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Two-evaporator refrigerator having a controlled variable throttler

  • US 6,715,305 B2
  • Filed: 01/03/2003
  • Issued: 04/06/2004
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2002
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A refrigerator comprising:

  • a two-stage and power-variable compressor having an outlet and first and second inlets, pressure of said first inlet being intermediate between pressures of the outlet at higher pressure and the second inlet at lower pressure;

    a condenser at downstream of said outlet;

    a first evaporator at downstream of the condenser;

    a gas-liquid separator being at downstream of the first evaporator and having a gas-phase refrigerant exit and a liquid-phase refrigerant exit;

    a second evaporator at downstream of said liquid-phase refrigerant exit;

    a first suction pipe connecting from the gas-phase refrigerant exit to said first inlet of the compressor;

    a second suction pipe connecting from the second evaporator to said second inlet of the two-stage compressor;

    a first fan for sending out air around the first evaporator into a fresh food compartment;

    a second fan for sending out air around the second evaporator into a freezer compartment;

    first and second throttlers, respectively interposed between the condenser and the first evaporator, and between said liquid-phase refrigerant exit and the second evaporator, throttling extent of at least one of said first and second throttlers being variable in response of computerized control;

    sensors for detecting temperatures in the fresh food and freezer compartments and in the first and second evaporators; and

    controller for controlling power of the compressor and throttling extent of said at least one of the first and second throttlers, based on detection of said sensors, as to keep said temperatures within respective prescribed ranges.

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