US 5,375,428 AGranted

Control algorithm for dual temperature evaporator system

AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation

InventorsDouglas D. LeClear, Kenneth P. Chen, Scott A. Thiele, Nihat O. Cur, Jatin C. Khanpara, Steven J. Kuehl

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Abstract

A refrigeration appliance is provided having at least two refrigeration compartments, each compartment having its own access door. The appliance includes a single evaporator located in a plenum which is selectively in communication with each of the compartments, a single compressor, preferably run by a variable speed motor, and a refrigerant circuit including a series of conduits for providing a flow of refrigerant to the evaporator and compressor. A control determines which of the compartments is demanding cooling and operates the refrigeration device until the detected demand for cooling has been satisfied for the particular compartment. Prior to terminating the operation of the refrigeration device, the control determines if the second compartment is demanding cooling or was within a predetermined temperature range prior to demanding cooling. If either condition exists, the refrigeration device is switched to the second compartment until the demand for cooling therein has been satisfied. The compartments of the refrigerator appliance can be run either in freezer or in fresh food cooling mode as desired, providing convertible refrigerating compartments.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A method of operating a refrigeration appliance having at least two separate compartments to be cooled and a refrigeration device having a single compressor, a single condenser, and a single evaporator located in a plenum which is in communication with each of said compartments by means of an air damper system, comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting whether either of said compartments is demanding cooling;
(b) upon detection of a cooling demand by a first compartment, operating said refrigeration device with said air damper system set to direct air flow from said evaporator to said first compartment until the detected demand for cooling has been satisfied;
(c) determining if a second compartment is demanding cooling during cooling of said first compartment;
(d) if no demand of said second compartment for cooling is made prior to satisfaction of the demand by said first compartment, then returning to step (a);
(e) upon demand of said second compartment for cooling prior to satisfaction of the demand by said first compartment, continuing the cooling of said first compartment until obtaining the first to occur of satisfying said demand for cooling by said first compartment or passage of a first preset time period;
(f) upon obtaining said first to occur, switching air flow from said evaporator to said second compartment by using said air damper system and initiating cooling of said second compartment until the detected demand for cooling of said second compartment has been satisfied;
(g) detecting whether said first compartment is demanding cooling during cooling of said second compartment;
(h) if no demand of said first compartment for cooling is made prior to satisfaction of the demand by said second compartment, then returning to step (a);
(i) upon demand by said first compartment for cooling prior to satisfaction of the demand by said second compartment, continuing the cooling of said second compartment until obtaining the first to occur of satisfying said demand for cooling by said second compartment or passage of a second preset time period;
(j) upon obtaining said first to occur, switching air flow from said evaporator to said first compartment by using said air damper system and initiating cooling of said first compartment until the detected demand for cooling of said first compartment has been satisfied, then returning to step (a).

7 more elements

A refrigeration appliance having at least a first compartment and a second separate compartment to be cooled and a refrigeration device with an evaporator comprising:

means for detecting whether either of said compartments is demanding cooling;
means for operating the refrigeration device until cooling has been satisfied for said first compartment upon detection of a cooling demand by said first compartment;
means for detecting whether said second compartment is demanding cooling during cooling of said first compartment;
means for continuing the cooling of said first compartment until obtaining a first to occur of satisfying said demand for cooling by said first compartment or passage of a first preset time period, upon detecting demand by said second compartment for cooling prior to satisfaction of the demand by said first compartment;
means for terminating cooling of said first compartment and initiating cooling of said second compartment until the detected demand for cooling of said second compartment has been satisfied, upon obtaining said first to occur;
means for detecting whether said first compartment is demanding cooling during cooling of said second compartment;
means for continuing the cooling of said second compartment until obtaining a first to occur of satisfying said demand for cooling by said compartment or passage of a second preset time period, upon demand by said first compartment;
and
means for terminating cooling of said second compartment and initiating cooling of said first compartment until the detected demand for cooling of said first compartment has been satisfied, upon obtaining said first to occur.

6 more elements

A method of operating a refrigeration appliance having at least two separate compartments to be cooled and a refrigeration device having a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator with an evaporator fan in a plenum which is in communication alternately with each of the compartments by means of an air damper system, comprising the steps of:

(a) upon detection of a cooling command by a first compartment cooling said first compartment by said evaporator until the detected demand for cooling has been satisfied, or if a demand by said second compartment is detected prior to satisfying the demand of said first compartment, continuing the cooling of said first compartment until obtaining a first to occur of satisfying said demand for cooling by said first compartment or passage of a first preset time period;
(b) upon obtaining said first to occur, terminating cooling of said first compartment and initiating cooling of said second compartment by said evaporator until the detected demand for cooling of said second compartment has been satisfied, or if a demand by said first compartment is detected prior to satisfying the demand of said second compartment, continuing the cooling of said second compartment until obtaining a subsequent first to occur of satisfying said demand for cooling by said second compartment or passage of a second preset time period;
(c) upon obtaining second subsequent first to occur, terminating cooling of said second compartment and returning to step (a).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/192,214Filed 4 Feb 1994 · continuation in part
Priority: 14 Aug 1992
Granted: 27 Dec 1994
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

F25D 17/045
Air treating means within refrigerated spaces: air flow control arrangements
F25B 40/00
Subcoolers, desuperheaters or superheaters
F25B 41/385
Expansion means; Dispositions thereof: dispositions with two or more expansion means arranged in parallel on a refrigerant line leading to the…
F25B 2600/0253
By controlling speed: with variable speed