Refrigeration – Processes – Deodorizing – antisepticizing or providing special atmosphere
Patent
1991-04-25
1992-08-11
Capossela, Ronald C.
Refrigeration
Processes
Deodorizing, antisepticizing or providing special atmosphere
62384, F24F 316
Patent
active
051368536
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention concerns domestic refrigerators of the type having a refrigerator body defining a first internal refrigerated cavity, and, in this first internal cavity, at least one compartment in which at least a part is manually movable.
Known domestic refrigerators generally have two compartments of the type mentioned above, namely the compartment for making ice, commonly called "freezer", containing a refrigeration coil and closed by means of a pivoting door, and a compartment in the form of a vat, generally disposed opposite the "freezer" and serving as a removable vegetable tray, in an environment at a low temperature between 2.degree. and 5.degree. C.
There is a need for the consumers to be able to rely on refriferators which are provided with means enabling to substantially extend the period of preservation of fruits and vegetables, experience showing that in known vegetable trays, the vegetables have a tendency to fade or rot relatively rapidly.
Processes for extending the length of preservations of plant food products, in particular fruits and vegetables, are known, and these processes consist in placing these products under an oxygen starved controlled atmosphere and to keep them at low temperature, typically between 0.degree. and 15.degree. C. These processes are found either in storage silos of substantial size, where the composition of the controlled atmosphere is permanently supervised and adjusted, namely for their conditioning in wrappings intended for sale and having selective properties of gas diffusion.
It is an object of the present invention to propose a domestic refrigerator enabling to establish and maintain in a portion of its internal cavity an atmosphere adapted for the extended preservation of fruits and vegetables, in an autonomous arrangement, at low cost, with reliable operation and which does not modify the overall size of the refrigerator.
For this purpose, according to a characteristic of the invention, the compartment of the refrigerator defines a second internal cavity which is substantially water tight with respect to the first internal cavity and communicates with a gas source containing less oxygen than air.
According to a more particular characteristic of the invention, the gas source comprises a separation module periodically supplied with air under pressure, advantageously by means of a moto-compressor unit controlled by a control module comprising a timer, and preferably, coupled to a detector which is responsive to the movement of the movable part of the compartment.
It is another object of the present invention to propose a process for feeding an oxygen starved gas into a compartment of a refrigerator of the above type, enabling, at lower cost, to keep, in the compartment, an atmosphere which is adapted for the preservation of fruits and vegetables.
For this purpose, according to a characteristic of the process of the invention, during maintenance, the gas is supplied during a period T.sub.1, of between about 15 and 30 minutes, following a period of non supply T.sub.2, T.sub.2 being high than 5 T.sub.1.
Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear from the description which follows of embodiments given by way of illustration but without limitation, with reference to the annexed drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic representation, in partial cross-section, of a first embodiment of a domestic refrigerator according to the invention, and
FIG. 2 is also a schematic representation and in partial cross-section of another embodiment of domestic refrigerator according to the invention.
In the description which follows and on the drawings, identical or analogous parts are referred to by the same reference numerals, possibly indexed.
On the drawings, one recognizes the lower part of a domestic refrigerator comprising an isotherm refrigerator body 1 defining a first internal refrigerated cavity 2 closed by a pivoting access door 3. In the part of the first internal cavity 2 opposite the "freezer" (not represented), where there is a
REFERENCES:
patent: 4537043 (1985-08-01), Volker et al.
patent: 4961322 (1990-10-01), Oguma et al.
patent: 5046332 (1991-09-01), Herrmann et al.
patent: 5063753 (1991-11-01), Woodruff
Deloche Daniel
Girardon Philippe
Capossela Ronald C.
L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et, l'Exploitation de
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