US20140298828A1 - Secondary cooling apparatus and method for a refrigerator - Google Patents
Secondary cooling apparatus and method for a refrigerator Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20140298828A1 US20140298828A1 US14/312,783 US201414312783A US2014298828A1 US 20140298828 A1 US20140298828 A1 US 20140298828A1 US 201414312783 A US201414312783 A US 201414312783A US 2014298828 A1 US2014298828 A1 US 2014298828A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- cooling
- refrigerator
- cooling loop
- compartment
- evaporator
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Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D11/00—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B25/00—Machines, plants or systems, using a combination of modes of operation covered by two or more of the groups F25B1/00 - F25B23/00
- F25B25/005—Machines, plants or systems, using a combination of modes of operation covered by two or more of the groups F25B1/00 - F25B23/00 using primary and secondary systems
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D11/00—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
- F25D11/02—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators with cooling compartments at different temperatures
- F25D11/022—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators with cooling compartments at different temperatures with two or more evaporators
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D17/00—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
- F25D17/02—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating liquids, e.g. brine
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05D—HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
- E05D11/00—Additional features or accessories of hinges
- E05D11/0081—Additional features or accessories of hinges for transmitting energy, e.g. electrical cable routing
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO HINGES OR OTHER SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS AND DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION, CHECKS FOR WINGS AND WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
- E05Y2800/00—Details, accessories and auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
- E05Y2800/10—Additional functions
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO HINGES OR OTHER SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS AND DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION, CHECKS FOR WINGS AND WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
- E05Y2900/00—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof
- E05Y2900/30—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for domestic appliances
- E05Y2900/31—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for domestic appliances for refrigerators
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
- F25C2400/00—Auxiliary features or devices for producing, working or handling ice
- F25C2400/10—Refrigerator units
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D23/00—General constructional features
- F25D23/12—Arrangements of compartments additional to cooling compartments; Combinations of refrigerators with other equipment, e.g. stove
- F25D23/126—Water cooler
Abstract
The present invention provides a secondary cooling apparatus and method of providing cooling to one or more features in a refrigerator. In one exemplary aspect of the present invention, the refrigerator includes a cabinet having a door, a first cooling loop in the cabinet, and a second cooling loop cooled by the first cooling loop. The secondary cooling loop is adapted to cool the one or more features in the cabinet or on the door of the refrigerator. In another exemplary aspect of the present invention, a method for providing cooling in a refrigerator to one or more features in a compartment or on a door of the refrigerator includes providing a first cooling loop within a refrigerator, cooling a secondary cooling loop directly or indirectly with the first cooling loop, and transferring cooling from the secondary cooling loop to the one or more features in the compartment or on the door of the refrigerator.
Description
- The present invention relates to the field of refrigeration. More specifically, the present invention provides a secondary cooling apparatus and method for cooling a refrigerator.
- Throughout the years, new features in refrigerators demand cooling, such as ice makers and water chillers have been incorporated into household refrigerators. As these features have evolved in terms of location, size, capacity and efficiency, new ways of providing refrigeration must be developed. Recently, much effort has been spent on cooling these features with cold air stream-based solutions. However, cold air stream-based solutions typically do not provide enough cooling capacity to refrigerator features, whether within the refrigerator or on the door, thus limiting their capacity and performance. Therefore, a need has been identified in the art to provide a secondary cooling loop for cooling features such as ice maker, water chiller, and/or other compartment within the refrigerator on the door.
- There also have been considerable efforts recently to maximize the storage space in the fresh food and freezer compartments of a refrigerator. Some of these efforts focus on changing the size and position of the ice maker, either located in the freezer or fresh food compartment, but have limited ice production rates. Therefore, a need has been identified in the art to provide the consumer with the option of adding/removing different size and capacity module ice makers or other features, such as a water chiller, chilled compartment, or the like.
- The present invention addresses these needs and other needs in the art to provide secondary cooling within the refrigerator or on the door of the refrigerator.
- The present invention relates to a secondary cooling apparatus and method for providing cooling to one or more features in a refrigerator. In one aspect of the present invention, a refrigerator having one or more evaporator systems adapted to provide cooling to one or more features of the refrigerator is disclosed. The refrigerator includes a cabinet having a door, a first cooling loop in the cabinet, and a secondary cooling loop cooled by the first cooling loop. The secondary cooling loop is adapted to cool one or more of the features in the cabinet or on the door of the refrigerator. In a preferred form, the refrigerator also includes a fluid reservoir cooled within a freezer or evaporator compartment, wherein the cooled fluid from the fluid reservoir is transferred to a heat exchanger associated with an ice maker, a thermosyphon or heat pipe transfers cooling from a freezer or evaporator compartment to a heat exchanger associated with an ice maker, a cooling line of the first or secondary cooling loop passes through an interface attaching the door to the cabinet to provide cooling to an ice maker and/or water chiller on the door, and a first coupler is adapted to mate with a secondary coupler of the secondary cooling loop, whereby cold liquid in the first cooling loop cools the first coupler to conductively cool the secondary coupler and liquid passing therethrough.
- In another aspect of the present invention, a refrigerator having at least two evaporator systems adapted to provide cooling to one or more features of the refrigerator is disclosed. The refrigerator includes a cabinet having a door, a first cooling loop having a freezer compartment evaporator and a refrigerator compartment evaporator in fluid communication with the freezer compartment evaporator, and a secondary cooling loop cooled directly or indirectly by the first cooling loop to provide cooling to the one or more features in the cabinet or on the door of the refrigerator. In a preferred form, the refrigerator includes the secondary cooling loop in fluid connection with the first cooling loop before or after the refrigerator compartment evaporator to provide cooling to an evaporator on the door to cool an ice maker, heat exchanger, water chiller, and/or other compartment. The refrigerator compartment evaporator is conductively coupled with an ice maker, whereby the ice maker forms a coupled or direct extension of the refrigerator compartment evaporator.
- In yet another aspect of the present invention, a refrigerator having one or more evaporator systems adapted to provide cooling to one or more features of the refrigerator is disclosed. The refrigerator includes a cabinet having a door, a first cooling loop with the one or more evaporator systems, and a heat exchanger of one of the evaporator systems being coupled with one of the features. The features are adapted to form a coupled or direct extension of the heat exchanger. In a preferred form, the heat exchanger includes a refrigerator compartment heat exchanger permanently coupled with an ice maker heat exchanger. This feature is adapted to couple to and de-couple from the heat exchanger to provide modularity of an ice maker or other component.
- A new method for providing cooling in a refrigerator to one or more features in a compartment or on a door of the refrigerator is disclosed. The method includes providing a first cooling loop within the refrigerator, cooling a secondary cooling loop directly or indirectly with the first cooling loop, and transferring cooling from the secondary cooling loop to the features in the compartment or on the door of the refrigerator. In a preferred form, the method includes cooling fluid in a fluid reservoir within a freezer or evaporator compartment of the refrigerator to provide cooling to an ice maker, heat exchanger, water chiller, and/or compartment within the refrigerator or on the door, routing the first or secondary cooling loop through a hinge connecting the door to the refrigerator to provide cooling to one or more features on the door, and transferring cooling in the first cooling loop to the secondary cooling loop through a coupler by conduction.
- Another method of the present invention for providing cooling in a refrigerator to one or more features in a compartment or on the door of the refrigerator is disclosed. The method includes providing a first cooling loop having a freezer compartment evaporator in fluid communication with a refrigerator compartment evaporator, cooling a secondary cooling loop directly or indirectly using the first cooling loop, and transferring cooling in the secondary cooling loop to the feature in the compartment or on the door. In a preferred form, the method includes connecting the secondary cooling loop to the first cooling loop after or before the refrigerator compartment evaporator to provide cooling to an evaporator on the door to cool an ice maker, heat exchanger, water chiller, and/or other compartment, conductively coupling the refrigerator compartment evaporator with an ice maker, whereby the ice maker forms a coupled or direct extension of the refrigerator compartment evaporator, and coupling together a first coupler in-line with the first cooling loop with a second coupler in-line with the secondary cooling loop to provide cooling from the first cooling loop to the secondary cooling loop, and substituting out one modular feature with another modular feature by de-coupling the one modular feature and re-coupling the other modular feature to the first coupler.
- Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for the purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
- The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way.
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FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a refrigerator having an ice maker coupled to an evaporator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 2 is a refrigeration schematic forFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 3 is another schematic for the coupled ice maker and evaporator shown inFIG. 2 . -
FIG. 4 is a refrigeration schematic having a secondary cooling loop according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 5 is an illustration of the coupler shown inFIG. 4 . -
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the coupler shown inFIG. 5 . -
FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of a refrigerator having a secondary cooling loop according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a refrigerant line extending from the cabinet of the refrigerator to the door through a hinge according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the hinge shown inFIG. 8 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 10 is a refrigeration schematic having a secondary cooling loop according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 11 is another refrigeration schematic having a secondary cooling loop according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. - The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present invention, application, or uses. The present invention provides a
refrigerator 10 having one or more cooling loops and adapted for modularity of one or more features, including but not limited to, an ice maker, a water chiller, heat exchanger, and/or other compartment or feature. -
FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of therefrigerator 10 of the present invention. Generally speaking, therefrigerator 10 includes a body orcabinet 12 enclosed by one ormore doors 14. Adispenser 16 may be included on one or more of thedoors 14. Thedispenser 16 may be adapted to dispense ice and/or water on thedoor 14. Therefrigerator 10 may also include arefrigerator compartment 20 and afreezer compartment 18. To provide cooling in therefrigerator compartment 20 or one or more other compartments inrefrigerator 10, anevaporator 22 is provided in therefrigerator compartment 20. Likewise,evaporator 24 is provided in thefreezer compartment 20 to provide cooling to thefreezer compartment 18 or another compartment within therefrigerator 10. In one exemplary aspect of the present invention, theevaporator 22 in thefreezer compartment 18 may be coupled directly or indirectly with one feature of therefrigerator 10, such as anice maker 26. Anice bin 28 is provided for collecting and storing ice from theice maker 26. Although anice maker 26 is shown conductively coupled with theevaporator 22, the present invention contemplates many other features coupled withevaporator 22 in therefrigerator compartment 20. For example, a water chiller, additional heat exchanger or other fluid reservoir or compartment may be conductively coupled with theevaporator 22. -
FIG. 2 shows afirst cooling loop 30 of therefrigerator 10 shown inFIG. 1 . Thefirst cooling loop 30 includes aliquid circuit 32. The liquid circuit includes acompressor 34 and acondenser 42. Cooling liquid from thecondenser 42 flows throughvalve 66.Valve 66 in the preferred form, is a three-way valve adapted to control the flow of cooling liquid through theevaporator valve 66 may pass throughevaporator valve 68. In the preferred form,valve 68 is a capillary tube. Cooling liquid fromvalve 68 passes throughevaporator 24 in thefreezer compartment 18. Anothervalve 44 may be used to control the flow of cooling liquid fromevaporator 24 back tocompressor 34. In the preferred form,valve 44 is a one-way valve permitting flow in one direction fromevaporator 24 tocompressor 34. Cooling liquid passing throughvalve 68 andevaporator 22 inrefrigerator compartment 20 may also pass throughevaporator 70 ofice maker 26. The cooling liquid ultimately passes through theliquid circuit 32 back to thecompressor 34. - The present invention contemplates numerous ways to couple the
ice maker 26 withevaporator 22. For example, ifevaporator 22 is placed inrefrigerator compartment 20,evaporator 22 may have a surplus of cooling capacity which may be used for coolingice maker 26. In one aspect,ice maker 26, as shown inFIG. 3 , may be cooled as an extended surface ofevaporator 22, whereby theice maker 26 is a factory-set extension ofevaporator 22 inrefrigerator compartment 20. Cooling theice maker 26 as an extended surface ofevaporator 22 inrefrigerator compartment 20 would open up opportunities for downsizing the heat exchanger in therefrigerator compartment 20. The present invention also contemplates that the coupling between theice maker 26 andevaporator 22 in therefrigerator compartment 20 could be a permanent or temporary coupling. For example,coupler 72 could be permanently coupled withice maker 26 such thatice maker 26 forms an extended surface ofevaporator 22 inrefrigerator compartment 20. Alternatively, coupling 72 may be adapted to allowice maker 26 to couple and de-couple fromevaporator 22. Allowing theice maker 26 to couple and de-couple fromcoupler 72 ofevaporator 22 provides the option of adding/removing different size and capacity modular ice makers.Coupler 72 would also allow different types of modular ice makers to be used such as clear ice or specially-shaped ice makers. Furthermore, coupling theice maker 26 toevaporator 22 inrefrigerator compartment 20 allows theice maker 26 to be removed totally to provide additional storage space within therefrigerator compartment 20 or other compartment of therefrigerator 10. If theice maker 26 is coupled toevaporator 22 and forms an extension of theevaporator 22 or the heat exchanger, the total volume occupied byevaporator 22 andice maker 26 may be reduced considerably over conventional methods. Thus, the overall cost of therefrigerator 10 could be reduced. As well, consumers could be given the option of the add-on feature of anice maker 26 of different size, capacity, and type. -
FIG. 4 discloses another aspect of coupling one or more features such as an ice maker to a dual evaporator system to provide modularity of features such as an ice maker.FIG. 4 illustrates a refrigeration schematic having afirst cooling loop 30 as described forFIG. 2 . Coupled to thefirst cooling loop 30 is asecondary cooling loop 52. Thesecondary cooling loop 52 may be a separate cooling loop from thefirst cooling loop 30 whereby cooling capacity from thefirst cooling loop 30 is transferred conductively throughcoupler 72 whereby supply and return lines provide cooling capacity toice maker 26 fromcoupler 72 cooled by thefirst coupling loop 30. Thesecondary cooling loop 52 is coupled to thefirst cooling loop 30 by way ofcoupler 72 as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6 .Coupler 72 may be adapted to transfer cooling fromliquid circuit 32 directly or indirectly.Coupler 72 allows cooling from thefirst cooling loop 30 to be transferred conductively to cooling liquid in thesecondary cooling loop 52 to operate the ice maker or other feature on thedoor 14, such as a water chiller, chilled compartment, heat exchanger, or the like.FIG. 5 shows oneexemplary coupler 72 of the present invention adapted to transfer cooling from thefirst cooling loop 30 to thesecondary cooling loop 52. In one aspect of thecoupler 72, cooling liquid travels throughrefrigerant line 80 incoupler 74.Coupler 74 is preferably designed to have acoupling interface 78 which maximizes the surface area for transferring heat. Moreover,coupler 74 may be adapted to have acoupling interface 78 for receiving acoupling interface 78 ofcoupler 76, where thesecondary cooling loop 52 passes throughcoupler 76. The twointerfaces 78 ofcoupler secondary cooling loop 52 may further include partially-insulated tubing (not shown) through which a refrigerant, such as glycol-based solutions, flows when driven by natural or forced convection. Because theice maker 26 is part of thesecondary cooling loop 52, the position of theice maker 26 is not necessarily dependent on the position of therefrigeration compartment evaporator 22 as theliquid circuit 32 of thesecondary cooling loop 52 transports heat from theice maker 26 back to thefirst cooling loop 30 throughcoupler 72. - As shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6 , thesecondary cooling loop 52 may, in one embodiment, be coupled to thefirst cooling loop 30 by sliding thecoupling interface 78 of thecoupler secondary cooling loop 52 to thefirst cooling loop 30, heat from theice maker 26 may be dissipated through the evaporator outlet in therefrigerator compartment 20, thereby making possible the cooling capacity distribution from thefirst cooling loop 30 to thesecondary cooling loop 52. Coupler may also include ahousing 94 having insulative properties to help decrease heat transfer loss. As previously discussed,coupler 72 operates under the principal of conduction; therefore, the present invention seeks to maximize thecoupling interface 78. Additionally, the present invention contemplates using high thermal conductivity materials such as aluminum or copper for thecoupler 72. By coupling the secondary cooling loop to thefirst cooling loop 30, better use of the cooling capacity and thefirst cooling loop 30 is attained when using therefrigerator compartment evaporator 22 or whenrefrigerator 10 is in a cooling mode for coolingrefrigerator compartment 20. For example, with an on/off compressor, the surplus of cooling capacity from thefirst cooling loop 30 when therefrigerator 10 is cooling therefrigerator compartment 20 could be used for providing cooling toice maker 26 or other features within therefrigerator 10 or on thedoor 14. In another aspect of the present invention,coupler 72 provides modularity of one or more components, such as an ice maker, to provide the customer with the option of choosing several concepts of ice makers, such as a crescent ice mold, plastic mold, or clear ice module. As is standard with most ice makers,ice maker 26 may include an electric heater for detaching ice from theice maker 26. Therefore, in one aspect of the present invention, cooling liquid from thesecondary cooling loop 52 may be interrupted to prevent excessive amount of heat from being taken back to thefirst cooling loop 30 during the ice harvesting process. For example, thesecondary cooling loop 52 may be de-coupled from thefirst cooling loop 30 by valves or other means, to prevent cooling liquid from flowing throughice maker 26 when driven by natural conduction means. Alternatively, cooling liquid in thesecondary cooling loop 52 driven by forced convection, such as a pump, could be turned off during the ice harvesting process. The idea of coupling provides many benefits. Coupling thesecondary cooling loop 52 to thefirst cooling loop 30 by way ofcoupler 76 allows modularity of one or more of the features, such as anice maker 26 having different capacities and types of ice making abilities. Additionally, the present aspect helps to free up space in therefrigerator 10 or other compartment by easy removal of theice maker 26. The present aspect also provides for efficient energy use of a dual evaporator system as shown inFIG. 4 . -
FIG. 7 discloses another aspect of the present invention.FIG. 7 provides an illustration of one example of a solution to account for problems resulting from transfer/forced movement of chilled air or cold air streams to provide cooling to features, such as an ice maker of the refrigerator.FIG. 7 illustrates arefrigerator 10 having a body orcabinet 12 with one ormore doors 14 mounted thereto. Therefrigerator 10 includes afreezer compartment 18 and arefrigerator compartment 20. Afirst cooling loop 30 is positioned within the body orcabinet 12 of therefrigerator 10. Thefirst cooling loop 30 has apower connector 36 electrically connected to anelectrical panel 38 for providing power to acompressor 34. Cooling liquid or refrigerant from thecompressor 34 passes throughcondenser 42 cooled byfan 40.Expansion device 44 controls the flow of cooling liquid fromcondenser 42 intoevaporator 46 located infreezer compartment 18. Cooling liquid passes from theevaporator 46 throughliquid circuit 32 back tocompressor 34.Refrigerator 10 may includefan 48 adapted to move chilled air fromfreezer compartment 18 throughduct 50 intorefrigerator compartment 20. Asecondary cooling loop 52 is illustrated in the freezer andrefrigerator compartment refrigerator 10. Thesecondary cooling loop 52 includes aliquid circuit 58 adapted to convey cooling liquid, such as water-alcohol or water-brine solution, fromreservoir 54 throughliquid circuit 58 to heat exchanger 60. Cooling liquid within theliquid circuit 58 enters the heat exchanger 60 throughsupply line 62 and returns to thereservoir 54 throughreturn line 64 by way ofpump 56 adapted to recirculate cooling liquid within theliquid circuit 58. Liquid within thereservoir 54 andfreezer compartment 18 is chilled by the cooling capacity of theevaporator 46. The chilled liquid inreservoir 54 is communicated through heat exchanger 60 ofice maker 26 to provide sufficient cooling capacity toice maker 26 for making ice within therefrigerator compartment 20. AlthoughFIG. 7 illustrates theice maker 26 being positioned inrefrigerator compartment 20, the present invention also contemplates locating theice maker 26 of thesecondary cooling loop 52 within thefreezer compartment 18, on one or more ofdoors 14 and/or other compartments associated withrefrigerator 10. Furthermore,secondary cooling loop 52 could be used to provide cooling capacity to other features, such as a water chiller, heat exchanger, chilled compartment within therefrigerator 10 or ondoor 14, or the like. The present invention also contemplates other possible concepts for cooling or providing cooling capacity to one or more features, such as anice maker 26 usingsecondary cooling loop 52. For example,secondary cooling loop 52 could operate as a thermosyphon or heat pipe for transferring cooling capacity from thefreezer compartment 18 or other compartment, such as an evaporator compartment, to one or more features of therefrigerator 10, such as heat exchanger 60 ofice maker 26. -
FIGS. 8-11 disclose another aspect of the present invention.FIGS. 8-11 disclose an exemplary aspect of the present invention providing cooling capacity to one or more features on adoor 14 of therefrigerator 10.FIG. 8 illustrates a partial perspective view ofrefrigerator 10 having a body orcabinet 12 with a pair ofdoors 14 attached thereto.Door 14 ofrefrigerator 10 articulates with respect tocabinet 12 by way ofhinge 82 shown inFIG. 9 .Ice maker 26 is shown ondoor 14 ofrefrigerator 10. A coolingline 80 is shown passing from thecabinet 12 of therefrigerator 10 toice maker 26 ondoor 14 throughhinge 82, as best illustrated inFIG. 8 . AlthoughFIG. 8 illustrates anice maker 26 on thedoor 14 of therefrigerator 10, the present invention contemplates assisting other door-placed features with cooling capacity from therefrigerator 10, such as a water chiller, heat exchanger, chilled compartment, or the like. -
FIG. 9 best illustrates how cooling lines may be positioned throughhinge 82 to provide cooling capacity from therefrigerator 10 to one or more features, such as inice maker 26, on thedoor 14 of therefrigerator 10. To passsupply line 62 and returnline 64 throughjoint 84 ofhinge 82,supply line 62 and returnline 64 are placed concentrically through joint 84 andhinge 82.Return line 64 and/orsupply line 62 may be acapillary tube 90 orsuction line 96 in the case of passing cooling liquid through thehinge 82 from the first cooling loop. Thus, cooling capacity from afirst cooling loop 30 withinrefrigerator 10 is transferred throughsupply line 62 and/orcapillary tube 90 toinlet 88 feeding cooling liquid to one or more features of the refrigerator, such asice maker 26. Heat from the one or more features such as anice maker 26 is recirculated back through therefrigerator 10 throughoutlet 86 and returnline 64 orsuction line 96. AlthoughFIG. 9 illustrates transferring cooling capacity from therefrigerator 10 to a feature on thedoor 14 throughhinge 82, the present invention further contemplates transferring cooling capacity from therefrigerator 10 to one or more features on thedoor 14 through any other regions or interfaces betweendoor 14 andcabinet 12 of therefrigerator 10. -
FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate a couple exemplary embodiments of afirst cooling loop 30 adapted to provide cooling to asecondary cooling loop 52 on thedoor 14.FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate a refrigeration schematic as described forFIG. 2 . Asecondary cooling loop 52 is connected to thefirst cooling loop 30. InFIG. 10 , thesecondary cooling loop 52 is connected to thefirst cooling loop 30 after therefrigerator compartment evaporator 22.Secondary cooling loop 52 includesliquid circuit 32 connected to thefirst cooling loop 30 by way ofvalve 66. In the preferred form,valve 66 may be a three-way valve adapted to control the flow of cooling liquid in thefirst cooling loop 30 into thesecondary cooling loop 52. Cooling liquid from thefirst cooling loop 30 travels through theliquid circuit 32,valve 68 intoevaporator 70 providing cooling capacity to one or more features ondoor 14, such as an ice maker or water chiller. If, for example,evaporator 70 is used to provide cooling capacity to an ice maker,valve 66 after the refrigerator compartment evaporator is actuated allowing cooling liquid or refrigerant to flow throughhinge 82 toward the ice maker and then back through a suction line withinhinge 82 to provide cooling from thefirst cooling loop 30 to theice maker 26 coupled to theevaporator 70 of thesecondary cooling loop 52. Alternatively, in the ice harvesting process or during defrost,valve 66 may be actuated to close off liquid flow through thesecondary cooling loop 52 to prevent heat from the evaporator 70 from being brought back into therefrigerator compartment 20 of therefrigerator 10. -
FIG. 11 shows an alternative embodiment ofFIG. 10 . InFIG. 11 , thesecondary cooling loop 52 is placed before therefrigerator compartment evaporator 22, thus,valve 66, when actuated, and allows cooling liquid within thefirst cooling loop 30 to flow through thesecondary cooling loop 52. To reach theevaporator 70, cooling liquid from thefirst cooling loop 30 may be transferred throughhinge 82 and intodoor 14 by way ofcapillary tube 90.Heat exchanger 92 allows heat from cooling liquid to be dissipated before passing throughexpansion valve 68 andevaporator 70. Cooling liquid passing throughevaporator 70 is brought back intorefrigerator 10 through asuction line 96. Thus, cooling capacity may be provided to one or more features on thedoor 14 throughhinge 18 or other suitable interfaces or regions betweendoor 14 andcabinet 12 ofrefrigerator 10. - The description of the disclosure is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the disclosure. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Changes in the formed proportions of parts, as well as in substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or are rendered expedient without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as further defined in the following claims.
Claims (11)
1-13. (canceled)
14. A method for providing cooling in a refrigerator to one or more features in a compartment or on a door of the refrigerator, the method comprising:
providing a first cooling loop within a refrigerator;
cooling a secondary cooling loop directly and/or indirectly with the first cooling loop; and
transferring cooling from the secondary loop to the features in the compartment or on the door of the refrigerator.
15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of cooling fluid in a fluid reservoir within a freezer or evaporator compartment of the refrigerator to provide cooling to an ice maker, heat exchanger, water chiller, and/or other compartment within the refrigerator or on the door.
16. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of routing the first or secondary cooling loop through a hinge connecting the door to the refrigerator to provide cooling to one or more features on the door.
17. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of transferring cooling in the first cooling loop to the secondary cooling loop through a coupler by conduction.
18. A method for providing cooling in a refrigerator to one or more features in a compartment or on a door of the refrigerator, the method comprising:
providing a first cooling loop having a freezer compartment evaporator in fluid communication with a refrigerator compartment evaporator;
cooling a secondary cooling loop directly or indirectly using the first cooling loop; and
transferring cooling in the secondary cooling loop to the feature in the compartment or on the door.
19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of connecting the secondary cooling loop to the first cooling loop after the refrigerator compartment evaporator to provide cooling to an evaporator on the door to cool an ice maker, heat exchanger, water chiller, and/or other compartment.
20. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of connecting the secondary cooling loop to the first cooling loop before the refrigerator compartment evaporator to provide cooling to an evaporator on the door to cool an ice maker, heat exchanger, water chiller, and/or other compartment.
21. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of conductively coupling the refrigerator compartment evaporator with an ice maker, whereby the ice maker forms a coupled or direct extension of the refrigerator compartment evaporator.
22. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of coupling together a first coupler in line with the first cooling loop with a second coupler in line with the secondary cooling loop to provide cooling from the first cooling loop to the secondary cooling loop.
23. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of substituting out one modular feature with another modular feature by de-coupling the one modular feature and re-coupling the other modular feature with the first coupler.
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US14/312,783 Abandoned US20140298828A1 (en) | 2008-04-18 | 2014-06-24 | Secondary cooling apparatus and method for a refrigerator |
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US11493256B2 (en) | 2017-06-30 | 2022-11-08 | Midea Group Co., Ltd. | Refrigerator with tandem evaporators |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
BRPI0900734A2 (en) | 2010-04-06 |
IT1395426B1 (en) | 2012-09-14 |
ITVA20090025A1 (en) | 2009-10-19 |
US20090260371A1 (en) | 2009-10-22 |
US8794026B2 (en) | 2014-08-05 |
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