With Adjustable Gas Flow Controller Patents (Class 62/408)
  • Publication number: 20020139135
    Abstract: A damper apparatus for a refrigerator includes a single damper open/close plate in which two faces of the damper open/close plate are capable of facing two duct opening sections that are branched from one duct. Each of the two faces of the open/close plate opens and closes each of the corresponding opening sections that face the respective two faces of the open/close plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventor: Seiichiro Noritake
  • Publication number: 20020116943
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a vertically extending airflow distribution assembly for reducing vertical temperature gradients therein, and. laterally extending air passages are in flow communication with the air distribution assembly for reducing horizontal temperature gradients therein. A single fan simultaneously directs freezer compartment air into the air distribution assembly, the laterally extending passages and into a storage drawer for temperature regulation therein. A damper is located in flow communication with a light assembly and is selectively positionable to cool the refrigeration compartment through the air distribution assembly and the laterally extending passages, as well as to remove heat from the light assembly that may damage a refrigeration compartment liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventors: Jeffery Allen Tupis, Martin Christopher Severance, Arthur Wilson Scrivener, Gerald Eugene Sturgeon, Richard De Vos, Steven Gray
  • Publication number: 20020104325
    Abstract: A food storage system mounted in a fresh food compartment of a refrigerator includes an enclosure defined by inner and outer housings, as well as a food receptacle slidably positioned in the inner housing. The inner and outer housings are spaced so as to define a zone therebetween within which air is forced to flow in order to cool the contents of the receptacle. Inlet vents are provided in the inner housing to permit a portion of the cooling air to flow directly into the food receptacle, while the remainder of the air flow is directed about the inner housing for indirect cooling of the contents in the food receptacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Inventors: Sheldon Wayne Mandel, Robert Stephen Mercille, William J. Vestal
  • Patent number: 6422031
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Sheldon W. Mandel, Behrooz Mohebbi, Xiaoyong Fu
  • Patent number: 6418739
    Abstract: Disclosed is a refrigerator comprising a main body formed with at least one cooling chamber and an evaporator, and a cool air duct forming a cool air path guiding cool air from the evaporator into the fresh food compartment, the refrigerator further comprising a damper plate rotatably installed in the cool air duct, opening and closing the cool air path; a damper driving motor rotating the damper plate; a temperature sensor sensing an inner temperature of the cooling chamber; and a controller controlling the damper driving motor so as to open and close the damper plate, based on an open degree of the damper plate predetermined according to the inner temperature sensed by the temperature sensor. With this configuration, there are provided a refrigerator efficiently controlling the inner temperature of the cooling chamber and a method for controlling the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-ho Cho, Jung-hee Park, Jae-seung Lee
  • Patent number: 6415622
    Abstract: An air outlet opening apparatus for air conditioners is provided. The air outlet opening apparatus includes a shutter for selectively opening and closing the air outlet formed on an air conditioner body. A pair of support plates is mounted beside the shutter to guide the elevation and lowering of the shutter. The air outlet opening apparatus further includes elevation means for selectively elevating and lowering the shutter. The elevation means includes a pair of elevation members positioned to be slid on the support plates, a drive motor for generating power to move the elevation members, and power transmission means for converting the rotating movement of the drive motor to the simultaneous linear movements of the elevation members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: SamSung Electronics, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-Whal Kim, Do-Yeon Kim
  • Patent number: 6405548
    Abstract: A refrigeration control system containing a chamber in a fresh food compartment of a refrigerator. In one embodiment, a fan motor is positioned between an evaporator and the chamber. The fan motor speed or torque is adjusted to control the volume of cold evaporator air blown into the chamber. The rate of air flow to the chamber adjusts the temperature of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Robert Keith Hollenbeck
  • Patent number: 6405644
    Abstract: The present invention describes an apparatus useful for maintaining perishable products in a controlled environment as a modular unit. This modular unit, or self-contained apparatus, encompasses all the equipment necessary for installation while offering temperature stability, simplified maintenance requirements, and ultimately, precise control of ripening. Designed for efficiency, typical labor and equipment costs and energy consumption of a ripening room are reduced with the palletized ripening cabinet. The present invention may also be easily adapted for the combination of units or for various temperature requirements and otherwise from pre-cooler to freezer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Inventor: Robert J. Windecker
  • Patent number: 6401482
    Abstract: A door cooling supply apparatus of a refrigerator with a double-acting door includes: a first cooling air separating duct and a second cooling air separating duct separated from a main cooling air duct; a door cooling air duct installed at the cooling compartment door to discharge cooling air from the cooling compartment door to the cooling compartment and connected to the first and the cooling air separating duct; a plurality of door opening sensing units for detecting an opening direction of the cooling compartment door; a controller for determining the opening direction of the cooling compartment door according to signals of the plurality of the door opening sensing units; and a cooling air switching unit installed at an area where the main cooling air duct is separated into the first cooling air separating duct and the second cooling air separating duct and selectively opening one of the first and the second cooling air separating duct controlled by the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Hee Lee, Sang Bae Kim
  • Publication number: 20020033028
    Abstract: A door cooling supply apparatus of a refrigerator with a double-acting door includes: a first cooling air separating duct and a second cooling air separating duct separated from a main cooling air duct; a door cooling air duct installed at the cooling compartment door to discharge cooling air from the cooling compartment door to the cooling compartment and connected to the first and the cooling air separating duct; a plurality of door opening sensing units for detecting an opening direction of the cooling compartment door; a controller for determining the opening direction of the cooling compartment door according to signals of the plurality of the door opening sensing units; and a cooling air switching unit installed at an area where the main cooling air duct is separated into the first cooling air separating duct and the second cooling air separating duct and selectively opening one of the first and the second cooling air separating duct controlled by the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2001
    Publication date: March 21, 2002
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jae Hee Lee, Sang Bae Kim
  • Patent number: 6336339
    Abstract: A damper for refrigerators is disclosed. The damper of this invention effectively vaporizes moisture drops, condensed on a higher temperature surface of a damper's baffle due to a dewing phenomenon caused by a difference in temperature between opposite surfaces of the baffle, thus allowing the baffle to be almost free from freezing. In order to expose the moisture drops on the higher temperature surface of the baffle to cool air flowing through the cool air passage for the fresh compartment when the baffle is opened, the baffle is rotatably held by a rotating shaft installed on the central portion of the baffle or by a hinge pin spaced apart from the baffle by a distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Il-Uk Joung, Do-Hyung Kim
  • Publication number: 20010052240
    Abstract: Disclosed herewith is an air outlet opening apparatus for air conditioners. The air outlet opening apparatus includes a shutter for selectively opening and closing the air outlet formed on an air conditioner body. A pair of support plates is mounted beside the shutter to guide the elevation and lowering of the shutter. The air outlet opening apparatus further includes elevation means for selectively elevating and lowering the shutter. The elevation means includes a pair of elevation members positioned to be slid on the support plates, a drive motor for generating power to move the elevation members, and power transmission means for converting the rotating movement of said drive motor to the simultaneous linear movements of said elevation members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventors: Jong-Whal Kim, Do-Yeon Kim
  • Patent number: 6318099
    Abstract: A cooling air distributing structure for refrigerators is disclosed. The cooling air distributing structure for refrigerators has a grille panel. The grille panel defines the rear wall of the freezer compartment. The grille panel has a cooling air passageway connected to the refrigerator compartment at its lower end and is provided with a cooling air outlet for discharging a cooling air to the freezer compartment. A cooling air regulator controls a cooling air supply to the refrigerator and is mounted near to the cooling air outlet. In another embodiment, the cooling air passageway may consist of a protrusion formed by projecting a middle portion of the grille panel, and a cover plate covering the rear of the protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Gui Nan Hwang
  • Patent number: 6304803
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system for a vehicle including a front HVAC control system that communicates with a rear HVAC control system. The rear HVAC control system includes a control panel having mode, temperature, and blower speed controls. The front HVAC control system includes a control panel having a rear manual control switch for enabling/disabling manual control of the rear HVAC system via the rear HVAC control panel. A microprocessor communicates control information from the front HVAC control system to the rear HVAC control system regardless of the position of the rear manual control switch. Whether the supplied control information is used by the rear HVAC control system is determined by the rear manual switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hank Tien Dao
  • Patent number: 6293122
    Abstract: Refrigerator, in which a circulation path of cold air in the refrigerator is simplified for increasing an effective space of the refrigerator and improving refrigerator efficiency, including cold air supplying means in front of a heat exchange chamber for supplying cold air heat exchanged in the heat exchange chamber to a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber, a discharge guide in rear of a barrier in communication with the cold air supplying means, for guiding the cold air from the cold air supplying means to the refrigerating chamber, and cold air feed back means in rear of the barrier and the rear wall of the refrigerator for guiding the cold air circulated through the refrigerating chamber to the heat exchange chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Heon Jae Chang
  • Patent number: 6250092
    Abstract: An actuator is provided for controlling temperatures in a multiple compartment device wherein the actuator includes a housing and a linear oscillator disposed within the housing. The linear oscillator is coupled with an integral push rod, wherein the linear oscillator is adapted to reciprocably move the push rod along its longitudinal axis. In addition, the actuator includes a holder including a rigid member and a pin aperture. The sliding member has a knob on one end and first clip connector at an other end, the sliding member having a range of motion limited by the rigid member. The push rod has a second clip connector coupled to the first clip connector. A lever arm has a first end and a second end, the first end including a protruding member and the second end including a lever arm aperture and a lever arm pin. The knob is pivotably engaged with the lever arm aperture and the lever arm pin is pivotably engaged with the pin aperture. The protruding member is adapted to pivotably couple with the damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventors: Douglas C. Lanz, Robert W. Starenchak
  • Patent number: 6240745
    Abstract: A plant and a process for the purification and cryogenic separation of air containing impurities, which process is carried out according to the steps of (a) compressing the air; (b) introducing the air compressed in step (a) into one or more adsorption vessels containing particles of adsorbent without, beforehand, precooling the air; (c) adsorbing the impurities (CO2, H2O, NOx, SOx, etc) contained in the air on the particles of adsorbent at room temperature and at a pressure of at least 11.4 bar, preferably ranging from 20.1 to 40 bar; (d) cooling the air purified in step (c) down to a cryogenic temperature; and (e) cryogenically distilling the cooled air in order to produce nitrogen, oxygen, argon or mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Georges Kraus, Patrick Le Bot, Alain Guillard, Philippe Fraysse
  • Patent number: 6224480
    Abstract: An assembly 10 for controlling the temperature of air flowing into the passenger compartment of a vehicle has a frame 20, an arcuate door 40, and an actuation assembly 50. The frame 20 defines an opening 21 through which air flows into the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The frame 20 also includes opposite arcuate tracks 25, 26. The arcuate door 40 moves to control airflow through the opening 21 and has side edges 41, 42 which are slidably received in the opposite arcuate tracks 25, 26. The arcuate door 40 and the opposite arcuate tracks 25, 26 maintain the same center of curvature during the sliding of the arcuate door 40 in the opposite arcuate tracks 25, 26. The actuation assembly 50 moves the arcuate door 40 along the opposite arcuate tracks 25, 26.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignees: TRW Inc., Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Vu Le, Bipin Parekh, Fred Butler
  • Patent number: 6220517
    Abstract: Temperatures in a Dr side air-conditioning zone and a Pa side air-conditioning zone are controlled highly independently of each other without temperature interference between each zone. A room internal air temperature sensor and a room external air temperature sensor are provided. Dr side and Pa side temperature setters separately set room setpoint temperatures (Tset(Dr), Tset(Pa)) in each zone. First and second target blow-out temperature calculating portions, which include neural network, input the room setpoint temperatures and the temperature data. Then it calculates Dr side and Pa side target blow-out temperatures (TAO(Dr), TAO(Pa)) relative to each air-conditioning zones by using a neural network. Air-mixing doors separately adjusts the temperatures of conditioned air blown out from Dr side air passage and Pa side air passage to be the first and second target blow-out temperatures. Here, the neural network has the learning function, which adjusts its output to be desired data (teacher signal).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinori Ichishi, Takayoshi Kawai, Yuji Ito, Katsuhiko Samukawa, Yuichi Kajino
  • Patent number: 6199400
    Abstract: A refrigerator damper control and lighting assembly is mounted to a top wall of a fresh food compartment. The housing includes dials which are accessible from the front of the housing to a user to control thermostat and to control a damper located on a rear wall of the refrigerator. The dial controlling the damper has a post onto which a connecting arm to the damper interconnects the damper with the dial so that rotation of the dial effectively operates the control of the damper. The dial has a peripheral flange that extends around only a portion of the circumference of the dial and is adapted to contact opposing sides of the connecting arm to thereby limit rotational movement of the dial and which in-turn limits opening and closing movement of the damper depending on direction of rotational movement of the dial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Camco Inc.
    Inventors: Nedo Banicevic, Muc Dang
  • Patent number: 6196469
    Abstract: An air handling system including at least one terminal unit for maintaining a serviced volume at a predetermined temperature with constant or variable volume control wherein a thermal energy wheel provides heat transfer between the outgoing and inflowing air streams provided by the air handling system via the terminal unit. The heat transfer between air streams is regulated as a function of air velocity and temperature differentials as measured at various points in system which are related specifically to the serviced volume. The regulation is exercised by controlling the angular velocity of the means for transferring thermal energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventor: Frederick J Pearson
  • Patent number: 6164085
    Abstract: Containers for transportation of bulk cargo susceptible to spoilage, that have a controlled temperature profile. The refrigerated containers include opposed insulated side walls each of which include internal channels for carrying return air from the floor of the container upward into a plenum. Each plenum is closed at one end, and in fluid communication with a refrigeration unit at the other end to supply return air to the refrigeration unit. Refrigerated air is blown from the refrigeration unit into a central air distribution duct that extends longitudinally along the roof of the container. The central duct is supplied with a multiplicity of spaced apart apertures, and is preferably tapered from a widest point in the vicinity of the refrigeration unit. Thus, substantially equal refrigerated airflow can be obtained throughout the refrigerated container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Cornerstone Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard E. Clarke, Norman W. Fisher
  • Patent number: 6151903
    Abstract: In an air conditioning apparatus, it includes a clean room, an air cleaning section, a cooling section and an air mixing section. The air cleaning section cleans air to supply to the clean room as cleaned air. The cooling section includes a plurality of cooling units and a plurality of non-cooling units. A plurality of cooling units cool air from the clean room to send out as cooled air. A plurality of non-cooling units sends out as non-cooled air from the clean room without cooling air. Each of the quantity of the cooled air and the non-cooled air is determined to compensate an amount of heat generated in the air conditioning apparatus and to reduce a pressure loss given to the air passing through the cooling section to a substantial minimum. The air mixing section mixes the cooled air and the non-cooled air to supply to the air cleaning section. The cleaned air is circulated through the clean room, the cooling section and the air mixing section to the air cleaning section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Takanori Hironaka
  • Patent number: 6131403
    Abstract: Disclosed is a refrigerator having a cool air dispersing device. A duct housing forming a cool air duct is installed on a rear part of a cooling compartment, and many cool air discharge ports open into the cooling compartment are formed on the duct housing. In the cool air duct are installed many cool air dispersing blades of planar plate shape corresponding to the discharge ports respectively and capable of rotating. The blades control a discharge direction of cool air supplied into the cooling compartment according to a rotational position thereof. The blades have a size similar to the discharge ports, and can close the discharge ports at a predetermined rotational position thereof. While a cooling system is not operating, the discharge ports are closed by the blades, whereby the backflow of air in the cooling compartment toward an evaporator is prevented, and less frost is generated on the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Joon Dong Ji
  • Patent number: 6105377
    Abstract: A temperature setting part sets a reference temperature of the interior of a refrigerating compartment of a refrigerator. A door opening/closing detection part detects opening and closing of a door of the refrigerating compartment. First and second temperature detecting parts detect the interior and exterior temperatures of the refrigerating compartment respectively. An air curtain fan driving part drives an air curtain fan. A control part performs a normal cooling operation to control the interior temperature of the refrigerating compartment by driving the cooling fan when the interior temperature is under a reference temperature, drives the air curtain fan with each of the numbers of rotations corresponding to each of several temperature ranges, and performs the normal cooling operation by stopping the driving of the air curtain fan if the closing of the door of the refrigerating compartment is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Youk Jeong, Byung-Joon Choi
  • Patent number: 6101825
    Abstract: A refrigerator having a device for opening/closing cool air supply ports is disclosed. The refrigerator has a sensor for sensing temperature in a cooling compartment, a motor for driving the device, and a control part for controlling the motor so that an open degree of the cool air supply ports are controlled by the device on the basis of the temperature difference between the sensed temperature and a standard temperature. Since the open degree of the cool air supply ports is controlled according to the standard temperature and the real temperature of the cooling compartment, the temperature of the cooling compartment is exactly controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hae-jin Park, Jae-in Kim
  • Patent number: 6094932
    Abstract: A diffuser assembly for controlling air flow in a fresh food compartment of a refrigerator has a housing mounted to the refrigerator liner wall that covers a first air flow opening in the fresh food compartment liner. The housing has side walls and an exterior wall with a second air flow opening spaced from the liner by the side walls. An air flow passage extends between the first air flow opening and a second air flow opening The exterior wall has a first centralized opening passing therethrough and an inner surface with a recessed elongated slot. The assembly has an elongate leaf spring secured in the housing adjacent the inner surface along the recessed slot and biased away from the exterior wall. The spring has a second centralized opening aligned with the first centralized opening. The assembly has a dial diffuser with a shaft that extends through the first and second centralized openings and a shaft controlling portion extending beyond the exterior wall of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Camco Inc.
    Inventor: Donald Chiappetta
  • Patent number: 6073458
    Abstract: A concentrated cool air supply device for refrigerators is disclosed. In the device, a branch duct is branched from the cool air passage to guide the cool air to the door. A door duct is formed on the door to receive the cool air from the branch duct. The door duct has a plurality of air outlet openings on a cover plate. The outlet openings of the door duct are selectively opened by a slide panel, thus concentrically discharging the cool air from the door duct into a desired portion of the compartment. In order to move the slide panel, the device also has a motor, a rotatable link and a connecting rod. The link is coupled to the motor, thus being selectively rotated by the motor, while the connecting rod is connected to the link and the slide panel at both ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Seok Ro Kim
  • Patent number: 6070419
    Abstract: A cool air exhaling apparatus in an enforced circulation type refrigerator and a control method thereof having a simple configuration so as to reduce manufacturing costs and to improve productivity, as well as freezing and refrigerating efficiency of foods. The cool air exhaling apparatus in an enforced circulation type refrigerator in which a cool air cooled by an evaporator is guided to a duct by operating a cool air circulating fan and is exhaled into the refrigerator through a cool air exhaling hollow formed in a duct cover, includes at least one cool air guide formed protrusively at the front of a duct cover in a width direction of the refrigerator, having a cool air exhaling hollow in its inner sidewall, and a duct thermal insulation material in which a cool air guide hollow having a convex curved side portion connected to the inner sidewall of the cool air guide is formed in sides of the duct cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eui-young Chang
  • Patent number: 6062037
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes at least a compartment defined by inner walls and a door closing the compartment. A providing duct mounted in a inner wall of the compartment and a door duct mounted in the door simultaneously provide refrigerated air to the compartment forward and rearward respectively. A connecting duct was provided along with a shelf or a storage box mounted at the bottom of the compartment to deliver refrigerated air from the providing duct to the door duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Kyung Seok Yoon
  • Patent number: 6058734
    Abstract: A refrigerator has a freezer compartment, a refrigerating compartment, and an evaporator. The refrigerator further has a first bypass passage, a second bypass passage and a cooled air inducing pipe.The first bypass passage allows the cooled air from the refrigerating compartment to flow directly to a fan of the refrigerating compartment, thereby allowing the cooled air to bypass the evaporator.The second bypass passage allows the cooled air from the freezer compartment to flow directly to a fan of the freezer compartment, thereby allowing the cooled air to bypass the evaporator.The cooled air inducing pipe mounted in front of the fan changes the direction of the cooled air and force the cooled air to the refrigerating compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jung Owan Lee
  • Patent number: 6055820
    Abstract: In a refrigerator temperature controlling apparatus and method thereof adopting GA-fuzzy inference, the refrigerator includes a cool air passage formed at both sides of the rear surface of a housing for guiding downward the cool air passing through a guide passage, a cool air discharging adjustment blade rotatably installed in front of the housing for dispersing and concentrating the cool air produced from discharging apertures, a driving motor for driving the cool air discharging adjustment blade, and a controller with each temperature sensors in left right side walls, for comparing the temperature inferred by the GA-fuzzy inference with data learned by reference to control the cool air discharging direction. Therefore, the cooling speed becomes fast and the temperature distribution depending on the refrigerated foodstuffs is made uniform throughout the refrigeration compartment. Also, the incoming external temperature due to door openings can be compensated for.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seong-wook Jeong, Jae-in Kim, Yun-seog Kang, Suk-hang Park, Yong-myoung Kim
  • Patent number: 6055826
    Abstract: A refrigerator having a main body; a refrigerating compartment arranged at an upper position in the main body to refrigerate foods; and at least three lower compartments vertically arranged under the refrigerating compartment; wherein at least one of the lower compartments is a freezer compartment for freezing foods, and one of the remaining lower compartments is a vegetable compartment to store vegetables or a switchable compartment to make a temperature zone therein switchable between a freezing temperature zone and a temperature zone for refrigerated foods, vegetables or chilled foods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshie Hiraoka, Isao Naito, Noriyuki Suda, Mutsumi Kato, Hisashi Matsui, Hiroshige Konishi, Katsumasa Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 6044654
    Abstract: To provide a refrigerator capable of uniforming the temperature in the refrigerator by rapidly lowering the temperature at the door side of the refrigerator when the temperature rises by opening and closing a refrigerator door. Therefore, a cold air channel 18 is provided for the side of a refrigerator 6 separately from a cold air channel 11 at the back of the refrigerator 6 to control the amount of cold air supplied from side cold-air blowoff ports 23 by a side temperature sensor 20 and a side temperature damper 19.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiko Igari, Mutsumi Kato, Katsumasa Sakamoto, Kouichi Hashimoto, Takenori Adachi
  • Patent number: 6044659
    Abstract: Disclosed is a refrigerator having a device for opening/closing cool air discharge ports through which cool air is supplied into a cooling compartment. In a cool air duct are installed shutter members for opening/closing the ports. The shutter members are installed a positions opening the ports, and are driven by a cam rotated by a motor. The ports and the shutter members are disposed symmetrically around the cam. As the cam rotates, the shutter members close the ports in turn. When a specific area becomes a desired temperature, a port corresponding to the specific area is closed by the shutter members. Thus, the area in the compartment to which cool air is supplied can be regulated, and the overcooling of the compartment can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Joon Dong Ji
  • Patent number: 6041606
    Abstract: A cool air supplying device for a fresh food compartment in refrigerators is disclosed. In the device, a cool air passage extends from an evaporator to the fresh food compartment. A connection duct is branched from the passage and extends to a front portion of the fresh food compartment. A plurality of door ducts are provided on the door of the fresh food compartment and individually have an air inlet opening at a position selectively aligned with an associated one of the air outlet openings of the connection duct. The door ducts also have a plurality of air outlet ports capable of discharging cool air from the door ducts into the fresh food compartment rearwardly. The amount of cool air for the air outlet openings of the connection duct is controlled by a cool air distribution unit. The air distribution unit has a motored regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Seok Ro Kim
  • Patent number: 6038879
    Abstract: The combined air exchange and air conditioning unit is used for conditioning air from a conditioned space. The unit comprises an exhaust air chamber, a return air chamber, a supply air chamber, and a fresh air chamber. A supply blower is used for drawing air from inside the supply air chamber to the outside and an exhaust blower is used for drawing air from inside the exhaust air chamber. A central plate damper is provided for regulating air transfers between the chambers. The damper plate is movable within a position range defined between two extreme positions, the first position allowing a connection of the return air chamber with the supply air chamber and a connection of the fresh air chamber with the exhaust air chamber, the second extreme position allowing a connection of the return air chamber with the exhaust air chamber and a connection of the fresh air chamber with the supply air chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Yvon Turcotte
    Inventors: Yvon Turcotte, Alain Coulombe
  • Patent number: 6038880
    Abstract: A refrigerator has a blowing fan being capable of blowing bilaterally in a cool air duct. When a door is opened, the blowing fan blows to discharge cool air from the cool air duct, so the air curtain for shutting off a cooling compartment is generated. When the door is closed, the blowing fan blows to draw cool air in the cooling compartment into the cool air duct, so the circulation of the cool air is actively performed, and the cooling efficiency is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Min-Jung Oh
  • Patent number: 6032480
    Abstract: A refrigerator is disclosed which is capable of preventing heat exchange between an evaporator and an outside air during a defrosting operation and/or when a door is open. The refrigerator has a device for opening/closing cool air discharge ports formed at a cool air duct. The opening/closing device includes opening/closing member for opening/closing the cool air discharge ports and a driving device for driving the opening/closing member. The cooling efficiency is enhanced and the frost caused by the outside air is not generated on the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae-in Kim
  • Patent number: 6029460
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of controlling a cool air dispersing operation of a refrigerator for maintaining the temperature in a cooling compartment uniform. Many horizontal dispersing blades and vertical dispersing blades of planar plate shape, which respectively control the horizontal and vertical discharge directions of cool air are installed in a cool air duct. The blades are continuously rotated while a deviation of temperature in the cooling compartment is smaller than a predetermined value, whereby the cool air in the cooling compartment is successively supplied into the respective areas in the cooling compartment. Meanwhile, if the deviation is greater than the predetermined value, the blades are stopped at a specific position so that the cool air is discharged toward an area of which temperature is high. Thus, the temperature in the cooling compartment becomes uniform in a short period of time. Further, no vortex of cool air is generated since the blades are shaped into a planar plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Joon Dong Ji
  • Patent number: 6029470
    Abstract: Disclosed is a refrigerator having a cool air dispersing device capable of dispersing cool air vertically. In a duct of a cooling compartment are installed many vertical dispersing blades of planar plate shape for dispersing cool air flowing thereinto vertically. A vertical shaft is installed in the duct. Many horizontal dispersing blades of planar shape are installed on the shaft. The shaft is rotated by a motor, and a cam is installed on the shaft. The cam converts a rotational movement of the motor to an elevational/de-elevational movement of the vertical dispersing blades. Thus, the cool air is dispersed horizontally and vertically in the compartment, and the temperature in the compartment is maintained uniform. Further, if the blades are stopped, the cool air can be concentrated on a specific area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae Ho Joo, Sun Gyou Lee
  • Patent number: 6012297
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning apparatus in which the larger the air conditioning cooling load in a vehicle compartment, for example, the larger the solar radiation amount, the lower the set temperature or the larger the temperature deviation between set temperature and inner air temperature, the narrower the swing ranges of swing louvers of respective center and side FACE blow outlets are set. Regardless of the swing range of the swing louvers, swing cycles of the swing louvers are set constant, and the narrower the swing ranges of the swing louvers, the slower the swing speeds of the swing louvers are set. Therefore, annoying feeling is reduced, and comfortable feeling for passengers is significantly improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinori Ichishi, Katsuhiko Samukawa, Takayoshi Kawai, Yuichi Kajino, Yuji Ito
  • Patent number: 6006529
    Abstract: Disclosed is a refrigerator having a cool air dispersing device capable of dispersing cool air horizontally and vertically. In a duct of a fresh food compartment are installed a horizontal dispersing blade for dispersing the cool air flowing thereinto horizontally and a vertical dispersing blade for dispersing it vertically. The horizontal dispersing blade is rotated by a motor, and the rotation of the motor is transmitted to the vertical dispersing blade as an elevational/de-elevational movement. Thus the vertical dispersing blade is rotated while the horizontal dispersing blade is rotated, whereby the cool air discharged into the compartment is dispersed horizontally and vertically. Therefore, the temperature in the compartment is maintained uniform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joon Dong Ji, Jae In Kim
  • Patent number: 6006539
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body, freezing and refrigerating compartments formed in the main body, an evaporator for generating cool air, and a cool air dispersing system for dispersing cool air in the refrigerating compartment. The cool air dispersing system has a horizontal cool air dispersing device rotatable about a vertical axis for dispersing the cool air in a horizontal direction, a motor for rotating the horizontal cool air dispersing device, and a vertical cool air dispersing device for dispersing the cool air in the vertical direction. A force converting device is provided for vertically moving the vertical cool air dispersing device using a rotational force of the horizontal cool air dispersing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Hoon Lim, Jung-Hoon Lee, Sang-Gyu Jung, Sun-Guy Lee, Chan-Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 5992165
    Abstract: An apparatus for supplying cold air in a refrigerator, wherein respective temperatures at a plurality of different portions of the interior of the refrigerator are sensed so that cold air is selectively supplied to each refrigerator portion based on the sensed temperature associated with the refrigerator portion, thereby effectively maintaining the refrigerating and freezing compartments of the refrigerator at predetermined temperatures, respectively. The apparatus is also configured to concentratedly supply cold air to a portion of the refrigerating compartment of the refrigerator in which a new load is stored. When at least one of the sensed temperatures of the freezing compartment and different portions of the refrigerating compartment is higher than an associated set temperature, cold air is concentratedly supplied to the compartment or compartment portion exhibiting the temperature higher than the set temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Seok Ro Kim, Jun Bae Park
  • Patent number: 5992164
    Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of supplying cold air to a refrigeration compartment door passing through a distributing duct provided in the apparatus, are disclosed. A refrigerator with the apparatus includes at least one compartment for preserving foods at a cold temperature, a first duct for supplying cool air to one portion of the compartment, a second duct for supplying the cool air to the other portion of the compartment and a pair of blower fans mounted in order to introduce the cool air to the first and second ducts, respectively. Therefore, the interior of the refrigeration compartment is maintained at a desired low temperature, thus allowing foods in the refrigeration compartment to be always maintained at the desired low temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Seok Ro Kim
  • Patent number: 5983653
    Abstract: A refrigerator capable of controlling a fan motor, in which the fan motor rpm is controlled according to a cooling load, are disclosed. The refrigerator comprises a DC fan motor for operating a cooling fan; a controller for determining cooling load according to inner temperature of the refigerator sensed by thermal sensor and for generating a control signal to select an AC voltage according to the detemined cooling load; a transformer for decreasing an input voltage by several AC voltage levels; a switch for selecting a voltage level output from the transformer according to the control signal from the controller; and a rectifier for converting AC voltage to DC voltage and for supplying the DC voltage to the DC fan motor. According to the above, the rpm of the cooling fan can be varied and controlled easily depending on cooling load of the refrigerator using a DC fan motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chang-Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 5970736
    Abstract: A refrigerator capable of controlling supply of cool air into a fresh food compartment and a vegetable chamber is disclosed. A cool air duct is formed at a rear part of the fresh food compartment. The cool air duct has discharge ports for supplying the cool air into the fresh food compartment and the vegetable chamber. The discharge ports are opened and closed by an opening/closing device. The device opens/closes the discharge ports formed at the fresh food compartment and the vegetable chamber simultaneously. Therefore, when the supply of the cool air into the fresh food compartment is stopped, the supply of the cool air into the vegetable chamber is stopped too, and thereby the overcooling of the vegetable chamber is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: I-gu Gong, Yang-beom Hur
  • Patent number: 5966951
    Abstract: A refrigerator cabinet operated by an absorption refrigerating apparatus has a freezing compartment cooled by an upper part of an evaporator of the apparatus and a refrigerating compartment that is cooled by a lower part of the evaporator. The temperature in the refrigerating compartment is kept at a set value by activating or shutting off the refrigerating apparatus. The upper part of the evaporator is provided with a thermally conductive plate for cooling the freezing compartment. The temperature in the freezing compartment is kept at a set value by heat transfer to the plate. For example, a variable speed fan in the freezing compartment moves the air through a duct and past the plate. A film heater on the plate is used for defrosting and for controlling temperature in the freezing compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: AB Electrolux
    Inventors: Ingemar Hallin, Per Levin, Mattias Nyqvist
  • Patent number: 5960641
    Abstract: A cold air circulation device and method for a refrigerator, the refrigerator including a refrigerating compartment, a first door for providing access to the refrigerating compartment, a freezing compartment, a second door for providing access to the freezing compartment, and a cold air supply unit for supplying a cold air to the refrigerating and freezing compartments. The air circulation device and method include a first door duct formed within the first door, the first door duct including at least one inlet formed at a lower portion of the first door for receiving a circulated air from the refrigerating compartment, and an outlet formed at an upper portion of the first door for outputting the air from the inlet to the cold air supply unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Seok Ro Kim, Sang Bae Kim, Kyung Seok Yoon