U.S. patent application number 14/088213 was filed with the patent office on 2015-05-28 for rv kitchen with outdoor refrigerator.
This patent application is currently assigned to NORTHWOOD INVESTMENT CORPORATION. The applicant listed for this patent is NORTHWOOD INVESTMENT CORPORATION. Invention is credited to James Baker.
Application Number | 20150143833 14/088213 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53181495 |
Filed Date | 2015-05-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150143833 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Baker; James |
May 28, 2015 |
RV KITCHEN WITH OUTDOOR REFRIGERATOR
Abstract
An absorption refrigerator installed in an outward facing
kitchenette in a recreational vehicle. The food compartment of the
refrigerator is accessible from outside the vehicle. An air passage
directs air from outside the vehicle to the back of the
refrigerator by drawing air up through an opening located below the
refrigerator and out of an opening located above the
refrigerator.
Inventors: |
Baker; James; (La Grande,
OR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
NORTHWOOD INVESTMENT CORPORATION |
La Grande |
OR |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
NORTHWOOD INVESTMENT
CORPORATION
La Grande
OR
|
Family ID: |
53181495 |
Appl. No.: |
14/088213 |
Filed: |
November 22, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/244 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 23/10 20130101;
F25B 15/00 20130101; B60P 3/36 20130101; F25B 27/00 20130101; F25D
11/027 20130101; F25D 23/003 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/244 |
International
Class: |
F25B 15/00 20060101
F25B015/00 |
Claims
1. An absorption refrigerator installed in a recreational vehicle,
said refrigerator having a front and a back, said front accessible
from outside the vehicle, said back in communication with a passage
having a first end and a second end, each said end defined by an
opening to the outside of said vehicle, said passage adapted to
direct air from outside the vehicle to contact said back of said
refrigerator, wherein said first end of said passage has a location
within said vehicle which is lower than a location of said
refrigerator.
2. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein said second end of said
passage has a location which is higher than a location of said
refrigerator.
3. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein said recreational vehicle
has a sidewall, and said second end of said passage is defined by
an opening in said sidewall.
4. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein said recreational vehicle
has a roof, and second end of said passage is defined by an opening
in said roof.
5. The refrigerator of claim 1 further including at least one fan
located in said passage.
6. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein said vehicle has a floor,
and said first end of said passage is defined by an opening in said
floor.
7. The refrigerator of claim 1 wherein said recreational vehicle
has a sidewall, and said first terminal end of said passage is
defined by an opening in said sidewall.
8. A recreational vehicle having an integral outdoor kitchenette,
said kitchenette including a stove and a refrigerator, wherein said
refrigerator is an absorption refrigerator, said refrigerator
having a front and a back, said front accessible from outside the
vehicle, said back communicating with a passage having a first end
and a second end, each said end defined by an opening to the
outside of said vehicle, said passage adapted to cause air from
outside the vehicle to contact said back of said refrigerator,
wherein a first end of said passage has a location within said
vehicle which is lower than a location of said refrigerator.
9. The recreational vehicle of claim 8 wherein said second end of
said passage has a location which is higher than a location of said
refrigerator.
10. The recreational vehicle of claim 8 wherein said recreational
vehicle has a sidewall, and said second end of said passage is
defined by an opening in said sidewall.
11. The recreational vehicle of claim 8 wherein said recreational
vehicle has a roof, and second end of said passage is defined by an
opening in said roof
12. The recreational vehicle of claim 8 further including at least
one fan located in said passage.
13. The recreational vehicle of claim 8 wherein said vehicle has a
floor, and said first end of said passage is defined by an opening
in said floor.
14. The recreational vehicle of claim 8 wherein said recreational
vehicle has a sidewall, and said first end of said passage is
defined by an opening in said sidewall.
15. The recreational vehicle of claim 8 wherein said refrigerator
is installed in a cabinet, and said passage communicates with said
refrigerator through openings in said cabinet.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Recreational vehicles, also called RVs, commonly use
absorption style refrigerators to keep food cool. These
refrigerators use a heat source that can be powered with propane or
electricity to initiate a reaction which permits the coolant to
absorb heat from the refrigerator compartment, causing it to cool.
Absorption refrigerators have heat exchange units, typically
located in the back of the refrigerator. Adequate air flow over the
heat exchange unit is required for the refrigerator to
function.
[0002] A conventionally installed RV refrigerator as shown in FIG.
5 has a food compartment door 11 which opens toward the inside of
the RV 18 so that occupants within the RV can access food stored
within the refrigerator. The back 13 of the refrigerator 10 faces
the outer wall 17 of the vehicle. A vent 14 in the outer wall 17 of
the vehicle is located immediately adjacent'to the heat exchange
unit 12 so that air can flow directly from outside the vehicle onto
the heat exchange. Typically, an opening 16 in the vehicle is
provided adjacent to the heat exchange unit to provide access for
repairs to the refrigerator, a door or cover is provided to cover
that opening, and a vent is formed in the cover. An additional
opening 14 to the outside of the vehicle is placed above the
refrigerator's heat exchange so that cool air flows through the
lower opening and onto the heat exchanger and then rises as
indicated by arrow 19 through a passage 15 toward the upper opening
14 and flows through the upper vent and outside the vehicle.
[0003] The RV industry has relatively recently begun providing
outdoor cooking options for operators of recreational vehicles so
that meals can be cooked outside the vehicle. These options include
kitchenettes equipped with at least some kitchen appliances and
which are permanent installations of the vehicle but which face the
outside of the vehicle. These integral outdoor kitchenettes
typically include portable 120 volt auxiliary refrigerators of
residential design which use condensers to cool their interiors.
These auxiliary refrigerators cannot be operated with the 12 volt
direct current RV power available from vehicle batteries, and
cannot use propane as a power source. They require the use of a
generator as a source of alternating current electrical power in
any campsite which does not provide 120 volt electrical power
source. Generators are noisy, are prohibited in some campgrounds
between certain hours, and require that a user also bring gasoline
to power it. Moreover, these auxiliary 120 volt refrigerators
cannot be operated when the vehicle is in motion. Consequently,
before the vehicle is moved, the contents of the auxiliary
refrigerator must be removed and placed in the primary, absorption
refrigerator located inside the vehicle which can be continuously
powered by the vehicle's batteries or propane.
[0004] This shortcoming has been recognized by RV users and RV
manufacturers, but the RV industry before now has not been able to
offer a better alternative. It is conventionally believed that an
absorption refrigerator must be positioned immediately proximate to
an opening to the outside of the vehicle in order to receive
adequate ventilation. Such a refrigerator installation is shown in
FIG. 5.
[0005] An outward facing RV refrigerator would have a heat exchange
unit which faced the inside of the RV, and it would be impossible
to place it next to a vent to the outside so that it could receive
adequate ventilation. Additionally, such an arrangement would place
a heat source--the heat exchange unit--inside the living area of
the RV, impacting the RV's air conditioner performance. Any leaking
propane from the heat exchange unit will leak into the living area
of the RV.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Disclosed herein is an absorption refrigerator installed in
a recreational vehicle, said refrigerator having a front and a
back, said front accessible from outside the vehicle, said back in
communication with a passage having a first end and a second end,
each said end defined by an opening to the outside of said vehicle,
said passage adapted to direct air from outside the vehicle to
contact said back of said refrigerator, wherein said first end of
said passage has a location within said vehicle which is lower than
a location of said refrigerator.
[0007] Also disclosed herein is a recreational vehicle having an
integral outdoor kitchenette, said kitchenette including a stove
and a refrigerator, wherein said refrigerator is an absorption
refrigerator, said refrigerator having a front and a back, said
front accessible from outside the vehicle, said back communicating
with a passage having a first end and a second end, each said end
defined by an opening to the outside of said vehicle, said passage
adapted to cause air from outside the vehicle to contact said back
of said refrigerator, wherein a first end of said passage has a
location within said vehicle which is lower than a location of said
refrigerator.
[0008] The foregoing and other objectives, features, and advantages
of the invention will be more readily understood upon consideration
of the following detailed description of the invention taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a lateral view of a recreational vehicle having an
integral outdoor kitchenette enclosed with a cover.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a lateral view of a recreational vehicle having an
integral outdoor kitchenette with cover in an open position.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a refrigerator installed in
accordance with the methods disclosed herein.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a refrigerator installed in
accordance with the methods disclosed herein.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a refrigerator installed in
accordance with the conventional methods of installing
refrigerators in recreational vehicles.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] Disclosed herein is an installation for an outward facing
refrigerator which can either be installed on its own or as part of
an outdoor kitchen integral with an RV. The inventors herein have
discovered that, contrary to the conventional understanding of
refrigerator installation, an absorption refrigerator can be
adequately ventilated without providing an opening to the exterior
of the vehicle adjacent to the heat exchange unit and without
placing the heat exchange unit within a duct which extends in a
straight line between the lower duct and the upper duct in order to
enhance the "chimney effect" that draws air straight up from the
lower duct to the upper duct. This discovery has permitted the
inventors to provide an outward facing absorption style
refrigerator as part of an outdoor kitchenette installed in a
recreation vehicle.
[0015] Recreational vehicle 20 has a refrigerator 24 installed in
accordance with the disclosure provided herein. Refrigerator 20 may
be part of an exterior kitchenette 22, which is covered by a door
30 which encloses the exterior kitchenette when it is not in use,
protecting it from exposure or tampering. Kitchenette 20 may also
include a stove top 23a or other cooking apparatus and a sink 23b,
as well as shelves or cabinets or other storage.
[0016] As shown in FIG. 3, the refrigerator 24 is an absorption
refrigerator which can operate on 12 volt direct current power,
such as that supplied by vehicle batteries, or on propane, as well
as on 120 volt alternating current power which can be supplied by
electrical outlets. Refrigerator 24 has a door 28 which faces
outward, providing access to the contents of the refrigerator from
outside the vehicle. The refrigerator 24 is absorption refrigerator
with a heat exchange unit (not shown) on its back external wall 48.
The refrigerator resides in a cabinet which opens toward the
outside of the vehicle and is enclosed on two sides, the top 52,
the bottom 54, and the back 56. Proximal to the back wall 56 of the
cabinet, the bottom 54 of the cabinet defines an opening 60. The
opening 60 is in fluid communication with a passage 36 which has an
opening to the outside of the vehicle at each end, an intake end
and an exhaust end. An intake opening to the outside of the vehicle
is located below the refrigerator. The intake opening may be in the
bottom of the vehicle (not shown). This intake opening is
preferably covered with a vented cover or with screens to keep
insects, vermin, and debris from entering the opening but permit
the flow of air from under the vehicle up through the passage 36 in
the direction shown by arrow 46. One or more air dams or other
structures which divert the flowing air into the passage when the
vehicle is in motion may also be used.
[0017] The passage 36 directs air flow over the back of the
refrigerator 48 where the heat exchange unit is located and then
continues up past the back of the refrigerator, bends toward the
sidewall 50 of the vehicle, and terminates in an exhaust opening 64
located above the refrigerator, and may be located in the sidewall
of the vehicle. The exhaust opening 64 is preferably covered with a
vented cover 58 or with screens. Alternatively, the passage may
terminate in an exhaust opening in the top of the vehicle (not
shown); however this roof vent may lead to a greater risk that
precipitation will leak into the vehicle, and the chimney takes up
space inside the vehicle and thus reduces the space available for
storage cabinets or other uses.
[0018] One or more fans 38 may be provided in the passage 36 in
order to actively draw air up the passage, which may be especially
advantageous when the RV is not in motion. Baffles 44 or partitions
ensure that the passage 36 is continuous and enclosed to better
facilitate air flow and to prevent pockets of dead, hot air from
accumulating, for example against the top of the refrigerator.
[0019] A service opening 40 may be provided in the back wall of the
cabinet in order to provide access to the heat exchange unit of the
refrigerator in order to facilitate servicing of the refrigerator.
The service opening should be sealable with gaskets surrounding the
opening and a solid cover 41 so that hot air and any propane that
leaks out of the refrigerator cannot enter the living space of the
RV. Such propane is heavier than air, and can fall out of the vent
located in the bottom of the vehicle.
[0020] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4, the intake opening 42 in
the passage 36 may be located in the sidewall 50 under the
refrigerator 24 instead of in the bottom of the vehicle. That
configuration does raise the level of the refrigerator so that it
may be more difficult for shorter people to use, and it requires at
least one 90 degree bend 66 in the passage 36 and thus in the path
of travel of the air as shown by arrow 68. The upper vent 34 can
also be placed in the sidewall of the vehicle 50 or can be in the
roof. Baffles 44 can be used to define a passage that angles toward
the sidewall of the vehicle as shown in FIG. 3 or which makes an
additional 90 degree bend 70 toward the sidewall as shown in FIG.
4.
[0021] This method of installation of a refrigerator does not
permit the positioning of a vent immediately proximate to the heat
exchange unit, as is conventionally thought to be necessary in
order to provide an absorption refrigerator with adequate
ventilation. It also requires ventilation using a duct which is not
straight. Manufacturers of refrigerators typically advise against
installing absorption refrigerators without positioning vents
immediately proximal to the heat exchange unit. However, the
inventors herein have determined that if the passage, including
both openings, is several inches deep and the width of the
refrigerator, it provides sufficient ventilation, especially if a
fan is also used to actively draw air up through the lower vent.
This discovery permits the inventors of the method of installation
herein to provide outdoor facing absorption refrigerators which can
operate on battery power or propane and thus can operate
continuously even when the vehicle is in motion and can be accessed
from the outside of the vehicle.
[0022] The terms and expressions which have been employed in the
foregoing specification are used therein as terms of description
and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such
terms and expressions of excluding equivalents of the features
shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that
the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the
claims which follow.
* * * * *