# US 7,464,565 B2 · Rapid temperature change device for a refrigerator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,464,565 B2 - Document ID: US7464565B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/288,237 - Filed: 2005-11-29 - Published: 2007-05-31 - Granted: 2008-12-16 - Earliest claimed: 2005-11-29 - Assignees: Maytag Corporation - Inventors: Xiaoyong Fu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7464565B2 ## CPC - F25D 17/065: {with compartments at different temperatures} - F25C 2400/10: Refrigerator units - F25D 25/02: by shelves - F25D 2317/0665: from the top - F25D 2317/0672: Outlet ducts - F25D 2331/803: Bottles - F25D 2400/06: Refrigerators with a vertical mullion - F25D 2400/28: Quick cooling - F25D 2400/30: Quick freezing - F25D 2500/02: Geometry problems - 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) - F25C: PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE ## Abstract A quick-cooling device for a refrigerator includes top, bottom and opposing side walls that collectively define an air intake/delivery housing. A plurality of air discharge nozzles are arranged about at least one wall of the housing. A blower fan is mounted to the housing for drawing an airflow from the refrigerator into the housing and thereafter expelling the airflow from the housing through the air discharge nozzles. The air discharge nozzles can be constituted by slotted or circular openings arranged in staggered rows and sized to match a particular application. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet within which is defined at least one of fresh food and freezer compartments; at least one door for selectively closing the one of the fresh food and freezer compartments; a plurality of shelves arranged within the at least one of the fresh food and freezer compartments; and a quick-cooling device for rapidly changing a temperature of a selected item in the cabinet, said quick-cooling device including top, bottom and opposing side walls that collectively define an air intake/delivery housing, a plurality of air discharge nozzles arranged about the bottom wall of the housing, and a blower fan connected to the housing adjacent the plurality of air discharge nozzles for drawing an airflow from the at least one of the fresh food and freezer compartments into the housing and thereafter expelling the airflow from the housing through the plurality of air discharge nozzles with said airflow being directed onto a selected item to bring about a rapid change in temperature of the selected item, wherein the quick-cooling device is mounted beneath one of the plurality of shelves for thawing or cooling products below the one of the plurality of shelves. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising: a power supply adapted to deliver power in a range of approximately 3-5 watts to the blower fan. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the power supply outputs AC power to the blower fan. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of discharge nozzles is constituted by a slotted opening having a predetermined area. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined area of each slotted opening is between approximately 0.03 and 0.049 square inches (about 0.19 and 0.32 square cm). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of discharge nozzles is constituted by a generally circular opening having a predetermined diameter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the predetermined diameter of the generally circular opening is between approximately 0.2 and 0.25 inches (about 0.5 and 0.6 cm). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein adjacent ones of the plurality of discharge nozzles are spaced a distance of approximately 1.5 inches (about 3.8 cm). ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of discharge nozzles are formed into a plurality of rows extending longitudinally across the bottom wall of the housing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of discharge nozzles in adjacent ones of the plurality of rows are staggered. ### Claim 11 A quick-cooling device for rapidly changing a temperature of a selected item in a refrigerator having a plurality of shelves comprising: top, bottom and opposing side walls that collectively define an air intake/delivery housing; a plurality of air discharge nozzles arranged about the bottom wall of the housing; and a blower fan connected to the housing adjacent the plurality of air discharge nozzles for drawing an airflow from at least one of fresh food and freezer compartments of the refrigerator into the housing and thereafter expelling the airflow from the housing through the plurality of air discharge nozzles with said airflow being directed onto a selected item to bring about a rapid change in temperature of the selected item, wherein the quick-cooling device is adapted to be mounted beneath one of the plurality of shelves for thawing or cooling products below the one of the plurality of shelves. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The quick-cooling device according to claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of discharge nozzles is constituted by a slotted opening having a predetermined area. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The quick-cooling device according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined area of each slotted opening is between approximately 0.03 and 0.049 square inches (about 0.10 and 0.32 square centimeters). ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The quick-cooling device according to claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of discharge nozzles is constituted by a generally circular opening having a predetermined diameter. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The quick-cooling device according to claim 14, wherein the predetermined diameter of the generally circular opening is between approximately 0.2 and 0.25 inches (about 0.5 and 0.6 cm). ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The quick-cooling device according to claim 11, wherein adjacent ones of the plurality of discharge nozzles are spaced a distance of approximately 1.5 inches (about 3.8 cm). ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The quick-cooling device according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of discharge nozzles are arranged in rows, with the plurality of discharge nozzles in adjacent rows being staggered.