Temperature Control System In A Refrigeration Appliance

• US 20080115516A1
• Filed: 04/29/2005
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool SA (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool SA (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Schmid, Alexandre Cury, Pimentel, Fabio Ribeiro, Mezavila, Moacyr Marangone
• Application Number:
  US11/568,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20080115516A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/229
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/0251 with on-off operation
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/36 Visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/02 Sensors detecting door opening
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/14 Sensors measuring the temperature outside the refrigerator or freezer
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Abstract

A temperature control system in a refrigeration appliance comprising: a cabinet defining at least one refrigerating compartment closed by a door; a compressor; and a control means provided with a timer and which is constructed to activate and deactivate the compressor when the interior of the refrigerating compartment reaches activation and deactivation temperatures, respectively. The control system comprises an ambient temperature sensor and an open door sensor which are operatively connected to the control means, the latter being designed to adjust the activation and deactivation temperatures of the compressor as a function of the ambient temperature external to the cabinet and the opening pattern of the door, in order to minimize the temperature variations of the food stored in the refrigerating compartment.

Claims

1. A temperature control system in a refrigeration appliance of the type which comprises:

a cabinet defining at least one refrigerating compartment closed by a door;

a compressor; and

a control means provided with a timer and constructed to activate and deactivate the compressor when the interior of the refrigerating compartment reaches, respectively, activation and deactivation temperatures, wherein it comprises an ambient temperature sensor and an open door sensor which are operatively connected to the control means, the latter being designed to adjust the activation and deactivation temperatures of the compressor as a function of the ambient temperature external to the cabinet and the opening pattern of the door in order to minimize the temperature variations of the food stored in the refrigerating compartment.

2. The temperature control system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the control means is designed to periodically adjust the activation and deactivation temperatures of the compressor when the ambient temperature sensor and the open door sensor indicate, respectively, the simultaneous occurrence of an ambient temperature deviation out of a predetermined range of acceptable operational temperatures and a deviation out of the door opening pattern in relation to a predetermined pattern within a certain time interval.

3. The temperature control system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the control means is constructed to periodically adjust the activation and deactivation temperatures of the compressor in predetermined time intervals.

4. The temperature control system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the periodical adjustment of the activation and deactivation temperatures of the compressor, when instructed by the control means, provokes an alteration of the temperatures from an operational range to a range in a scale of activation and deactivation temperature ranges of the compressor.

5. The temperature control system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the door opening pattern is defined by the summation of the times in which the door remained open within said time interval.

6. The temperature control system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the open door sensor is defined by an electromechanical, electronic or magnetic switch.

7. The temperature control system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an interface which is selectively activated by the user to provide any of the activation and deactivation commands of said automatic temperature control system.