Combined refrigerant compressor and secondary liquid coolant pump
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsSteven J. Kuehl, Guolian Wu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A compressor for a refrigerant is integrally contained in a housing with a positive displacement pump for a secondary coolant. Both the compressor and pump are driven by a common motor. In one embodiment, a linear compressor includes a reciprocating piston rod coupled at one end to a refrigerant compressor and at an opposite end to a positive displacement liquid pump. The pump circulates a secondary coolant through a thermal storage unit and heat exchanger associated with an evaporator. The evaporator is coupled to a condenser, in turn, coupled to the compressor. A conventional rotary compressor may also have a positive displacement pump coupled to the motor to provide circulation for a secondary coolant circuit.
Claims18
A combined compressor for a refrigerant and a pump for a secondary coolant loop for use with a refrigerator comprising:
- a motor commonly coupled to a compressor for a refrigerant and a pump;
- a condenser coupled to an output of said compressor;
- an evaporator coupled to said condenser;
- a secondary cooling loop including a heat exchanger in thermal communication with said evaporator, wherein said pump is coupled in said secondary cooling loop for circulating a liquid thermal mass to said heat exchanger;
- and
- a control coupled to said compressor and to said pump for selectively bypassing the fluid flow in said compressor and said pump.
A combined compressor and pump comprising:
- a motor having a rotary shaft;
- a refrigerant compressor coupled to said shaft;
- a pump coupled to said shaft;
- and
- a control coupled to said compressor and to said pump for selectively bypassing the fluid flow in said compressor and said pump.
A combined compressor and pump comprising:
- a motor having a linearly movable shaft;
- a refrigerant compressor coupled to one end of said shaft;
- a pump coupled to an opposite end of said shaft;
- and
- a control coupled to said compressor and to said pump for selectively bypassing the fluid flow in said compressor and said pump.
A refrigerator having a fresh food compartment, said refrigerator including a combined compressor and pump for a secondary coolant circuit used for supplemental cooling of the fresh food compartment or a satellite accessory requiring a coolant, said refrigerator comprising:
- a fresh food compartment;
- a motor commonly coupled to a compressor for a refrigerant and a pump for a secondary coolant;
- a condenser coupled to an output of said compressor;
- an evaporator coupled to said condenser and positioned in said fresh food compartment;
- a secondary cooling circuit including a heat exchanger in thermal communication with said evaporator, wherein said pump is coupled in said secondary cooling circuit for circulating a liquid thermal mass to said heat exchanger;
- a storage tank in said secondary cooling circuit for storing a liquid coolant;
- and
- a control coupled to said compressor and to said pump for selectively bypassing the fluid flow in said compressor and said pump.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.