Abstract: A food refrigeration appliance having a refrigerated cabinet, a thaw/chill compartment, and a controller for selectively operating the thaw/chill compartment. The compartment is located within the refrigerated cabinet and is heated or cooled by a magneto-caloric element present within the compartment. The controller is electrically coupled to the magneto-caloric element for selective operation.

Abstract: A food refrigeration appliance having a refrigerated cabinet, a thaw/chill compartment, and a controller for selectively operating the thaw/chill compartment. The compartment is located within the refrigerated cabinet and is heated or cooled by a magneto-caloric element present within the compartment. The controller is electrically coupled to the magneto-caloric element for selective operation.

Abstract: A refrigeration appliance includes a large capacity refrigeration system for developing a flow of cold air that is impinged, preferably through top and side nozzles, upon food items placed within an internal cavity of the appliance to quickly freeze or chill the food items. An additional small capacity refrigeration system is provided to maintain a desired temperature within the cavity when the rapid cooling is not needed. Preferably, an impingement air diffuser arrangement is provided to direct the air flow and includes partition members to divide the internal cavity into subspaces for different food packages, with varying cooling rates being permissible between the various sub-spaces. A vertically adjustable shelf is provided which cooperates with blocking plates which move up and down with the shelf and function to block air flow through nozzles arranged below the shelf such that all of the developed air flow is used for direct impingement on the food product.

Abstract: A system for controlling temperatures in and the flow of air between freezer and fresh food compartments of a refrigerator incorporates a thermal mass that is adapted to receive a flow of air directed from the freezer compartment to the fresh food compartment. The thermal mass is associated with a temperature sensor that is connected to a manually adjustable thermostat unit. In the preferred embodiment, the temperature sensor comprises a capillary tube which is wrapped around an outer surface portion of the thermal mass. Structure is provided in the air passageway between the freezer and fresh food compartments to regulate the flow of air over the thermal mass. By regulating the flow over the thermal mass, as well as establishing a desired thermal mass size and location, the control system can achieve desired operational cycles in order to minimize energy consumption and to minimize any variance of the number of cycles over a given period of time between various refrigerator units.