Combination Refrigerator-Freezer with Dividing Air-Impermeable Air-to-Air Heat Exchanger
A combination refrigerator-freezer with dividing air-impermeable air-to-air heat exchanger is a system for cooling a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment utilizing a single cooling system and without mixing or exchanging air between the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment. Cold air is generated by the cooling system and circulated into the freezer compartment and into a freezer airflow compartment where the cold air cools an air-to-air heat exchanger. Warmer air circulating through a refrigerator airflow compartment positioned opposite to the freezer airflow compartment is cooled by the air-to-air heat exchanger and is in turn able to cool the refrigerator compartment. A control unit is utilized to control the temperatures within the refrigerator compartment and the cooling compartment and to ensure that the system is not active while defrosting is in progress. A first defroster and a second defroster are utilized to prevent key components from icing up.
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The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application serial number 62/166,455 filed on May 26, 2015.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to a combination refrigerator-freezer. More specifically, the present invention is a combination refrigerator-freezer with dividing air-impermeable air-to-air heat exchanger that prevents any mixture of air between the refrigerator and the freezer. The present invention utilizes a single cooling system to cool the freezer while the refrigerator is cooled via the heat exchanger.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONConventional combination refrigerator-freezers utilize a single or dual compressor system in order to cool the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment. In a single compressor configuration, a single compressor and a single evaporator are utilized to cool both the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment. This is generally accomplished by cooling the freezer compartment to a desired temperature. A circulation fan directs cold air from the freezer compartment to the refrigerator compartment through a duct in between the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment, thus cooling the refrigerator compartment. A thermostat is utilized to adjust the amount of cold air that is transferred from the freezer compartment to the refrigerator compartment. However, because air and moisture are mixed between the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment, temperature control can tend to be imprecise. Additionally, the significantly drier and lower temperature air from the freezer compartment causes food products in the refrigerator compartment to become dehydrated and rapidly lose freshness. Furthermore, because air from the freezer compartment is being utilized to cool the refrigerator compartment, there may be wide variations in temperature within the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment themselves. This is due to the fact that air traveling from the freezer compartment to the refrigerator compartment is unable to instantaneously cool the entire refrigerator compartment, leaving areas of the refrigerator compartment warmer than others for periods of time. Within a dual compressor system, the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment are each cooled by its own compressor and evaporator independently. The use of a dual compressor system allows for stable and consistent temperatures within both the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment. The effectiveness of a dual compressor system is offset by the fact that a dual compressor system is more expensive, more complex, and requires more physical space to implement.
The present invention is a combination refrigerator-freezer with dividing air-impermeable air-to-air heat exchanger. The present invention enables the use of a cooling system consisting of a single compressor and a single evaporator in order to cool both a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment. The present invention enables cooling of both the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment without mixing air between the two compartments. An air-to-air heat exchanger is positioned in between the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment to prevent air from mixing between the two compartments. The freezer compartment is cooled by the cooling system and cold air within the freezer compartment is continuously circulated throughout the freezer compartment and directed along a first surface of the air-to-air heat exchanger. Air within the refrigerator compartment is continuously circulated and directed along a second surface of the air-to-air heat exchanger. The air within the refrigerator compartment may thus be cooled as the air passes along the second surface of the air-to-air heat exchanger and is circulated throughout the refrigerator compartment. The present invention additionally includes defrost heaters that prevent essential components of the present invention from icing up. Cooling operation is suspended while defrosting occurs in order to ensure that the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment are not undergoing cooling during defrosting operations.
All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
The present invention is a combination refrigerator-freezer with dividing air-impermeable air-to-air heat exchanger. A diagrammatic overview of the present invention is shown in
With continued reference to
The control unit 18 is responsible for regulating the temperatures within the freezer compartment 2 and the refrigerator compartment 1. The control unit 18 is electronically connected to the cooling system 13 as shown in
Airflow within the present invention is depicted in
With continued reference to
The cooling system 13 comprises a compressor 14, an evaporator 15, a condenser 16, and a metering device 17. The compressor 14, the evaporator 15, the condenser 16, and the metering device 17 are the mechanical components of the cooling system 13 that are utilized during a conventional refrigeration cycle to cool the freezer compartment 2. The compressor 14 is in fluid communication with the condenser 16. A refrigerant is compressed into a hot gaseous form by the compressor 14 and is routed to the condenser 16. The condenser 16 removes heat from the hot compressed gas refrigerant and the hot compressed gas refrigerant is condensed into a liquid. The condenser 16 is in fluid communication with the metering device 17. The liquid refrigerant is routed from the condenser 16 to the metering device 17. The metering device 17 serves to restrict the flow of the liquid refrigerant, causing a pressure drop and facilitating the evaporation of the liquid refrigerant. The metering device 17 may be an expansion valve or a capillary tube. The metering device 17 is in fluid communication with the evaporator 15, allowing the liquid refrigerant to be pressure dropped and routed to the evaporator 15. The liquid refrigerant is evaporated back into gas form in the evaporator 15. As the refrigerant is evaporated, the liquid absorbs heat from the surrounding area. The evaporator 15 is in fluid communication with the compressor 14, enabling the refrigerant to return to the compressor 14, completing the refrigeration cycle. The compressor 14, the evaporator 15, the condenser 16, and the metering device 17 may be positioned within the cooling compartment 3 as shown in
Again with reference to
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As shown in
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With reference to
The air-to-air heat exchanger 8 may take a number of forms across various embodiments of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited with respect to the specific design of the air-to-air heat exchanger 8. Most commonly, the air-to-air heat exchanger 8 comprises a plate 9 as shown in
Two example embodiments of the present invention are shown in
The use of a single cooling system 13 in lieu of a dedicated system for both the refrigerator compartment 1 and the freezer compartment 2 provides a number of benefits to the present invention when compared to conventional refrigeration systems. Because only a single system is in use, the present invention does not require more physical space as is required for a dual system. The single system offers a reduction in cost as well. Additionally, because there is no air exchanged between the freezer compartment 2 and the refrigerator compartment 1, both the freezer compartment 2 and the refrigerator compartment 1 may be cooled evenly and be cooled more consistently without fluctuations in temperature. There is no moisture exchanged between the freezer compartment 2 and the refrigerator compartment 1 as well, preventing food items within the present invention from being dehydrated and losing freshness.
Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as hereinafter claimed.
Claims
1. A combination refrigerator-freezer with dividing air-impermeable air-to-air heat exchanger comprises:
- a freezer compartment;
- a refrigerator compartment;
- a cooling compartment;
- a freezer airflow compartment;
- a refrigerator airflow compartment;
- an air-to-air heat exchanger;
- a cooling system;
- a control unit;
- the refrigerator airflow compartment, the freezer airflow compartment, and the cooling compartment each comprise an inlet and an outlet;
- the cooling compartment being adjacently connected to the freezer compartment;
- the cooling compartment being in fluid communication with the freezer compartment through the inlet of the cooling compartment and the outlet of the cooling compartment;
- the freezer compartment being in fluid communication with the freezer airflow compartment through the inlet of the freezer airflow compartment and the outlet of the freezer airflow compartment, wherein air is circulated through the freezer compartment and the freezer airflow compartment through the inlet of the freezer airflow compartment and the outlet of the freezer airflow compartment;
- the air-to-air heat exchanger being connected in between the refrigerator airflow compartment and the freezer airflow compartment;
- the air-to-air heat exchanger being in thermal contact with the refrigerator airflow compartment and the freezer airflow compartment;
- the refrigerator compartment being in fluid communication with the refrigerator airflow compartment through the inlet of the refrigerator airflow compartment and the outlet of the refrigerator airflow compartment, wherein air is circulated through the refrigerator compartment and the refrigerator airflow compartment through the inlet of the refrigerator airflow compartment and the outlet of the refrigerator airflow compartment; and
- the control unit being electronically connected to the cooling system.
2. The combination refrigerator-freezer with dividing air-impermeable air-to-air heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1 further comprises:
- a freezer circulation fan;
- a refrigerator circulation fan;
- a cooling circulation fan;
- the cooling system comprises a compressor, an evaporator, a condenser, and a metering device;
- the compressor being in fluid communication with the condenser;
- the condenser being in fluid communication with the metering device;
- the metering device being in fluid communication with the evaporator;
- the evaporator being in fluid communication with the compressor;
- the freezer circulation fan being mounted into the outlet of the freezer airflow compartment;
- the refrigerator circulation fan being mounted into the outlet of the refrigerator airflow compartment;
- the cooling circulation fan being mounted into the outlet of the cooling compartment, adjacent to the evaporator; and
- the freezer circulation fan, the refrigerator circulation fan, and the cooling circulation fan being electronically connected to the control unit.
3. The combination refrigerator-freezer with dividing air-impermeable air-to-air heat exchanger as claimed in claim 2 further comprises:
- the compressor, the evaporator, the condenser, and the metering device being positioned within the cooling compartment.
4. The combination refrigerator-freezer with dividing air-impermeable air-to-air heat exchanger as claimed in claim 2 further comprises:
- the compressor being positioned external to the refrigerator compartment, the freezer compartment, and the cooling compartment.
5. The combination refrigerator-freezer with dividing air-impermeable air-to-air heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1 further comprises:
- a first defroster;
- a second defroster;
- the first defroster being positioned adjacent to an evaporator of the cooling system; and
- the second defroster being positioned adjacent to the air-to-air heat exchanger.
6. The combination refrigerator-freezer with dividing air-impermeable air-to-air heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1 further comprises:
- a first defroster;
- a second defroster;
- the control unit comprises a refrigerator control unit and a freezer control unit;
- the refrigerator control unit being electronically connected to the freezer control unit;
- the first defroster and the second defroster being electronically connected to the freezer control unit and the refrigerator control unit, respectively;
- the refrigerator control unit being electronically connected to a refrigerator circulation fan and a freezer circulation fan; and
- the freezer control unit being electronically connected to a cooling circulation fan.
7. The combination refrigerator-freezer with dividing air-impermeable air-to-air heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1 further comprises:
- a first insulation panel;
- a second insulation panel;
- the first insulation panel being connected in between the freezer compartment and the freezer airflow compartment; and
- the second insulation panel being connected in between the refrigerator compartment and the refrigerator airflow compartment.
8. The combination refrigerator-freezer with dividing air-impermeable air-to-air heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1 further comprises:
- at least one runoff drain pipe;
- a runoff drain pan;
- the at least one runoff drain pipe being positioned adjacent to the air-to-air heat exchanger and an evaporator of the cooling system; and
- the runoff drain pan being positioned adjacent to the at least one drain pipe.
9. The combination refrigerator-freezer with dividing air-impermeable air-to-air heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1 further comprises:
- the air-to-air heat exchanger comprises a plate;
- a first surface of the plate being in thermal contact with the freezer airflow compartment; and
- a second surface of the plate being in thermal contact with the refrigerator airflow compartment.
10. The combination refrigerator-freezer with dividing air impermeable air-to-air heat exchanger as claimed in claim 9 further comprises:
- the air-to-air heat exchanger further comprises a plurality of fins; and
- the plurality of fins being evenly distributed across the first surface and the second surface.
11. A combination refrigerator-freezer with dividing air impermeable air-to-air heat exchanger comprises:
- a freezer compartment;
- a refrigerator compartment;
- a cooling compartment;
- a freezer airflow compartment;
- a refrigerator airflow compartment;
- an air-to-air heat exchanger;
- a cooling system;
- a control unit;
- a first defroster;
- a second defroster;
- the refrigerator airflow compartment, the freezer airflow compartment, and the cooling compartment each comprise an inlet and an outlet;
- the control unit comprises a refrigerator control unit and a freezer control unit;
- the cooling compartment being adjacently connected to the freezer compartment;
- the cooling compartment being in fluid communication with the freezer compartment through the inlet of the cooling compartment and the outlet of the cooling compartment;
- the freezer compartment being in fluid communication with the freezer airflow compartment through the inlet of the freezer airflow compartment and the outlet of the freezer airflow compartment, wherein air is circulated through the freezer compartment and the freezer airflow compartment through the inlet of the freezer airflow compartment and the outlet of the freezer airflow compartment;
- the air-to-air heat exchanger being connected in between the refrigerator airflow compartment and the freezer airflow compartment;
- the air-to-air heat exchanger being in thermal contact with the refrigerator airflow compartment and the freezer airflow compartment;
- the refrigerator compartment being in fluid communication with the refrigerator airflow compartment through the inlet of the refrigerator airflow compartment and the outlet of the refrigerator airflow compartment, wherein air is circulated through the refrigerator compartment and the refrigerator airflow compartment through the inlet of the refrigerator airflow compartment and the outlet of the refrigerator airflow compartment;
- the control unit being electronically connected to the cooling system;
- the refrigerator control unit being electronically connected to the freezer control unit;
- the first defroster and the second defroster being electronically connected to the freezer control unit and the refrigerator control unit, respectively;
- the refrigerator control unit being electronically connected to a refrigerator circulation fan and a freezer circulation fan; and
- the freezer control unit being electronically connected to a cooling circulation fan.
12. The combination refrigerator-freezer with dividing air-impermeable air-to-air heat exchanger as claimed in claim 11 further comprises:
- a freezer circulation fan;
- a refrigerator circulation fan;
- a cooling circulation fan;
- the cooling system comprises a compressor, an evaporator, a condenser, and a metering device;
- the compressor being in fluid communication with the condenser;
- the condenser being in fluid communication with the metering device;
- the metering device being in fluid communication with the evaporator;
- the evaporator being in fluid communication with the compressor;
- the freezer circulation fan being mounted into the outlet of the freezer airflow compartment;
- the refrigerator circulation fan being mounted into the outlet of the refrigerator airflow compartment;
- the cooling circulation fan being mounted into the outlet of the cooling compartment, adjacent to the evaporator; and
- the freezer circulation fan, the refrigerator circulation fan, and the cooling circulation fan being electronically connected to the control unit.
13. The combination refrigerator-freezer with dividing air-impermeable air-to-air heat exchanger as claimed in claim 12 further comprises:
- the compressor, the evaporator, the condenser, and the metering device being positioned within the cooling compartment.
14. The combination refrigerator-freezer with dividing air-impermeable air-to-air heat exchanger as claimed in claim 12 further comprises:
- the compressor being positioned external to the refrigerator compartment, the freezer compartment, and the cooling compartment.
15. The combination refrigerator-freezer with dividing air-impermeable air-to-air heat exchanger as claimed in claim 11 further comprises:
- a first defroster;
- a second defroster;
- the first defroster being positioned adjacent to an evaporator of the cooling system; and
- the second defroster being positioned adjacent to the air-to-air heat exchanger.
16. The combination refrigerator-freezer with dividing air-impermeable air-to-air heat exchanger as claimed in claim 11 further comprises:
- a first insulation panel;
- a second insulation panel;
- the first insulation panel being connected in between the freezer compartment and the freezer airflow compartment; and
- the second insulation panel being connected in between the refrigerator compartment and the refrigerator airflow compartment.
17. The combination refrigerator-freezer with dividing air-impermeable air-to-air heat exchanger as claimed in claim 11 further comprises:
- at least one runoff drain pipe;
- a runoff drain pan;
- the at least one runoff drain pipe being positioned adjacent to the air-to-air heat exchanger and an evaporator of the cooling system; and
- the runoff drain pan being positioned adjacent to the at least one drain pipe.
18. The combination refrigerator-freezer with dividing air-impermeable air-to-air heat exchanger as claimed in claim 11 further comprises:
- the air-to-air heat exchanger comprises a plate;
- a first surface of the plate being in thermal contact with the freezer airflow compartment; and
- a second surface of the plate being in thermal contact with the refrigerator airflow compartment.
19. The combination refrigerator-freezer with dividing air impermeable air-to-air heat exchanger as claimed in claim 18 further comprises:
- the air-to-air heat exchanger further comprises a plurality of fins; and
- the plurality of fins being evenly distributed across the first surface and the second surface.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 25, 2015
Publication Date: Dec 1, 2016
Applicant: H&K International (Mesquite, TX)
Inventors: Liqun Ren (Dallas, TX), Norman Craig Glaze (Dallas, TX)
Application Number: 14/952,529