US20120192586A1 - Split refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

The compressor, evaporator, and condenser of a conventional refrigerator are integrated in one unit. The present invention separates the compressor and/or condenser from the refrigerator unit and locates them in another package unit. The two units are connected via attachable refrigerant pipes. The new split refrigerator will be quiet, efficient, and safe.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• Not Applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
• Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates to a cooling apparatus. Specifically, the invention relates to an apparatus for food storage.
• Currently the compressor, evaporator, and condenser of a refrigerator are integrated in one unit. The noise generated by a compressor is unavoidable since a refrigerator is typically located inside a house or building. It has become one of the popular noise pollutions in building environment. People, particularly, those who are noise sensitive, are trying different ways to reduce or get rid of it. Unfortunately, it is difficult because a refrigerator has to be put in a place close to people for convenience.
• Further, current refrigerators are energy inefficient because of the heat dissipated from the condenser coil of a refrigerator. In summer season, an air conditioner must take extra work to remove the heat to the outside of a building. In addition, potential refrigerant leak from a compressor or condenser can pollute the inside air of a building.
• Based on the above weaknesses of current refrigerators, a new method is required to make current refrigerators quiet, efficient, and safety.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• The objects of the present invention are to solve the weaknesses mentioned above of current refrigerator.
• The present invention puts the compressor and condenser of a refrigerator in another package unit, and locates the unit at a different place separate from the unit which contains freezer and/or refrigerator compartments. It can be located outside of a building, a next door room, a closet, etc. Therefore, the noise generated by the compressor can be eliminated from a desirable place.
• Another advantage of the present invention is the heat dissipated from a condenser will be isolated from an air conditioning environment. Therefore, less energy will be consumed by an air conditioner in summer time.
• The present invention also prevents inside air pollution from potential refrigerant leak from a compressor or a condenser if they are put outside a building.
• Finally, the separation of the compressor and/or the condenser will leave more space for food storage.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a view showing a compressor and a condenser within a unit separated from another unit containing freezer and/or refrigerator compartments and an evaporator.
• FIG. 2 is a view showing a cooling fan added to the unit containing a compressor and a condenser.
• FIG. 3 is a view showing only a compressor which is located in a separated unit isolated from another unit containing a condenser, freezer and/or refrigerator compartments and an evaporator.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• Hereinafter, a split refrigerator will be described in detail.
• FIG. 1 is the view of a split refrigerator. 102 is the unit which contains freezer and/or refrigerator compartments, an evaporator 101, and an expansion valve or capillary tube 104. The unit 102 is similar with a conventional refrigerator except that the compressor 105 and condenser 103 are separated and located in another unit 108. The two units 102 and 108 are connected via two detachable refrigerant pipes which are the gas pipe 106 and the liquid pipe 107.
• The compressor 105 of a refrigerator generates noise as it compresses the refrigerant from low pressure vapor to high pressure and high temperature vapor. The condenser 103 dissipates heat to its surrounding environment to liquefy the refrigerant vapor. Therefore, the disagreeable noise and heat will be eliminated from a living environment by separating the unit 108 and the unit 102 and locating the unit 108 in a place away from the unit 102.
• The two refrigerant pipes 106 and 107 are used to connect the two units 102 and 108. Both ends of the two pipes will be attached to the two units using flare nuts. The changeable lengths of the two pipes make the location of the unit 108 flexible. It can be placed outside a building, a closet, a separated room, etc.
• FIG. 2 shows the optional cooling fan 109 which can be added to unit 108. With a cooling fan, forced air will flow through the condenser coil and heat dissipation will be faster.
• FIG. 3 shows a different split refrigerator. In FIG. 3, only the compressor 105 is placed inside the unit 108. The condenser 103 is place in the unit 102. This type of refrigerator will be used in cases where heat dissipated from a condenser coil is ignorable. Furthermore, existing conventional refrigerators can be modified by moving out the compressor and relocating the compressor to a remote place to eliminate noise.
• As apparent from the above description, the present invention of a split refrigerator will isolate annoying noise from a delightful environment. Meantime, energy will be saved by removing undesirable heat generated by the conventional refrigerator from air conditioning environment. Furthermore, the air will be healthier without refrigerant leak risk from a compressor and/or a condenser. Finally, separating the compressor and/or condenser will leave more space for food storage without changing the size of the unit 102.

Claims (3)

1. A split refrigerator, comprising:

one unit which contains a compressor and a condenser;

another unit which contains freezer and/or refrigerator compartments, an evaporator, and an expansion valve or a capillary tube;

two attachable refrigerant pipes which connect the two units described above.

2. A split refrigerator, comprising:

one unit which contains a compressor, a condenser, and a cooling fan to flow air through condenser coil;

another unit which contains freezer and/or refrigerator compartments, an evaporator, and an expansion valve or a capillary tube;

two attachable refrigerant pipes which connect the two units described above.

3. A split refrigerator, comprising:

one unit which contains a compressor;

another unit which contains freezer and/or refrigerator compartments, an evaporator, a condenser, and an expansion valve or a capillary tube;

two attachable refrigerant pipes connecting the two units above.

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