Refrigeration appliance and method for operating such appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10900703-B2
Application number	US-201615264961-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 14, 2016
Priority date	May 21, 2014
Publication date	Jan 26, 2021
Grant date	Jan 26, 2021

Abstract

A refrigeration appliance comprises a cavity in which an ozone generating device is placed. The ozone generating device is configured to maintain in the cavity a concentration of ozone between 0.04 and 0.12 ppm, more preferably between 0.06 and 0.1 ppm.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A refrigeration appliance comprising:
a crisper drawer defining a cavity and having a rear wall, the crisper drawer sealed by a glass shelf;
a sealed housing positioned within the cavity and covered by the glass shelf, wherein the sealed housing is coupled with the rear wall of the crisper drawer;
an ozone generating device positioned within the sealed housing, wherein the ozone generating device is configured to maintain a concentration of ozone in the cavity; and
a sensor operably coupled with the ozone generating device, wherein the sensor is at least partially positioned within the sealed housing.

2. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the ozone generating device is configured to maintain the concentration of ozone in the cavity having a value between about 0.06 and about 0.1 ppm.

3. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the sealed housing is mounted on the rear wall of the crisper drawer in correspondence with a notch provided in an upper portion of the rear wall of the crisper drawer, and further wherein the crisper drawer is sealed so that the ozone generated by the ozone generating device is confined in the crisper drawer.

4. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is an ozone sensor for adjusting the ozone concentration to a desired value.

5. The refrigeration device according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is an ethylene sensor for adjusting the ozone concentration to a desired value.

6. The refrigeration device according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes an ozone sensor and an ethylene sensor for adjusting the ozone concentration to a desired value.

7. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the ozone generating device deactivates when the crisper drawer is in an open position.

8. A refrigeration appliance comprising:
a first housing defining a cavity and having a rear wall, the first housing selectively movable between a sealed position and an open position, wherein the first housing is substantially sealed by a lid when in the sealed position;
a second sealed housing positioned within the cavity, and coupled to the rear wall of the first housing;
at least one sensor positioned within the second sealed housing, the at least one sensor configured to detect one of ethylene concentrations and ozone concentrations; and
an ozone generating device positioned within the second sealed housing and coupled to the at least one sensor, the ozone generating device configured to maintain in the cavity a concentration of ozone having a value between about 0.05 and about 0.10 ppm, and further wherein the maintained concentration of ozone inhibits microbial growth and preserves nutritional quality of food.

9. The refrigeration appliance of claim 8 , wherein the at least one sensor includes one of an ethylene sensor and an ozone sensor.

10. The refrigeration appliance of claim 8 , wherein a control system is operably coupled to the ozone generating device and the at least one sensor.

11. The refrigeration appliance of claim 10 , wherein the ozone generating device is configured to shut off when the first housing is in the open position.

12. The refrigeration appliance of claim 8 , further comprising:
a user interface, the user interface including an input for a user to activate the ozone generating device, wherein the user interface further includes an output to indicate the activation of the ozone generating device.

13. A refrigeration appliance comprising:
a first housing defining a cavity and having a rear wall, the first housing movable between a sealed position and an open position, wherein the first housing is sealed by a shelf when the first housing is in the sealed position;
a second sealed housing positioned within the cavity of the first housing;
a sensor positioned within the second sealed housing;
an ozone generating device positioned within the second sealed housing and coupled to the sensor;
a control system operably coupled to the ozone generating device and the sensor; and
a user interface, the user interface including an input for a user to activate the ozone generating device, wherein the user interface further includes an output to indicate the activation of the ozone generating device.

14. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 13 , wherein the ozone generating device is configured to shut off when the first housing is in the open position.

15. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 13 , wherein the sensor is one of an ethylene sensor and an ozone sensor.

16. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 13 , wherein the second sealed housing is coupled to the rear wall.

17. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 13 , wherein the second sealed housing is positioned on the shelf.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Biotti Carolina
• Paganini Raffaele
• Parachini Davide
• Pirovano Maria P

Classifications

• F25D17/042 Primary

  Air treating means within refrigerated spaces (air conditioning in general F24F) · CPC title

• A61L9/00

  Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air (body deodorants A61Q15/00; purifying air by respirators A62B, A62D9/00; separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours B01D45/00 - B01D51/00, B03C3/00; chemical or biological purification of waste gases B01D53/34; production of ozone C01B13/10; air-conditioning systems incorporating sterilisation F24F3/16, F24F8/20) · CPC title

• F25D2317/0416

  using an ozone generator · CPC title

• A23B7/055

  with direct contact between the food and the chemical, e.g. liquid N2, at cryogenic temperature · CPC title

• A61L2/00

  Disinfection or sterilisation of materials or objects, in general; Accessories therefor · CPC title