WO2008004771A1

WO2008004771A1 - Apparatus for supercooling

Info

Publication number: WO2008004771A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/002721
Authority: WO
Inventors: Su-Cheong Kim; Jong-Min Shin; Deok-Hyun Youn; Cheol-Hwan Kim; Won-Young Chung; Hoon-Bong Lee
Original assignee: Lg Electronics, Inc.
Priority date: 2006-07-01
Filing date: 2007-06-05
Publication date: 2008-01-10
Also published as: KR20080003222A; KR100827883B1; WO2008004765A2; WO2008004764A2; KR20080003219A; KR100886987B1; KR20080003218A; KR100857324B1; WO2008004770A1; KR100836324B1; WO2008004761A2; KR20080003221A; WO2008004761A3; KR20080003220A; KR20080003215A; KR20070110465A; WO2008004762A1; WO2008004764A3; KR100862107B1; WO2008004763A1

Abstract

The present invention discloses an apparatus for supercooling, including a cooling chamber, the cool air generated by a freezing cycle in which a refrigerant flows being introduced into the cooling chamber (120), a non-freezing chamber (200) positioned in the cooling chamber, for storing food in a non-frozen supercooled state, an electrode (230) positioned at the periphery of the non-freezing chamber (200), for generating an electric field in the non-freezing chamber, and a food support member (210) positioned in the non-freezing chamber (200) and provided with a mesh face. This configuration can improve energy efficiency by reducing the area of the face operated as an interference material between the electrodes for applying the electric field.

Description

APPARATUS FOR SUPERCOOLING

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to an apparatus for supercooling which can maintain water in a supercooled state without freezing water, and more particularly, to an apparatus for supercooling with a non-freezing chamber for keeping food at a low temperature without freezing the food. Background Art

[2] Supercooling means that liquid is not transited into solid but maintained in a high temperature phase, namely, in a liquid phase below a phase transition temperature to solid. One example of the supercooling is water drops supercooled in a natural state. In a general refrigerator, water or beverages happen to be supercooled, instead of being frozen. Examples of applying the supercooling principle to a refrigerator are a freezing method disclosed under Japanese Patent Laid-Open Gazette S59-151834 and a freezing method and a refrigerator disclosed under Japanese Patent Laid-Open Gazette 2001-086967. The above examples teach a technique of maintaining food in a supercooled state below a phase transition temperature, by applying an electric field or a magnetic field to the food in the refrigerator. Meanwhile, an electrostatic field processing method disclosed under International Publication WO/98/41115 suggests various types of electrode structures that can be used to supercool and thaw food.

[3] Rg. 1 illustrates one example of a refrigerator with a special storage chamber dsclosed in Korean Patent Laid-Open Gazette 2003-0038999. A main body 10 of the refrigerator includes a freezing chamber 20, a refrigerating chamber 30, a special storage chamber 40 formed at the lower portion of the refrigerating chamber 30, and a freezing chamber obor 21 and a refrigerating chamber door 31 binge-coupled to the main body 10, respectively, for opening and closing the freezing chamber 20 and the refrigerating chamber 30.

[4] The special storage chamber 40 is a space for storing easily-decayable food, such as fish and meat. If the fish or meat is stored in the freezing chamber 20, it takes a long time to thaw the frozen food for cooking. The special storage chamber 40 is intended to solve such a problem.

[5] The special storage chamber provided at the conventional refrigerator maintains a temperature lower than the refrigerating chamber and higher than the freezing chamber. Therefore, the special storage chamber is inappropriate to keep fish and meat for an extended period of time. When the user wants to keep the fish or meat over a few tens of hours, he/she still has to store the fish or meat in the freezing chamber and thaw it for cooking. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[6] An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for supercooling with a non-freezing chamber for keeping food below a phase transition temperature of water for an extended period of time without freezing the food by preventing the phase transition of water.

[7] Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for supercooling with a food support member for preventing food from directly contacting an electrode for applying an electric field to a non-freezing chamber.

[8] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for supercooling with a food support member for supporting food in a non-freezing chamber, and lowering reduction of an intensity of an electric field applied by an electrode. Technical Solution

[9] In order to achieve the above-described objects of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for supercooling, induing: a cooling chamber, the cool air generated by a freezing cycle in which a refrigerant flows being introduced into the cooling chamber; a non-freezing chamber positioned in the cooling chamber, for storing food in a non-frozen supercooled state; an electrode positioned at the periphery of the non- freezing chamber, for generating an electric field in the non-freezing chamber; and a food support member made of an insulation material, positioned in the non-freezing chamber, and provided with a mesh face. In this configuration, the food support member made of an insulation material can prevent electricity from flowing through the food. As the food support member is formed in a mesh shape, the area of the face operated as an interference material between the electrodes for applying the electric field can be reduced to improve energy efficiency. In addition, when the food support member is formed in a mesh shape, the cool air can smoothly flow in the non-freezing chamber, to thereby prevent the food from being frozen by heat conduction from the bottom of the electrode.

[10] In another aspect of the present invention, the food support member is positioned lower than the center in the non-freezing chamber. It is difficult to store food at the lower portion of the food support member. This configuration is intended to secure a space for storing food.

[11] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the food support member is formed in a box shape with an open top face. In this configiration, the food can be stably stored and taken in and out through the open face.

[12] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the electrodes are positioned on the top and bottom faces of the non-freezing chamber, and the bottom face of the food support member is formed in a mesh shape.

[13] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the electrodes are positioned on both side faces of the non-freezing chamber, and both side faces of the food support member are formed in a mesh shape. In this configuration, as food does not have a mesh but a general plane surface, small food can be stored regardless of the mesh size.

[14] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the apparatus for supercooling further includes an outer casing for defining the non-freezing chamber. The outer casing can be integrally formed with a casing for defining the cooling chamber, or individually formed and adhered to the casing for defining the cooling chamber.

[15] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the electrode is positioned on the inner face of the outer casing. This configiration can improve energy efficiency by reducing weakening of the intensity of the electric field by minimizing an interference material between the electrodes.

[16] In yet another aspect of the present invention, any one of the front face and the top face of the outer casing is open.

[17] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the food support member can be taken out through the open face of the outer casing. In this configiration, food can be easily positioned on the food support member.

[18] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the outer casing and the food support member have glide members corresponding to each other and griding the movement of the food support member. In this configiration, the food support member can be stably taken in and out from the outer casing.

[19] In yet another aspect of the present invention, a daor is provided at any one of the front face and the top face of the outer casing to be opened and closed. In this configiration, the non-freezing chamber can be stably isolated from the cooling chamber.

[20] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the outer casing includes cool air inflow and outflow holes for letting the cool air in and out. In this configiration, the cool air for cooling the cooling chamber is circulated to the non-freezing chamber to cool the non-freezing chamber. [21] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the electrode includes a defrosting device for defrosting the electrode. This configuration can prevent weakening of the intensity of the electric field by defrosting the electrode.

[22] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the electrode includes a defrosting device for defrosting the electrode, and the outer casing farther includes a drain hole for discharging defrost water. In this configuration, as the defrost water generated by defrosting the electrode is discharged, the inside of the non-freezing chamber can be maintained clean and re-freezing of the defrost water can be prevented.

[23] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the food support member is made of a nonmetal material. In this configuration, electricity does not flow from the electrode to the food through the food support member. Moreover, the weight of the apparatus for supercooling obes not increase.

[24] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the food support member can be taken out from the non-freezing chamber.

[25] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the food support member includes a handle. In this configuration, the user can conveniently use the non-freezing chamber, by taking out the food support member by using the handle. Advantageous Effects

[26] In accordance with the present invention, the apparatus for supercooling with the non-freezing chamber can keep food below the phase transition temperature of liquid for the extended period of time without freezing the food by preventing freezing of liquid.

[27] In accordance with the present invention, the apparatus for supercooling with the non-freezing chamber can improve energy efficiency by minimizing the area operated as the interference material between the electrodes, by forming the food support member for supporting food in the non-freezing chamber in a mesh shape.

[28] In accordance with the present invention, the apparatus for supercooling with the non-freezing chamber can minimize interference of the electric field and prevent small food from passing through the mesh, by forming the electrodes on both side faces of the non-freezing chamber, forming the bottom face of the box-shaped food support member for substantially supporting the food in a general plane surface shape, and forming both side faces thereof in a mesh shape.

[29] In accordance with the present invention, the apparatus for supercooling with the non-freezing chamber can improve energy efficiency by adhering the defrosting device to the electrode for applying the electric field to the non-freezing chamber. [30] In accordance with the present invention, the apparatus for supercooling with the non-freezing chamber includes the drain hole for discharging the defrost water generated by defrosting the electrode, to thereby prevent re-freezing of the defrost water and improve cleanliness. Brief Description of the Drawings

[31] The present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings which are given only by way of illustration and thus are not limitative of the present invention, wherein:

[32] Hg. 1 illustrates one example of a conventional refrigerator with a special storage chamber;

[33] Rg. 2 illustrates a non-freezing chamber provided at an apparatus for supercooling in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

[34] Hg. 3 illustrates a non-freezing chamber provided at an apparatus for supercooling in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; and

[35] Hg.4 illustrates a non-freezing chamber provided at an apparatus for supercooling in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. Mode for the Invention

[36] An apparatus for supercooling in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[37] Rg. 2 illustrates a non-freezing chamber provided at an apparatus for supercooling in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. An apparatus 100 for supercooling includes a freezing chamber 110 and a refrigerating chamber 120 as cooling chambers. The freezing chamber 110 and the refrigerating chamber 120 are partitioned by a partition wall 115. A freezing chamber partition wall 112 is installed on the rear face of the freezing chamber 110. An evaporator 130 which is part of a freezing cycle is positioned at the back of the freezing chamber partition wall 112. A non-freezing chamber 200 which can keep food below a phase transition temperature of water without freezing moisture contained in the food is provided at the refrigerating chamber 120. The non-freezing chamber 200 is defined by an outer casing 220 which is a hexahedron with an open front face. Electrodes 230 for applying an electric field to the non-freezing chamber 200 are positioned on the top and bottom faces among the inner faces of the outer casing 220. Ducts 160 are formed at the partition wall 115 so that some of the cool air of the freezing chamber 110 can be supplied to the non-freezing chamber 200 to cool the non-freezing chamber 200. A cool air inflow hole 242 and a cool air outflow hole 244 connected to the ducts 160 are provided on the side face of the outer casing 220 contacting the partition wall 115. Alternatively, the cool air outflow hole 244 may be formed on the top face of the outer casing 220, instead of the partition wall 115 side. In this case, after cooling the non- freezing chamber 200, the cool air can be discharged to the refrigerating chamber 120.

[38] Food is stored inside the outer casing 220, namely, in the non-freezing chamber

200. If the food directly contacts the electrode 230, the current is applied to the food, so that the user may receive an electric shock. In addition, as the electrodes 230 generate heat, the supercooled state of the food may be released. In a worst case, the food may be burned. Therefore, the food must be kept in the non-freezing chamber 200 with intervals from the electrodes 230. In accordance with the present invention, the apparatus 100 for supercooling includes a food support member 210 inserted into the outer casing 220. The food support member 210 is formed in a drawer shape with an open top face so that the user can easily position food thereon.

[39] In order to prevent the food support member 210 from interfering with the electric field between the pair of electrodes 230 and weakening the intensity of the electric field, the bottom face of the food support member 210 is formed in a mesh shape. In this configuration, the food support face is formed on the bottom face of the food support member 210, for preventing contact of the food and the electrode 230. In addition, a plurality of holes are formed on the food support face, for reducing the area and volume of the face blocking the space between the electrodes 230. Here, the mesh can be formed in various shapes. It is preferable to manufacture the mesh to minimize the area of the bottom face of the food support member 210 and secure sufficient strength to support food. As the food support member 210 is formed in a mesh shape, the cool air can be convected across the food support member 210 in the non-freezing chamber 200, to thereby prevent the food in the non-freezing chamber 200 from being frozen due to a temperature difference between the upper and lower portions of the food support member 210. Moreover, the electrodes 230 which are heat generation members can be cooled by smooth convection of the cool air.

[40] The food support member 210 can be taken out from the outer casing 220. The food support member 210 and the outer casing 220 include guide members 280 (282 and 284) for guiding the movement of the food support member 210. In this embodiment, the outer casing 220 includes a guide rib 282 and the food support member 210 includes a guide groove 284. However, the outer casing 220 may include the gide groove 284 and the food support member 210 may include the gride rib 282.

[41] A handle 290 is formed at the front of the food support member 210 so that the user can easily take out the food support member 210 from the outer casing 220. The handle 290 is a groove or a protrusion portion formed at the front of the food support member 210. The handle 290 can be integrally formed with the food support member 210.

[42] As the cool air is introduced into the outer casing 220, the electrodes 230 and the inner faces of the outer casing 220 may be frosted. In this case, the intensity of the electric field applied by the electrodes 230 is weakened to reduce energy efficiency. When the inner faces of the outer casing 220 are frosted, it is difficult to take out the food support member 210. If the frost is dropped into the food support member 210, namely, into the non-freezing chamber 200, it may function as a freezing core and cause freezing of food. It is thus necessary to conduct the defrosting. In the apparatus for supercooling, a defrosting device 250 for defrosting the electrode 230 is provided at the electrode 230. The representative example of the defrosting device 250 is a heater. After power supply to the electrode 230 is cut off, the heater generates heat to defrost the electrode 230. When the heater generates heat, the frost is turned into defrost water. If the defrost water is not discharged, it may be frozen or generate the frost again, and is not good for the health. It is thus preferable to drectly dscharge the defrost water. Accordingly, a drain hole 260 is formed at the lower portion of the outer casing 220. The drain hole 260 is connected to a drain passage (not shown), for externally discharging the defrost water.

[43] A sensor 270 is installed to sense the state of the non-freezing chamber 200.

Considering that the food support member 210 is a moving member, it is not easy to install a circuit therein. It is thus preferable to install the sensor 270 on the top or rear face among the inner faces of the cuter casing 220. If the sensor 270 is installed on the side face or the bottom face among the inner faces of the outer casing 220, the sensor 270 is hidden by the food support member 210, and thus cannot substantially sense the state of the non-freezing chamber 200. The sensor 270 senses the temperature inside the non-freezing chamber 200 and the intensity of the electric field applied to the non- freezing chamber 200. In order for the condtion of the non-freezing chamber 200 to satisfy the supercooling condtion, the sensor 270 continuously senses the temperature and the intensity of the electric field and transmits the sensed values to a control unit (not shown), and the control unit (not shown) controls the inflow amount and temperature of the cool air and the voltage applied to the electrodes 230 accordng to the sensed values. The control unit (not shown) discriminates whether or not to defrost the electrode 230 and operates the defrosting device 250.

[44] The outer casing 220 may be made of an insulation material or may include an insulation layer. Particularly, when the non-freezing chamber 200 is formed in a cooling chamber discussed later among supercooling chambers, the ambient temperature is higher than the temperature inside the non-freezing chamber 200. It is thus useful to provide the insulation function to the outer casing 220.

[45] Hg. 3 illustrates a non-freezing chamber provided at an apparatus for supercooling in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of the second embodiment identical to that of the first embodiment will not be explained. Electrodes 230 are positioned on both side faces of an outer casing 220 for defining a non-freezing chamber 200, for applying an electric field to the non-freezing chamber 200. Both side faces of a food support member 210 are formed in a mesh shape. The bottom face of the food support member 210 may not be formed in a mesh shape. If the bottom face of the food support member 210 is not formed in a mesh shape but a general plane surface shape, it can prevent small food from passing through the mesh. Meanwhile, if the bottom face of the food support member 210 is formed in a mesh shape, it is less associated with the interference of the electric field applied by the electrodes 230. However, the cool air can be smoothly convected in the non-freezing chamber 200, to thereby prevent release of the supercooling by a temperature difference between the upper and lower portions of the food support member 210.

[46] A refrigerant tube 246 extended from part of an evaporator 130 installed on a rear face of a freezing chamber 110 contacts the rear face of the outer casing 220. Accordingly, the atmosphere of the non-freezing chamber 200 exchanges heat with the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant tube 246, for maintaining the non-freezing chamber 200 at a low temperature.

[47] Fig. 4 illustrates a non-freezing chamber provided at an apparatus for supercooling in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. The configαration of the third embodiment identical to that of the first embodiment will not be explained. An outer casing 220 for defining a non-freezing chamber 200 has an open front face and a door 220D for opening and closing the front face. The daor 200D isolates the non-freezing chamber 200 from a cooling chamber. Preferably, at least part of the door 200D is made of a see-through material so that the user can check a state of food in the non-freezing chamber 200 without opening the door 200D. Electrodes 230 are positioned on the top and bottom faces among the inner faces of the outer casing 220. A food support member 210 is a mesh plate that can move in the forward and backward directions along a gide 282 provided at the outer casing 220. That is, the food support member 210 can be taken out from the non-freezing chamber 200. In addition, a handle 290 is provided at the front of the food support member 210 so that the user can easily take out the food support member 210 from the non-freezing chamber 200. If the food contacts the electrode 230, electricity may flow through the food. Therefore, the food must be put on the upper portion of the food support member 210. The upper space of the food support member 210 must be widened to store more or larger foods. Accordingly, the food support member 210 is preferably positioned at the lower portion of the non-freezing chamber 200. In addition, the gide 282 for gήdng the food support member 210 is preferably positioned at the lower portion of the outer casing 220. Furthermore, the food support member 210 is preferably made of a nonmetal material to prevent electricity from flowing from the electrode 230 to the food support member 210.

[48]

[49] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, it is understood that the present invention should not be limited to these preferred embodiments but various changes and modfications can be made by one skilled in the art within the spirit and scope of the present invention as hereinafter claimed.

[50]

[51]

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Claims

[I] An apparatus for supercooling, comprising: a cooling chamber, the cool air generated by a freezing cycle in which a refrigerant flows being introduced into the cooling chamber; a non-freezing chamber positioned in the cooling chamber, for storing food in a non-frozen supercooled state; an electrode positioned at the periphery of the non-freezing chamber, for generating an electric field in the non-freezing chamber; and a food support member made of an insulation material, positioned in the non- freezing chamber, and provided with a mesh face.

[2] The apparatus for supercooling of claim 1, wherein the food support member is positioned lower than the center in the non-freezing chamber.

[3] The apparatus for supercooling of claim 1, wherein the food support member is formed in a box shape with an open top face.

[4] The apparatus for supercooling of claim 3, wherein the electrodes are positioned on the top and bottom faces of the non-freezing chamber.

[5] The apparatus for supercooling of claim 4, wherein the bottom face of the food support member is formed in a mesh shape.

[6] The apparatus for supercooling of claim 3, wherein the electrodes are positioned on both side faces of the non-freezing chamber.

[7] The apparatus for supercooling of claim 6, wherein both side faces of the food support member are formed in a mesh shape.

[8] The apparatus for supercooling of claim 1, further comprising an outer casing for defining the non-freezing chamber.

[9] The apparatus for supercooling of claim 8, wherein the electrode is positioned on the inner face of the outer casing.

[10] The apparatus for supercooling of claim 8, wherein any one of the front face and the top face of the outer casing is open.

II 1] The apparatus for supercooling of claim 10, wherein the food support member can be taken out through the open face of the outer casing.

[12] The apparatus for supercooling of claim 11, wherein the outer casing and the food support member comprise guide members correspondng to each other and gidng the movement of the food support member.

[13] The apparatus for supercooling of claim 6, wherein a door is provided at any one of the front face and the top face of the outer casing to be opened and closed. [14] The apparatus for supercooling of claim 8, wherein the outer casing comprises cool air inflow and outflow holes for letting the cool air in and out. [15] The apparatus for supercooling of claim 1, wherein the electrode comprises a defrosting device for defrosting the electrode. [16] The apparatus for supercooling of claim 8, wherein the electrode comprises a defrosting device for defrosting the electrode, and the outer casing further comprises a drain hole for discharging defrost water. [17] The apparatus for supercooling of claim 1, wherein the food support member is made of a nonmetal material. [18] The apparatus for supercooling of claim 1, wherein the food support member can be taken out from the non-freezing chamber. [19] The apparatus for supercooling of claim 1, wherein the food support member comprises a handle.