Refrigerator and method for the temperature control in a refrigerator
First Claim
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1. A refrigerator, comprising:
- a utility chamber for cooled goods;
a cold air channel to direct a cold air flow into the utility chamber, the cold air channel being separated from the utility chamber by a channel wall;
a control device configured to generate a cooling signal which is received by a cooling device to cause introduction of the cold air flow into the utility chamber as long as the cooling signal is being received by the cooling device;
a defrost heating element rendered operative by the cooling signal generated by the control device to prevent formation of condensate and/or ice when the cold air flow is fed into the utility chamber, the defrost heating element being disposed on the channel wall to prevent formation of condensate and/or ice on at least the channel wall; and
a timing element configured to receive the cooling signal and, after a predetermined time interval, forward the cooling signal to the defrost heating element to delay operation of the defrost heating element in response to generation of the cooling signal.
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Abstract
A refrigerator, in particular a household refrigerator, includes an utility chamber for cooled goods and a control device, with which a cold air flow can be introduced into the utility chamber when a cooling signal is present. A defrost heating element is rendered operative by the control device to prevent the formation of condensate and/or ice due to the cold air flow fed into the utility chamber. A timing element keeps the heating element out of operation for a predetermined time interval in response to the generation of the cooling signal.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A refrigerator, comprising:
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a utility chamber for cooled goods; a cold air channel to direct a cold air flow into the utility chamber, the cold air channel being separated from the utility chamber by a channel wall; a control device configured to generate a cooling signal which is received by a cooling device to cause introduction of the cold air flow into the utility chamber as long as the cooling signal is being received by the cooling device; a defrost heating element rendered operative by the cooling signal generated by the control device to prevent formation of condensate and/or ice when the cold air flow is fed into the utility chamber, the defrost heating element being disposed on the channel wall to prevent formation of condensate and/or ice on at least the channel wall; and a timing element configured to receive the cooling signal and, after a predetermined time interval, forward the cooling signal to the defrost heating element to delay operation of the defrost heating element in response to generation of the cooling signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for controlling a temperature in a utility chamber of a refrigerator, said method comprising the steps of:
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generating a cooling signal which is received by a cooling device; feeding a cold air flow to a utility chamber of a refrigerator, via a cold air channel, as long as the cooling signal is being received by the cooling device; activating a defrost heating element upon receipt of the cooling signal to prevent formation of condensate and/or ice when the cold air flow is fed into the utility chamber providing a timing element to receive the cooling signal and subsequently forward the cooling signal to the defrost heating element; and delaying operation of the defrost heating element for a predefined time interval after generation of the cooling signal due to a time delay between a time at which the timing element receives the cooling signal and a time at which the timing element forwards the cooling signal to the defrost heating element, wherein the cold air channel is separated from the utility chamber by a channel wall, and wherein the defrost heating element is disposed on the channel wall to prevent formation of condensate and/or ice on at least the channel wall. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification