Freezer and refrigerator provided with freezer

• US 6,775,998 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2003
• Issued: 08/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Refrigeration Company (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamada, Hiroshi, Yuasa, Masashi, Yokoyama, Naoki, Hamano, Yasuki, Kamimura, Shuzo, Fukui, Hideki
• Primary Examiner(s): Tapolcai, William E.
• Application Number:
  US10/416,329
• Publication Number:
  US 20040050083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 305 Days
• Field of Search: 621/97, 621/98
• US Class Current: 62/197
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/2117 of an evaporator
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 5/00 Compression machines, plants or systems, with several evaporator circuits, e.g. for varying refrigerating capacity with cascade operation F25B7/00
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 5/04 arranged in series
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 11/022 with two or more evaporators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/065 with compartments at different temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2317/0682 Two or more fans
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/04 Refrigerators with a horizontal mullion
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/30 Quick freezing
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/12 Sensors measuring the inside temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/122 of freezer compartments
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices

Abstract

Respective evaporators are set to a proper value in evaporation temperature and the efficiency in refrigeration cycle is enhanced, resulting in a reduction of energy consumption. A refrigerating unit and a refrigerator comprise a compressor, a condenser, a plurality of evaporators connected in series, a refrigerant flow rate adjustable unit and a refrigerant, thereby constituting a refrigeration cycle. The refrigerant flow rate adjustable unit controls each respective evaporation temperature of the plurality of evaporators. Preferably, the refrigeration unit further comprises a bypass circuit bypassing at least one of the plurality of evaporators and, when needs arise, the refrigerant is channeled through the bypass circuit. The refrigerant flow rate adjustable unit controls a flow rate of the refrigerant such that an evaporation temperature of the respective evaporators located at the upstream side of the refrigeration cycle is made higher than an evaporation temperature of the respective evaporators located at the downstream side thereof.

Claims

1. A refrigerating unit comprising:

(a) compressor;

(b) condenser;

(c) a plurality of evaporators connected in series;

(d) a capillary tube disposed between said condenser and each of said plurality of evaporators;

(e) a coolant flow rate adjustable unit disposed between respective evaporators of said plurality of evaporators;

(f) a bypass circuit bypassing it least one evaporator of said plurality of evaporators; and

(g) a coolant,

wherein said bypass circuit is disposed in parallel with said at least one evaporator and said coolant flow rate adjustable unit,

said compressor, condenser, evaporator, capillary tube, coolant flow rate adjustable unit, bypass circuit and coolant constitute a refrigeration cycle,

said coolant circulates in said refrigeration cycle,

said coolant flow rate adjustable unit controls variably respective evaporation temperatures of said plurality of evaporators, and

when cooling of said at least one evaporator disposed in parallel with said bypass circuit is not needed, said coolant flow rate adjustable unit is totally closed, thereby allowing said coolant to be channeled to said bypass circuit only.

2. The refrigerating according to claim 1,

wherein said plurality of evaporators include a first evaporator and a second evaporator,

said coolant flow rate adjustable unit is disposed between said first evaporator and said second evaporator,

said capillary tube has a first capillary tube and a second capillary tube,

said first capillary tube is disposed between said condenser and said first evaporator,

said bypass circuit has a branch connection unit, said second capillary tube and a merging connection unit, and

said coolant flowing from said first capillary tube flows bybreaking into two flows at said branch connection wilt, one flowing in said first evaporator and another flowing in said bypass circuit, and said two flows merge at said merging connection unit to get to said second evaporator.

3. The refrigerating unit according to claim 1,

wherein said coolant flow rate adjustable unit is totally closed when said at least one evaporator disposed in parallel with said bypass circuit is defrosted under an off cycle state.

6. A refrigerator comprising a plurality of cooling compartments and said refrigerating unit according to claim 1,

wherein respective cooling compartments of said plurality of cooling compartments are set to temperatures that are different from one another,

said each respective evaporator is installed in each respective cooling compartment of said plurality of cooling compartments,

said refrigerant flow rate adjustable unit controls a flow rate of said refrigerant such that an evaporation temperature of said each respective evaporator located at an upstream side of said refrigeration cycle is made higher than an evaporation temperature of said each respective evaporator located at a downstream side thereof, and

said each respective evaporator located at an upstream side of said refrigeration cycle is installed in respective cooling compartments, each being set to a higher temperature in succession.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein said refrigerant flow rate adjustable unit controls a flow rate of said refrigerant such that a difference in temperature between an interior of said each respective cooling compartment and said each respective evaporator installed in said each respective cooling compartment is 5°

C. or less.

17. The refrigerating unit according to claim 2,

wherein said coolant flow rate adjustable unit is totally closed when said at least one evaporator disposed in parallel with said bypass circuit is defrosted under an off cycle state.

4. A refrigerating unit comprising:

(a) a compressor;

(b) a condenser;

(c) a first evaporator and a second evaporator connected in series;

(d) a coolant flow rate adjustable unit with a function of totally closing disposed between said first evaporator and said second evaporator;

(e) a capillary tube disposed between said condenser and said first evaporator; and

(f) a bypass circuit bypassing said first evaporator and said coolant flow rate adjustable unit,

wherein said compressor, condenser, first evaporator, second evaporator, coolant flow rate adjustable unit, capillary tube, bypass circuit and coolant constitute a refrigeration cycle,

said coolant flow raw adjustable unit controls a flow rate of said coolant such that a first evaporation temperature of said first evaporator is made higher than a second evaporation temperature or said second evaporator, and,

when cooling of said at least one evaporator disposed in parallel with said bypass circuit is not needed, said coolant flow rate adjustable unit is totally closed, thereby allowing said coolant to be channeled to said bypass circuit only.

5. The refrigerating unit according to claim 4,

wherein said coolant flow rate adjustable unit is totally closed when said at least one evaporator disposed in parallel with said bypass circuit is defrosted under an off cycle state.

7. A refrigerator comprising a plurality of cooling compartments and said refrigerating unit according to claim 4,

wherein said plurality of cooling compartments include a cold storage temperature compartment and a freezer temperature compartment,

said first evaporator is installed in said cold storage temperature compartment;

and

said second evaporator is installed in said freezer temperature compartment.

8. A refrigerator comprising a plurality of cooling compartments and said refrigerating unit according to claim 5,

wherein said plurality of cooling compartments include a cold storage temperature compartment and a freezer temperature compartment,

said first evaporator is installed in said cold storage temperature compartment, and

said second evaporator is installed in said freezer temperature compartment.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein an evaporation temperature of said first evaporator is controlled such that an evaporation temperature of said first evaporator ranges from −

5°

C. to 5°

C.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein said refrigerant flow rate adjustable unit is installed in said freezer temperature compartment.

12. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein, when said freezer temperature compartment is rapidly cooled down, said second evaporation temperature of said second evaporator is made lower than said first evaporation temperature of said first evaporator by reducing an extent of throttling of said refrigerant flow rate adjustable unit.

13. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein said refrigerant flow rate adjustable unit controls a flow rate of said refrigerant such that a difference in temperature between an interior of said each respective cooling compartment and said each respective evaporator installed in said each respective cooling compartment 5°

C. or less.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein an evaporation temperature of said first evaporator is controlled such that an evaporation temperature of said first evaporator ranges from −

5°

C. to 5°

C.

15. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein said refrigerant flow rate adjustable unit is installed in said freezer temperature compartment.

16. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein, when said freezer temperature compartment is rapidly cooled down, said second evaporation temperature of said second evaporator is made lower than said first evaporation temperature of said first evaporator by reducing an extent of throttling of said refrigerant flow rate adjustable unit.