CA1142765A - Assembly for maintaining a freezer frost-free - Google Patents
Assembly for maintaining a freezer frost-freeInfo
- Publication number
- CA1142765A CA1142765A CA000365678A CA365678A CA1142765A CA 1142765 A CA1142765 A CA 1142765A CA 000365678 A CA000365678 A CA 000365678A CA 365678 A CA365678 A CA 365678A CA 1142765 A CA1142765 A CA 1142765A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- assembly
- air
- shelf
- freezer
- filter
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D17/00—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
- F25D17/04—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection
- F25D17/06—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation
- F25D17/062—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation in household refrigerators
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D17/00—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
- F25D17/04—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection
- F25D17/042—Air treating means within refrigerated spaces
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D21/00—Defrosting; Preventing frosting; Removing condensed or defrost water
- F25D21/04—Preventing the formation of frost or condensate
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D25/00—Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled
- F25D25/02—Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled by shelves
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D2317/00—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
- F25D2317/04—Treating air flowing to refrigeration compartments
- F25D2317/041—Treating air flowing to refrigeration compartments by purification
- F25D2317/0411—Treating air flowing to refrigeration compartments by purification by dehumidification
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D2317/00—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
- F25D2317/06—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation
- F25D2317/062—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation along the inside of doors
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D2317/00—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
- F25D2317/06—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation
- F25D2317/067—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation characterised by air ducts
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D2317/00—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
- F25D2317/06—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation
- F25D2317/068—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation characterised by the fans
- F25D2317/0683—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation characterised by the fans the fans not of the axial type
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D2400/00—General features of, or devices for refrigerators, cold rooms, ice-boxes, or for cooling or freezing apparatus not covered by any other subclass
- F25D2400/04—Refrigerators with a horizontal mullion
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D2700/00—Means for sensing or measuring; Sensors therefor
- F25D2700/02—Sensors detecting door opening
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Defrosting Systems (AREA)
- Cold Air Circulating Systems And Constructional Details In Refrigerators (AREA)
- Removal Of Water From Condensation And Defrosting (AREA)
- Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
Abstract
A B S T R A C T
An assembly for maintaining a freezer in a frost-free condition by the circulation of air in a path that includes a moisture absorbing means and a motor-driven fan. The moisture absorbing means takes the form of an exchangeable filter. The air path includes inlet openings into separate freezer spaces in the chamber.
An assembly for maintaining a freezer in a frost-free condition by the circulation of air in a path that includes a moisture absorbing means and a motor-driven fan. The moisture absorbing means takes the form of an exchangeable filter. The air path includes inlet openings into separate freezer spaces in the chamber.
Description
~1~27~5 The present invention relates to an assem~ly for maintaining a freezer for storing food frost-free.
Freezer ca~inets in use in households for the extended storage of food are mainly of two types; one type is the so-called frost-~ree freezer cabinet, which is a ca~inet having a chamber or compartment for goods and a vertical channel or a space, usually located at the rear side of the chamber, containing a cooling element, a heating element and a fan. During the operation of the freezer 1~ ca~inet, t~e cooling element and the fan are active, and gradually frost is formed on th~ cooling element. Thereafter, the fan and the cooling element are disconnected from a power source and a heating elemsnt is connected into a power source.
The frost is melted to water, which is conducted away. The heating element thereafter is disconnected, and the cooling element and the fan are restarted.
In the other type of freezer cabinet the chamber is provided with cooled surfaces. Then, while operative, relatively large quantities of frost are formed on the cold-est surfaces, and also to some extent on the food in the chamber. Defrosting is accomplished manually at long inter-vals, the refrigerating apparatus of the freezer being dis-connected, and the goods removed from the chamber and stored at some other place while the frost in the cabinet is caused to melt. The water formed can be collected in a number of different ways, but this always causes inconveniences.
The frost-free cabinet has less frost in the chamber, and it is easier to remove the melt-water than in the other cabinet, but the channel or the space surrounding the cooling element requires a considerable amount of extra ~ 2 ~ S
space in the cabinet. Furthermore, heating elements with adequate power have to be mounted for the defrosting pro-cedure, which entails, on one hand, a cost for installation and, on the other hand, that the he~t supplied after defrost-ing has to be conducted away by the refrigerating apparatus.
This method results in a large total energy consumption for the operation.
Both types of freezer cabine~ described above have considerable drawbacks.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is pxovided an assembly for maintaining a freezer cabinet for storing foodstuffs in a frost-free condition comprising a food storage compartment having cool surfaces to be maintained in a frost-free condition, means for conducting air in a circulation path in said cabinet and including moisture absorbing means and a fan.
Preferably the moisture absorbing means comprises an exchangeable filter and preferably this filter includes a regenerative moisture absorbing substance such as a silica-2Q gel.
A freezer with the assembly of this invention will be substantially frost-free~ while the assembly is not large so that the utilization of space in the cabinet is good. Additionally, the power consumpertion of the assembly is low.
The invention ~ill be descr~ed more in detail in the following description with reerence to a freezer cabinet with storage surfaces consisting of cooled shelves, and shown schematically ~y way of example in the dra~ings.
FIGURE 1 is a perspect~ve view of the freezer cabinet seen fron the front wlth open door.
FIGURE 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the cabinet along the l;nes II-II of Fig. 1.
FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional through the upper-most shelf ~n the cabinet taken along the lines III-III of Fig. 2, and FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view through the shelf along the lines IV-IV of Fig. 2.
The freezer ca~inet shown ;n Fig. 1 is operated by a compressox-driven refrige_ating apparatus which may be of a type ~nown per se, and therefore is not shown. The compres~or is situated below the stepped bottom 10 of the cabinet, and is provided with cooling coils in the shelves 11, 12, 13 and 14 of the ca~inet. In the uppermost space or subcompartment 15 of the freezer compartment, the top 16 is formed by a cooling coil.
The cabinet is supported on a base 17, with vent openings 18 for the admission of cooling air to the refrigerating apparatus. The cabinet has a heat-insulated door 19 with a handle 20.
~ shelf 21 is mounted on the heat-insulated side walls 22 and 23 of the chamber in a manner known per se, however, it is spaced from the side walls and rear wall so that air from the uppermost space 15 can freely flow past the shelf 21 down to a lower space 24. Therefore, the shelf 21 z~s of Fig. 2 is shown schematica~ly with gaps 25 between the shelf and the side walls 22 and 23, as well as the rear wall.
The shelf 21 has its entire upper surface fabricated of heat-conductive material, for example aluminum sheet, which forms a plane surface 26 for holding foodstuffs, and prevents spilled liqu~d from entering into the interior of the shelf. The sheet is folded on the sides 27 and 28 and suitabl~ also on the rear side, whereas the front side remains open. TWQ guides 29 and 3~ are arranged at the underside of the box thus formed, which opens downwardly. A moisture-absorbing means in the ~or~ of a filter 31, containing a silica-gel, is insertible on the guides 29 and 30. The filter takes the shape of a thin flat plate with largest possible surface area, and is inserted through an opening in the front of the shelf 21. The filter 31 is located with its upper sur~ace at a predetermined distance below the plane surface 26 for the foodstuffs, and a space 32, which is formed bet~een the filter 31 and the plane surface 26, extends to the right as far as to the side wall 28 of the shelf 21 at least in the rear part of the shelf, as seen in Fig. 4. In the front part of the upper shelf, as seen in Fig. 3, a box 33 is located which contains conventional control means for the freezer, the box 33 being provLded with a thermostat knob 34, control lamps 35 and door switch 36 at the front which forms part of the front of the shelf 21.
As can be seen in Fig. 2 the rear right-hand corner of the plane surface 26 is cut away, a circle in the bottom of the space 32 at the right-hand side is seen which is an air intake 37 to a fan 38 with a motor 39 ~Fig. 4). From the fan 38 an air conduit 40 extends below the space 32 and towards the ll'~Z~Ij5 front of the shelf.
In the door 19 o~ the freezer ca~inet a vertical air distri~ution channel 4~ hav;ng an inlet 42 is so designed that the inlet 42 will ~e situated ln front of and aligned with the conduit 40 when the door 19 is closed. The air from the fan 38 is thus forced into the d~stribution channel 41, and the latter has outlet openings 43, 44, 45 and 46 to spaces 47, 48, 49 and 50, respectively in the freezing cham~er. An outlet opening ~1 ;s arranged in the uppermost space 15.
It IS possible to for~e the air in the freezing chamber to pass from below the filter 31 by means of a fan 39 having extremely small power, and where the moisture content of the cold air is almost completel~ given up, and thereafter flo~ing ~ack to all spaces in the freezing chamber.
Thus, the air is caused to flow over the cold surfaces in the chamber and over foods which are in direct contact with the air, and therefore are subject to the formation of frost. The air forced by the fan into the spaces in the freezing chamber has a lower relative humidity due to the removal of moisture by means of the filter than that at which water is precipitated at the temperatures prevailing on the surface of the foods and on the cooled surfaces in the chamb-er. Therefore, normally no frost at all is formed in the chamber when the door is closed. However, when the freezer cabinet is used, the door is opened from time to time in order to place foods in the chamber, or to remove foods there-from. Consequently, the freezing chamber air is more or less exchanged with room air at room temperature and having a 3~ certain moisture content. Thus, occasionally frost may be ll~Z7~i5 formed at the coldest surfaces in the chamber. However, the amount of frost so formed is insignificant, and i5 not fol-lowed by a continuous build-up of more frost, but, on the contrary, the continuing but scant air circulation in the cabinet is sufficient in a short time to remove all frost and to convey the moisture forming the frost to the filter.
The frost at a certain point is sublimed on the spot to water vapor which is transported by the circulating air to the filter, where it is collected.
The procedure described above is so effective that it is not necessary to have the fan operate continually. It may be preferable to control the procedure so that defrosting proceeds during operation, or during non-operation of the compressor. It is also possible to control the fan motor by means of a hygrostat, which reacts and starts the fan motor when the relative humidity of the air at a given point in the cabinet exceeds a given limit.
The filter can be regenerated by heating to 180C
under ventilation.
The invention has been described above in connection with a freezer cabinet having cooled shelves, however, it should be apparent that it can be applied to a freezer cabinet having cooling coils at the outside of the inner lin-ing of the walls, with equal advantage.
Freezer ca~inets in use in households for the extended storage of food are mainly of two types; one type is the so-called frost-~ree freezer cabinet, which is a ca~inet having a chamber or compartment for goods and a vertical channel or a space, usually located at the rear side of the chamber, containing a cooling element, a heating element and a fan. During the operation of the freezer 1~ ca~inet, t~e cooling element and the fan are active, and gradually frost is formed on th~ cooling element. Thereafter, the fan and the cooling element are disconnected from a power source and a heating elemsnt is connected into a power source.
The frost is melted to water, which is conducted away. The heating element thereafter is disconnected, and the cooling element and the fan are restarted.
In the other type of freezer cabinet the chamber is provided with cooled surfaces. Then, while operative, relatively large quantities of frost are formed on the cold-est surfaces, and also to some extent on the food in the chamber. Defrosting is accomplished manually at long inter-vals, the refrigerating apparatus of the freezer being dis-connected, and the goods removed from the chamber and stored at some other place while the frost in the cabinet is caused to melt. The water formed can be collected in a number of different ways, but this always causes inconveniences.
The frost-free cabinet has less frost in the chamber, and it is easier to remove the melt-water than in the other cabinet, but the channel or the space surrounding the cooling element requires a considerable amount of extra ~ 2 ~ S
space in the cabinet. Furthermore, heating elements with adequate power have to be mounted for the defrosting pro-cedure, which entails, on one hand, a cost for installation and, on the other hand, that the he~t supplied after defrost-ing has to be conducted away by the refrigerating apparatus.
This method results in a large total energy consumption for the operation.
Both types of freezer cabine~ described above have considerable drawbacks.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is pxovided an assembly for maintaining a freezer cabinet for storing foodstuffs in a frost-free condition comprising a food storage compartment having cool surfaces to be maintained in a frost-free condition, means for conducting air in a circulation path in said cabinet and including moisture absorbing means and a fan.
Preferably the moisture absorbing means comprises an exchangeable filter and preferably this filter includes a regenerative moisture absorbing substance such as a silica-2Q gel.
A freezer with the assembly of this invention will be substantially frost-free~ while the assembly is not large so that the utilization of space in the cabinet is good. Additionally, the power consumpertion of the assembly is low.
The invention ~ill be descr~ed more in detail in the following description with reerence to a freezer cabinet with storage surfaces consisting of cooled shelves, and shown schematically ~y way of example in the dra~ings.
FIGURE 1 is a perspect~ve view of the freezer cabinet seen fron the front wlth open door.
FIGURE 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the cabinet along the l;nes II-II of Fig. 1.
FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional through the upper-most shelf ~n the cabinet taken along the lines III-III of Fig. 2, and FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view through the shelf along the lines IV-IV of Fig. 2.
The freezer ca~inet shown ;n Fig. 1 is operated by a compressox-driven refrige_ating apparatus which may be of a type ~nown per se, and therefore is not shown. The compres~or is situated below the stepped bottom 10 of the cabinet, and is provided with cooling coils in the shelves 11, 12, 13 and 14 of the ca~inet. In the uppermost space or subcompartment 15 of the freezer compartment, the top 16 is formed by a cooling coil.
The cabinet is supported on a base 17, with vent openings 18 for the admission of cooling air to the refrigerating apparatus. The cabinet has a heat-insulated door 19 with a handle 20.
~ shelf 21 is mounted on the heat-insulated side walls 22 and 23 of the chamber in a manner known per se, however, it is spaced from the side walls and rear wall so that air from the uppermost space 15 can freely flow past the shelf 21 down to a lower space 24. Therefore, the shelf 21 z~s of Fig. 2 is shown schematica~ly with gaps 25 between the shelf and the side walls 22 and 23, as well as the rear wall.
The shelf 21 has its entire upper surface fabricated of heat-conductive material, for example aluminum sheet, which forms a plane surface 26 for holding foodstuffs, and prevents spilled liqu~d from entering into the interior of the shelf. The sheet is folded on the sides 27 and 28 and suitabl~ also on the rear side, whereas the front side remains open. TWQ guides 29 and 3~ are arranged at the underside of the box thus formed, which opens downwardly. A moisture-absorbing means in the ~or~ of a filter 31, containing a silica-gel, is insertible on the guides 29 and 30. The filter takes the shape of a thin flat plate with largest possible surface area, and is inserted through an opening in the front of the shelf 21. The filter 31 is located with its upper sur~ace at a predetermined distance below the plane surface 26 for the foodstuffs, and a space 32, which is formed bet~een the filter 31 and the plane surface 26, extends to the right as far as to the side wall 28 of the shelf 21 at least in the rear part of the shelf, as seen in Fig. 4. In the front part of the upper shelf, as seen in Fig. 3, a box 33 is located which contains conventional control means for the freezer, the box 33 being provLded with a thermostat knob 34, control lamps 35 and door switch 36 at the front which forms part of the front of the shelf 21.
As can be seen in Fig. 2 the rear right-hand corner of the plane surface 26 is cut away, a circle in the bottom of the space 32 at the right-hand side is seen which is an air intake 37 to a fan 38 with a motor 39 ~Fig. 4). From the fan 38 an air conduit 40 extends below the space 32 and towards the ll'~Z~Ij5 front of the shelf.
In the door 19 o~ the freezer ca~inet a vertical air distri~ution channel 4~ hav;ng an inlet 42 is so designed that the inlet 42 will ~e situated ln front of and aligned with the conduit 40 when the door 19 is closed. The air from the fan 38 is thus forced into the d~stribution channel 41, and the latter has outlet openings 43, 44, 45 and 46 to spaces 47, 48, 49 and 50, respectively in the freezing cham~er. An outlet opening ~1 ;s arranged in the uppermost space 15.
It IS possible to for~e the air in the freezing chamber to pass from below the filter 31 by means of a fan 39 having extremely small power, and where the moisture content of the cold air is almost completel~ given up, and thereafter flo~ing ~ack to all spaces in the freezing chamber.
Thus, the air is caused to flow over the cold surfaces in the chamber and over foods which are in direct contact with the air, and therefore are subject to the formation of frost. The air forced by the fan into the spaces in the freezing chamber has a lower relative humidity due to the removal of moisture by means of the filter than that at which water is precipitated at the temperatures prevailing on the surface of the foods and on the cooled surfaces in the chamb-er. Therefore, normally no frost at all is formed in the chamber when the door is closed. However, when the freezer cabinet is used, the door is opened from time to time in order to place foods in the chamber, or to remove foods there-from. Consequently, the freezing chamber air is more or less exchanged with room air at room temperature and having a 3~ certain moisture content. Thus, occasionally frost may be ll~Z7~i5 formed at the coldest surfaces in the chamber. However, the amount of frost so formed is insignificant, and i5 not fol-lowed by a continuous build-up of more frost, but, on the contrary, the continuing but scant air circulation in the cabinet is sufficient in a short time to remove all frost and to convey the moisture forming the frost to the filter.
The frost at a certain point is sublimed on the spot to water vapor which is transported by the circulating air to the filter, where it is collected.
The procedure described above is so effective that it is not necessary to have the fan operate continually. It may be preferable to control the procedure so that defrosting proceeds during operation, or during non-operation of the compressor. It is also possible to control the fan motor by means of a hygrostat, which reacts and starts the fan motor when the relative humidity of the air at a given point in the cabinet exceeds a given limit.
The filter can be regenerated by heating to 180C
under ventilation.
The invention has been described above in connection with a freezer cabinet having cooled shelves, however, it should be apparent that it can be applied to a freezer cabinet having cooling coils at the outside of the inner lin-ing of the walls, with equal advantage.
Claims (12)
1. An assembly for maintaining a freezer cabinet for storing foodstuffs in a frost-free condition compris-ing a freezing chamber having cool surfaces to be maintained in a frost-free condition, means for conducting air in a circulation air path in said cabinet and including a moisture absorbing means and a fan.
2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said moisture absorbing means is an exchangeable filter containing a substance having moisture absorbing proper-ties.
3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said filter contains regenerative substances.
4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein said regenerative substance is silica-gel.
5. An assembly as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a shelf for foodstuffs in said chamber, and said filter is arranged on said shelf.
6. An assembly as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a plane surface on said shelf for said food-stuffs, said plane surface being fabricated of a heat conductive material said shelf having a downwardly open space provided with retaining means for the insertion of said filter therein, a fan in said air path whereby said air passes through said path to another part of said air path.
7. An assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein said part of the air path in said shelf from the filter to the fan is arranged to contact substantially the entire plane surface for said foodstuffs.
8. An assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein said refrigerating apparatus of the freezer is thermo-statically controlled and has a sensor for the thermostat sensing of the temperature of the plane surface for the foodstuffs.
9. An assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein said other part of said air path is arranged to conduct air into a distribution channel.
10. An assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein said distribution channel extends between the upper part and the bottom part of said chamber, and is provided with inlet openings to separate spaces in said freezer chamber.
11. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 comprising a plurality of food supporting shelves, said shelves divid-ing said compartment into a plurality of subcompartments, said fan and said moisture absorbing means being disposed in one of said shelves and said path including a distribu-tion channel leading air passed through said moisture absorbing means to each subcompartment.
12. An assembly as claimed in claim 11 including a vertical door providing, access to said compartment, wherein said distribution channel is formed in said door.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| SE7909844A SE7909844L (en) | 1979-11-29 | 1979-11-29 | SET AND DEVICE FOR KEEPING A FROZEN FREEZE |
| SE7909844-8 | 1979-11-29 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1142765A true CA1142765A (en) | 1983-03-15 |
Family
ID=20339428
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000365678A Expired CA1142765A (en) | 1979-11-29 | 1980-11-27 | Assembly for maintaining a freezer frost-free |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0031311A3 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS5691167A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1142765A (en) |
| DK (1) | DK504980A (en) |
| FI (1) | FI803657A7 (en) |
| SE (1) | SE7909844L (en) |
Families Citing this family (22)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE450045B (en) * | 1981-09-29 | 1987-06-01 | Electrolux Ab | ANTI-FROZEN EFFECTS OF FROZEN MOBILE |
| GB2165341A (en) * | 1984-08-29 | 1986-04-09 | Christopher Denham Wall | Refrigerators |
| FR2655717B1 (en) * | 1989-12-12 | 1995-02-10 | Selnor Electromenager Nord | MULTIPLE TEMPERATURE REFRIGERATION APPARATUS. |
| KR960010668B1 (en) * | 1993-11-06 | 1996-08-07 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Refrigerator |
| FR2757935B1 (en) * | 1996-12-30 | 1999-03-19 | Drean Henri Louis Marie | SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT TO IMPROVE THE OPERATION OF REFRIGERATORS |
| US5927095A (en) * | 1997-05-20 | 1999-07-27 | Lg Electronics, Inc. | Anti-frost device for refrigerators |
| KR100254409B1 (en) * | 1997-08-29 | 2000-05-01 | 구자홍 | Circulator for cooling air |
| CA2365751C (en) * | 2001-08-21 | 2010-03-23 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Cooling air supplying device in refrigerator |
| US6925819B2 (en) | 2003-09-19 | 2005-08-09 | University Of Florida Research Foundation, Inc. | System for trapping airborne water in cooling and freezing devices |
| WO2006072901A1 (en) * | 2005-01-03 | 2006-07-13 | Arcelik Anonim Sirketi | A cooling device |
| EP1845321B1 (en) | 2006-01-30 | 2017-07-26 | Whirlpool Corporation | Refrigerator with moisture adsorbing device |
| RU2426959C2 (en) * | 2006-04-27 | 2011-08-20 | Малтисорб Текнолоджиз, Инк. | Device for reducing frost deposition in refrigerator |
| ITTO20070019U1 (en) | 2007-02-01 | 2008-08-02 | Indesit Co Spa | DOMESTIC REFRIGERATOR SYSTEM, WITH AIR CIRCULATION AND TREATMENT DEVICE |
| DE202008000765U1 (en) * | 2007-12-28 | 2009-04-30 | Liebherr-Hausgeräte Ochsenhausen GmbH | Fridge and / or freezer |
| CN101749911B (en) * | 2008-11-28 | 2012-11-07 | 博西华家用电器有限公司 | Refrigerator |
| FI20150178A7 (en) * | 2012-11-19 | 2015-06-17 | Kylmaeveraejae Oy | Cooling method and cooling equipment |
| US9022364B2 (en) | 2013-05-30 | 2015-05-05 | The Boeing Company | Evaporative system for removing water from an aircraft lavatory and or galley floor |
| EP2846116B1 (en) * | 2013-09-09 | 2021-02-17 | Whirlpool Corporation | Refrigerator |
| US10890370B2 (en) | 2014-12-31 | 2021-01-12 | Bsh Hausgeraete Gmbh | Cooling device having an air channel and a baffle |
| CN107514855A (en) * | 2017-07-14 | 2017-12-26 | 青岛海尔电冰箱有限公司 | Refrigerating device |
| EP3887734B1 (en) * | 2018-11-26 | 2023-05-10 | Arçelik Anonim Sirketi | A cooling device wherein the frost formation in the freezing compartment is prevented |
| DE102022119529A1 (en) * | 2022-08-04 | 2024-02-15 | Miele & Cie. Kg | Storage cabinet with a device for treating indoor air |
Family Cites Families (12)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2117570A (en) * | 1935-11-01 | 1938-05-17 | Nash Kelvinator Corp | Refrigerating apparatus |
| US2217204A (en) * | 1937-09-07 | 1940-10-08 | Michael M Jalma | Process and apparatus for conditioning air and other gases |
| US2213274A (en) * | 1937-10-07 | 1940-09-03 | Alexander L Flamm | Refrigerator |
| DE1017190B (en) * | 1953-03-11 | 1957-10-10 | Fritz Rondholz | Cold room air purifier |
| US2773362A (en) * | 1953-05-18 | 1956-12-11 | Whirlpool Seeger Corp | Refrigerators for freezing food and storage of frozen food |
| US2775873A (en) * | 1956-02-21 | 1957-01-01 | Herbert T Jones | Still chilled refrigerator |
| US3025683A (en) * | 1957-11-08 | 1962-03-20 | Whirlpool Co | Air circulation system and structure |
| US3096629A (en) * | 1961-04-05 | 1963-07-09 | Gen Motors Corp | Frostless freezer |
| US3096628A (en) * | 1961-10-20 | 1963-07-09 | Whirlpool Co | Home appliance |
| US3320764A (en) * | 1966-02-01 | 1967-05-23 | Gen Motors Corp | Refrigerator with removable wall |
| DE2344261A1 (en) * | 1973-09-01 | 1975-03-06 | Collo Rheincollodium Koeln Gmb | Compressor-type domestic refrigerator with air circulation - has fan controlled by compressor thermostat, and ducting in cabinet insulation |
| US4075866A (en) * | 1977-01-07 | 1978-02-28 | General Motors Corporation | Refrigerator defroster-humidifier |
-
1979
- 1979-11-29 SE SE7909844A patent/SE7909844L/en not_active Application Discontinuation
-
1980
- 1980-11-12 EP EP80850170A patent/EP0031311A3/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1980-11-24 FI FI803657A patent/FI803657A7/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1980-11-27 DK DK504980A patent/DK504980A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1980-11-27 CA CA000365678A patent/CA1142765A/en not_active Expired
- 1980-11-28 JP JP16684380A patent/JPS5691167A/en active Pending
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| FI803657L (en) | 1981-05-30 |
| FI803657A7 (en) | 1981-05-30 |
| EP0031311A3 (en) | 1982-06-23 |
| SE7909844L (en) | 1981-05-30 |
| DK504980A (en) | 1981-05-30 |
| EP0031311A2 (en) | 1981-07-01 |
| JPS5691167A (en) | 1981-07-23 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |