Cooled Enclosure Patents (Class 62/440)
  • Patent number: 7549300
    Abstract: Provided is a radiating apparatus of a built-in refrigerator that can improve heat radiation in a machine room of the refrigerator installed in a built-in cabinet. The radiating apparatus includes: a refrigerator body installed in a built-in cabinet; a machine room disposed at a rear lower side of the refrigerator body; a compressor installed at one side of the machine room; a condenser and a blower fan installed at the other side of the machine room; and an airflow guide member installed between the blower fan and the condenser, for guiding a suction of an external air toward the other side of the machine room and guiding a discharge of an air that has exchanged heat in the other side of the machine room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Chan Ho Chun, Yang Kyu Kim, Se Young Kim, Kyung Sik Kim, Hyoung Keun Lim, Youn Seok Lee
  • Publication number: 20090151379
    Abstract: A pair of reinforcing ribs (50, 50) are formed on the bottom plate (33) of a box body (31) of an electrical component box (30). The reinforcing ribs (50, 50) have their respective pivot guides (50a, 50a) provided at their front ends to engage with associated pins (38b, 38b) on the safety cover (38). The safety cover (38) is pivotally supported to the pivot guides (50a, 50a) of the reinforcing ribs (50, 50) to allow it to open and close the opening of the box body (31).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroki Ishihara
  • Publication number: 20090139247
    Abstract: Rapid chilling apparatus for beverages comprising a receptacle (2) adapted to accommodate beverage containers (3) of differing length, and cooling means adapted to cool down said receptacle (2), wherein said receptacle (2) comprises a plurality of electrodes (4) arranged in succession one after the other along an inner surface (5) of said receptacle (2), said inner surface (5) being adapted to support a container (3) in such manner that the electrodes (4) turn out as being distributed along the whole length of the container (3), said electrodes (4) being connected to circuit means (6) adapted to detect and measure the capacitance value on each electrode (4) as brought about by the presence of a container (3) made of a conductive material in proximity of the same electrode (4) so as to determine the actual length of the container (3), or, in the case of a container (3) made of a non-conductive material, said capacitance value as brought about by the presence, inside the container, of beverage liquid in proximi
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS CORPORATION N.V.
    Inventors: Girish Pimputkar, Andrei Uhov, Roberto Giordano
  • Publication number: 20090133425
    Abstract: A refrigeration device, in particular a no-frost device, refrigerator and/or freezer, comprising a thermally insulating housing containing at least one product storage compartment that can be supplied with cold air by a fan and an evaporator chamber that holds an evaporator. According to the invention, the evaporator chamber is thermally separated from the storage compartment by a partition. The device also comprises an electronic control system for controlling the refrigeration device and at least one light source for illuminating the storage compartment. The evaporator, the partition and the electronic control system and/or the evaporator, the partition and the light source are provided in the form of modules. The refrigeration device is characterised in that it is particularly reliable, works efficiently, can be cost-effectively produced and is easy to service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: BSH Bosch und Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Goerz, Renate Pradel, Ralf Spiller
  • Publication number: 20090113899
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to provide an ultra low temperature (ULT) cryogenic processor apparatus. The apparatus includes an external housing with flat sides; an inner housing coupled to the external housing to define a vacuum region there between; material disposed in the vacuum region to provide redundant insulation and structural support; and a cryogenic heat exchanger contained in the inner housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: John Dain, Boyd Bowdish, Nick Hanneman
  • Publication number: 20090113919
    Abstract: An arrangement suitable for cooling goods includes a controller with a database in which at least one time interval and one desired temperature value valid in the time interval is stored. A regulator function is implemented in the controller, via which function the temperature, returned to the controller via a temperature sensor, of a thermally insulated interior is regulated to the desired temperature value as a function of the time interval by activation or deactivation of a cooling device. Since the goods—for example filled drinks—are only available cooled during the time interval, energy is conserved and the emission of carbon dioxide thus also reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: SIEMENS SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventor: DANNY CUMMINS
  • Publication number: 20090113920
    Abstract: An apparatus for storing food includes a food storage chamber, a cooling device, a scroll-type fan housing with a fan, and a duct to guide cool air from the scroll-type fan housing to the food storage chamber. In some embodiments, the scroll-type fan housing is located to the left or right of the cooling device, and the duct is located above or below the cooling device and the scroll-type fan housing. In other embodiments, the scroll-type fan housing is located above or below the cooling device, and the duct is located on a left or right side of the cooling device and the scroll-type fan housing. These arrangements result in more usable space within the food storage chamber than other conventional arrangements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: Jun Hoe Bae, Kyung Seok Kim, Chang Joon Kim
  • Publication number: 20090105884
    Abstract: A cooling device is provided with an inverter compressor. Set speeds of the inverter compressor can be switched to six stages from a first speed to a sixth speed. The relationship between each of the set speeds of the rotational speed is set so that the stages adjacent to each other have gradually larger differences in rotational speed as the rotational speed becomes higher. With this, independently from the level of the rotational speed, a degree of increase in cooling performance between each of the stages can be equalized. In a case of performing a control to increase or decrease the rotational speed of the inverter compressor stage by stage depending whether an actual temperature drop rate is larger or smaller than a target temperature drop rate, the change amounts in cooling performance that can be substantially equalized, and too high or too low cooling performance does not result, i.e. fluctuation in cooling performance can be minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventors: Shinichi Kaga, Akihiko Hirano
  • Publication number: 20090100859
    Abstract: Disclosed is a refrigerator having a sensor cover slidingly-coupled to inside of a cooling chamber and accommodating a sensor therein. Since the sensor cover is easily coupled to or separated from the cooling chamber, damage of components is prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Dae-Jin CHOI
  • Patent number: 7516625
    Abstract: Disclosed is a built-in refrigerator comprising: a furniture body having a receiving space therein; a furniture door installed at a front side of the furniture body to be opened and closed, and having a through hole at a front surface thereof; a refrigerator body installed in the receiving space of the furniture body; a refrigerator door installed at a front side of the refrigerator body to be opened and closed, and having a display portion for informing an operation state of the refrigerator at a front surface thereof; a bracket installed between the furniture door and the refrigerator door so that the refrigerator door can be opened and closed together with the furniture door at the time of opening and closing the furniture door; and a cover member installed at the through hole of the furniture door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Yong-Chol Kwon
  • Publication number: 20090084131
    Abstract: Air conditioning units, methods of manufacturing, inventories, and buildings wherein certain heat exchanger modules are combined to make air conditioning units. In some embodiments, different combinations of different size modules are used to produce air conditioning units having different capacities wherein some identical modules are used in different size units. Various heat exchanger assemblies include spacers between modules, bends formed after modules are assembled into heat exchanger assemblies, attachment rails at the ends of the modules, inactive multi-tubes at the top and bottom of the modules, copper tubing between aluminum modules to facilitate field replacement of individual modules, name plates that attach between modules, attachment clips or spacers that snap attach to the modules, or a combination thereof, as examples.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: NORDYNE Inc.
    Inventors: Allan J. Reifel, Jie Chen, James S. Kistler, Russell W. Hoeffken
  • Publication number: 20090064706
    Abstract: The invention relates to a refrigerating appliance having an evaporator area and at least two cooling areas partitioned off from one another inside the housing of the refrigerating appliance. A wall has a solid inner skin, a solid outer skin and a layer made of expanded insulating material located between the inner and outer skin. A cold air supply channel in the wall extends from the evaporator area past the first cooling area to the second cooling area. A shaped part made of an insulating material extends between the cold air supply channel and the inner skin of the wall. The cold air supply channel is separated from the expanded insulating material by a partition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERÄTE GMBH
    Inventors: Alexander Görz, Ralf Spiller
  • Publication number: 20090058247
    Abstract: Storage systems are provided with a first shelf and a drop-down shelf. In one example, the storage system includes first and second link members that are each slidably and pivotably attached with respect to the first shelf. Each of the link members is also pivotably attached with respect to the drop-down shelf. In another example, the storage system includes first and second stationary track guides that each extend away from the first shelf. The drop-down shelf includes first and second support structures that are each slidably received in a respective one of the stationary track guides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Bryan A. Collins, Richard B. Moulder, Christopher W. Baum, Paul H. Kelly
  • Publication number: 20090056364
    Abstract: A refrigerator is provided having an outer housing and an inner housing which is at a distance from the outer housing and is surrounded by the latter, with the hollow space produced between the outer housing and the inner housing being filled with foam for insulation purposes. An inner chamber is surrounded by the inner housing and is cooled by the circulation of cooling air supplied to the inner chamber by means of a cooling-air duct and is arranged between the outer housing and the inner housing. In order to produce the refrigerator in a manner which is simpler and more cost-effective in method terms, a method is proposed for forming the cooling-air duct from a shaped part that has insulating material and a closed rear-wall element and rests on an outer face of the inner housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERÄTE GMBH
    Inventors: Alexander Görz, Hans Ihle
  • Publication number: 20090044547
    Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus includes an air chiller, a storage enclosure defining a compartment, a duct system, and a valve system. The air chiller blows chilled air into the duct system. The compartment has a first and a second opening, each of which is coupled to the duct system. The valve system has valves that can be moved to route the chilled air so that it enters into the first opening and exits the second opening, or vice versa. In one implementation, the first opening is at the top of the compartment and the second opening is at the bottom of the compartment, and the valve system is controlled by a control circuit that periodically switches the valves (via an actuator) to change the direction of the chilled air. This effectively maintains a relatively uniform temperature throughout the compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventor: Ian Oswald
  • Publication number: 20090013712
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a refrigerated trailer for storage and transport of refrigerated products such as perishable food. The refrigerated trailer comprises an insulated box with a side door; a refrigeration unit for cooling air inside the insulated box, the refrigeration unit including an engine for supplying mechanical power to the refrigeration unit, batteries, and a compressor operatively coupled to the engine; an inverter electrically coupled to the batteries for supplying AC power; and an air curtain unit located above the side door, the air curtain unit including fans operating on AC power from the inverter, wherein the fans blow internal air downwardly over the door opening to limit air exchange between the insulated box and the outdoors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventor: ROBERT WILLIAM NORRIS
  • Publication number: 20090013699
    Abstract: A food storing apparatus dispenses a content stored in the apparatus. The food storing apparatus includes a button tray that functions as a switch to control dispensing of different contents in accordance with different moved positions of the button tray, but also functions as a tray to receive a residual content discharged after dispensing the content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Seong Jae KIM, Nam Gi LEE
  • Publication number: 20090003981
    Abstract: A mobile, thermally insulated storage and retrieval unit for housing tube racks on shelves and having an elevator and conveyor for moving racks between shelves and an exterior loading tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: DADE BEHRING INC.
    Inventor: Kerry L. Miller
  • Publication number: 20080314066
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a refrigerator including a refrigeration chamber which comprises an upper wall, a lower wall, two side walls and a rear wall connected to the upper wall, the lower wall and two side walls to form a receiving container surroundingly. The refrigeration chamber is provided therein with a baffle which has a distance of 0 to 10 mm from the rear wall of the refrigeration chamber. As the refrigerating chamber is provided with the baffle, vegetable and fruit etc. can be prevented from frostbiting due to directly contacting with the rear wall of the refrigeration chamber, and the temperature in the refrigeration chamber can be kept even.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicants: HAIER GROUP CORPORATION, QINGDAO HAIER JOINT STOCK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhichun Zhang, Dongning Wang, Binhou Wang, Guihong Sun
  • Patent number: 7464566
    Abstract: A cooler unit has a control housing that is mounted to a floor of a cabinet liner that is sloped in a downward direction toward the opening of the cooler unit. The control housing retains consumable items that are stored on the floor of the cabinet liner so that the items do not fall out of the cooler unit. Particularly, the control housing can retain wine bottles. The control housing houses a controller that controls the operation of the cooler unit. The control housing can include a display and user inputs so that a user can easily manage the cooler unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: U-Line Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas W. Rand, Andrew J. Doberstein, Joseph H. Zyduck, Jennifer U. Straszewski
  • Patent number: 7465327
    Abstract: A refrigerator having an air-cleaner is provided. The air-cleaner may include a case having at least an inlet and an outlet, and a blower that draws air in through the inlet through a filter unit, and discharges the air through the outlet. The filter unit may include a filter for purifying the air flowing therethrough, a filter basket in which the filter is seated, and a door fixed to the filter basket so that the basket may be drawn in and out in a drawer-like fashion. The air-cleaner may also include fastening means for fastening the basket door to the filter basket, guiding means for guiding the mount and dismount of the filter basket, and locking means for keeping the filter basket positioned in the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Chan-Kyoo Jang, Sang-Ho Park, Jeong-Youl Lee
  • Publication number: 20080282728
    Abstract: In order that an indoor heat exchanger (41), a cold storage heat exchanger (45), and a freeze storage heat exchanger (51) may differ in their refrigerant evaporating temperature, a refrigerant circuit (1E) is provided with a suction side three way switching valve (102) capable of switching of flow paths between the heat exchangers (41, 45, 51) and a compressor (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicant: Daikin Industries, LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Takegami, Kenji Tanimoto, Azuma Kondo
  • Publication number: 20080276642
    Abstract: A cooler comprising a container body having an exterior surface and at least a partially hollow interior. The container body has one or more receptacles formed within its exterior surface and extending into the hollow interior. The receptacles have enclosed bottom and side surfaces and open tops. The hollow interior of the container body is sealed and provides a fluid-tight reservoir to hold a fluid or a frozen or partially frozen fluid or gel. The container further contains a dispenser to permit the controlled release of fluid stored in the interior of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventor: Paul Lavallee
  • Publication number: 20080271478
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cooling system comprising an essentially flat evaporator consisting of individual evaporation plates (3a). Each evaporation plate comprises two high-grade steel plates (9 and 10) of different thicknesses, that are assembled by means of welding points (6) and welding seams (8). A channel (14) is formed between the high-grade steel plates (9 and 10), through which a coolant flows. Preferably, the evaporator forms part of the inner housing of a refrigerating appliance. The evaporator is produced by welding the plates (9 and 10) together. Compressed air is then blown between the plates (9 and 10), whereby the thinner of the two plates (9,10) is curved in such a way the channel (14) is created for the coolant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: Dometic S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Admilson Pinto, Stephan Billen, Gunter Wagner
  • Publication number: 20080264095
    Abstract: A cold room building is disclosed having a prefabricated insulated housing (30) including four walls, a roof and a floor, and a prefabricated platform (50) providing a generally horizontally extending support surface and having a pair of opposite sides, a plurality of first support brackets (56) disposed along one of said pair of opposite edges and extending downwardly from said surface, and a plurality of second support brackets (58) disposed along the other of said of opposite edges and extending downwardly from said surface. The prefabricated platform (50) further includes at least one air conditioner (80, 90) mounted atop the support surface of the prefabricated platform. The prefabricated platform may also include at least one refrigeration unit (42) mounted atop the support surface of the prefabricated platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventor: Steven LaRue Combs
  • Publication number: 20080260511
    Abstract: A stacker (1) for storing a plurality of microplates each having a top surface side and a bottom surface side opposed to the top surface side, comprises a housing and a removal gate (13) for removing a microplate of the plurality of microplates out of the housing. The stacker (1) is arranged to accommodate the plurality of microplates inside the housing such that the top surface side of one microplate of the plurality of microplates abuts on the bottom surface side of an adjacent microplate of the plurality of microplates and such that the housing adjoins to the plurality of microplates. Using such a stacker 1, the plurality of microplates can be arranged and stored in a compact manner wherein the single microplates of the plurality of microplates can still selectively and efficiently be accessed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG
    Inventors: Christoph Fattinger, Thomas Zumstein, Remo Anton Hochstrasser, Dieter Voegelin
  • Publication number: 20080245080
    Abstract: Method for reducing the moisture content of air of a first defined space in communication with, via an entrance to said first defined space, at least one second defined space, the air of first defined space having lower moisture content than that of said at least one second defined space, whereby the reduction of the air moisture content is achieved by at least one means for dehumidified air. The reduction of the air moisture content is achieved by dividing said at least one second defined space into two compartments arranged in series and communicating with each other via partition means, taking wholly or partially air having higher moisture content from the compartment of the second defined space located longest from the first defined space, dehumidifying said air, and feeding said dehumidified air wholly or partially to the compartment of the second defined space located closest to the first defined space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventor: Wilhelm von Dobeln
  • Publication number: 20080202149
    Abstract: A refrigerator having a cold air supply device is provided. The refrigerator includes an evaporator and the cold air supply device mounted at a rear surface of a storage compartment to cover the evaporator. The cold air supply device includes a plurality of discharge holes formed in a front surface and both lateral surfaces thereof to discharge cold air, which was heat exchanged by the evaporator, toward front and lateral sides of the cold air supply device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Hoon Lim, Wan Hyeong Lee
  • Publication number: 20080202136
    Abstract: The invention relates to a refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit having a space for the reception of the refrigerated goods or frozen goods, having a fan which removes air from the space, blows air into the space or circulates the air in the space and having a control unit connected to the fan which controls the fan for the purpose of influencing the temperature distribution such that it is operated in one rotary direction in a first operating state and in the other rotary direction in a second operating state. The invention further relates to a method of operating a refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: Liebherr-Hausgerate Ochsenhausen GmbH
    Inventor: Rudolf Weller
  • Publication number: 20080202133
    Abstract: A method for cooling a bottle in a freezer compartment of a refrigerator includes sensing the temperature of a zone of the freezer in which the bottle is placed, estimating the temperature of the bottle on the basis of the compressor status and of the sensed temperature of the zone, and informing the user when the estimated temperature of the bottle has reached a set value. The method can also be used for an automatically adjusted “shock freezing” process for any kind of food.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: ALESSANDRO BOER, RAFFAELE PAGANINI, ENRICO BELLINETTO, CRISTIANO PASTORE, FABIO GASTALDELLO, TERESA VITALE
  • Publication number: 20080197123
    Abstract: The present invention describes a no-frost refrigerator device capable of preventing the formation of ice on the upper wall of the refrigerator itself.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: ENZO RIVIS, RAFAEL REJDYCH
  • Publication number: 20080178628
    Abstract: A refrigerator dispenser includes an ice dispensing actuator, a liquid dispensing actuator configured to be actuated concurrently with the ice dispensing actuator, an ice dispensing mechanism configured to dispense ice responsive to actuation of the ice dispensing actuator, and a liquid dispensing mechanism configured to dispense liquid responsive to actuation of the liquid dispensing actuator. The refrigerator dispenser also includes a controller configured to cause the ice dispensing mechanism to dispense ice responsive to actuation of the ice dispensing actuator, to cause the liquid dispensing mechanism to dispense liquid responsive to actuation of the liquid dispensing actuator, and to prevent the ice dispensing mechanism and the liquid dispensing mechanism from both dispensing responsive to concurrent actuation of both the ice dispensing actuator and the liquid dispensing actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Heon-jae Jang, Seung-beom Chae, II-Wook Joung, Sang-ho Park, Yong-chul Kwon, Hyeon-jin Kim
  • Publication number: 20080178616
    Abstract: A temperature controlled storage facility includes a room having an enclosed structure, and a plurality of multi-level storage zones within the room. Each of the storage zones include a supply of temperature controlled air having two outlets, one outlet positioned adjacent to a top area of the storage area, and a second outlet positioned adjacent to an aisle, wherein pressure barriers are created to prevent air flow from migrating to other storage areas or to a return duct without cooling (or heating) all of the inventory in the storage zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventor: Jeremy John Klysen
  • Publication number: 20080156023
    Abstract: Provided is an ice dispensing apparatus. The ice dispenser discharges a predetermined number of ice pieces at a time, and thus malfunctioning or errors caused by bottleneck condition can be prevented. Furthermore, inside a case of the ice dispenser, pieces of ice can be effectively prevented from sticking to each other in a simple way, and thus the reliability of products can be increased. The ice dispensing apparatus includes a case, a driving unit, and a regulator. The case includes an inlet receiving ice and an outlet discharging ice. The driving unit is disposed inside or outside the case. The regulator is disposed in the case at a predetermined side and rotatable by the driving unit. The regulator includes a spiral blade having a predetermined blade interval. A predetermined number of pieces of ice are guided by rotation of the spiral blade to the outlet of the case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Seong Jae KIM, Chang Ho SEO, Nam Gi LEE
  • Publication number: 20080155993
    Abstract: A distributed refrigeration appliance system for use in a residential kitchen and other locations in a dwelling and includes multiple separate refrigeration appliance modules, a central cooling system and a cooling circuit. The system can also include one or more satellite stations having a heat exchanger and arranged for supplying chilled air to one or more refrigeration appliance modules. One or more refrigeration appliance modules can include a thermal cascade cooling device to cool the module to lower temperatures than the cooling circuit can attain. One or more refrigeration appliance modules can be refrigeration/storage modules that can provide refrigerated, unconditioned or heated storage space. The central cooling system can be a vapor compression system having a refrigerant circuit connecting the modules. Alternately, the central cooling system can cool a secondary cooling medium circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventor: STEVEN JOHN KUEHL
  • Publication number: 20080148752
    Abstract: A glove box assembly for a vehicle is provided and includes a storage bin, a dedicated climate controlled bin, and an air flow manifold. The air flow manifold is arranged to receive cooled air from a vehicle heating ventilation and air conditioning unit and direct the flow of cooled air into the climate controlled bin for cooling the climate controlled bin independent of the storage bin. The air flow manifold is further arranged to draw cooled air from the heating ventilation and air conditioning unit upstream of a blend door when air conditioning is operating so as to provide cooled air to the climate controlled bin independent of a vehicle cabin temperature setting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Calin Marginean, Richard Kukucka, Jeffrey I. Godshall, John Jezuit, Robert Dubiel, Leon J. Ozark, Ryan C. Nagode
  • Publication number: 20080115525
    Abstract: The present invention is a water cooler with refrigerator or wine cellar, having a water tank inside of the water cooler connected to a water bottle, a water tank lower part connected with a hot tank assembly and a cold tank assembly through a hot tank inlet tube and cold tank inlet tube. Cold tank and hot tank connect with two water taps through a cold tank outlet tube and a hot tank outlet tube, on the top of cold tank. There is an exhausting tube connecting with water tank, which connect with a compressor. On the back of the cooler a condenser is installed. The cold tank assembly is placed horizontally inside of a cold compartment at its highest point. The cold tank assembly includes a cold tank, evaporator coiled on the outside of cold tank the two parts are separated by separate pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventor: GEORGE MICHAEL YUI
  • Publication number: 20080115511
    Abstract: A method of fast freezing a food item using a freezing process that estimates a temperature value of a food item, selects from a plurality of freezing routines based on the estimated temperature, and activates the selected routine. This process is repeated until the temperature of the food item reaches a desired temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: DIEGO BARONE, CAROLINA BIOTTI, LORENZO BIANCHI, Raffaele Paganini, ALESSANDRO BOER
  • Publication number: 20080104993
    Abstract: Method and apparatus (1) for receiving, storing and distributing blood bags comprising a cabinet (1) for containing all the components of the apparatus (1); a refrigerated space (21) for containing the bags; a magazine (3) housed inside the refrigerated space (21) comprising a plurality of cells (31), each capable of containing a single bag, each of the cells being identified by a cell code. The apparatus (1) further comprises at least one door (4) for allowing access by an operator to the cells; a movement system (5) housed inside the cabinet (2) and capable of moving, preferably rotating, the cells (31); a cooling system (6) housed inside the cabinet (1) and capable of cooling the refrigerated space (21).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventors: Mauro Zenobi, Simone Ventura, Cristiana Neri
  • Patent number: 7340916
    Abstract: A pressure equalizing device for refrigerators, having a chamber, a door on the front wall of the chamber, an evaporator, and an evaporator defrost heater, is provided. The pressure equalizing device includes a pressure relief valve, an installation hole, and a deicing device for the pressure relief valve. The pressure relief valve connects the inside and outside of the chamber, and includes an inner end and an outer end. The installation hole is perforated on one of the walls of the chamber. The pressure relief valve equalizes the pressure inside and outside of the chamber to facilitate the opening of the door. The pressure relief valve includes an operation switch, and the operation switch is activated by the opening of the door. The pressure relief valve is disposed over deicing device, and the deicing device melts ice formed on the inner end of the pressure relief valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Inventor: Brian S. Kim
  • Patent number: 7334425
    Abstract: A rotative refrigeration unit having three separate modules, each having an exteriorly positioned door 12, mounted on a base 56. The freezer module 16 has a compressor 52 that is used to regulate the freezer temperature with the satellite refrigeration modules 14 having vents 40 in communication with the freezer interior whereby temperature sensors within the satellite refrigeration modules 14 regulate the exchange of air between the freezer and the satellites and thereby maintain a user designated temperature within the satellite modules. Each of the door modules has a base engaging member whereby unit rotation is prohibited when a door 12 is open. Circumferentially positioned along the rim are a plurality of lights 22 serving as night lights that are illuminated when the doors 12 are closed and extinguished when the doors are opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Inventor: Emed Johnson
  • Patent number: 7335240
    Abstract: An assembly for installation in a refrigerator provides comprises an enclosure for conducting service lines therethrough and an air filter unit mounted to the enclosure. The air filter unit includes an air filter housing that contains an air filter and includes openings for the ingress of air from the refrigerator which, after passing through the air filter, is discharged to the refrigerator interior through discharge openings in the air filter housing. Means such as a fan is provided to establish a flow of air through the air filter housing. The air filter unit has utility separately from the enclosure for conducting service lines in which case the air filter housing includes first and second portions that are pivotally connected to one another. The air filter within the air filter housing is supported by one of the first and second portions of the air filter housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick L. Gunderson, Joseph E. Brand
  • Patent number: 7332075
    Abstract: A water filter assembly comprising a water filter arrangement and a water cooling arrangement in an integral unit. The cooling arrangements are concentrically configured with the cooling arrangement surrounding the filter arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: V.A. Heating Ltd.
    Inventors: Mark Christopher Sumner, Paul Andrew Sumner
  • Publication number: 20080028785
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a container that encloses a cooling space that is adapted to store food, a refrigerating circuit that lowers the temperature of cooling space, a moving support fixture that is adapted to move the refrigerator with small force, and a manual moving fixture that is adapted to move the refrigerator with manual force. The container includes an access device that allows access into the cooling space. The access device is at least partially transparent so that the inside of the cooling space is visible from outside the refrigerator. The access device is a door or lid, and is made of a transparent and thermally insulating material. The manual moving fixture includes a handle. The moving support fixture comprises a plurality of casters that are attached to the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventor: Brian S. Kim
  • Patent number: 7322209
    Abstract: A refrigerator, and more particularly, a refrigerator equipped with a machinery chamber door, which is provided to open or close a machinery chamber formed at an upper portion of a body of the refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a body with a storage chamber, and with a machinery chamber provided at an upper portion of the body such that the machinery chamber is partitioned from the storage chamber, an opening portion provided at one side of the machinery chamber, a machinery chamber door hingably coupled to the opening portion such that the machinery chamber door can be rotated up and down to open or close the machinery chamber, a recess member provided to the machinery chamber door and defined with a recess, and an insertion member inserted into the recess and fixed to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ji Sick Hwang, Hyun Jong Kim, Myung Wouk Kim
  • Publication number: 20080016886
    Abstract: A freezer for the storage of blood plasma and other blood products is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Applicant: HELMER, INC.
    Inventors: Jeremy Slate, James R. Hanson
  • Patent number: 7316124
    Abstract: Dispenser assembly in the refrigerator having a body and a door for opening/closing a front surface of the body, including a dispenser in the front surface of the door for supplying water, a hinge coupled between the door and the body, a water supply pipe passed through insides of the hinge and the door, and connected to the dispenser, and a curved holding member above the hinge to surround and hold the water supply pipe, thereby holding the water supply pipe securely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Chang Lim Lee
  • Patent number: 7316125
    Abstract: An insulation box unit and a refrigerator of the present invention employs i) rigid urethane foam with a 8.0 MPa-or-greater bending modulus, and a 60 kg/m3-or-lower density, and ii) a vacuum insulation material. The proper bending modulus provides the insulation box unit with a substantial strength, even in the case that the coverage of the vacuum insulation material with respect to the surface of the outer box exceeds 40%. The proper density prevents the insulation box unit from poor insulation efficiency due to undesired solid thermal conductivity. Despite of an extended use of the vacuum insulation material, the insulation box unit offers an excellent insulation efficiency and therefore accelerates energy saving. According to the recycling method of the present invention, rigid urethane foam formed of tolylene di-isocyanate composition, which was separated from refrigerator wastes, is recycled as a material of rigid urethane foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Refrigeration Company
    Inventors: Kazutaka Uekado, Masato Sasaki, Akira Nakano, Yoshiki Ohashi
  • Patent number: 7310969
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the environment of cargo through lateral ventilation. The method provides for a controlled fluid to be supplied into a cargo compartment having a lateral portion, the fluid being supplied through a vent in a supply-conduit adjacent the lateral portion. In practice, this result can be achieved by building a structure that encloses a cargo compartment having a lateral portion, running a supply-conduit adjacent the lateral portion, connecting the supply-conduit to receive a controlled fluid from outside the cargo compartment, and conducting the fluid into the cargo compartment through a vent in the supply-conduit. On mixing with the environment within the cargo compartment, the fluid will influence components of the environment, for example the humidity and the temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Coldwall, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Dale
  • Publication number: 20070266728
    Abstract: A refrigerator comprises: a fan for blowing cool air generated by an evaporator to a freezing chamber or a refrigerating chamber; a scroll guide for discharging cool air discharged from the fan in two directions; a guide pipeline formed at the scroll guide in two directions for guiding cool air discharged from the scroll guide; and a cool air duct connected to the guide pipeline for supplying cool air to the freezing chamber or the refrigerating chamber. An optimum scroll guide that can be applicable even when a plurality of cool air ducts are implemented is provided, thereby reducing a flow loss of cool air discharged from the fan and decreasing consumption power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jun-Ho BAE, Soo-Kwan LEE, Chang-Joon KIM