Water distillation unit for a refrigerator

A household refrigerator, comprising:

• a chilled compartment and means for maintaining first chilled compartment at substantially 34.degree. and above;
• a freezer compartment adjacent to said chilled compartment and means for maintaining said second chilled compartment at substantially 32.degree. and below;
• a boiler contiguous said chilled and freezer compartments and means for heating water in said boiler sufficiently to generate steam;
• a water source and means for dispensing water from said water source to said boiler;
• means for condensing the steam from water heated in said boiler, said means in heat exchange relationship with respect to said chilled compartment;
• and
• means for collecting the purified water generated from condensing said steam, said means substantially mounted in said refrigerator.

A process of distilling water for use as drinking water and for forming ice in association with a household refrigerator having a chilled compartment, comprising the steps of:

• receiving water from a water source into a boiler;
• heating water in said boiler sufficiently to generate steam;
• condensing the steam from said heated water in a condenser disposed substantially in heat exchange relationship with respect to said chilled compartment of said refrigerator;
• receiving the distilled water from the condenser into a water collection chamber mounted in said refrigerator;
• transporting water from said water collection chamber to the water dispenser or ice maker;
• monitoring the level of water in said water collection chamber;
• preventing the flow of water into said boiler and the heating of water when the water level in said water collection chamber is above a predetermined level;
• heating said boiler when the water level in said water collection chamber drops below a predetermined level and the refrigerator compressor is running or a manual switch is enabled;
• and
• controlling the flow of water from said water source to said boiler based upon the temperature of said boiler.

A process of distilling water in combination with the operation of a home use refrigerator comprising:

• moving water from a source of water into heat exchange relationship with a refrigerant gas condenser of a home use refrigerator so as to preheat the water;
• moving the preheated water from the refrigerant gas condenser of the refrigerator to a boiler and heating the water to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the water;
• moving the water vapor into heat exchange relationship with a chilled area of the refrigerator to condense the vapor into water;
• and
• collecting the water in a chilled area of the refrigerator.

A refrigerator having a housing defining a chilled compartment, a refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator for generating cold coolant fluid for cooling said interior compartment and a water dispenser for dispensing water received from a water source and cooled in said housing, the improvement therein of:

• water distilling means for generating distilled water for dispensing as drinking water from said water dispenser, said water distilling means comprising:
• a boiler including means for heating water to a temperature sufficient to boil water in said boiler and to generate steam from the boiled water;
• conduit means for moving water from the water source to said boiler;
• a distilled water collection chamber;
• condenser means in communication with said boiler for receiving and condensing the steam generated from boiling the water in said boiler and passing the distilled water to said collection chamber, said condenser means disposed in heat exchange relationship with respect to said chilled compartment;
• means for transporting the distilled water from said distilled water collection chamber to said water dispenser;
• and
• control means for detecting the amount of water in said collection chamber and controlling the actuation of said distilling means.

A household refrigerator comprising:

• a housing defining an interior compartment, a refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator for generating cold coolant fluid for cooling said interior compartment,
• a boiler contiguous said chilled compartment and means for heating water in said boiler sufficiently to generate steam;
• conduit means for dispensing water from a water source to said boiler;
• a heat exchanger for transferring heat from said condenser to the water moving through said conduit means toward said boiler;
• means for condensing the steam from water heated in said boiler;
• and
• means for collecting the purified water generated from condensing said steam and for dispensing the purified water from said housing.

A process of distilling water for use as drinking water in association with a refrigerator, the refrigerator having a refrigeration system for chilling a compartment within said refrigerator and including a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator, comprising the steps of:

• moving water from a water source through a heat exchanger into a boiler;
• preheating the water moving through the heat exchanger with heat emitted from the condenser of the refrigeration system;
• heating the preheated water in the boiler sufficiently to generate steam;
• condensing the steam from said heated water in a water vapor condenser which is in heat exchange relationship with respect to said chilled compartment of said refrigerator;
• receiving the distilled water from the water vapor condenser into a water collection chamber mounted in said chilled compartment of said refrigerator;
• transporting water from said water collection chamber to the water dispenser;
• monitoring the level of water in said water collection chamber;
• terminating the flow of water into said boiler and the heating of water in said boiler when the water level in said water collection chamber is above a predetermined level;
• heating the water in the boiler when the water level in said water collection chamber drops below a predetermined level and the refrigerator compressor is running;
• and
• controlling the flow of water from said water source to said boiler based upon the temperature of said boiler.

A household refrigerator having a water source, a chilled compartment, a freezer, an ice maker, and a water dispenser, the improvement therein of:

• water distilling means for generating distilled water for dispensing as drinking water and for forming ice, said water distilling means comprising:
• a boiler for receiving water from said water source and means for heating water to a temperature sufficient to boil water in said boiler and to generate steam from the boiled water;
• a distilled water collection chamber;
• condenser means in communication with said boiler for receiving and condensing the steam generated from boiling the water in said boiler and passing the distilled water to said collection chamber, said condenser means disposed substantially internal to said chilled compartment;
• means for transporting the distilled water under pressure from said distilled water collection chamber selectively to said water dispenser or said ice maker;
• control means for detecting the amount of water in said collection chamber and controlling the actuation of said distilling means;
• and
• a flow control device for controlling the rate of water flow into said boiler so that the water is substantially immediately vaporized upon contact with said boiler.

A household refrigerator, comprising:

• a chilled compartment and means for maintaining first chilled compartment at substantially 34.degree. and above;
• a freezer compartment adjacent to said chilled compartment and means for maintaining said second chilled compartment at substantially 32.degree. and below;
• a boiler contiguous said chilled and freezer compartments and means for heating water in said boiler sufficiently to generate steam;
• a water source and means for dispensing water from said water source to said boiler;
• means for condensing the steam from water heated in said boiler, said means substantially disposed internally to said refrigerator;
• means for collecting the purified water generated from condensing said steam, said means substantially mounted in said chilled compartment;
• and
• a flow control device for controlling the flow of water from said water source to said boiler so that the water substantially immediately vaporizes upon contact with said boiler.

A household refrigerator comprising:

• a housing defining an interior compartment, a refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator for generating cold coolant fluid for cooling said interior compartment,
• a boiler contiguous said chilled compartment and means for heating water in said boiler sufficiently to generate steam;
• conduit means for dispensing water from a water source to said boiler;
• a heat exchanger for transferring heat from said condenser to the water moving through said conduit means toward said boiler;
• means for condensing the steam from water heated in said boiler;
• means for collecting the purified water generated from condensing said steam and for dispensing the purified water from said housing;
• and
• flow control means for controlling the flow of water from said water source to said boiler so that the water substantially immediately vaporizes upon contact with said boiler.