US 5,490,395 A · Air baffle for a refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator having a cabinet defining a first compartment and a second compartment separated from each other by a divider wall wherein the divider wall has an air passage for communicating between the first and second compartments. A baffle is positioned within the air passage and is positionable in an open or closed position for selectively opening and closing the air passage. A motor drives a cam which is coupled to the baffle such that rotation of the cam operates to selectively move the baffle to the open or closed position. A thermostat senses temperature within the fresh food compartment. First and second switches selectively energize the motor such that the baffle may be opened when the thermostat indicates the fresh food compartment requires cooling and closed when the thermostat indicates the fresh food compartment does not require cooling, respectively. The baffle of the present invention further includes a first plate having an aperture therethrough defining an opening through which refrigerated air may pass, and a second plate movable relative to the first plate and including an aperture therethrough defining an opening through which refrigerated air may pass. Both the second plate and first plate aperture includes chamfered edges for forming a sharp edge periphery on the facing plate surfaces such that frost build up on the baffle may be removed by the chamfered edges provided on the periphery of the apertures.

Claims17

Dependent claims

In a refrigerator having a cabinet defining a freezer compartment and a fresh food compartment separated from each other by a divider wall, the divider wall having an air passage for communicating between said compartments, said refrigerator further having an evaporator disposed in said freezer compartment, a compressor fluidly connected with said evaporator for moving refrigerant therethrough, and an evaporator fan for moving air over the evaporator wherein a power supply is selectively connected to said compressor and evaporator, a system for controlling fair circulation within the fresh food compartment comprising:

a baffle positioned within said air passage and being positionable in an open or closed position for selectively opening and closing said air passage;
a motor;
a cam drivingly interconnected with said motor and coupled to said baffle such that rotation of said cam operates to selectively move said baffle to said open or closed position;
a thermostat for sensing temperature within said fresh food compartment;
a first switch operatively associated with said cam for selectively connecting said motor with said power source such that said baffle may be move from said closed position to said open position when said thermostat indicates said fresh food compartment requires cooling;
and
a second switch operatively associated with said cam for selectively connecting said motor with said power source such that said baffle may be moved from said open position to said closed position when said thermostat indicates said fresh food compartment does not require cooling.

4 more elements

In a refrigerator having a cabinet defining a freezer compartment and a fresh food compartment separated from each other by a divider wall, the divider wall having an air passage for communicating between said compartments, said refrigerator further having an evaporator disposed in said freezer compartment, a compressor fluidly connected with said evaporator for moving refrigerant therethrough, and an evaporator fan for moving air over the evaporator wherein a power supply is selectively connected to said compressor and evaporator, a system for controlling air circulation within the fresh food compartment comprising:

a baffle positioned within said air passage and being positionable in an open or closed position for selectively opening and closing said air passage, said baffle further including:
a first plate having an aperture therethrough defining an opening through which refrigerated air may pass;
and
a second plate movable relative to said first plate and including an aperture therethrough defining an opening through which refrigerated air may pass, said second plate aperture having chamfered edges for forming a sharp edge periphery on the second plate surface facing said first plate such that frost build up on said first plate may be removed by said chamfered edges of said second plate apertures during movement of said second plate relative to said first plate, said second plate further having an outer periphery edge which is chamfered;
a motor;
and
a cam drivingly interconnected with said motor and coupled to said second plate of said baffle such that rotation of said cam operates to selectively move said second plate relative to said first plate to position said openings in a preselected alignment to control the movement of refrigerated air through said passage.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Air baffle for a refrigerator

Life of this patent

Air baffle for a refrigerator

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17