Air passageways in a variable climate zone compartment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigeration appliances lack an efficient system for a variable climate zone compartment that allows users to select temperatures between freezing and refrigeration levels, leading to suboptimal storage conditions for various food products.
Innovation Solution
A refrigeration appliance design featuring a compartment divided by a partition with user-selectable temperature zones, utilizing a temperature control system with evaporators, fans, and heater assemblies to manage air flow and temperature within the compartment, allowing for both cooling and heating functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a variable climate zone compartment is introduced to allow user-selectable temperatures between freezing and refrigeration levels, then adaptability and versatility are improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for separate cooling and heating flow paths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cooling and heating flow paths within a single compartment space. The VCZ compartment receives both cooled air from the freezer compartment and heated air from the fresh food compartment through separate flow paths that merge in the compartment, allowing temperature modulation without requiring entirely separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The VCZ compartment serves multiple functions by being able to operate in different temperature modes (refrigeration and freezing) based on user selection. The same compartment can function as either a refrigeration zone or a freezing zone, making the system multi-functional and adaptable to different storage needs.
2Measurement precision
If separate cooling and heating flow paths are provided in the VCZ compartment, then temperature control precision is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flow paths are segmented into distinct channels: one flow path delivers cooled air from the freezer compartment to the VCZ compartment, while another flow path delivers heated air from the fresh food compartment to the VCZ compartment. This segmentation allows independent control of cooling and heating flows while maintaining precision temperature control.
3Volume of moving object
If the VCZ compartment is integrated within the lower compartment space, then space utilization is improved, but the available volume for food storage is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The VCZ compartment is nested within the lower compartment space, effectively creating a compartment within a compartment. The VCZ compartment is positioned in the lower compartment and utilizes the vertical and horizontal space efficiently, allowing the smaller VCZ zone to coexist within the larger lower compartment structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise temperature control within the compartment, optimizing storage conditions for a range of food products by allowing user-selectable temperatures between freezing and refrigeration levels, enhancing food preservation and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
An evaporator fan is disposed in the lower compartment for drawing air from the upper compartment through the at least one lower opening in the vertical partition through the first vertical recess in the liner and through the first opening extending through the partition and exhausting the air into the lower compartment
Implementation Method 2
The temperature control system includes a vertical partition having a front surface and a rear surface. The rear surface faces the rear wall of the liner and the front surface faces an open end of the upper compartment. At least one lower opening extends through the front surface of the vertical partition
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigeration appliance includes a liner having a rear wall that is contoured to define a first vertical recess therein. A partition divides the compartment into an upper and a lower compartment and includes a first protrusion disposed in the first vertical recess in the liner. A first opening extends through the first protrusion and is aligned with the first vertical recess in the liner. A temperature control system is positioned in the upper compartment and includes a vertical partition. At least one lower opening extends through a front surface of the vertical partition and fluidly communicates with an upper end of the first vertical recess in the liner and the first opening extending through the partition. An evaporator fan is disposed in the lower compartment.