Anti-Icing System and Method for a Refrigeration Cooling Apparatus

Abstract

An anti-icing system for use with a refrigerator that defines an interior area includes a cooling apparatus mounted in the interior area of the refrigerator and having a condenser portion and a plurality of spaced apart fins operably coupled to the condenser portion and extending away therefrom. The anti-icing system includes a first fan situated in a fan housing having opposed front and rear walls, the front wall defining an aperture. The first fan is situated in the fan housing so as to transmit air through the aperture when energized. The heat exchange unit is configured to be mounted in the refrigerator interior area such that the plurality of evaporator fins extends outwardly. The fan housing is configured to be mounted in the refrigerator interior area perpendicular to the plurality of evaporator fins such that air is transmitted across the fins to reduce or eliminate icing.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to defrosting devices in refrigeration cooling systems and, more particularly, to an anti-icing system and method for preventing icing in a refrigeration cooling apparatus.

Traveling in a recreation vehicle (“RV”) can be fun, adventuresome, and convenient. It is convenient in that housing and shelter are always immediately available—it is included in the recreation vehicle. In other words, the vehicle being driven provides the shelter, shade, and entertainment often desired by campers or other travelers. Most notably, an RV is convenient because the RV has a kitchen facility including an RV refrigerator. The refrigerator may include a propane, DC or AC powered cooling apparatus that keeps food stored in the refrigerator very cold and secure while traveling.

Unfortunately, the evaporation fins or coils of the cooling apparatus of a RV refrigerator may become very icy or frosted over—a condition that dramatically decreases the efficiency of the entire cooling system. Various devices have been proposed in the art for eliminating or dramatically reducing the degree of ice or frost build-up on the evaporator fins or coils of an RV refrigerator. Although assumably effective for their intended purposes, the existing devices or designs propose integrating a heating system within proximity to the evaporator fins.

Therefore, it would be desirable to have an anti-icing system and method that eliminates or dramatically reduces the degree of ice or frost build-up on the evaporator fins or coils of an RV refrigerator. Further, it would be desirable to have an anti-icing system and method that inhibits ice formation in a refrigerator cooling apparatus by positioning at least a first fan unit proximate and perpendicular to the plurality of spaced apart evaporator fins of the cooling apparatus mounted in the interior area of a refrigerator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An anti-icing system for use with a refrigerator having a refrigerator box with a plurality of interior walls that define an interior area includes a cooling apparatus mounted in the interior area of the refrigerator and having a condenser portion and a plurality of spaced apart fins operably coupled to the condenser portion and extending away therefrom. The anti-icing system includes a first fan situated in a fan housing having opposed front and rear walls, the front wall defining an aperture. The first fan is situated in the fan housing so as to transmit air through the aperture when energized. The cooling apparatus is configured to be mounted in the refrigerator interior area such that the plurality of evaporator fins extends outwardly. The fan housing is configured to be mounted in the refrigerator interior area perpendicular to the plurality of evaporator fins such that air is transmitted across the fins to reduce or illuminate icing.

Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide an anti-icing system and method for preventing ice formation and accumulation in a refrigeration cooling system cooling apparatus.

Another object of this invention is to provide an anti-icing system and method, as aforesaid, that inhibits ice formation in a refrigerator cooling apparatus by positioning at least a first fan unit proximate and perpendicular to the plurality of spaced apart fins of the cooling apparatus mounted in the interior area of a refrigerator.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an anti-icing system and method, as aforesaid, that may be installed in a refrigerator, such as recreation vehicle (RV), at the time of manufacture or after market for installation by a consumer.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an anti-icing system installed in a refrigerator box according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2a is an elevated perspective view of the anti-icing system as in FIG. 1 removed from the refrigerator box;

FIG. 2b a perspective view of the anti-icing system as in FIG. 2a taken from a lower angle;

FIG. 3a is a top view of a power cord plug of the anti-icing system as in FIG. 2a;

FIG. 3b is a sectional view taken along line 3b-3b of FIG. 3a;

FIG. 3c is an isolated view on an enlarged scale taken from a portion of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a fan housing as in the anti-icing system shown in FIG. 2a;

FIG. 5 is another perspective view of the fan housing as in FIG. 4 having an electrical plug;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the fan housing as in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is another perspective view of the fan housing as in FIG. 5 configured to include three fans;

Claim 8 is a block diagram of a cooling apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a cooling apparatus according to another embodiment removed from the rest of the system of FIGS. 1 and 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An anti-icing system and method for preventing icing in a refrigeration cooling apparatus will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8 of the accompanying drawings. The anti-icing system 10 includes a cooling apparatus 20, such as a traditional heat exchanger apparatus or a gas powered apparatus, and at least a first fan 50 situated in a fan housing 60 that may be mounted in a refrigerator cooling box 12 (also referred to as a “refrigerator box”) defining an interior 14. More particularly, the present invention may be used with a refrigerator, particularly a refrigerator used in a recreational vehicle (RV). Preferably, the refrigerator includes a plurality of interior walls that define an interior area 14 and at least one pivotally mounted door 16 that is movable between open and closed positions so as to provide selective access to the interior 14.

In one embodiment, the refrigerator cooling apparatus 20 is a gas powered apparatus 30 illustrated in FIG. 8 in block diagram format. In this embodiment, liquid ammonia is created in a generator 32 or inserted into the cooling apparatus 20 by an original equipment manufacturer (OEM). Then, ammonia gas is separated from an ammonia-water solution in a separator 34. Hot ammonia gas is condensed into liquid ammonia in a condenser 36. The ammonia gas then makes its way to an evaporator 38 where, upon evaporation of the liquid ammonia, very cold temperatures are produced in the refrigerator box 12. It is the evaporator 38 that may include a plurality of evaporator fins 40 described elsewhere in this application. In fact, the temperatures are so cold that water vapor surrounding the fins 40 may freeze so as to form ice crystals on the fins 40. It is understood that the cooling apparatus 20 may, in some embodiments, be arranged differently than described above—the important matter being that operation of the evaporator 38 may cause an undesirable icing that may be resolved by the present invention as described below.

In another embodiment, the cooling apparatus 20 may include a more traditional heat exchanger configuration 30′ having a condenser portion 33 and a plurality of evaporator fins 40 extending away from the condenser portion 33. It is understood that like functional elements between the embodiments of the cooling apparatus 20 will use primed reference numerals to depict similar elements but slightly different embodiments. The condenser portion 33 includes a condenser 36′ configured to compress a fluid into a very cold liquid. At least one elongate fluid tube 37 extends from the condenser 36′ into physical contact with the plurality of evaporator fins 40 and then back into the condenser 36′ (FIG. 8). As the very cold fluid runs through the tube 37, a “heat exchange” occurs; namely, the fluid loses heat into the environment and increases temperature as the colder temperature of the fluid is conducted to the plurality of evaporator fins. The warmed (or even heated) fluid returns to the condenser 36′ where it is again compressed and cooled and the cycle is repeated. A result of this cycle is that the plurality of evaporator fins 40 is cooled so much that water vapor in the air surrounding the fins 40 may freeze to the fins 40 unless there is airflow over the fins 40. The condenser portion 33 may be coupled to an AC power source (not shown).

The first fan 50 includes a plurality of fan blades 52, an electric motor 53 (not shown), a manually actuated activation switch 54 configured to actuate the electric motor 53, a safety fuse 56, and other components common to fans. The first fan 50 may include a base 58 such that the first fan 50 may be mounted, say, on a wall, bracket, or the like and be positioned to deliver air in a desired direction when electrically energized. Specifically, the first fan 50 may be positioned so as to transmit air over the plurality of evaporator fins 40 when energized.

The anti-icing system 10 may include a fan housing 60 having a plurality of walls that define an interior space. Preferably, the first fan 50 may be situated in the interior space of the fan housing 60. One of the walls of the plurality of walls may be considered a “front wall” 62 that defines a first aperture 64 that communicates the interior space inside the fan housing 60 with air outside of the interior space of the fan housing 60. Preferably, the first fan 50 is situated in the fan housing interior space so as to transmit ambient air outwardly through the first aperture 64 when energized.

The fan housing 60 includes a rear wall 68 opposite the front wall 62. A fastener 69 may be coupled to opposed ends of the rear wall 68 such that the fan housing 60 may be coupled to a wall of the refrigerator box. As shown in FIG. 1, the fan housing 60 is coupled to an interior surface of a top wall of the refrigerator box 12 as will be described further below. The fasteners 69 used to couple fan housing 60 may be an adhesive, complementary portions of hook-and-loop fasteners or the like. In a method of using the present invention, properly positioning the fan housing 60 is very important as will be described later.

In one embodiment of the anti-icing system 10, the cooling apparatus 20 is selectively mounted to a respective wall, such as a rear wall, in the interior area of the refrigerator box 12 such that the plurality of evaporator fins 40 extends outwardly (FIG. 1). Further, the fan housing 60 may be selectively mounted to a respective wall in the refrigerator interior area, such as an interior surface of a top wall, such that the front wall of the fan housing 60 is perpendicular to the fins of the cooling apparatus 20 (FIG. 2a).

In another embodiment, a second fan 70 may be situated in the interior space of the fan housing 60. The front wall 62 of the fan housing 60 may define a second aperture 66 spaced apart from the first aperture 64. The second fan 70 may be situated in the fan housing interior space so as to transmit ambient air outwardly through the second aperture 66 when energized. As shown, the first 64 and second 66 apertures may be partially covered by fan guards 63, 65, respectively, configured to allow air to flow substantially unimpeded yet preventing a person's fingers from entering the fan housing 60. (FIG. 6). The second fan 70 provides selective transmission of a greater volume or velocity of air across the plurality of evaporator 40 fins than with the first fan 50 alone so as to prevent icing upon the fins 40. In yet another embodiment, a third fan may be added having a substantially similar construction (FIG. 7).

A power cord 80 has a first end 82 electrically connected to the first fan 50 and a second end 84 having a plug 86 configured to selectively connect to an DC power source so as to energize said first fan 50. More particularly, the plug 86 includes a plug end 88 and a receptacle end 94. The plug end 88 includes a male connector 90 and a shroud 92 surrounding the male connector 90 that is configured to shield the male connector 90 from moisture or the like. Further, the receptacle end 94 includes a female connector 96 and a shroud 98 surrounding the female connector 96 that is configured to shield the female connector 90 from moisture or the like.

A method for preventing ice formation in a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention includes providing a cooling apparatus 20 that includes a condenser portion 33 and a plurality of spaced apart evaporator fins 40 operably coupled to the condenser portion 33 and extending away therefrom. Further, the cooling apparatus 20 is positioned in the interior area of the refrigerator box 12 such that the plurality of evaporator fins 40 is directed outwardly. The method further includes providing a first fan configured to transmit air when energized, the first fan 50 having a power cord 80 electrically connected to an DC power source. The first fan 50, then, is positioned in the interior area of the refrigerator box displaced from and proximate to the plurality of evaporator fins of the cooling apparatus. Next, the first fan 50 is positioned to direct ambient air from the first fan across the plurality of evaporator fins when the first fan is energized. Accordingly, ice is prevented from building up on the evaporator fins 40 as a result of the airflow of at least the first fan 50 across the evaporator fins 40.

It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. An anti-icing system for use with a refrigerator having a box with a plurality of interior walls that define an interior area and at least one pivotally mounted door that is movable between open and closed positions that provides selective access to the interior area, comprising:

a cooling apparatus mounted in the interior area of the refrigerator and having a condenser portion and a plurality of spaced apart evaporator fins operably coupled to said condenser portion and extending away therefrom;

wherein said cooling is electrically connected to a power source;

a first fan situated in the interior area of the refrigerator and displaced from said cooling;

wherein said first fan is configured to transmit air across said plurality of evaporator fins when energized; and

means connecting said first fan to a power source so as to energize said first fan.

2. The anti-icing system as in claim 1, comprising a fan housing situated in the interior area of the refrigerator that includes a plurality of walls that define an interior space, said first fan being situated in said interior space of said fan housing;

wherein: one of said plurality of walls is a front wall defining a first aperture; said first fan is situated in said fan housing interior space so as to transmit ambient air outwardly through said first aperture of said front wall when energized.

3. The anti-icing system as in claim 2, wherein said connecting means is a power cord having a first end electrically connected to said first fan and a second end that includes a plug configured to selectively connect to a DC power source so as to energize said first fan.

4. The anti-icing system as in claim 2, wherein:

said cooling apparatus is selectively mounted to a respective wall in the refrigerator interior space such that said plurality of evaporator fins extend outwardly into said refrigerator interior space; and

said fan housing is selectively mounted to a respective wall in the refrigerator interior area such that said front wall of said fan housing is perpendicular to said plurality of evaporator fins of said heat exchange unit, whereby air is transmitted across said plurality of evaporator fins when said first fan is energized.

5. The anti-icing system as in claim 2, wherein said plug of said power cord includes:

a plug end having a male connector and a shroud surrounding said male connector, whereby to shield said male connector from contact with moisture; and

a receptacle end having a female connector and a shroud surrounding said female connector, whereby to shield said female connector from contact with moisture.

6. The anti-icing system as in claim 5, wherein said receptacle is configured to connect to a DC power source.

7. The anti-icing system as in claim 1, comprising:

a second fan situated in said interior area of the refrigerator and displaced from said cooling apparatus;

wherein said second fan is configured to transmit air across said plurality of evaporator fins when energized.

8. The anti-icing system as in claim 7, wherein:

said second fan is situated in said fan housing interior space;

said front wall of said fan housing defines a second aperture, said second fan being situated in said interior space of said fan housing so as to transmit ambient air outwardly through said second aperture of said front wall when energized.

9. The anti-icing system as in claim 2, wherein:

one of said plurality of walls of said fan housing is a rear wall opposite said front wall;

a fastener is coupled to opposed ends of said rear wall, respectively, to selectively attach said fan housing to a respective wall of said refrigerator.

10. An anti-icing system for use with a refrigerator having a box with a plurality of interior walls that define an interior area and at least one pivotally mounted door that is movable between open and closed positions that provides selective access to the interior area, comprising:

a cooling apparatus mounted in the interior area of the refrigerator and having a condenser portion and a plurality of spaced apart evaporator fins operably coupled to said condenser portion and extending away therefrom;

a first fan;

a fan housing mounted in the interior area of the refrigerator box displaced from said cooling apparatus, said fan housing having a plurality of walls that define an interior space, said first fan being situated in said interior space of said fan housing;

wherein: one of said plurality of walls is a front wall defining a first aperture; said first fan is situated in said fan housing interior space so as to transmit ambient air outwardly through said first aperture of said front wall when energized;

wherein said first fan is configured to transmit air across said plurality of evaporator fins when energized; and

a power cord having a first end electrically connected to said first fan and a second end having a plug configured to selectively connect to a DC power source so as to selectively energize said first fan.

11. The anti-icing system as in claim 10, wherein said plug of said power cord includes:

a plug end having a male connector and a shroud surrounding said male connector, whereby to shield said male connector from contact with moisture; and

a receptacle end having a female connector and a shroud surrounding said female connector, whereby to shield said female connector from contact with moisture.

12. The anti-icing system as in claim 10, wherein:

said cooling apparatus is selectively mounted to a respective wall in the refrigerator interior area such that said plurality of evaporator fins extend outwardly into said refrigerator interior space; and

said fan housing is selectively mounted to a respective wall in the refrigerator interior area such that said front wall of said fan housing is perpendicular to said plurality of evaporator fins of said cooling apparatus, whereby air is transmitted across said plurality of evaporator fins when said first fan is energized.

13. The anti-icing system as in claim 10, comprising:

a second fan situated in said interior area of the refrigerator and displaced from said cooling apparatus;

wherein said second fan is configured to transmit air across said plurality of evaporator fins when energized.

14. The anti-icing system as in claim 10, comprising:

a second fan situated in said interior area of the refrigerator and displaced from said cooling apparatus;

wherein said second fan is configured to transmit air across said plurality of evaporator fins when energized.

15. The anti-icing system as in claim 14, wherein:

said second fan is situated in said fan housing interior space;

said front wall of said fan housing defines a second aperture, said second fan being situated in said interior space of said fan housing so as to transmit ambient air outwardly through said second aperture of said front wall when energized.

16. The anti-icing system as in claim 11, wherein:

one of said plurality of walls of said fan housing is a rear wall opposite said front wall; and

a fastener is coupled to opposed ends of said rear wall, respectively, to selectively attach said fan housing to a respective wall of said refrigerator.

17. The anti-icing system as in claim 16, wherein said fastener is one of hook and loop fasteners and adhesive.

18. A method for preventing ice formation in a refrigerator having a refrigerator box defining a plurality of inner walls in an interior area, comprising:

providing a cooling apparatus that includes a condenser portion and a plurality of spaced apart evaporator fins operably coupled to said condenser portion and extending away therefrom;

positioning said cooling apparatus in the interior area of the refrigerator box such that the plurality of evaporator fins are directed outwardly;

providing a first fan configured to transmit air when energized, said first fan having a power cord electrically connected to a power source;

positioning said first fan in the interior area of the refrigerator box displaced from and proximate to said plurality of evaporator fins of said cooling apparatus;

directing ambient air from said first fan across said plurality of evaporator fins when said first fan is energized.

19. The method as in claim 18, wherein said power cord includes a first end electrically to said first fan and a second plug end configured to connect to a DC power source, said second plug end including:

a plug end having a male connector and a shroud surrounding said male connector, whereby to shield said male connector from contact with moisture; and

a receptacle end having a female connector and a shroud surrounding said female connector, whereby to shield said female connector from contact with moisture.

20. The method as in claim 18, comprising:

providing a second fan situated in said interior area of the refrigerator and displaced from said cooling apparatus; and

positioning said second fan in the interior area of the refrigerator box spaced apart from said first fan and displaced from and proximate to said plurality of evaporator fins of said cooling apparatus, said second fan being configured to transmit air across said plurality of evaporator fins when energized.