Refrigeration – Automatic control – Refrigeration producer
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-17
2001-07-03
Tanner, Harry B. (Department: 3744)
Refrigeration
Automatic control
Refrigeration producer
C062S158000, C062S182000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253561
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a refrigerator provided with a switching valve for switching a flow of refrigerant to one of a plurality of refrigerant passages so that the refrigerant flows through the switched refrigerant passage.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Household refrigerators are generally installed indoors and particularly in a dwelling space. Accordingly, noise reduction has been desired in the refrigerators. Inverters have recently been employed for the purpose of reducing noise produced during operation of the refrigerator. Further, a refrigerating cycle has been improved so that a compressor is driven at low speeds. However, there have been provided refrigerators with a switching valve for switching a flow of refrigerant to one of a plurality of refrigerant passages so that a refrigerant flows through the switched refrigerant passage. The switching valve also produces noise due to a switching operation.
The noise due to the switching operation of the switching valve is produced in the following manner. The switching valve comprises an electromagnetic valve, for example. The electromagnetic valve includes a solenoid producing an attractive force upon energization. When subjected to the attractive force, a valve element of the electromagnetic valve is moved to the side of an attracting element against an urging force of urging means. When the solenoid is deenergized, the urging force moves the valve element in the direction opposite to the attracting element. Thus, a passage of a fluid is opened and closed, or a flowing direction of the fluid is switched.
The valve element of the electromagnetic valve is attracted by the attracting element in a short period of time when a predetermined drive voltage is applied to the solenoid. In this case, the valve element forcibly collides with the attracting element. As a result, a relatively large noise due to the collision is produced at a location away 5 cm from the electromagnetic valve. This noise ranges between 80 and 90 dB (A). The noise produced by the switching valve results from the above-mentioned noise due to the collision of the valve element. The switching valve is often operated according to controlled temperatures in refrigerating and freezing compartments, for example. Moreover, the noise due to the switching operation is relatively louder. Consequently, the noise due to the switching operation of the switching valve is offensive or abnormal to ears of a user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator in which the noise produced by the switching valve switching the flow of refrigerant to one of the refrigerant passages can be reduced.
The present invention provides a refrigerator comprising a compressor, a condenser for liquefying a refrigerant discharged from the compressor, a plurality of refrigerant passages provided at a downstream side of the condenser, a switching valve switching a flow of the refrigerant to one of the refrigerant passages so that the refrigerant liquefied by the condenser flows through the switched refrigerant passage, the switching valve including a valve body, and a controller controlling the switching valve so that the switching valve performs a switching operation upon expiration of a period of time sufficient for an interior of the valve body of the switching valve to be filled with the liquid refrigerant after start of the compressor.
According to the above-described construction, the controller controls the switching valve so that the switching valve performs the switching operation upon expiration of a period of time sufficient for an interior of the valve body of the switching valve to be filled with the liquid refrigerant after start of the compressor. As a result, the refrigerant in the liquid phase serves as a buffer against the movement of the valve element. This reduces a force of the valve element colliding with the attracting element provided in the valve body, thereby reducing the noise due to the switching operation of the switching valve.
The invention also provides a refrigerator comprising a compressor, a condenser for liquefying a refrigerant discharged from the compressor, a plurality of refrigerant passages provided at a downstream side of the condenser, a switching valve switching a flow of the refrigerant to one of the refrigerant passages so that the refrigerant liquefied by the condenser flows through the switched refrigerant passage, the switching valve including a valve body, an evaporator provided across the refrigerant passages to evaporate the liquid refrigerant, a fan for supplying a cold air produced by the evaporator, and a controller controlling the switching valve so that the switching valve performs a switching operation upon expiration of a predetermined period of time after start of the compressor or during operation of the fan.
According to this construction, the controller controls the switching valve so that the switching valve performs the switching operation upon expiration of a predetermined period of time after start of the compressor or during operation of the fan. As a result, the noise due to the switching operation of the switching valve is masked by a background noise such as a sound due to the operation of the compressor or the fan (for example, wind whistle). Consequently, the noise due to the switching operation of the switching valve can be prevented from being accepted as an offensive or abnormal noise to the ears of the user.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3359751 (1967-12-01), Stevens
patent: 4242116 (1980-12-01), Aschberger et al.
patent: 4686835 (1987-08-01), Alsenz
patent: 4962648 (1990-10-01), Takizawa et al.
patent: 5465591 (1995-11-01), Cur et al.
patent: 5630323 (1997-05-01), Niijima et al.
patent: 37 18490 (1987-12-01), None
patent: 40 20 537 (1992-01-01), None
patent: 0 246 465 (1987-11-01), None
Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
Pillsbury & Winthrop LLP
Tanner Harry B.
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