Abstract: A mechanism to control the temperature in the freezer and fresh food compartments of a side-by-side refrigerator includes an elongated support plate mounted in the upper portion of the fresh food compartment. A fresh food thermostat is mounted under the plate adjacent to the mullion separating the compartments and its control shaft is aligned with an opening in the plate. A pinion gear is connected to the shaft and is positioned above the plate. A freezer thermostat is mounted under the plate at a position more remote from the mullion and its control shaft is aligned with an opening in the plate. A pinion gear is connected to the control shaft and is positioned above the plate. A fresh food rack gear is slidingly mounted on the plate remote from the mullion and includes an elongated arm with teeth that engage the fresh food pinion gear. A freezer rack gear is slidingly mounted on the plate close to the mullion and includes an elongated arm with teeth that engage the teeth on the freezer pinion gear.

Abstract: A refrigerator has a refrigeration control mechanism including a base mounted in the food storage compartment. The base includes a support plate extending generally horizontally side-to-side in the compartment. A pair of thermostats are mounted under opposite end portions of the plate and a lamp is mounted between the thermostats. Each thermostat has an operating handle extending forward of the plate. A bezel is removably mounted to the base and extends along the front of the plate aligned with the thermostats and lamp. The bezel includes two slots which receive the handles and permit sliding movement of the handles to adjust the thermostats. The slots and handles are sized to permit removal of the bezel without removing the handles. A light shield, removably mounted to the base, includes a bottom wall extending under the plate, aligned with the thermostats and lamp, and a frame encompassing the periphery of the bezel. The upper edge of the frame overlaps the upper edge of the bezel.

Abstract: A mechanism to control air flow between the freezer and fresh food compartments of a refrigerator includes an elongated air flow tube and a flow control housing with mating planar surfaces angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the air flow tube. A mating gasket is positioned between the planar surfaces and joined to each with adhesive. An electrical conductor extends through the air flow passageway in the tube and housing and includes a plug of material around the conductor's protective cover. A recess in the housing mounts the plug with an angled surface of the plug filling a matching interruption in the housing's planar surface to prevent air leaks around the conductor. The housing and plug include cooperating dimples which receive a capillary tube extending through the air passage.

Abstract: A side by side refrigerator has a vertical evaporator formed from an elongated tube wrapped with a ribbon of material having spine fins extending substantially perpendicular from the elongated tube. The elongated tube has elongated straight runs joined by return bent ends to define a vertically extending evaporator having a generally oval spiral or configuration. In one embodiment, the elongated straight runs are spaced from each other throughout the vertical length of the evaporator to provide a space of constant area for air flow.

Abstract: A spine fin refrigerator evaporator is formed of lower and upper sections of elongated straight runs, which have fins thereon and have their ends connected to each other by return bent ends. The lower section is formed with two rows of the elongated straight runs in an A shape to provide a passage therebetween through which air initially flows through the evaporator so that frost can be gathered without blocking air flow therethrough. The upper section has three rows of the elongated straight runs with the fins of adjacent rows overlapping each other to provide an efficient heat transfer from the refrigerant in the elongated straight runs to the air whereby the lower and upper sections combine to provide a practical and efficient evaporator. If desired, the upper and lower sections can be vertically spaced from each other to have a defrost heater disposed therebetween.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes an evaporator formed from an elongated tube wrapped with a ribbon of material having spine fins extending perpendiculary from the tube. Elongated, horizontal passes of tube are arranged in vertically extending rows defining vertically extending air flow passages. Fins extending into the lower portions of the air flow passages are bent from their perpendicular relationship with the tube.