Description:SINGLE DOOR REFRIGERATOR WITH AIR DEFLECTOR

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a single door refrigerator. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a single door refrigerator with air deflector for circulating cold air in a refrigerator.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] Domestic direct cool refrigerator includes two major zones freezer zone and fresh food zone. The temperature distribution in these zones take place with help of natural convection from freezer zone to fresh food zone. It’s depends only on the structure of the refrigerator.
[0003] In a direct cool refrigerator, a number of items such as meat, ice creams, frozen food items etc. are kept in the freezer. After a period of continuous operation, the frost keeps accumulating on the walls of the evaporator assembly, the thickness of the frost keeps increasing each day. The more is the deposition of the frost in the evaporator assembly, the lesser is the air flow circulation inside the refrigerator.
[0004] This in turn will hamper the efficiency of the refrigerator in terms of cooling, energy consumption and maintaining the freshness & shelf life of food items. In order to counter this, the customers are suggested to manually defrost the refrigerator after every 3~4 days. After manual defrost, the frost begins to melt and gets converted to water. This water falls directly into the chiller tray through the back of evaporator and follows the drain path.
[0005] Air deflector is added to improve energy & cooling efficiency of the refrigerator. An air deflector assembly in refrigerator includes; a movable deflector, a mechanism to control damper door motion, a holding bracket and controlling knob. With help of control knob, position of Air Deflector positon can be set to maintain desired temperature distribution across the different refrigerator zones by controlling the flow of natural convection inside the refrigerators. Air deflector helps to control the retention time of cold air in the freezer chamber to achieve desired temperatures zones in freezer zone and fresh food zone.
[0006] The fixing of air deflector to evaporator can lead to potential issues such as blockage of water flow path that can cause spillage of drained water directly into the refrigerator compartment. This can spoil the food stuff and annoy the customer.
[0007] EP0662594A3 discloses an apparatus (10) for regulating air flow between a cooling unit and a compartment in a refrigeration system includes a first baffle element (12) having an array of first air passages (28), and a second baffle element (14) having an array of second air passages (30). The first baffle element (12) and the second baffle element (14) are slidingly engaged and are slidingly positionable with respect to each other. The first air passages (28) and the second air passages (30) cooperate to pass air through the apparatus when the first baffle element (12) and the second baffle element (14) are in a first position, and the first air passages (28) and the second air passages (30) cooperate to substantially block air from passing through the apparatus when the first baffle element (12) and the second baffle element (14) are in a second position. The apparatus (10) further includes an actuator (16) coupled with the first baffle element (12) and the second baffle element (14) for slidingly positioning the baffle elements, the actuator (16) having an actuated state and an idle state.
[0008] WO1996007859A1 discloses a refrigerator (100) includes at least a first compartment (130) cooled to a first temperature and a second compartment (140) cooled to a second temperature, and a multiplex damper system (150) disposed in a cooling-air passage (120) so as to selectively direct the cooling-air flow from the refrigeration apparatus (110) to the compartments (130, 140). The multiplex damper system (150) comprises a single movable control damper (160) mounted in the cooling-air passage and a drive control system (155) responsive to the cooling demands of the respective compartments and that is coupled to the single control damper (160) so as to selectively dispose the control damper in a plurality of respective air flow positions. The range of air flow positions includes a first compartment-only air flow position, a second compartment-only air flow position, and at least one divided-flow position in which cooling air flow is proportionally directed into both the first and the second compartments.
[0009] All the above mentioned prior arts focussing the flow of air. None of the cited art discloses any means which can avoid the blockage of water flow path that can cause spillage of drained water directly into the refrigerator compartment. None of the cited art discloses any deflector which works efficiently in both frost and defrost conditions of refrigerator.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed hereinbelow.
[0011] It is a general or primary object of the present disclosure to provide a refrigerator with a movable air deflector which facilitate the circulation of cold air among various compartment as per the requirement and facilitates the achievement of different operating modes and thus variable temperature distribution. This results in optimum energy efficiency and faster cooling rates in different compartments as per movable part position.
[0012] It is another object of the present disclosure is to provide a refrigerator with an air deflector with a barrier which prevent excess water flow through rear wall.
[0013] It is yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a refrigerator with air deflector which is mounted in such a way so that a plurality of slots are provided between the projections to drain the defrost water and ice from the first compartment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to an air deflector for circulating cold air in a refrigerator. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0015] The present disclosure provides a single door refrigerator comprising a plurality of compartments cooled by a circulation of cold air generated by a refrigeration unit and the cold air is circulated through the plurality of compartments in the refrigerator. The refrigerator comprising: at least a first compartment cooled to a first temperature by the cold air generated inside the refrigeration unit and at least a second compartment cooled to a second temperature by the cold air coming from the first compartment though an opening provided between the first compartment and the second compartment. The refrigerator comprises an air deflector which is provided between the first compartment and the second compartment by at least partially covering the opening and configured for restricting or allowing a part of cold air to pass from the first compartment to second compartment.
[0016] In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides that the air deflector comprising: a first plate having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, the first longitudinal edge has a plurality of projections to mount the first plate between the first compartment and second compartment, and a second plate movably connected at the second longitudinal edge of the first plate, the second plate is moved to restrict or allow a part of cold air to pass from the first compartment to second compartment.
[0017] In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides that the motion of second plate of air deflector is controlled by providing a knob.
[0018] In yet another embodiment, the present disclosure provides that the knob is operated manually.
[0019] In still another embodiment, the present disclosure provides that the knob is interfaced with a control unit and a plurality of sensors and operated electronically.
[0020] In further embodiment, the present disclosure provides that the first temperature is less than the freezing temperature of water and the second temperature is above the freezing temperature of water.
[0021] In preferred embodiment, the present disclosure provides that the first plate of air deflector is mounted by clamping the projections on the first compartment and a plurality of slots are provided between the projections to drain the defrost water and ice from the first compartment.
[0022] In more preferred embodiment, the present disclosure provides that the second plate of the air deflector is moved with the help of the servo motor with a drive control system.
[0023] In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides that the first plate has an upper surface and a barrier is protruded upward from the upper surface of the first plate and provided lengthwise of the first plate to prevent excess water flow through rear wall.
[0024] In yet another embodiment, the present disclosure provides that wherein the second compartment is placed below the first compartment and cold air is circulated from first compartment to second compartment.
[0025] In still another embodiment, the present disclosure provides that the movement of second plate facilitates the achievement of different operating modes and thus variable temperature distribution. This results in optimum energy efficiency and faster cooling rates in different compartments as per movable part position.
[0026] To further understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present subject matter, a description relating thereto will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit the scope of the present subject matter.
[0027] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0028] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present subject matter and are therefore not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and methods that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:
[0029] FIGS. 1A illustrate a single door refrigerator in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0030] FIGS. 1B illustrate a first compartment of the single door refrigerator in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0031] FIGS. 2 illustrate an air deflector in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0032] FIG. 3 illustrate an air deflector mounted in the refrigerator with movement mechanism in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0033] FIG. 4 illustrates an air deflector mounted in the refrigerator shows drain of excess water through slots in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0034] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
[0035] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0036] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[0037] The terminology used herein is to describe particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
[0038] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
[0039] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0040] In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
[0041] Hereinafter, a description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary, a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0042] FIGS. 1A illustrate a single door refrigerator 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The present disclosure provides a single door refrigerator 10 comprising a plurality of compartments cooled by a circulation of cold air generated by a refrigeration unit and the cold air is circulated through the plurality of compartments in the refrigerator. The refrigerator 10 comprising: at least a first compartment 20 cooled to a first temperature by the cold air generated inside the refrigeration unit and at least a second compartment 30 cooled to a second temperature by the cold air coming from the first compartment 20 though an opening provided between the first compartment and the second compartment 30. Fig. 1A shows air flow pattern in cross sectional view of household direct cool with air deflector.
[0043] FIG. 1B shows that an air deflector is provided between the first compartment 20 and the second compartment 30 by at least partially covering the opening and configured for restricting or allowing a part of cold air to pass from the first compartment 20 to second compartment 30.
[0044] FIG. 2 shows the air deflector 100. The air deflector comprising: a first plate 120 having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, the first longitudinal edge has a plurality of projections 121 to mount the first plate between the first compartment 20 and second compartment 30. A second plate 110 movably connected at the second longitudinal edge of the first plate 120. The second plate 110 is moved to restrict or allow a part of cold air to pass from the first compartment 20 to second compartment 30.
[0045] On the first plate 120 has an upper surface and a barrier 122 is protruded upward from the upper surface of the first plate 120 and provided lengthwise of the first plate to prevent excess water flow through rear wall. Also a plurality of grooves 123 are provided on the projection to receive screws for getting clamped on the bottom panel of first compartment.
[0046] The first object of this invention is to achieve different temperature distribution across the freezer zone and fresh food zone. This is provided in refrigerator having a refrigeration system consisting of condenser, evaporator, compressor and thermostat to control compressor cut in/off with freezer zone on the top of refrigerator and fresh food zone below the freezer zone. There is air deflector mechanism attached at the back side of evaporator panel. The air deflector mechanism includes a movable deflector, a hinge, a clamping provision, a cam, a control mechanism and control panel. The clamping provision is provided to mount air deflector on the evaporator panel. Hinge is provided to allow movement of deflector with respect to clamped part of air deflector. The purpose of deflector is to control the air flow path at different angle to control temperature distribution across fresh food zone and freezer zone. The cam is used to move the deflector at different angles. Control mechanism is used to control rotation angle of the cam. The movement of cam is controlled with help of mechanical mechanism. Where levers, links and pivots are used. These control mechanism is linked to control panel where a switch/knob is provided to give input. In mechanical models a knob is provided at the control panel, which helps to rotate cam with the help of special mechanism and provide the movement to deflector.
[0047] As the deflector movement takes places the amount of air movement due to natural convection from freezer zone to fresh food zone changes and the equilibrium temperatures achieved will be different. With the help of this innovation we can achieve different operating modes at single thermostat setting in household direct cool refrigerator as per user specific requirement.
[0048] FIG. 3 shows schematic of first compartment 20 such as freezer zone of household refrigerator 10 with the air deflector 100. In household domestic refrigerators first compartment i.e. freezer zone 20 is enclosed by surfaces 21, 22, 23 & 24. These four surfaces are surfaces of evaporator panel, which is used as heat exchangers for low pressure side in refrigeration circuit. As the refrigerant flow in surfaces 21, 22, 23 & 24 removes heat from freezer zone the air inside it becomes cooler & moves to the fresh food zone. The comparatively warmer air from fresh food zone moves to freezer zone 20 creating air circulation by means of natural convection inside the refrigerator 10. When thermostat sensor senses that the freezer zone temperature has reached set target temperature, it cuts off the compressor. It again cut in compressor when temperature of freezer zone in below particular set temperature, thus tries to make stable temperature zones in freezer zone 20 and second compartment such as fresh food zone 30.
[0049] Air deflector is used to achieve different stable temperature zones with same thermostat setting. The projections 121 provided is used to clamp air deflector on evaporator panel. A Hinge 124 is provided at the end of projection 121 to provide angular movement of the deflector 100. A cam 131 is connected to the hinge 124. This cam is controlled by knob/switch provided at control panel 130 by help of control mechanism 132.
[0050] When knob position is changed on control panel 130, it controls the mechanism 132, this control mechanism 132 uses shafts, livers & links to move the cam 131 to a particular predefined angle as per user specific requirement. With the cam 131, hinge 124 also rotate at particular angel. With this the movable deflector 100 also moves in upward or downward direction. When the deflector 100 moves in upward direction, it contains the colder air in freezer zone 20 for longer period of time comparatively normal operating conditions. In this case thermostat sensor cuts off compressors earlier as desired temperatures achieved is faster in freezer zone. Thus early cut off compressor results in less power consumption of the unit, also in this case faster cooling in freezer zone achieved comparatively to conventional units. Similarly, when deflector 100 moves in downward direction, it allows excess amount of colder air to move into fresh food zone 30. Thus air flow from freezer zone 20 to fresh food zone 30 increases. In this case faster cooling of fresh food zone 30 is achieved. In same manner different temperature conditions can be achieved in freezer zone 20 and fresh food zone 30. Thus this invention fulfils the requirement of achieving different stable conditions as per user requirement.
[0051] The control mechanism 131 to operate air deflector can be controlled by three different methods. Most basic method to control the deflector position is by using mechanical system. This mechanism operated by help of knob, lever, cam, linkage etc. the positon is dependent on the knob position. The knob can be operated manually. The second method is to control the deflector movement with help of servo motor. The position of servo motor angle is controlled with help of electric switch, and with servo motor angle deflector position changes. The third method to control air deflector position electronically. The knob is interfaced with a control unit and a plurality of sensors and is using a temperature feedback system. A temperature sensor is provided in refrigerator fresh food zone, which sense the temperature and send backs single to controller. This controller send feedback to servo motor as per zone temperatures and servo motor moves deflector in suitable position to control temperature across freezer and fresh food zone.
[0052] Air deflector provided in the refrigerator disclosed in the present disclosure is also able to counter the issues such as blockage of water flow path that can cause spillage of drained water directly into the refrigerator zone. As shown in FIG. 4, the first plate 120 of air deflector 100 is mounted by clamping the projections 123 on the first compartment 20 and a plurality of slots 125 are provided between the projections 123 to drain the defrost water and ice from the first compartment 20. The position of these slots 125 is such that any defrosted ice water or any spilled liquid in freezer zone directly drops in chiller tray 40 only and does not fall on shelves or food items. Additional barrier 122 is provided to prevent the overflow of excess defrosted ice water towards rear wall of the refrigerator. This excess water 126 as shown in figure by flow of drops, can escape via slots provided in the air deflector & go back in chiller tray. Fig. 4 represents the defrost water flow path by solid arrows.
[0053] As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its Spirit and Scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the meets and bounds of the claims, or equivalence of Such meets and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.

TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0054] The refrigerator with air deflector proposed herein results in the following technical advantages:
(i) Provides efficient circulation of cold air among various compartments. The movable air deflector facilitates the achievement of different operating modes and thus variable temperature distribution as per user specific requirement. This results in optimum energy efficiency and faster cooling rates in different compartments as per movable part position.
(ii) Provides proper draining of the defrost water and ice from the first compartment to the chiller tray by providing a plurality of slots between the projections and the bottom panel of first compartment.
(iii) Provides a barrier which is protruded upward from the upper surface of the first plate and provided lengthwise of the first plate to prevent excess water flow through rear wall.

Equivalents
[0055] The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive, nor is it intended to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiment may be modified in light of the above teachings.
, Claims:We Claim:
1. A single door refrigerator 10 comprising a plurality of compartments cooled by a circulation of cold air generated by a refrigeration unit and the cold air is circulated through the plurality of compartments in the refrigerator 10, said refrigerator 10 comprising:
at least a first compartment 20 cooled to a first temperature by the cold air generated inside the refrigeration unit;
at least a second compartment 30 cooled to a second temperature by the cold air coming from the first compartment 20 though an opening provided between the first compartment 20 and the second compartment 30; and
characterized in that
an air deflector 100 is provided between the first compartment 20 and the second compartment 30 by at least partially covering the opening and configured for restricting or allowing a part of cold air to pass from the first compartment 20 to second compartment 30.
2. The refrigerator 10 claimed in claim 1, wherein the air deflector 100 comprising:
a first plate 120 having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, the first longitudinal edge has a plurality of projections 121 to mount the first plate 120 between the first compartment 20 and second compartment 30,
a second plate 110 movably connected at the second longitudinal edge of the first plate 120, the second plate 110 is moved to restrict or allow a part of cold air to pass from the first compartment 20 to second compartment 30.
3. The refrigerator 10 as claimed in claim 2, wherein the motion of second plate 110 of air deflector 100 is controlled by providing a knob.
4. The refrigerator 10 as claimed in claim 3, wherein the knob is operated manually.
5. The refrigerator 10 as claimed in claim 3, wherein the knob is interfaced with a control unit and a plurality of sensors and operated electronically.
6. The refrigerator 10 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first temperature is less than the freezing temperature of water and the second temperature is above the freezing temperature of water.
7. The refrigerator 10 as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first plate 120 of air deflector 100 is mounted by clamping the projections 121 on the first compartment 20 and a plurality of slots 125 are provided between the projections 121 to drain the defrost water and ice from the first compartment 20.
8. The refrigerator 10 as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second plate 110 of the air deflector 100 is moved with the help of the servo motor with a drive control system.
9. The refrigerator 10 as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first plate 120 has an upper surface and a barrier 122 is protruded upward from the upper surface of the first plate 120 and provided lengthwise of the first plate to prevent excess water flow through rear wall.
10. The refrigerator 10 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second compartment 30 is placed below the first compartment 20 and cold air is circulated from first compartment 20 to second compartment 30.
11. The refrigerator 10 as claimed in claim 2, wherein the movement of second plate 110 facilitates the achievement of different operating modes and variable temperature distribution results in optimum energy efficiency and faster cooling rates in different compartments as per movable part position.