shelves 76 of the door, which are generally exposed to the surrounding heat every time the door is opened, the fan extracts cold air from the central area of the refrigerator compartment, as indicated by the arrows And injects the cold air into the upper and lower areas following the door.

1, the cold air for cooling the compartment originates from a freezer (not shown) and is introduced by conduit 68. Due to the higher density of the cold air, the cold air tends to accumulate in the lower area 91 of the refrigerator. As a result, the dispense mode as presented will clearly demonstrate a loss of efficiency of the process, since approximately half of the volume of cold air drawn by the fan 90 is transferred to the lower region, It is the area of the compartment with the lowest temperature.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a temperature equalization system for a refrigerator that is more efficient than currently known, as set forth in the above cited example.

One other object is to provide a temperature equalization system that can be used in refrigeration compartments, freezer units, and refrigeration compartments.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a system that does not require modification of the refrigeration system.

One other object is to provide a system that can be used in a refrigerator whether or not the refrigerator has one, two or more doors.

One other object is to provide a temperature equalization system that can be used in other types of household appliances, such temperature equalization maintaining the basic operating principle of other types of household appliances, e.g., ovens and cooking utensils.

The foregoing and other objects are achieved by the present invention by providing a means for circulating air in a refrigerator compartment, freezer unit or refrigerator, as the case may be, to eliminate air stagnation areas.

According to other features of the invention, the circulation comprises displacement of air between regions having different temperatures, using one or more ventilation fans for circulation purposes.

According to other features of the invention, the means utilized comprises a ventilation fan associated with an arrangement comprising at least an air inlet and an air outlet, the air inlet and the air outlet defining an air flow between the inlet and the outlet The compartment is provided with a compartment of interest in the door in order to promote forced circulation of air and to equalize the temperature distribution in the compartment.

According to other features of the invention, the different areas correspond to different levels of the compartment.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the system described herein can be used in cycle defrost type products when defrosting is performed in each cycle of the compressor (commonly known as 'cycle defrost') , It can be used in automatic type products (technically known as No Frost or Frost Froze) when the defrosting is autonomously controlled by the refrigerator, Can be used in passive type products when they need intervention, and the products have one, two or more doors.

According to a further feature of the invention, the system described may be used for temperature equalization only in the freezer compartment or freezer, in the refrigerator compartment or in both compartments (freezer and refrigerator or freezer compartment and refrigerator).

According to another feature of the invention, a temperature equalization system is applied to the doors of refrigeration devices, thereby avoiding the need to change the refrigeration system.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the proposed system promotes the orientation of the airflow direction within the regions of interest.

Similarly, the present invention acts within the door of the cooking apparatus to equalize the temperature in the oven compartment.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become better understood from the description of the preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention and the drawings for such an embodiment, It is only given as an example without.
Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a temperature equalizing system in a known cooling compartment.
Fig. 2 is a view showing piping embedded in the door of the refrigerator of Fig. 1; Fig.
3 is a diagram illustrating one possible embodiment of air flow within a freezer compartment by a cross-sectional view of a two-door refrigerator with a system according to the present invention.
4 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a door of a freezer compartment according to the principles of the present invention.
5 is a cross-sectional view of a temperature equalization system for a refrigerator compartment applied to refrigerators having a single-door cabinet.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing in detail a system including a ventilation fan, an internal conduit construction and air outlets, in a single-door refrigerator shown in FIG. 5, the temperature equalization system applied to a door of a freezing compartment;
7 is an exploded view of another configuration of the system presented herein applied to a door of a freezing compartment in a single-door cabinet;
8 is a sectional view showing the door of the freezing compartment with respect to the configuration of FIG.
9 is a perspective view illustrating air flow in an alternative configuration illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. Fig.

The present invention provides a solution for improving the air circulation in refrigeration systems whereby the present invention is based on the idea that defrosting can be carried out in each cycle of the compressor (commonly known as ' cycle defrosting '), In products of removal type, products of automatic type, in which defrosting is controlled autonomously by the refrigerator (technically known as frost-proof or non-frost-free), or in passive Type products, and these products may have one, two or more doors.

The present invention may be used in conventional refrigerators that distribute air only in the freezer compartment within the freezer or in the refrigerator compartment, or both (freezer and refrigerator or freezer compartment and refrigerator). In addition, the system presented herein may be used in horizontal-type freezers with one or two doors as well as vertical-type freezers. The present invention, when applied to a door of a refrigeration system, provides a ventilation fan, which can be provided as a conduit construction, either internally or externally, to facilitate the forced circulation of air to homogenize the temperature in the compartment in question, Execution means, air outlets and air inlets.

Since the installation of the ventilation fan does not change the object of the present invention, the ventilation fan may be installed inside the door or even outside the door, because the purpose of the ventilation fan is to move the air in the compartments (Forced ventilation).

Variations that cause the ventilation fan to inhale or vent air do not change the objects and results of the present invention. Changes in shapes and portions of air outlets or air inlets also do not affect the objects and results of the present invention because the specific function of the air outlets and air inlets is to direct the air flow towards predetermined areas . The shape and arrangement of the catheter body, either internally or externally, does not affect the overall purposes of the present invention.

Specific embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings for convenience, and each embodiment may be combined with other aspects as needed within the scope of the same aspect of the invention. Accordingly, FIG. 3 illustrates application of the system according to the present invention to the freezer compartment 11 of a refrigerator 10 having two doors. As shown in FIG. 3 and as embodied in FIG. 4, the door 12 of the freezer has a ventilation fan 13 installed in the air intake opening, which extends along a substantially vertical conduit 14, And ends at one or more air outlets 15. As can be observed in the exemplary embodiment, the air is sucked in the lower area or level of the door 12, i.e., next to the lower area of the freezer compartment 11, Is again vented into the same compartment through one or more air outlets (15) located in the region or level; In this case, these levels are at a higher level. This forced movement of air induces circulation of the closed-circuit type as indicated by the arrows, resulting in equalization of the temperature in the entire freezer compartment. If two or more outlets are used, the same will preferably be located at the same height.

Alternate embodiments will be understood by those skilled in the art and will be included within the scope of the claims herein. Thus, for example, the direction or sense of air circulation within the compartments to which the system is applied may be different from that shown in the figures.

In Figure 5, a cross-section is shown exemplarily for the application of the present system to a refrigerator 20 having a cabinet with a single door 21 on which shelves 22 are mounted. As shown, a temperature equalization system is mounted in the door 24 of the freezing compartment 23 and includes a fan 26, which draws cold air from the lower region of the compartment, And discharges the air through the opening 25 located in the upper region, thereby promoting the circulation of air inside the compartment. In Figure 6, additional details of the system presented herein are shown in perspective view. In the illustrated embodiment air drawn by the ventilation fan 26 is directed toward the air discharge openings 25 by a set of conduits 27 (shown in phantom) embedded in the door 24 .

Figures 7, 8 and 9 illustrate alternative constructions in which the means used to guide air flow dispense the use of conduits. As shown, the door 30 of the freezing compartment (not shown in these figures) includes an insulating main panel 31 on which an inwardly facing face faces the freezing compartment, A tray 32 molded with a thermoplastic material, preferably with or without a layer of heat insulating material, is disposed in an overlapping manner. The tray has a depth 33 which can sufficiently accommodate the ventilation fan 37 and its support pedestal 38 and which tray is provided on the inner surface of the panel 31 Respectively. The tray has a circular opening 34 for air intake arranged at a position corresponding to the position of the ventilation fan 37 and having a sufficient diameter to accommodate the propeller. This tray also has two openings 35 and 36 located at levels different from the levels of the intake openings. Accordingly, when the assembly is mounted by stacking the tray 32 over the panel, a cavity or "plenum" 34 is formed, as shown in Fig. The air drawn by the ventilation fan 37 is discharged into the plenum and is therefore diffused toward the openings 35 and 36 as shown by the dashed arrows in Figure 9, Lt; / RTI > insufflate. With this arrangement, the manufacturing cost of the system can be reduced because such configuration excludes the use of flow-directing conduits, and the flow generally progresses from the intake opening 34 to the discharge openings 35 and 36 do. As a result, on the inner side of the tray 32, ribs may be provided that are integrally molded with such a tray and are provided to direct air flow between the intake and exhaust openings.

In alternative alternative arrangements, blocks of adiabatic or non-adiabatic material may be inserted between the inner surfaces of the walls forming the plenum, said blocks being arranged such that such blocks allow air flow between the inlet opening and the outlet opening Oriented channels to form channels.

It should be understood that the innovations introduced herein are not to be limited to what is described and illustrated herein, and that the widest scope is to be understood. Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains and will have the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. As a result, the innovation is not limited to the form specifically described herein, and such variations and other forms may be understood as falling within the scope of the claims appended hereto. Of the configurable variations that may be implemented, it should be noted that not only horizontal refrigerators with one or two doors, but also vertical refrigerators, in which case the intake and blowing areas may be located at the same level.

Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Accordingly, it is intended that all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. will be.

Claims (23)

1. A temperature equalization system applied to a door of a freezer or a refrigerator,
The door may correspond to a freezer compartment 11, a freezing compartment 23, a refrigerator compartment 16, 21, or a horizontal or vertical type freezer, and the temperature equalizing system may comprise one or more ventilation fans 13, 26, 37) and means (14, 27, 34) for guiding the air flow interconnecting the at least one air inlet opening with one or more air outlet openings (15, 25, 35, In the system,
Wherein the at least one air inlet opening is disposed substantially at only one of a first level and a second level of the compartment, the temperature of the first level being different from the temperature of the second level, Wherein at least one of the first level and the second level is disposed at a level where the air inlet opening is not disposed, and one of the openings is associated with the ventilation fan. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the first level of air temperature is lower than the second level of air temperature. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the first level of air temperature is higher than the second level of air temperature. The method according to claim 2 or 3,
And the air inlet opening is disposed in the first level. The method according to claim 2 or 3,
And the air inlet opening is disposed at the second level. 5. The method of claim 4,
Wherein the ventilation fan (26, 37) is disposed within the air inlet opening. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Wherein the ventilation fan is disposed in the air discharge opening. 8. The method of claim 7,
And at least two air outlet openings (25, 35, 36), all of said openings being located at substantially the same level. 9. The method of claim 8,
Characterized in that the means for guiding the flow of air is provided by conduits (14, 27) located internally in connection with the doors (12, 24) in which the system is installed. 9. The method of claim 8,
Wherein the air flow guiding means are provided by conduits located externally with respect to the door in which the system is installed. 9. The method of claim 8,
Characterized in that the air flow guiding means are provided by a plenum (34) associated with the door (30) in which the system is installed. 10. The method of claim 9,
Is applied to the doors (24, 31) of the freezing compartment (23). 10. The method of claim 9,
Is applied to the door (12) of the freezer compartment (11). 10. The method of claim 9,
Is applied to the door (17) of the refrigerator compartment (16). 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Comprises blowing air into the freezer compartment (11), the freezing compartment (23), the refrigerated compartment (16, 21), or the horizontal or vertical type freezer. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
And discharging air to the conduits (14, 27). 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Wherein the temperature equalization system is applied to cookers. A method of temperature equalization applied to a door of a freezer or a refrigerator,
One or more openings (15, 25, 25) disposed at a second level of the same compartment, the air being drawn into or drawn through holes associated with doors (12, 24, 31) disposed only at a first level of the at least one compartment 35, 36), thereby providing circulation of air within the one or more compartments (11, 16, 23). 19. The method of claim 18,
Wherein the first level of air temperature is lower than the second level of air temperature. 19. The method of claim 18,
Wherein the first level of air temperature is higher than the second level of air temperature. 21. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 20,
Characterized in that the intake of the air is provided by a ventilation fan (13, 26, 37). 21. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 20,
And the air is blown by the ventilation fan. 19. The method of claim 18,
Wherein the first level corresponds to a first level of the one or more compartment (s), and the second level corresponds to a second level of the one or more compartment (s).

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