WO2010076156A1

WO2010076156A1 - A refrigerator comprising rapid cooling mechanism

Info

Publication number: WO2010076156A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/066946
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tugrul Kodaz; Alper Soysal; Yavuz Can Ozkaptan
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2008-12-29
Filing date: 2009-12-11
Publication date: 2010-07-08
Also published as: EP2370770A1

Abstract

The refrigerator (1) comprises a body (2) wherein items desired to be cooled are disposed, a door (not illustrated in the figures) which allows access to the inside of the body (2) from the outer environment, one or more shelves which are positioned in the body (2) at different heights and a rapid cooling mechanism (3) which is disposed into the body (2) or onto the shelf. The rapid cooling mechanism (3) has two support members (5,105) which rotate around their own axes by the rotation of the container (C), one of which is rotated by means of the motor (4) and rotates the container (C) by bearing against one end of the container (C), the other one of which provides the container (C) to be supported by bearing against the other end of the container (C).

Description

A REFRIGERATOR COMPRISING RAPID COOLING MECHANISM

[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator comprising a rapid cooling mechanism.

[0002] The freezer compartment is one of the compartments which is used for instantaneous, rapid cooling of beverages by users. While the desired result is achieved in a short period of time, forgetting the container being cooled in the freezer compartment causes the beverage and even the container to be damaged.

[0003] Therefore, beverages are preferred to be cooled in the cooling compartment which is warmer than the freezer compartment. However, since the cooling of beverages in the cooling compartment takes a very long time, the instantaneous cool beverage demand of the user cannot be satisfied, unless the beverages are disposed into the cooling compartment priorly.

[0004] In the state of the art, fans which direct the cool air onto the bottle for rapid cooling of the tin cans or bottles disposed in the cooling compartment, or special means developed by using coolant are available.

[0005] In the state of the art United States of America Patent No US7343748, a refrigerator comprising a rapid chiller device which is disposed into the cooling compartment, which rotates around its own axis and furthermore, whereon cool air is blown by the fan and wherein the bottle to be cooled is disposed, is explained.

[0006] Another state of the art document is the Korean Patent Application No

KR20030088170. Also in this application, an instantaneous rotary cooler, wherein the bottle to be cooled is disposed and which rotates around its own axis, is explained.

[0007] In the state of the art cooling means which rotate around their own axes, beverage containers are disposed into a carrier and the beverage container rotating by the rotation of this carrier is provided to be rapidly cooled. In these embodiments, the carrier, also, forms a thermal load and an energy is required to be consumed for cooling it.

[0008] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a refrigerator comprising a rapid cooling mechanism which provides rapid cooling of the beverage in the beverage containers such as tin can or bottle by rotating them.

[0009] The refrigerator realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a rapid cooling mechanism comprising support members which are oppositely aligned at the same horizontal level, and between which a gap is situated wherein a container will be able to be disposed, and which provide the container to rotate around its own axis by directly fastening it. Thus, without disposing it into any carrier, the container desired to be cooled is directly rotated around its own axis and thus, the beverage in the container is provided to be cooled rapidly and homogenously.

[0010] The rapid cooling mechanism can be disposed onto the body or the shelf as well as into a casing fixed again in the body. By means of the casing, the air dispersing into the body is provided to be directed onto the container.

[0011] In another embodiment of the present invention, the gap between the support members can be changed by using the distance adjustment mechanism. Thus, containers of different sizes are enabled to be cooled by using the same rapid cooling mechanism.

[0012] In another embodiment of the present invention, the retaining member is produced from a resilient material, which has a hollow hemisphere-shape.

[0013] In another embodiment of the present invention, the retaining member is assembled to the support member end such that a spring will be situated between them. Thus, the retaining member moves back and forth and hence, the gap between the support members is enabled to be changed.

[0014] In another embodiment of the present invention, the casing consists of two pieces that can move with respect to each other. Thus, the gap between the support members can be changed by the two support members, which are assembled to the two opposite casing walls, being moved away from each other or being moved towards each other.

[0015] In an embodiment of the present invention, the user controls the rapid cooling mechanism by a button disposed onto the refrigerator. [0016] In another embodiment of the present invention, the rapid cooling mechanism is automatically controlled according to the data received from the temperature and/or presence sensor. [0017] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator comprises one or more audible and/or visual indicators which provide whether the rapid cooling mechanism operates or not to be indicated to the user. [0018] By means of the present invention, the containers are provided to be cooled homogenously and rapidly such that they will satisfy the instantaneous usage demand of the user. [0019] A refrigerator realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where: [0020] Figure 1 - is the perspective view of a refrigerator. [0021] Figure 2 - is the front view of a rapid cooling mechanism while it is empty. [0022] Figure 3 - is the front view of the rapid cooling mechanism while it is full. [0023] Figure 4 - is the perspective view of the rapid cooling mechanism while it is full. [0024] Figure 5 - is the perspective view of a support member and a retaining member. [0025] Figure 6 - is the cross-sectional view of a support member and a retaining member. [0026] Figure 7 - is the front view of the rapid cooling mechanism while it is empty

[0027] in another embodiment of the present invention. [0028] Figure 8 - is the perspective view of the rapid cooling mechanism while it is full

[0029] in another embodiment of the present invention. [0030] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Refrigerator

2. Body

3. Rapid cooling mechanism

4. Motor

5. ,105. Support member 6. Casing

7. Retaining member

8. Spring

9. Protrusion

10. Housing

11. Connection member

12. Button

13. Temperature sensor

14. Indicator

15. Slit

16. Distance adjustment mechanism

[0031] The refrigerator (1) of the present invention comprises a body (2) wherein items desired to be cooled are disposed and a door which allows access to the inside of the body (2) from the outer environment.

[0032] The refrigerator (1), furthermore, comprises

• a motor (4), and a rapid cooling mechanism (3) disposed in the body (2) and having two support members (5, 105) which rotate around their own axes by the rotation of the container (C),

• which are oppositely aligned at the same horizontal level, and between which a gap (D) is situated wherein a beverage container (C) such as beverage can or bottle will be able to be disposed,

• one of which is rotated by means of the motor (4) and rotates the container (C) by bearing against one end of the container (C),

• the other one of which provides the container (C) to be supported by bearing against the other end of the container (C) (Figure 2 and Figure

7).

[0033] The container (C) which will be exposed to the rapid cooling process is disposed into the gap (D) between the support members (5, 105). Thus, the container (C) is pressed from its two ends by the support members (5, 105) and hence, is both centered in a skid proof manner and rotated around its own axis in the horizontal plane. The rapid cooling mechanism (3) provides particularly the beverages in the containers (C) disposed in the cooling compartment to be cooled homogenously and rapidly such that they will satisfy the instantaneous usage demand of the user (Figure 3 and Figure 4).

[0034] The refrigerator (1) comprises a casing (6) wherein the rapid cooling mechanism (3) is disposed, and to one wall of which the motor (4) and the support member (5) connected to the motor (5) are mounted, and to the exactly opposite wall of which the other support member (105) is mounted.

[0035] The support members (5, 105) are preferably formed as a cylindrical shaft. One end of one of the support members (5) is connected to the motor (4) assembled to the wall of the casing (6), and its other end bears against one end of the container (C). By the friction effect, the end which contacts the container (C) transmits the movement received from the motor (4) to the container (C). One end of the other support member (105) is connected to the casing (6) wall such that this end will rotate around its own axis, and its other end contacts the container (C) bearing against the other end of the container (C). While the support member (5), one end of which is mounted to the motor (4), is rotated by the motor (4), the other support member (105) rotates around its own axis in the horizontal plane since it contacts the container (C). Thus, the container (C) is provided to be rotated around its own axis together with the support members (5, 105) without encountering a friction effect. While the container (C) rotates around the horizontal axis, it, at the same time, transmits the rotational movement, the source of which is the motor (4), from one support member (5) to the other support member (105).

[0036] In another embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator (1) comprises a distance adjustment mechanism (16) which changes the dimensions of the gap (D) between the support members (5, 105). Thus, the container (C) of the desired size is enabled to be disposed into the gap (D) between the support members (5).

[0037] In another embodiment of the present invention, the rapid cooling mechanism (3) comprises at least one retaining member (7) which is mounted to the end of the support members (5) and which is preferably produced from a resilient material or plastic in order that the container (C) is not damaged and the friction between the ends of the container (C) and the ends of the support members (5) can be increased (Figure 5). [0038] In a version of this embodiment, the retaining member (7) is plate-shaped and this increases the contact surface area between the retaining member

(7) and the container (C) and hence, the friction effect. In another version, the retaining member (7) is produced from a resilient material and has a hollow hemisphere-shape. Also in this embodiment, the contact between the container (C) and the retaining member (7) is increased.

[0039] In another embodiment of the present invention, the distance adjustment mechanism (16) comprises a housing (10) which forms onto at least one support member (5, 105) preferably along the center of the support member (5, 105) and through the horizontal axis, and a spring (8) which is disposed into this housing (10). The retaining member (7) is mounted to the end of the spring (8) and moves back and forth together with the spring

(8) with respect to the support member (5, 105). Thus, the dimension of the gap (D) between the support members (5, 105) can be changed. This enables containers (C) of different sizes to be cooled by the rapid cooling mechanism (3). Thus, a tin can (C) or a wine bottle (C) can be disposed in the rapid cooling mechanism (3).

[0040] In another embodiment of the present invention, the retaining member (7) is disposed onto the support member (5, 105) such that the spring (8) will remain there between and the retaining member (7) will completely cover the end of the support member (5, 105) (Figure 6). In this embodiment, the rapid cooling mechanism (3) comprises at least one detent formed protrusion (9) located on the outer surface of the support member (5, 105) and at least one slit (15), wherein the protrusion (9) can fit and move, on the outer surface of the retaining member (7). Thus, the movements of the support member (5, 105), the spring (8) and the retaining member (7) with respect to each other are provided to be performed more robustly and the strength of the connection between them is enabled to be increased.

[0041] In another embodiment of the present invention, the casing (6) consists of two pieces (A, B) such that at its one side the motor (4) and the support member (5) connected to the motor (4), and at its other side the other support member (105) will remain, and one of the pieces (A) is fixed to the body (2) and the other piece (B) moves back and forth in the horizontal plane with respect to this piece (A). The distance adjustment mechanism (16) comprises a connection member (11) which connects these two pieces (A, B) such that they will be able to move in the horizontal plane with respect to each other (Figure 7 and Figure 8). Thus, the dimensions of the gap (D) between the support members (5) can be changed according to the dimensions of the container (C) that will be rapidly cooled.

[0042] In another embodiment of the present invention, the motor (4) actuates a fan which blows onto the container (C). Thus, while the container (C) is rotated around its own axis, it is cooled by the fan blowing air thereon.

[0043] In another embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator (1) comprises a button (12), located on the refrigerator (1), which enables the rapid cooling mechanism (3) to be controlled by the user. When the user triggers the button (12), the motor (4) starts to operate and the container (C), which is priorly disposed between the support members (5, 105), is rotated around its own axis by the rapid cooling mechanism (3) at a speed determined by the producer and for a certain period of time.

[0044] In another embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator (1) comprises a temperature sensor (13) which is disposed in the vicinity of the container (C) and which controls the operation of the rapid cooling mechanism (3). By the temperature sensor (13), the temperature of the ambient, wherein the rapid cooling mechanism (3) is situated, is measured and the container (C) that is priorly disposed between the support members (5, 105) is provided to be cooled by being rotated at a temperature range determined by the producer, and when the desired temperature is reached, the rapid cooling mechanism (3) is provided to be automatically stopped without user intervention. The temperature sensor (13) can also be disposed onto the support member (5, 105). Thus, the temperature of the container (C) is provided to be determined as precisely as possible.

[0045] In another embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator (1) comprises one or more presence sensors (not illustrated in the figures) which detect that a container (C) is disposed between the support members (5, 105) and thus, which control the operation of the rapid cooling mechanism (3). By the presence sensor, the placement of the container (C) between the support members (5, 105) is detected and by the signal received from the presence sensor, the motor (4) is started to operate and the rapid cooling mechanism (3) is provided to perform the rapid cooling process. In this embodiment, the rapid cooling process is completed when the container (C) is removed from between the support members (5, 105) or when the temperature of the container (C) reaches the desired value.

[0046] In another embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator (1) comprises at least one audible and/or visual indicator (14) which informs the user that the rapid cooling process of the rapid cooling mechanism (3) is being performed and/or the rapid cooling process is completed.

[0047] It is to be understood that the said present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed above and an expert in the technique can easily introduce different embodiments. These different embodiments should be considered within the scope of the claims of the present invention, too.

Claims

1. A refrigerator (1) comprising a body (2) wherein items desired to be cooled are disposed and a door which allows access to the inside of the body (2) from the outer environment, characterized by a motor (4), and a rapid cooling mechanism (3) that is disposed in the body (2) and that has two support members (5, 105)

- which rotate around their own axes by the rotation of the container (C),

- which are oppositely aligned at the same horizontal level, and between which a gap (D) is situated wherein a container (C) will be able to be disposed,

- one of which is rotated by means of the motor (4) and rotates the container (C) by bearing against one end of the container (C),

- the other one of which provides the container (C) to be supported by bearing against the other end of the container (C).

2. A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 1 , characterized by a casing (6) wherein the rapid cooling mechanism (3) is disposed, and to one wall of which the motor (4) and the support member (5) connected to the motor (4) are mounted, and to the exactly opposite wall of which the other support member (105) is mounted.

3. A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by a distance adjustment mechanism (16) which changes the dimensions of the gap (D) between the support members (5, 105).

4. A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 2, characterized by two cylindrical shaft-formed support members (5, 105), one end of one of which is connected to the motor (4) assembled to the wall of the casing (6), and the other end of one of which bears against one end of the container (C), and one end of the other one of which is connected to the casing (6) wall such that this end will rotate around its own axis, and the other end of the other one of which contacts the container (C) bearing against the other end of the container (C).

5. A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the rapid cooling mechanism (3) that comprises at least one retaining member (7) which is mounted to the end of the support members (5) and which is produced from a resilient material or plastic in order that the container (C) is not damaged and the friction between the ends of the container (C) and the ends of the support members (5) can be increased.

6. A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 5, characterized by the plate-shaped retaining member (7).

7. A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 5, characterized by the retaining member (7) which is produced from a resilient material that has a hollow hemisphere-shape.

8. A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 3 of the above Claims, characterized by the distance adjustment mechanism (16) that comprises a housing (10) which forms onto the support member (5) along the center of the support member (5) and through the horizontal axis, and a spring (8) which is disposed into the housing (10).

9. A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 8, characterized by a retaining member (7) which is disposed onto the support member (5) such that the spring (8) will remain there between and the retaining member (7) will completely cover the end of the support member (5).

10. A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 9, characterized by the rapid cooling mechanism (3) that comprises at least one detent formed protrusion (9) located on the outer surface of the support member (5) and at least one slit (15) which is located on the retaining member (7) and wherein the protrusion (9) can fit and move on the outer surface of the retaining member (7).

11. A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 2 or 3, characterized by the casing (6) which consists of two pieces (A, B) such that at its one side the motor (4) and the support member (5) connected to the motor (4), and at its other side the other support member (5) will remain, and by the distance adjustment mechanism (16) which comprises a connection member (11) that connects these two pieces (A, B) such that they will be able to move in the horizontal plane with respect to each other.

12. A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by a button (12), located on the refrigerator (1), which enables the rapid cooling mechanism (3) to be controlled by the user.

13. A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by a temperature sensor (13) which controls the operation of the rapid cooling mechanism (3).

14. A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by one or more presence sensors which detect that a container (C) is disposed between the support members (5) and thus, which control the operation of the rapid cooling mechanism (3).

15. A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by at least one audible and/or visual indicator (14) which informs the user that the rapid cooling mechanism (3) is performing the rapid cooling process and/or the rapid cooling process is completed.