Circulating air refrigerator and power module for same

• US 4,776,182 A
• Filed: 03/02/1987
• Issued: 10/11/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Northland Corp. (Middleby Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Edward D. Gidseg
• Inventors: Gidseg, Edward D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tanner, Harry B.
• Application Number:
  US07/021,600
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 62/289, 62/428, 62/429, 62/506, 62/507, 62/508, 62/156, 62/441, 62/448, 62/237
• US Class Current: 62/448
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/06 by forced circulation
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 19/00 Arrangement or mounting of refrigeration units with respect to devices or objects to be refrigerated, e.g. infrared detectors
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 21/14 Collecting or removing condensed and defrost water; Drip trays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/003 for cooling refrigerating machinery
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2317/0655 through the top
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2317/0665 from the top
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/00265 through the front top part
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/00275 from the front top
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/04 Refrigerators with a horizontal mullion
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/06 Refrigerators with a vertical mullion
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/16 Convertible refrigerators

Abstract

An improved self-defrosting refrigerator and power module therefore, inlcuding a food storage compartment and a refrigeration compartment adjacent and insulatable from the food storage compartment. A refrigeration system of novel design is mounted within the refrigeration power module which includes a compessor, a condensor coil, and evaporator coil, a defroster heater, circulation means for circulating frigid air through the passageways to cool the storage compartment during the refrigeration cycle and means for collecting and exhausting melted frost from the refrigeration power module, which is configured and adapted to prevent the passage of warm air into the module. A method for constructing the novel refrigeration apparatus and improving its cooling efficiency is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A power module for cooling a refrigeration cabinet which comprises:

a first compartment substantially surrounded by thermally insulated barrier means and communicating with an inner portion of said refrigeration cabinet, containing;

(i) evaporator means;

(ii) means for circulating refrigerated air past said evaporator means so as to be in contact therewith and thereafter into an inner portion of said refrigeration cabinet for cooling said cabinet, said air thereafter returning to said module for recycling, wherein motor means for said refrigerated air circulating means is located in a second compartment, substantially separated from said first compartment by said thermally insulated barrier means;

(iii) defroster heater means adjacent said evaporator means for supplying thermal energy to melt frost from said evaporator means during a defrosting cycle;

(iv) temperature sensing means for determining the ambient temperature within said first compartment and thereby controlling the duration of the defrosting cycle; and

(v) means for collecting and exhausting the melted frost from said first compartment into said second compartment wherein said collection and exhaustion means is dimensioned and configured to prevent a flow of warm air from entering said first compartment through said collection and exhaustion means from said second compartment;

said second compartment containing;

(i) compressor means for compressing a refrigerant;

(ii) condensor means for receiving and cooling said refrigerant;

(iii) means for directing said refrigerant from said compressor means to said condensor means;

(iv) means within said second compartment for circulating ambient room air first past said condensor means so as to be in contact therewith for removing heat therefrom and facilitating the condensation of said refrigerant, then past said compressor means and out of said second compartment, said second compartment being separated from said first compartment by an insulated wall dimensioned and configured to minimize the surface area of said insulated wall portion separating said first and second compartments, and contacted by the now warmed air circulated by said ambient air circulating means to thereby minimize heat transfer to said second compartment;

(v) means for directing said cooled refrigerant from said condensor means to said evaporator means at a predetermined temperature and pressure whereby said refrigerant is permitted to expand within said evaporator means so as to absorb heat from said air directed by said refrigerated air circulating means across an outer surface of said evaporator means; and

(vi) means for returning said refrigerant from said evaporator means to said compressor means.

2. The power module of claim 1 wherein said barrier means is thermally insulated with polyurethane foam.

3. The power module of claim 1 wherein said refrigerant is dichlorodifluoromethane.

4. The power module of claim 1 wherein the commencement of said defrosting cycle is regulated by timer means.

5. The power module of claim 1 wherein said refrigerated air and ambient room air circulating means comprises fan means powered by motor means.

6. The power module of claim 1 wherein said temperature sensing means is a thermostat.

7. The power module of claim 1 wherein said means for directing said refrigerant from said condenser means to said evaporator means at a predetermined pressure is a capillary tube.

8. The power module of claim 1 wherein said means for collecting and exhausting said melted frost is a U-shaped conduit, partially filled with water contain a ball member therein.

9. The power module of claim 1 wherein said means for collecting and exhausting said melted frost is an elongated cylindrical conduit having an enlarged central bore which houses a ball member therein.

10. A forced circulating air refrigeration apparatus which comprises:

a first section having a width of about 17 inches, comprising a substantially vertically standing refrigeration cabinet, constructed of a top member, a bottom member and two pairs of opposed vertical side members and having means for access to an interior portion on at least one vertical side; and

a modular cooling compartment also having a width of about 17 inches, and comprising the improved power module of claim 1 for cooling the interior portion of said first section.

11. The refrigeration apparatus of claim 10 wherein said first section is separated into an upper freezer section and a lower refrigerator section by divider means.

12. The refrigeration apparatus of claim 11 wherein said divider means is a removable shelf.

24. The power module according to claim 1 wherein the air in said second compartment is directed past said motor means for said refrigerated air circulating means prior to being circulated past said compressor means.

13. A forced circulating air refrigeration apparatus which comprises:

a first compartment including a central wall dividing said first compartment into a freezer section and a refrigerator section, the central wall having a first opening to permit the circulation of chilled air from the freezer section to the refrigerator section and a second opening to permit the return circulation of chilled air from the refrigerator section to the freezer section;

a second compartment adjacent said first compartment, said second compartment being subdivided into a cool section communicating with an inner portion of said first compartment, and a warm section, said sections being separated from one another by thermally insulating barrier means;

wherein said cool section contains;

(i) evaporator means;

(ii) means for circulating refrigerated air past said evaporator means and in contact therewith and thereafter into an inner portion of said first compartment for cooling said first compartment, said air thereafter returning to said cool section of said second compartment;

wherein motor means for said refrigerated air circulating means is located in said warm section;

(iii) a defroster heater adjacent to said evaporator means for supplying thermal energy to melt frost from said evaporator means during a defrosting cycle;

(iv) temperature sensing means for determining the ambient temperature within said cool section thereby controlling the duration of said defrosting cycle; and

(v) means for collecting and exhausting said melted frost from said cool section through said thermally insulated barrier means, into said warm section wherein said collected and exhausted means is dimensioned and configured to prevent a flow of warm air from entering said cool section through said collection and exhaustion means from said warm section; and

said warm section contains;

(i) compressor means for compressing a refrigerant;

(ii) condensor means for receiving and cooling said refrigerant;

(iii) means for directing said refrigerant from said compressor means to said condenser means;

(iv) means for circulating ambient room air first past said condensor means so as to be in contact therewith for removing heat therefrom and facilitating the condensation of said refrigerant, then past said compressor means and out of said warm section, said warm section being separated from said cool section by an insulated wall dimensioned and configured to minimize the surface area of said insulating wall portion separating said warm and cool section contacted by the now warmed air circulated by said ambient air circulating means;

(v) means for directing said cooled refrigerant from said condensor means to said evaporator means at a predetermined temperature and pressure whereby said refrigerant is permitted to expand within said evaporator means so as to absorb heat from said air directed by said refrigerated air circulating means across an outer surface of said evaporator means; and

(vi) means for returning said refrigerant from said evaporator means to said compressor means.

14. The refrigeration apparatus of claim 13 wherein said first and second compartments are of modular construction and are separable from one another.

15. The refrigeration apparatus of claim 13 wherein said barrier means is thermally insulated with polyurethane foam.

25. The forced circulating air refrigerator apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the air in said warm section is directed past said motor means for said refrigerated air circulating means prior to being circulated past said compressor means.

16. A method for improving the cooling efficiency of a power module for use in communication with a forced circulating air refrigeration cabinet, wherein said power module comprises:

(i) a warm compartment;

(ii) a cool compartment separated from said warm compartment by thermally insulated barrier means;

(iii) first motor driven means for circulating air throughout said refrigeration cabinet, said means being located in said cool compartment;

(iv) means connecting said warm and said cool compartments for removal of melted frost; and

(v) second motor driven means for circulating air through said warm component to evaporate said melted frost;

which method comprises;

(i) locating said first and said second motor drive means of said calculating air means in the warm compartment on the outer surface of said thermally insulated barrier means;

(ii) configuring said connecting means to prevent the movement of warm air from said warm compartment to said cool compartment; and

(iii) directing said circulating air first past condenser means located in said warm component for removing heat therefrom and facilitating the condensation of refrigerant, then past compressor means located in said warm compartment and thereafter out of said warm compartment, said warm and cool compartments separated by said thermally insulated barrier means so as to minimize the surface area of said thermally insulated barrier means contacted by said warm air to promote more efficient cooling in said cool compartment while minimizing the energy required to obtain said cooling.

17. A method for constructing a power module for cooling a substantially vertically standing refrigeration cabinet which comprises a top member, a bottom member and two pairs of opposed vertical side members, said refrigeration cabinet having a means for access to an interior portion of said cabinet on at least one vertical side member, said method comprising:

(i) locating a first compartment substantially rearwardly upon said top member of said refrigeration cabinet with respect to an access means;

(ii) locating a second compartment substantially forwardly upon said top member to said refrigeration cabinet with respect to said access means;

(iii) thermally separating said first compartment from said second compartment by thermal barrier means;

(iii) isolating first drive means and second drive means for said refrigerated air and ambient air circulation means respectively on the outer surface of said thermally insulated barrier means in said second compartment;

(iv) configuring collection and exhaustion means so as to prevent the flow of warm air from said second compartment, through said collection and exhausting means into said first compartment; and

(v) directing and circulating air in said second compartment so as to minimize contact with the outer insulated portion of said first compartment.

18. The power module produced by the process of claim 17.

19. A method for constructing a forced circulating air refrigeration apparatus which comprises:

constructing a first compartment comprising a substantially vertically standing refrigeration cabinet having a top member, a bottom member and two pairs of opposed vertical side members, said refrigeration cabinet having means for access to an interior portion of said cabinet on at least one vertical side member;

said cabinet further including a central wall dividing said first compartment into a freeze section and a refrigerator section, the central wall having a first opening to permit the circulation of chilled air from the refrigerator section to the freezer section;

constructing a second compartment adjacent said first compartment, said second compartment being subdivided into a cool section located substantially rearwardly upon said top member of said refrigeration compartment with respect to said access means; and

a warm section located substantially fowardly upon said top member of said refrigeration cabinet with respect to said access means, said warm section and said cool section being separated from one another by thermally insulated barrier means;

isolating first drive means and second drive means for said refrigerated air and ambient air circulation means respectively on the outer surface of said thermally insulated barrier means in said warm section;

configuring said collection and exhaustion means so as to prevent the flow of warm air from said warm section through said collection and exhaustion means into said cool section; and

including means for directing and circulating the air in the warm section first past condensor means located in said warm section for removing heat therefrom and facilitating the condensation of refrigerant, then past compressor means located in said warm section and thereafter into said cool section so as to minimize the surface area of said thermally insulated barrier means contacted by said warm air to promote more efficient cooling in said cool section while minimizing the energy required to obtain such cooling.

20. The forced circulating air refrigeration apparatus produced by the process of claim 19.

21. A power module for cooling a refrigeration cabinet which comprises:

a first compartment substantially surrounded by thermally insulated barrier means and communicating with an inner portion of said refrigeration cabinet, containing;

(i) evaporator means;

(ii) means for circulating refrigerated air past said evaporator means so as to be in contact therewith and thereafter into an inner portion of said refrigeration cabinet for cooling said cabinet, said air thereafter returning to said module for recycling;

(iii) defroster heater means adjacent said evaporator means for supplying thermal energy to melt frost from said evaporator means during a defrosting cycle;

(iv) sensing means for determining the ambient temperature within said first compartment to control the duration of the defrosting cycle; and

(v) means for collecting and exhausting said melted frost from said first compartment into said second compartment wherein said collection and exhaustion means is dimensioned and configured to prevent a flow of warm air from entering said first compartment through said collection and exhaustion means from said second compartment;

said second compartment containing;

(i) compressor means for compressing a refrigerant;

(ii) condensor means for receiving and cooling said refrigerant;

(iii) means for directing said refrigerant from said compressor means to said condensor means;

(iv) means for circulating ambient room air first past said condensor means so as to be in contact therewith for removing heat therefrom and facilitating the condensation of said refrigerant, then past said compressor means and out of said second compartment, said second compartment being separated from said first compartment by an insulated wall dimensioned and configured to minimize the surface area of said insulated wall portion separating said first and second compartments, and contacted by the now warmed air circulated by said ambient air circulating means to thereby minimize heat transfer to said second compartment;

(v) means for directing said cooled refrigerant from said condensor means to said evaporator means at a predetermined temperature and pressure whereby said refrigerant is permitted to expand within said evaporator means so as to absorb heat from said air directed by said refrigerated air circulating means across an outer surface of said evaporator means; and

(vi) means for returning said refrigerant from said evaporator means to said compressor means.

22. The power module according to claim 21 wherein said means for circulating refrigerated air passed said evaporator means comprises a fan suitably arranged to circulate refrigerated air passed said evaporator means so as to be in contact therewith and thereafter into an inner portion of said refrigeration cabinet for cooling said cabinet.

23. The power module according to claim 22 wherein said fan means is operatively rotated by propulsion means located in said second compartment, substantially separated from said first compartment by said insulated wall so as to be thermally insulated therefrom.