Device and method for controlling the temperature inside a refrigerating unit of a combined refrigerator-freezer

A household appliance, comprising:

• a first refrigerating unit and a second refrigerating unit served by a single cooling circuit and fluid-dynamically connected to each other by an air passage conduit;
• an evaporator disposed in the second refrigerating unit;
• and
• a temperature control device configured to control the temperature inside the first and second refrigerating units, the temperature control device including at least a first temperature sensor positioned in the second refrigerating unit, the temperature control device comprising:
• a supporting body arranged along the air passage conduit;
• a motorized shuttering device disposed on the supporting body;
• wherein the motorized shuttering device comprises:
• at least one shutter element configured to restrict or allow airflow through said air passage conduit;
• an electric motor disposed on the supporting body;
• means for controlling said electric motor;
• and
• a second temperature sensor electrically coupled to said means for controlling said electric motor and configured to measure a representative temperature of the first refrigerating unit;
• and a defrosting ventilator disposed upstream of the evaporator with respect to an air flow;
• and a first ventilator
• disposed on the supporting body and electrically coupled to said means for controlling said electric motor and being configured to actuate the first ventilator only when the passage conduit is at least partially open, and wherein said means for controlling is configured to control said shutter element for allowing said passage conduit to remain at least partially open when said first ventilator is deactivated, thereby forcing an air flow between said first and second refrigerating units.

A method of controlling a temperature inside a first refrigerating unit served by a cooling circuit that additionally serves a second refrigerating unit, the first and second refrigerating units being fluid-dynamically connected to each other by an air passage conduit provided with a motorized shuttering device, the method comprising:

• providing an evaporator disposed in the second refrigerating unit;
• measuring the temperature
• inside the first refrigerating unit via a first temperature sensor;
• if the measured temperature inside the first refrigerating unit is higher than a first predetermined threshold, operating the at least one motorized shuttering device so as to put into fluid-dynamic communication said first refrigerating unit with said second refrigerating unit via said passage conduit for permitting a passage of air between the two refrigerating units by convection;
• providing a defrosting ventilator disposed upstream of the evaporator with respect to an air flow;
• and actuating
• a first ventilator only when the passage conduit is at least partially open, and allowing said passage conduit to remain at least partially open when said first ventilator is deactivated, thereby forcing an air flow between the first and second refrigerating units through the air passage conduit.