U.S. patent application number 11/722613 was filed with the patent office on 2010-10-28 for cooling device.
Invention is credited to Altan Alyanak, Ahmet Dincer, Alphan Samdan, Gorkem Suner.
Application Number | 20100269531 11/722613 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36577525 |
Filed Date | 2010-10-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100269531 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Samdan; Alphan ; et
al. |
October 28, 2010 |
COOLING DEVICE
Abstract
Preventing the flow of the ambient air into the cabinet (2) by
closing the discharge pipe (4) under normal conditions, balancing
the cabinet (2) interior pressure by opening into the cabinet (2)
from the side of the ambient air when the cabinet (2) interior
pressure drops and discharging the water in the cabinet (2)
especially after defrosting, outside of the cabinet (2) is
accomplished by utilizing the valve (5) which is the object of the
present invention.
Inventors: |
Samdan; Alphan; (Istanbul,
TR) ; Suner; Gorkem; (Istanbul, TR) ; Dincer;
Ahmet; (Istanbul, TR) ; Alyanak; Altan;
(Istanbul, TR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VENABLE, CAMPILLO, LOGAN & MEANEY, P.C.
1938 E. OSBORN RD
PHOENIX
AZ
85016-7234
US
|
Family ID: |
36577525 |
Appl. No.: |
11/722613 |
Filed: |
December 24, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
December 24, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB05/54398 |
371 Date: |
April 22, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/285 ;
62/454 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 21/14 20130101;
F25D 2321/146 20130101; F25D 17/047 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/285 ;
62/454 |
International
Class: |
F25D 21/14 20060101
F25D021/14; F25D 31/00 20060101 F25D031/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 24, 2004 |
TR |
2004/03614 |
Claims
1. A cooling device (1) comprising one or more cooling cabinets (2)
where items to be cooled are stored, a door (3) serving to close
the cooling cabinet (2) and allowing the user to access the items
stored inside the cooling cabinet (2), a discharge pipe (4) one end
of which extends into the cooling cabinet (2) and the other end
outside the cooling cabinet (2), and characterized by a valve (5),
having a first flap valve (6) opening into the discharge pipe (4),
allowing the inflow of ambient air into the cabinet (2) and a
second flap valve (7) on which the first flap valve (6) is mounted,
moving in the opposite direction of the opening direction of the
first flap valve (6), providing the discharge of fluid in the
cabinet (2) out of the cabinet (2), opening and/or closing the
discharge pipe (4), allowing the flow of the ambient air into the
cooling cabinet (2) thereby balancing the cabinet (2) interior
pressure and providing the discharge of fluid collected in the
cabinet (2) outside of the cabinet (2).
2. A cooling device (1) as in claim 1, characterized by a valve (5)
comprising a first flap valve (6) and a second flap valve (7), one
inserted into the other.
3. A cooling device (1) as in claim 2, characterized by a valve (5)
comprising a second flap valve (7) mounted on the inner wall of the
discharge pipe (4) by a hinge (100).
4. A cooling device (1) as in claim 2 or 3, characterized by a
valve (5) comprising a second flap valve (7) having an opening (8)
on it.
5. A cooling device (1) as in claim 4, characterized by a valve (5)
comprising a first flap valve (6) mounted on the second flap valve
(7) by a hinge (101), opening or closing the opening (8) on the
second flap valve (7) by moving independently from the second flap
valve (7).
6. A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims,
characterized by a valve (5) comprising a second flap valve (7)
which opens to the atmosphere as a result of the weight of the
water collected over it.
7. A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims,
characterized by a valve (5) comprising a first flap valve (6)
which opens towards the interior of the cabinet (2) in the
direction of the air inflow formed from the high pressure side to
the low pressure side, when the cabinet (2) interior pressure is
lower than the atmospheric pressure.
8. A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims,
characterized by a valve (5) comprising a stopper (9) on the inner
wall of the discharge pipe (4), which prevents the second flap
valve (7) mounted on the inner wall of the discharge pipe (4)
moving in a direction from the atmosphere towards the inside of the
cabinet (2).
9. A cooling device (1) as in any claim 1, characterized by a valve
(5) attached on the discharge pipe (4) by snap-fitting method.
10. A cooling device (1) as in claim 9, characterized by a valve
(5) produced as a single-piece.
11. A cooling device (1) as in claim 9 or 10, characterized by a
valve (5) in which the opening, closing of the first and second
flap valves (6 and 7) is accomplished by changing the thickness of
the material on the sections where the first and second flap valves
(6 and 7) are attached, whereby these sections with changed
material thickness act as hinges.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling device comprising
a valve which provides the balancing of the pressure imbalanced
during opening, closing of the door and discharging the water
created especially during the defrost process.
[0002] Cooling device of the current state-of-the-art comprises a
cooling cabinet and a door which is attached to the cooling
cabinet, to be opened or closed by the help of a hinge, providing
access to the cooling cabinet. The cooling cabinet is insulated
from the outer surroundings in a leak-proof manner when the door is
closed. Frosting occurs around the evaporator during the cooling
process. This frost is melted by various defrost methods, the
melted water is discharged with the help of a drain pipe, one end
of which opens into the cooling cabinet and the other to the
outside of the cabinet, that is to the ambient atmosphere. The
water discharged to outside of the cabinet is transferred to a
collector unit situated preferably in the section of the cooling
device where the compressor cabinet is positioned.
[0003] In cooling devices where forced air circulation is made
especially by a fan, when the door is opened/closed, the fan starts
operating and draws the air towards the evaporator, causing the
pressure inside the cabinet to drop results in a vacuum effect in
the cabinet. An additional force needs to be exerted to overcome
this pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the
cooling cabinet when the door of the cooling cabinet is desired to
be opened again.
[0004] Furthermore the discharge pipe discharging the water
collected in the cooling cabinet is the only exit passage of the
cabinet to the atmosphere. As a vacuum is formed inside the cabinet
due to the opening and closing of the door or other causes, air is
sucked into the cabinet from the end of the discharge pipe opening
to the ambient atmosphere. If the amount of water in the discharge
pipe or in the collecting unit where the end of the discharge pipe
opens is more than enough, water and air is sucked into the cabinet
until the cabinet pressure is in equilibrium with the atmospheric
pressure. During this involuntary process, the noise generated by
the air and water mixture flowing through the discharge pipe can
reach a level that is annoying to the user.
[0005] The discharge pipe being the only place that is open to the
ambient atmosphere while the door of the cabinet is closed, will
also result in temperature and pressure abnormalities in the
cooling cabinet, in addition to all the above explained
adversities.
[0006] In the current state of the art, the discharge pipe is made
in a "U" shape so that some amount of water stays in the
pipe--especially water from the defrost process--preventing the air
which is comparably warmer than the cooling cabinet medium to flow
into the cooling cabinet from the end of the discharge pipe that is
open to atmospheric pressure, disrupting the temperature and
pressure balance of the cabinet. However the entrapping of water in
the "U" shaped discharge pipe prevents the flow of air into and out
of the cabinet. Since the flow of air from the ambient atmosphere
into the cabinet to eradicate the pressure imbalance is blocked by
the water entrapped in the discharge pipe, as a result the pressure
imbalance in the cabinet can not be adjusted and opening the
cooling device door requires the exertion of a larger force.
[0007] In the current state of the art, in the U.S. Pat. No.
5,499,514, a description is given of a refrigerator comprising a
"U" shaped discharge pipe and a one way valve positioned above the
maximum level of the trapped water, wherein the valve allows the
flow from the atmosphere to the inside of the food storage
compartment. While an air inflow from the end of the discharge pipe
open to the atmosphere towards the end opening into the compartment
is prevented by the water accumulated in the "U" shaped pipe, the
imbalance of pressure created by the opening, closing of the
refrigerator door is also prevented by the valve on the side
surface of the discharge pipe opening into the compartment which
stays open until the compartment pressure is in equilibrium with
the atmospheric pressure. Furthermore, the noise generated during
the flow of the above explained air-water mixture through the
discharge pipe is also prevented by this valve.
[0008] Another embodiment of the current state of the art is
described in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,557,942. In this embodiment, a
chamber where some amount of water is collected and a by-pass air
passage between the water drain conduit and said chamber is
described. In an alternative embodiment of this patent document the
description is given for a movable closure device that rises or
falls, acting as a float, in response to the level of trapped water
inside the chamber to close the said air passage opening to the
ambient air.
[0009] The object of the present invention is to design a cooling
device comprising a valve which prevents the temperature and
pressure abnormalities inside the cooling cabinet and also provides
the discharging of especially the defrost water.
[0010] The cooling device designed to fulfill the objective of the
present invention is shown in the attached figures where:
[0011] FIG. 1--is the schematic view of a cooling device.
[0012] FIG. 2--is the schematic top view of a valve.
[0013] FIG. 3--is the schematic top view of a flap valve.
[0014] FIG. 4--is the schematic view of a valve when it is in
closed position.
[0015] FIG. 5--is the schematic view of a valve when the cabinet
interior pressure is lower than atmospheric pressure.
[0016] FIG. 6--is the schematic view of a valve while the fluid
collected in the cabinet is discharged.
[0017] FIG. 7--is the schematic view of a valve comprising a
stopper.
[0018] FIG. 8--is the schematic view of a valve in a closed
position in an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 9--is the schematic view of a valve when the cabinet
interior pressure is lower than atmospheric pressure in an
alternative embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 10--is the schematic view of a valve while the fluid
collected in the cabinet is discharged in an alternative embodiment
of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 11--is the schematic view of a valve comprising a
stopper in an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 12--is the schematic view of a valve in closed position
attached to the discharge pipe by snap-fitting method.
[0023] FIG. 13--is the schematic view of a valve attached to the
discharge pipe by snap-fitting method when the cabinet interior
pressure is lower than atmospheric pressure.
[0024] FIG. 14--is the schematic view of a valve attached to the
discharge pipe by snap-fitting method while the fluid collected in
the cabinet is being discharged.
[0025] Elements shown in figures are numbered as follows: [0026] 1.
Cooling device [0027] 2. Cooling cabinet [0028] 3. Door [0029] 4.
Discharge pipe [0030] 5. Valve [0031] 6. First flap valve [0032] 7.
Second flap valve [0033] 8. Opening [0034] 9. Stopper [0035] 100.,
101. Hinge
[0036] The cooling device (1) of the present invention comprises
one or more cooling cabinets (2) where items to be cooled are
stored, a door (3) serving to close the cooling cabinet (2) and
allowing the user to access the items stored inside the cooling
cabinet (2), a discharge pipe (4) one end of which opens into the
cooling cabinet (2) and the other end outside the cooling cabinet
(2), a valve (5) positioned inside and/or over the dischargepipe
(4) , opening and/or closing the discharge pipe (4), allowing the
flow of the ambient air into the cooling cabinet (2) thereby
balancing the cabinet (2) interior pressure and at the same time
providing the discharge of fluid collected in the cabinet (2),
water resulting from defrost process for example, outside of the
cabinet (2) (FIG. 1).
[0037] The valve (5) comprises, each moving independently in
different directions, a first flap valve (6) opening and/or closing
the discharge pipe (4), allowing the flow of the ambient air into
the cabinet (2) via the discharge pipe (4) when opened, and a
second flap valve (7) on which the first flap valve (6) is mounted,
moving to open in the opposite direction of the opening direction
of the first flap valve (6), providing the discharge of the fluid
in the cabinet (2) out of the cabinet (2) via the discharge pipe
(4) (FIG. 4, FIG. 8 and FIG. 12).
[0038] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a
first and a second flap valve (6 and 7), one inserted into the
other, is utilized in the valve (5). In this embodiment, the valve
(5) comprises a hinge (100) providing the attachment of the second
flap valve (7) on the inner wall of the discharge pipe (4), an
opening (8) on the second flap valve (7) which is the first flap
valve (6) opens, closes, and a hinge (101) providing the attachment
of the first flap valve (6) on the second flap valve (7) (FIG. 2,
FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6).
[0039] The hinges (100 and 101) which movably attach the second
flap valve (7) to the wall of the discharge pipe (4) to be opened
or closed, and movably attach the first flap valve (6) on the
second flap valve (7) to be opened or closed, allows the first and
second flap valves (6 and 7) to be opened or closed with a minimum
amount of force exerted on them.
[0040] The second flap valve (7) opens towards the atmosphere in
the direction of the gravitational force as a result of the weight
of the water collected on it. The second flap valve (7) is formed
in conformity with the structure of the discharge pipe (4) (FIG. 6,
FIG. 10 and FIG. 14).
[0041] The first flap valve (6) opens towards the interior of the
cabinet (2) in the direction of the air flow formed from high
pressure side to low pressure when the cabinet (2) interior
pressure is lower than atmospheric pressure (FIG. 5, FIG. 9 and
FIG. 13).
[0042] Each of the first flap valve (6) and the second flap valve
(7) can move independently. In the preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the second flap valve (7) can be opened when the
first flap valve (6) is closed, and the first flap valve (6) can be
opened when the second flap valve (7) is closed.
[0043] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
valve (5) comprises a stopper (9) situated on the inner wall of the
dischargepipe (4) preventing the second flap valve (7) mounted on
the inner wall of the discharge pipe (4) to move in a direction
from the atmosphere towards the inside of the cabinet (2) (FIG. 7
and FIG. 11). The stopper (9) avoids the second flap valve (7) from
opening in the other direction, that is, towards the inside of the
cabinet (2).
[0044] The valve (5), preferably positioned on the end of the
discharge pipe (4) that opens to the atmosphere, prevents the flow
of the air into the cabinet (2) from the open end of the discharge
pipe (4) by closing the discharge pipe (4) entirely since it is in
a closed position under normal conditions, i.e., when the cabinet
(2) interior pressure is in equilibrium and when there is no fluid
flowing in the discharge pipe (4) from the cabinet (2), when both
of the first flap valve (6) and the second flap valve (7) are
closed. Thus the unbalancing of the cabinet (2) interior
temperature and the cabinet (2) interior pressure by the inflow of
ambient air which is warmer than the cabinet (2) interior is
prevented (FIG. 4, FIG. 8 and FIG. 12).
[0045] The first flap valve (6) which is situated in the valve (5)
that is normally in a closed position, opens without resisting to
the inflow of atmospheric air that is higher in pressure compared
to the cabinet (2) interior pressure and allows the inflow of air
into the cabinet (2) when the cabinet (2) interior pressure drops
below the atmospheric pressure due to the opening, closing of the
cooling device (1) door (3) or for any other reason. The air flows
in through the end of the discharge pipe (4) opening to the ambient
air into the discharge pipe (4), flowing through the gap opened by
the first flap valve (6) and reaches inside the cabinet (2) from
the end of the discharge pipe (4) extending into the cabinet (2) in
this case. This inflow of air goes on until the cabinet (2)
interior pressure reaches the level of the atmospheric pressure,
the first flap valve (6) closes the discharge pipe (4) and
disallows more air inflow into the cabinet (2) when the pressure
exerted on the first flap valve (6) is lifted because the inflow of
air stops is when the cabinet (2) interior pressure is equalized
with the atmospheric pressure (FIG. 5, FIG. 9 and FIG. 13).
[0046] When there is any fluid that must be discharged from the
cabinet (2) for various reasons , --water after defrost process,
for example--this fluid is transferred to the discharge pipe (4) to
be discharged out of the cabinet (2). The fluid reaching the
discharge pipe (4) flows through the discharge pipe (4) and
collects over the valve (5) which is in a closed position under
normal conditions. The second flap valve (7) actuates around its
end attached to the valve (5) and opens to discharge the fluid out
of the cabinet (2) through the discharge pipe (4) when the amount
of the accumulated fluid on the second flap valve (7) and the first
flap valve (6) situated on the valve (5) increases (FIG. 6, FIG. 10
and FIG. 14).
[0047] In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the
valve (5) is attached to the end of the discharge pipe (4) by
snap-fitting method. The valve (5) is produced of preferably rubber
material and the first and second flap valves (6 and 7) open, close
owing to the elastic feature of the material only, without the need
to use any hinges. In this embodiment the valve (5) is produced in
one-piece, the opening, closing of the first and second flap valves
(6 and 7) is accomplished by changing the thickness of the material
on the sections of the valve (5) and the discharge pipe (4) where
the first and second flap valves (6 and 7) will be attached,
whereby these sections with changed material thickness act as
hinges (FIG. 12, FIG. 13 and FIG. 14).
[0048] Preventing the inflow of ambient air into the cabinet (2) by
closing the discharge pipe (4) under normal conditions, balancing
the cabinet (2) interior pressure by opening into the cabinet (2)
from the side of the ambient air when the cabinet (2) interior
pressure drops and discharging the water in the cabinet (2) outside
of the cabinet (2) especially after defrosting is accomplished by
utilizing the valve (5), the object of the present invention.
* * * * *