Temperature control system for a refrigerated compartment

A refrigerator comprising:

• a cabinet shell including a first compartment in fluid communication with a second compartment, said first compartment including upper, lower and central, vertically spaced portions;
• a door provided to selectively seal an access opening for the first compartment;
• an intake duct establishing an air path for a flow of cooling air from the second compartment to the first compartment;
• an air manifold mounted in the first compartment and in fluid communication with the intake duct wherein the air manifold is adapted to receive the flow of cooling air from the second compartment;
• a first recirculation duct having an inlet exposed to the lower portion of the first compartment and an outlet leading to the manifold;
• a second recirculation duct having an inlet exposed to the upper portion of the first compartment and an outlet leading to the manifold;
• a stirring fan arranged in fluid communication with the air manifold, said stirring fan being adapted to receive a combined flow of air from the intake duct, the first recirculation duct, and the second recirculation duct, and to disperse the combined flow of air into the first compartment;
• a damper arranged in fluid communication with the intake duct, between the second compartment and the manifold, said damper being movable between an open position, wherein cooling air is caused to flow from the second compartment to the first compartment, and a closed position;
• and
• a control system for maintaining the temperature within the first compartment in a predetermined temperature range by operating the stirring fan and establishing a position for the damper.

A method of maintaining a substantially uniform temperature within a first compartment of a refrigerator which is in fluid communication with a second compartment of the refrigerator comprising:

• sensing a temperature which is representative of an average temperature within the first compartment;
• opening a damper to create an air flow path between from the second compartment to the first compartment based on the sensed temperature;
• operating an air stirring fan within the first compartment;
• and
• maintaining the temperature in the first compartment within a confined temperature band about an operator selected operating temperature.