Methods and apparatus for controlling refrigerators
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of switching refrigerant flow between a path to a freezer evaporator in a freezer compartment and a path to a fresh food evaporator in a fresh food compartment of a refrigerator includes providing a three-way valve with at least three operational positions in flow communication with the path to the fresh food evaporator and the path to the freezer evaporator. A temperature difference (dtZ) between a freezer compartment temperature and a freezer evaporator evaporating temperature is measured. A temperature difference (dtF) between a fresh food compartment temperature and a fresh food evaporator evaporating temperature is measured. The operation of the three way valve is controlled based on at least one of dtZ and dtF.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1-6. -6. (canceled)
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7. A method of switching refrigerant flow between a path to a freezer evaporator in a freezer compartment and a path to a fresh food evaporator in a fresh food compartment of a refrigerator using a three way valve, said method comprising:
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measuring a temperature difference dtF between a fresh food compartment temperature and a fresh food evaporator evaporating temperature;
measuring a temperature difference dtZ between a freezer compartment temperature and a freezer evaporator evaporating temperature;
switching the three way valve between operational positions;
activating a freezer evaporator fan until dtZ reduces to a first predetermined temperature difference;
delaying activation of a fresh food evaporator fan until dtZ increases to a second predetermined temperature difference; and
delivering the refrigerant to the freezer evaporator. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 19, 20)
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13-18. -18. (canceled)
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21. A method of switching refrigerant flow between a path to a freezer evaporator in a freezer compartment and a path to a fresh food evaporator in a fresh food compartment of a refrigerator, said method comprising:
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providing a three-way valve with at least three operational positions in flow communication with the path to the fresh food evaporator and the path to the freezer evaporator;
measuring a temperature difference dtZ between a freezer compartment temperature and a freezer evaporator evaporating temperature and a temperature difference dtF between a fresh food compartment temperature and a fresh food evaporator evaporating temperature; and
controlling operation of the three way valve based on at least one of dtZ and dtF. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A refrigerator including a sealed refrigeration system comprising:
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a fresh food compartment including a fresh food evaporator positioned therein, a fresh food evaporator fan operatively coupled to said fresh food evaporator and operable for cooling said fresh food compartment;
a freezer compartment including a freezer evaporator positioned therein, a freezer evaporator fan operatively coupled to said freezer evaporator and operable for cooling said freezer compartment;
a compressor operationally coupled to said fresh food evaporator and said freezer evaporator;
a condenser including a condenser fan coupled to compressor;
a three way valve operatively coupled to said fresh food compartment via a fresh food metering device and operatively coupled to said freezer compartment via a freezer metering device, said three way valve configured to operate between a plurality of positions; and
a control system in operational control of said fresh food evaporator fan, said freezer evaporator fan, said condenser fan, said compressor and said three way valve, said control system controlling operation of said three way valve based on at least one of a measured temperature difference dtZ between a freezer compartment temperature and a freezer evaporator evaporating temperature and a measured temperature difference dtF between a fresh food compartment temperature and a fresh food evaporator evaporating temperature. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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Specification