Single evaporator, single fan combination refrigerator with independent temperature controls
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A refrigerator comprising:
- a. a freezer compartment;
b. a fresh food compartment;
c. an evaporator chamber and an evaporator in said chamber;
d. an air circulation system including a fan and passageways for circulating air from both of said compartments through said evaporator chamber, a passageway for conducting a first stream of air from said evaporator chamber to said freezer compartment, and a duct for conducting a second stream of air from said evaporator chamber to said fresh food compartment;
e. a thermostatic control for maintaining a desired temperature in said fresh food compartment by causing energization of said evaporator as required, said thermostatic control including an element for sensing temperature in said fresh food compartment;
f. a first user-operable control member for setting a desired temperature to be maintained in said freezer compartment;
g. a second user-operable control member for setting the desired temperature to be maintained in said fresh food compartment, said second user-operable control member being operatively connected to said thermostatic control; and
h. variable airflow control apparatus for varying airflow through said duct as a function of the settings of both of said user-operable control members, said apparatus including;
i. an adjustable air valve for controlling airflow through said duct; and
ii. a mechanical summer having a main input connected to said first user-operable control member, a compensating input connectd to said second user-operable control member, and an output operatively connected to said air valve, the connection to said air valve being such that the degree of opening of said air valve is a direct function of the temperature setting of said first user-operable control member and an inverse function of the temperature setting of said second user-operable control member, said function being selected so that the desired temperature is approximately maintained in said freezer compartment even though the setting of said second user-operable control member is changed.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A single evaporator, single fan combination refrigerator includes a temperature control system which thermostatically maintains the fresh food compartment at a desired temperature by cycling the refrigerator system on and off as required, and which controls freezer compartment temperature by varying airflow through a duct conducting refrigerated air from the evaporator chamber to the fresh food compartment. Variable airflow control apparatus comprising a mechanical summer operating an air valve varies airflow through the duct as a function of the settings of both the fresh food control and the freezer control.
-
Citations
6 Claims
-
1. A refrigerator comprising:
-
a. a freezer compartment; b. a fresh food compartment; c. an evaporator chamber and an evaporator in said chamber; d. an air circulation system including a fan and passageways for circulating air from both of said compartments through said evaporator chamber, a passageway for conducting a first stream of air from said evaporator chamber to said freezer compartment, and a duct for conducting a second stream of air from said evaporator chamber to said fresh food compartment; e. a thermostatic control for maintaining a desired temperature in said fresh food compartment by causing energization of said evaporator as required, said thermostatic control including an element for sensing temperature in said fresh food compartment; f. a first user-operable control member for setting a desired temperature to be maintained in said freezer compartment; g. a second user-operable control member for setting the desired temperature to be maintained in said fresh food compartment, said second user-operable control member being operatively connected to said thermostatic control; and h. variable airflow control apparatus for varying airflow through said duct as a function of the settings of both of said user-operable control members, said apparatus including; i. an adjustable air valve for controlling airflow through said duct; and ii. a mechanical summer having a main input connected to said first user-operable control member, a compensating input connectd to said second user-operable control member, and an output operatively connected to said air valve, the connection to said air valve being such that the degree of opening of said air valve is a direct function of the temperature setting of said first user-operable control member and an inverse function of the temperature setting of said second user-operable control member, said function being selected so that the desired temperature is approximately maintained in said freezer compartment even though the setting of said second user-operable control member is changed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
Specification