# US 5,706,671 A · Cool air cyclonic discharge system for a refrigerator

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- Number: US 5,706,671 A
- Document ID: US5706671A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/524,429
- Filed: 1995-09-06
- Granted: 1998-01-13
- Earliest claimed: 1995-09-06
- Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Seung Bae Lee; Sung Hoon Jin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5706671A

## CPC

- F24F 13/04: Air-mixing units (F24F13/06 takes precedence)
- F25D 17/065: {with compartments at different temperatures}
- F24F 2013/0612: {Induction nozzles without swirl means}
- F25B 2500/13: Vibrations
- F25D 2317/0653: through the mullion
- F25D 2317/0672: Outlet ducts
- F25D 2317/0681: Details thereof
- F25D 2400/04: Refrigerators with a horizontal mullion
- F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02)
- F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B)
- F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS

## Abstract

A refrigerator includes a food storage compartment, and an evaporator for providing cold air which is to be fed to the food storage compartment by a fan. The fan discharges cold air to a cyclone member having a tangential inlet for receiving cold air, and a conical outlet for discharging the cold air at a higher velocity to the food storage compartment.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A refrigerator comprising:
a food storage compartment;
an evaporator for providing cool air;
a fan for discharging cool air from the evaporator and directing that air toward the food storage compartment; and
a cyclone member disposed in a path of cool air discharged from the fan for receiving the discharged air and increasing a velocity thereof as the discharged air flows toward an outlet of the cyclone member, the outlet of the cyclone arranged to direct the increased velocity air to the food storage compartment, the cyclone member comprising:
a cylindrical chamber having a generally tangential inlet for receiving the discharged cool air, and
a conical chamber disposed at an end of the cylindrical chamber opposite the inlet, the conical chamber having an outlet and being of progressively reduced cross section toward the outlet.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The refrigerator according to claim 1 wherein the cyclone member further includes a cylindrical member extending within the cylindrical chamber along a center axis thereof, with the cool air flowing along the outside of the cylindrical member.

### Claim 3

A refrigerator comprising:
a food storage compartment;
an evaporator for providing cool air; a fan for discharging cool air from the evaporator and directing that air toward the food storage compartment; and
a cyclone member disposed in a path of cool air discharged from the fan for receiving the discharged air and increasing a velocity thereof as the discharged air flows toward an outlet of the cyclone member, the outlet of the cyclone arranged to direct the increased velocity air to the food storage compartment, the cyclone member comprising:
a cylindrical chamber having a divider extending across a cross section thereof to divide the chamber into first and second sections,
first and second tangential inlets communicating with the first and second chamber sections for receiving respective portions of the discharged cool air, respectively, and
second conical chambers disposed at respective opposite ends of the cylindrical chamber, each conical chamber tapering toward an outlet thereof, the outlet opening into the food storage compartment.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The refrigerator according to claim 3 wherein the cyclone member further includes a cylindrical member extending within the cylindrical chamber along a center axis thereof, with the cool air flowing along the outside of the cylindrical member.