Air passageways in a variable climate zone compartment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11512888-B2
Application number	US-201816977308-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 2, 2018
Priority date	Mar 2, 2018
Publication date	Nov 29, 2022
Grant date	Nov 29, 2022

Abstract

A refrigeration appliance includes a liner having a rear wall that is contoured to define a first vertical recess therein. A partition divides the compartment into an upper and a lower compartment and includes a first protrusion disposed in the first vertical recess in the liner. A first opening extends through the first protrusion and is aligned with the first vertical recess in the liner. A temperature control system is positioned in the upper compartment and includes a vertical partition. At least one lower opening extends through a front surface of the vertical partition and fluidly communicates with an upper end of the first vertical recess in the liner and the first opening extending through the partition. An evaporator fan is disposed in the lower compartment.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A refrigeration appliance comprising:
a liner defining a compartment for storing food items in a refrigerated environment, a rear wall of the liner contoured to define a first vertical recess therein;
a partition insertable into said compartment to divide said compartment into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, said lower compartment having a user-selectable target freezer temperature, said upper compartment having a user-selectable target variable climate zone temperature between a predetermined temperature below 0 degrees Centigrade and a predetermined temperature above 0 degrees Centigrade, the partition including:
a first protrusion extending from a rear edge of the partition, the first protrusion disposed in the first vertical recess in the liner when the partition is positioned in the compartment,
a first opening extending through the first protrusion from an upper surface of the partition to a lower surface of the partition, the first opening aligned with the first vertical recess in the liner,
a temperature control system positioned in the upper compartment, the temperature control system comprising:
a vertical partition having a front surface and a rear surface, the rear surface facing the rear wall of the liner and the front surface facing an open end of the upper compartment,
at least one lower opening extending through the front surface of the vertical partition and fluidly communicating with an upper end of the first vertical recess in the liner and the first opening extending through the partition,
an evaporator disposed in the lower compartment; and
an evaporator fan disposed in the lower compartment for drawing air from the upper compartment through the at least one lower opening in the vertical partition, through the first vertical recess in the liner and through the first opening extending through the partition and exhausting the air into the lower compartment.

2. The refrigeration appliance of claim 1 , further comprising:
a U-shaped air duct positioned in the lower compartment over the first vertical recess to enclose a portion of the first vertical recess in the lower compartment.

3. The refrigeration appliance of claim 2 , wherein the U-shaped air duct is positioned between the evaporator and the rear wall of the liner.

4. The refrigeration appliance of claim 1 , wherein the partition is not a foamed partition wall.

5. The refrigeration appliance of claim 1 , wherein the liner further defines a second compartment disposed above the compartment and a foamed second partition wall separates the second compartment from the compartment.

6. The refrigeration appliance of claim 5 , wherein the second compartment is a fresh food compartment.

7. The refrigeration appliance of claim 1 , wherein the liner includes a second vertical recess, the partition includes:
a second protrusion extending from a rear edge of the partition, the second protrusion disposed in the second vertical recess in the liner when the partition is positioned in the compartment, and
a second opening extending through the second protrusion from the upper surface of the partition to the lower surface of the partition, the second opening aligned with the second vertical recess in the liner,
the temperature control system includes:
an air passage formed in the vertical partition extending from a lower portion of the vertical partition to an upper portion of the vertical partition, a lower end of the air passage aligned with the second opening in the partition between the upper compartment and the lower compartment, and
at least one upper opening extending through the front surface of the vertical partition to an upper end of the air passage,
wherein the evaporator fan disposed in the lower compartment conveys cooling air from the evaporator through the second opening in the partition, through the air passage in the vertical partition and through the at least one upper opening in the vertical partition and exhausts the cooling air into the upper compartment.

8. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 7 , further comprising a circulation fan positioned in the air passage for conveying air therealong.

9. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 7 , further comprising a heater assembly disposed between the front surface and the rear surface of the vertical partition proximate the air passage wherein air in the air passage is heated by the heater assembly when the heater assembly is energized.

10. The refrigeration appliance of claim 7 , wherein a rear portion of the vertical partition extends into the second vertical recess and a corresponding surface of the liner defines a boundary of the air passage through the vertical partition.

11. The refrigeration appliance of claim 7 , wherein a damper assembly is disposed in the second opening, the damper assembly including a damper door moveable between an open position for allowing air to flow through the second opening and a closed position for hindering air flow through the second opening.

12. A refrigeration appliance comprising:
a liner defining a compartment for storing food items in a refrigerated environment, a rear wall of the liner contoured to define a vertical recess therein;
a partition insertable into said compartment to divide said compartment into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, said lower compartment having a target freezer temperature, said upper compartment having a user-selectable target variable climate zone temperature between a predetermined temperature below 0 degrees Centigrade and a predetermined temperature above 0 degrees Centigrade, the partition including:
a protrusion extending from a rear edge of the partition, the protrusion disposed in the vertical recess in the liner when the partition is positioned in the compartment, and
an opening extending through the protrusion from an upper surface of the partition to a lower surface of the partition, the opening aligned with the vertical recess in the liner;
a temperature control system positioned in the upper compartment, the temperature control system comprising:
a vertical partition having a front surface and a rear surface, the rear surface facing the rear wall of the liner and the front surface facing an open end of the upper compartment,
an air passage formed in the vertical partition extending from a lower portion of the vertical partition to an upper portion of the vertical partition, a lower end of the air passage aligned with the opening in the partition between the upper compartment and the lower compartment, and
at least one upper opening extending through the front surface of the vertical partition to an upper end of the air passage;
an evaporator disposed in the lower compartment; and
an evaporator fan disposed in the lower compartment for conveying cooling air from the evaporator through the opening in the partition, through the air passage in the vertical partition and through the at least one upper opening in the vertical partition and exhausting the cooling air into the upper compartment.

13. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 12 , further comprising a circulation fan positioned in the air passage for conveying air therealong.

14. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 12 , further comprising a heater assembly disposed between the front surface and the rear surface of the vertical partition proximate the air passage wherein air in the air passage is heated by the heater assembly when the heater assembly is energized.

15. The refrigeration appliance of claim 12 , wherein the partition is not a foa

Assignees

• Electrolux Do Brasil Sa

Inventors

• Picanço Guilherme
• Campani Marcelo
• Richter Carlos
• Ormelez Felipe
• Roslindo Rafael
• Mercer Israel
• Leidens Rafael
• Colecha Alcione
• Voltarelli Antonio
• Werkhauser Michel

Classifications

• F25D2400/02

  Refrigerators including a heater · CPC title

• F25D2317/0681

  Details thereof · CPC title

• F25D2317/067

  characterised by air ducts · CPC title

• F25D17/065 Primary

  with compartments at different temperatures · CPC title

• F25D2317/0672

  Outlet ducts · CPC title