Refrigeration – Processes – Circulating external gas
Patent
1996-05-23
1998-07-07
Wayner, William E.
Refrigeration
Processes
Circulating external gas
62332, 62428, F25D 1702, F25B 2500
Patent
active
057751137
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to domestic refrigerators and freezers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for utilizing cool outdoor ambient temperature levels to reduce the energy required to operate a domestic refrigerator or freezer system.
Virtually every home and apartment in this country has at least one refrigerator for storing perishable food products. Additionally, many households also have a freezer for storing food products over extended periods of time. As a consequence of such widespread usage, these domestic appliances consume a substantial part of the electrical energy which is generated by the nation's utility companies. In this regard, it should be noted that refrigerators are considered to be a relatively inefficient appliance. Indeed, it has recently been reported that aside from electric heaters, refrigerators rank as the next most inefficient appliances in the home. Since even the newest refrigerators consume approximately 700 kwh of electricity per year, it should be understood that a substantial need still exists to increase the energy efficiency of domestic refrigeration appliances.
Accordingly, it is a principal objective of the present invention to provide a system and method which reduces the energy required to operate domestic refrigerator and freezer systems.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide an energy efficient domestic refrigeration system which minimizes the heat generated inside a home when the outdoor ambient temperature exceeds a desired indoor temperature.
It is an additional objective of the present invention to provide a domestic refrigeration system which potentially reduces the quantity of refrigerant needed in the system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To achieve the foregoing objectives, the present invention provides an energy transfer system for a household refrigeration appliance. The energy transfer system includes a venting system within the refrigerator housing, and a set of conduits for enabling the transfer of outside air into, through and out of the venting system. In one form of the present invention, the system may also include a thermostatically actuated valve for enabling outside air into, through and out of the venting system in response to a predetermined temperature.
The set of conduits preferably includes a first conduit for enabling the transfer of outside air to the venting system, and a second conduit for enabling the transfer of air from the venting system to the outside environment. Each of these conduits are disposed such that they extend through an external wall of said household. To facilitate the convection flow of air, the outlet of one conduit is connected to the compartment at a location which is lower than an inlet connection of the other conduit.
Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from a reading of the detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a household refrigeration appliance in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a refrigeration system.
FIG. 4 is a graph of the vapor-compression refrigeration cycle for the refrigeration system of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a refrigeration appliance in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 5 along line 6--6 thereof.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 5 along line 7--7 thereof.
FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a household refrigeration appliance 10 in accordance with the present invention is shown. More specifically, the household refrigeration appliance depicted in FIG. 1 is a domestic refrigerator which ha
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