Patent Grant
10174988
The present invention relates generally to mobile refrigeration cabinets.
For relatively large events where food and drink are served, it is often not possible for a kitchen to prepare enough servings from scratch to feed the attendees within a reasonable time period. Accordingly, food and drink items are prepared ahead of time and stored until served. To ensure that items do not perish or reach an inappropriate temperature, they are typically stored in a mobile refrigeration cabinet. The food is prepared and loaded into the refrigerated cabinets, which are plugged into an electrical outlet so that the internal refrigeration system can cool the interior of the cabinet. When the food is ready to be served, the refrigerated cabinets are unplugged and moved to a more convenient location for service.
These conventional units, however, have several drawbacks. First, moving the refrigerated cabinets inevitably results in bumps and vibrations which can harm the refrigeration system. Even with normal use, repeated exposure to bumps and vibrations can cause a refrigeration system to breakdown. Conventional units have attempted to remedy this deficiency by using caster-mounted springs. It has been found that doing so, however, makes the conventional cabinets unstable. Since a mobile refrigeration cabinet may weigh well over four hundred pounds, and are typically tall, such instability is potentially dangerous.
While it may be possible to repair a refrigeration system when is breaks, the cause of the failure must first be diagnosed. In conventional mobile refrigeration cabinets, this requires a time-consuming disassembly of the refrigeration cabinet to access the refrigeration system. Once disassembled, a series of diagnostic tests are required to determine the precise cause of failure, and then, if possible, a repair is made. However, if the necessary parts are not on hand, the refrigeration cabinet is kept out of service for a prolonged period of time. Thus, when a primary refrigeration cabinet breaks down, there is a significant loss of time and consumption of human resources.
Another drawback of many conventional mobile refrigeration cabinets, is that they fail to address stratification within the refrigerated space that can lead to an undesirable temperature differential. Specifically, once such a conventional mobile refrigeration cabinet is unplugged from its power source, the refrigeration system stops circulating air within the refrigerated space. Over time, cooler air migrates to the bottom of the refrigerated section, while warmer air migrates to the top. As a result, items stored at the top of the refrigerated section are warmer than those stored at the bottom, leading to inconsistencies among items to be served. Stratification, therefore, reduces the amount of time the items can be stored in the mobile refrigeration cabinet.
Consequently, it would be advantageous to provide a mobile refrigeration cabinet which addresses the problems arising from stratification. It would also be advantageous to provide a mobile refrigeration cabinet where the refrigeration system is protected from harmful bumps and vibrations. In addition, it would be advantageous to design a mobile refrigeration cabinet where the refrigeration system is easily accessible. Still further, it would be advantageous to design a mobile refrigeration cabinet where the refrigeration system is a single modular unit, which can be easily removed and replaced with another refrigeration system.
The present invention provides a mobile refrigeration cabinet with a removable refrigeration system.
In one embodiment, the mobile refrigeration cabinet includes a refrigerated section, a non-refrigerated section, a refrigeration system, a movable tray, and a plurality vibration damping elements. The refrigeration system is a modular unit provided on the movable tray, which can be moved relative to or removed from the non-refrigerated section through an access panel. The movable tray may also be removable from the mobile refrigeration cabinet, or slide to an external position where the refrigeration system can be removed. The plurality of vibration damping elements contact the underside of the movable tray and provide a biasing force towards the refrigerated section. Preferably, vibration damping elements are mounted at the base of the non-refrigerated section. The plurality of vibration damping elements also absorb the energy from an applied force transferred from the casters (or other ground contact point). This causes the movable tray to move relative to the cabinet. Examples of preferred types of vibration damping elements include springs, rubber mounts, and wedges.
The vibration damping elements may be manipulated to cause the refrigeration system to disengage from the refrigerated section and allow the movable tray to be moved relative to, or be removed from, the mobile refrigeration cabinet to provide easy access to the refrigeration system mounted thereon. In one embodiment, the vibration damping elements are manipulated by being compressed. The compression may occur as a result of a user interaction with an element, such as a handle, which causes the movable tray to compress the vibration damping elements. The handle may be engaged to an intermediary member, such as a cam, which operates on the movable tray to compress the vibration damping elements. In another embodiment, the vibration damping elements are manipulated by being moved vertically relative to the bottom surface of the non-refrigerated section on which they are mounted/secured. In another embodiment, the vibration damping elements are manipulated by translating the vibration damping elements with respect to each other.
The refrigeration system is also configured to be operated in a plurality of modes including, for example, a refrigeration mode and a battery powered mode, which may be selectable by a user or automatically activated. For example, when plugged into AC power, the user may select to run the refrigeration system in a refrigeration mode where refrigerated air is generated and blown into the refrigerated space. The user may also select to operate the mobile refrigeration cabinet in a battery powered mode where the refrigeration systems does not produce refrigerated air, but blows air into the refrigerated space to circulate the air contained therein. The mobile refrigeration cabinet may also be configured to sense the loss of AC power (such as when the system is unplugged for transport) and automatically enter a battery powered mode.
In one embodiment, a mobile refrigeration unit is provided that includes a refrigerated section, a non-refrigerated section, an opening between the refrigerated and non-refrigerated sections, a movable tray, a refrigeration system, and a biasing system. The non-refrigerated section includes an aperture in a side thereof for accessing the non-refrigerated section. The movable tray is disposed in the non-refrigerated section and is movable through the aperture. The refrigeration system is removably mounted on the movable tray. The biasing system engages the movable tray so as to bias the refrigeration system towards the opening between the refrigerated and non-refrigerated sections such that a portion of the refrigeration system sealingly engages the opening.
In another embodiment, a mobile refrigeration cabinet is provided with a refrigerated section, a non-refrigerated section that includes an aperture that provides access thereto, an opening between the refrigerated and non-refrigerated sections, a movable tray, a refrigeration unit, and a plurality of vibration damping elements. The movable tray is disposed in the non-refrigerated section and is movable in a substantially horizontal direction through the aperture. The refrigeration unit is removably mounted on the movable tray. The vibration damping elements support the movable tray relative to a base of the non-refrigerated section. The vibration damping elements reduce the transmission of vibrations from the base to the refrigeration unit removably mounted on the movable tray.
In yet another embodiment, a mobile refrigeration cabinet includes a refrigerated section, a non-refrigerated section, an opening between the refrigerated and non-refrigerated sections, a battery, a refrigeration system, and a control unit. The refrigeration system includes a fan configured to circulate air through the opening into the refrigerated section. The control unit is configured to control the refrigeration system to operate in a battery mode, in which the battery powers the fan which circulates unrefrigerated air in the refrigerated section, and a non-battery mode in which the refrigeration system receives electrical power from an external source and produces refrigerated air which is provided to the refrigerated section by the fan.
Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the following drawings.
The features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the following drawings.
Overview
The example embodiments of the invention presented herein are directed to mobile refrigeration cabinets. This is for convenience only, and is not intended to limit the application of the present invention. In fact, after reading the following description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art how to implement the following invention in alternative embodiments, involving, for example, mobile heated cabinets, mobile carts, storage containers, and refrigerators.
External Overview
The side bumpers 112a and 112b are provided to dampen and otherwise protect the mobile refrigeration cabinet 10 from impacts with external objects, as well as protect the external object (e.g., walls and doors). As shown in
The side bumpers 112a and 112b may also be configured to extend beyond the width of the side walls 104a and 104b. As shown in
As shown in
The lower handles include an internal structural member made of a material which can be formed into the shape of a handle, including, for example, aluminum, aluminum alloys, steel, steel alloys, plastics, and carbon fiber alloys. The internal structural member of the lower handle is coated with a material which has an elastic property.
Each of the lower handles may be attached to the mobile refrigeration cabinet 10 by any number of fasteners including, for example, nuts and bolts, rivets, and screws.
As shown in
The door 106 is constructed from two pieces of sheet metal joined together around a skeletal structure which creates a door cavity. The door cavity is filled with an insulating material. In one embodiment, the insulator is a polyurethane foam which is a poor conductor of heat. The polyurethane foam may be injected into the door cavity, resulting in a relatively homogenous distribution. One advantage of polyurethane foam, as compared to fiberglass insulation, is that the foam is sprayed into the door cavity and then rapidly expands to fill the cavity. The foam effectively blocks air migration through the door cavity. As a result, minimal, if any, heat transfer via convection through the door 106 itself occurs. When the polyurethane foam cures and hardens, it provides significant torsional rigidity and strength to the door 106. As a result, the door 106 skeletal structure is less extensive than conventional mobile refrigeration cabinets, resulting in an overall reduction in weight.
In a similar manner, the side walls 104a and 104b, the rear wall 105, the upper wall 102, and an interior bottom wall 202 of the refrigerated space 20, are also formed from two pieces of sheet metal joined together around a respective skeletal structures to form respective cavities. These cavities may also be injected with polyurethane foam. As discussed above, the cured polyurethane foam adds additional torsional rigidity and strength. Accordingly, the respective skeletal structures are less extensive than in conventional mobile refrigeration cabinets. Alternative materials may be also used to construct the mobile refrigeration cabinet 10 instead of sheet metal such as, for example, carbon fiber, plastics, and fiber resins composites.
As shown in
The door 106 engages a door flange disposed within the refrigerated space 20 at such a position as to allow the door 106 to be flush with edges of the side walls 104a and 104b when the door 106 is closed. A door gasket is attached to the side of the door flange which faces the door 106. The door gasket is compressed when the door is closed and maintained in a compressed state by the engagement of the striker with the receptacle 138. This arrangement provides an effective barrier between the refrigerated space 20 and the external environment, thus mitigating, if not preventing, air migration around the periphery of the door 106 when the door 106 is closed.
As shown in
The side walls 104a and 104b also may include side ventilation grills 116a and 116b, respectively, which allow air to flow in and out of the non-refrigerated space 30. The ventilation grills 116a and 116b are attached to the side walls 104a and 104b, respectively, by fasteners such as, for example, screws and rivets.
The front portion of the non-refrigerated space 30 is covered by a front ventilation panel 114. The front ventilation panel 114 also includes a power control switch 114a which connects to the refrigeration system 300 contained within the non-refrigerated space 30. The power control switch 114a allows the user selectively power the refrigeration system 300 on and off. The front ventilation panel 114 preferably has an L-shaped cross section that includes an upper flange portion and a lower flange portion. The upper flange portion extends into the non-refrigerated space 30 to a greater depth than the lower flange portion. In addition, the distal end of the upper flange portion is bent so as to be substantially vertical.
As shown in
As shown in
Refrigerated Space
The refrigerated space may include a plurality of mounting brackets which extend vertically within the refrigerated space along the interior portions of the side walls 104a and 104b. At least two mounting brackets may be provided along the interior portion of each side wall 104a and 104b, with one of the mounting brackets being located towards the front of the refrigerated space, near the door 106, and the other mounting bracket being located towards the rear of the refrigerated space 20. In one embodiment, the mounting brackets located near the door 106 lie substantially within the same plane. Similarly, the mounting brackets located near the rear of the refrigerated space also lie substantially within the same plane.
Each of mounting brackets includes a slot which is configurable to receive a platform support element, which is adjustable in the vertical direction over the height of the mounting bracket. The platform support element includes a support portion configured to engage a shelf. A plurality of platform support elements may be provided for each mounting bracket and engaged thereto. In addition, a group of platform support elements disposed in respective mounting brackets may be arranged to lie substantially in the same horizontal plane, so as to support a shelf which rests upon the group of platform support elements.
As also shown in
To ensure that any water, which may be produced by condensation of humid air introduced into the refrigerated space 20, does not leak into the non-refrigerated space 30 where the refrigeration system is stored, a water dam 208 is provided around the periphery of the return air opening 206, as shown in
The refrigerated air intake opening 204 allows the refrigeration system 300 to supply the refrigerated space 20 with refrigerated air. In the exemplary embodiment, the refrigerated air intake opening 204 is rectangular, however, other shapes may be used to match an exhaust port 312 from the refrigeration system 300, as shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Non-Refrigerated Space
The non-refrigerated space 30 is designed to accommodate the refrigeration system 300.
The Refrigeration System
As one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, the refrigeration system 300 includes a compressor 302, a condenser 304, a condenser fan 306, a throttle valve, an evaporator 308, an evaporator fan 310, an air outlet 312, a gasket, an AC power connection, a battery 318, and a control unit 320.
When plugged into an AC power source, the refrigeration system 300 cools the refrigerated space 20 according to the well known refrigeration cycle. More specifically, the compressor 302 causes the refrigerant to enter a superheated gaseous state, at which point the superheated refrigerant passes through the condenser 304 and gives off heat which is expelled through the front and side ventilation panels 114, 116a, and 116b by the condenser fan 306, as the refrigerant transitions to a liquid. The refrigerant enters a throttle valve whereby the refrigerant expands and rapidly cools causing a phase transformation to a liquid-gaseous state. The refrigerant absorbs heat from the refrigerated space 20 which results in the further transition of the refrigerant into a gaseous state as the refrigerant passes through the evaporator coils. The evaporator fan 310 blows air over the evaporator coils and into an air outlet 312. When housed in the non-refrigerated space 30, the air outlet directs the refrigerated air into the refrigerated air intake opening 204 and on into the duct 214 to thereby cool the refrigerated space 20. The refrigerant returns to the compressor 302 whereby the cycle is repeated.
In the exemplary embodiment the refrigeration system 300 is removably mounted to an exemplary movable tray 400, as shown in
The movable tray 400 is dimensioned to fit in a space whose width is defined by two mounting brackets, e.g. 402. It is noted that the other mounting bracket is substantially identical and disposed on the opposite side of the refrigerated space. The mounting brackets are respectively positioned against the interior of the side walls 104a and 104b of the non-refrigerated space 30, and connected to the bottom wall 150 of the non-refrigerated space 30, as shown in
In an alternate embodiment, the movable tray 400 may rest on or be connected to a sliding mechanism which allows the movable tray 400 to be translated to an external position, where the refrigeration system 300 can be repaired or removed.
The mounting brackets are characterized by a step profile. As shown in
While an exemplary vibration damping isolator 500 is shown and discussed below, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. The vibration damping isolators may be any device which deforms in response to an applied force, so as to absorb vibrations from bumps transferred through the cabinet 10, e.g., from the casters, or impacts from collisions with external objects, and which provides a dampening capability relative to the cabinet. This avoids problems associated with caster mounted damping devices that result in instability of the cabinet relative to the cabinet.
As shown in
The bolt-down vibration-damping mount 502 includes a plurality of connecting holes 502a and 502b for receiving fasteners to secure the bolt-down vibration-damping mount 502 to the bottom wall 150 of the non-refrigerated space 30. The bolt-down vibration-damping mount 502 also includes a threaded rubber portion 502c, configured to receive the threaded bolt 504, disposed in the vertical direction 502c. The bolt-down vibration-damping mount 502 is composed of an elastomeric material, which is deformed when a force is applied thereto. The elasticity of the bolt-down vibration-damping mount may be varied according to the amount of deflection desired. One factor which affects the choice of elastomeric material is the type of gasket used to connect the refrigeration system 300 to the refrigerated space 20. If a deformable gasket is used, which is capable of maintaining seal over a large distance between the items it connects, then a more elastic material may be used in for the bolt-down vibration-damping mount 502. An advantage of a more elastic material, is that it is capable of dissipating more energy.
As shown in
The swivel pad 506 includes a ball portion and a socket portion, and is able tilt over a range of approximately 0-10.degree. The range is merely exemplary, and a range from 0-180.degree. is contemplated. One of the advantages of the swivel pad 506, is that it can tilt to remain flush against the bottom of the movable tray 400. This is because the mobile refrigeration cabinet 10 may experience applied forces from any direction. The movable tray 400 may therefore be displaced in any direction in response to the applied force. Since, in this embodiment, the applied force is transferred to the bolt-down vibration-damping mount 502 via the connection between the movable tray 400 and the swivel pad 506, it is preferable that a flush connection between the two is maintained.
Alternatively, a spherical structure may be provided which replaces the swivel pad 506. Regardless of the direction the applied force, the spherical structure would allow the threaded bolt 504 to translate in response to movement of the movable tray 400, while maintaining contact with the bottom surface of the movable tray 400.
The height of the swivel pad 506 relative to the bottom wall 150 of the non-refrigerated space 30 can thereby be adjusted by turning the threaded bolt 504 clockwise or counterclockwise. In the exemplary embodiment, the height of the swivel pads 506 in each of the vibration damping isolators 500 are adjusted to bias the bottom of the movable tray 400 towards the bottom wall 202 of the refrigerated space 20 with a predetermined amount of force. The force applied by the vibration damping isolators 500 to the movable tray 400, lifts the refrigeration tray 400 so that the air outlet 312 compresses a gasket provided between the air outlet 312 and the portion of the top wall of non-refrigerated space 30 surrounding the refrigerated air intake opening 204. The compression of the gasket ensures that refrigerated air emitted by the refrigeration system 300 is directed into the duct 214.
If a user wishes to remove the movable tray 400 from the non-refrigerated space, the threaded bolts 504 can easily be retracted from the bottom surface of the movable tray 400, by unscrewing the threaded bolts 504. As the threaded bolts 504 are retracted, the movable tray 400 is lowered relative to the top wall of the non-refrigerated space. This causes the air outlet 312 to disengage from the portion of the top wall of the non-refrigerated space 30 surrounding the refrigerated air intake opening 204. As the threaded bolts 504 are continued to be retracted, the movable tray 400 comes to rest to on the treads of the middle steps of the mounting brackets. As described above, the mounting brackets allow the movable tray 400 to be slid in and out of the non-refrigerated space 30. While in preferred embodiments the movable tray 400 is completely removed, as discussed above one or more stop mechanisms may be provided which allow the movable tray 400 to move only a predetermined distance horizontally (towards the front ventilation panel 114). Regardless of whether the movable tray 400 is completely removed or partially removed from the non-refrigerated space 30, it is preferable to provide a locking mechanism that prevents unintentional movement of the movable tray 400 along the mounting brackets, or a track, during normal use. Such locking mechanisms preferably do not inhibit movement of the movable tray 400 in a vertical direction.
An example locking mechanism is shown in
In the exemplary embodiment, the stop flanges are disposed near or at opposite ends of the movable tray 400 in the horizontal direction, and are substantially similar. The stop flange 406 may include openings through which a fastener connects the stop flange 406 to the mounting bracket 402, thereby preventing the movable tray 400 from moving towards the front and/or rear of the mobile refrigeration cabinet.
The height of each of the stop flanges is preferably selected based upon the degree of biasing by the vibration damping isolators 500. As discussed above, the vibration damping isolators 500 bias the movable tray towards the bottom wall 202 of the refrigerated space 20. Thus, when biased, the movable tray 400 is displaced in the vertical direction proportionately to the magnitude of the biasing force. The stop flanges are preferably dimensioned to account for the displacement of the movable tray 400 when biased. More preferably, the height of each stop flange (or section configured to engage the movable tray 400) is equal to or greater than the range of vertical displacement of the movable tray 400.
Another advantage of the exemplary embodiment, is that a user may quickly gain access to entire refrigeration system 300. Therefore, if the refrigeration system 300 should fail, a user or service person can quickly access the refrigeration system 300, by partially or fully removing the movable tray 400. If necessary, the refrigeration system 300 can be replaced.
To remove the refrigeration system 300 in the exemplary embodiment, a power cord, fed through the electrical connection port in the rear wall 105, is disconnected from the AC power connection. The front ventilation panel 114 may be removed by, in the preferred embodiment, manipulating the hand screws used to secure it to the mobile refrigeration cabinet 10. Other types of fastener which may preferably be manipulated without the need for a tool, may be used for items (e.g., the front ventilation panel 114 and the stop flanges) which require their fasteners to be manipulated to remove the movable tray 400.
The stop flanges may be removed by disconnecting them from their respective mounting brackets. The vibration damping isolators 500 may be retracted from the movable tray 400 by turning the threaded bolts 504, which simultaneously reduces/eliminates the biasing force. As a result, the refrigeration system 300 disengages from the refrigerated air intake opening 210, allowing the movable tray 400 (on which the refrigeration system 300 is mounted) to be removed by sliding it along the mounting brackets.
As discussed above, the vibration damping isolators are not limited to the above described embodiment. Alternatively, the vibration damping isolators may be a plurality of springs. The plurality of springs may be attached to the bottom wall of the non-refrigerated and engage either directly the movable tray 400 or an intermediary piece, to bias the movable tray towards the refrigerated space 20.
The springs may be mounted in the same positions as the vibration damping isolators shown in
A compression mechanism may also be provided to overcome the biasing force applied by the springs, which allows the movable tray 400 to be removed. The compression mechanism can be any mechanism which compresses the springs. The compression mechanism allows the movable tray 400 to move from an engaged position, closer to the refrigerated section 20, to a disengaged position.
For instance, a cam and a handle mechanism may be provided to compress the springs and allow the refrigeration system to disengage from the refrigerated air intake opening 204. The cam and handle may be unibodily formed or formed from a plurality of parts. The rotation of the handle causes the net force acting on the movable tray 400 to be in the opposite direction from the biasing force, thereby lowering the movable tray 400. In yet another alternative, a plurality of cams may be operated by the rotation of the handle to compress the plurality of springs.
While a single handle may be employed to operate one or more cams, a second handle may also be provided to operate the cams or a separate cam connected directly to the movable tray or via a structural connector. In such an embodiment, an additional access panel may be provided on the mobile refrigeration cart to access the second handle, if necessary. The second handle and the corresponding access panel may be located anywhere on the mobile refrigeration cart.
The springs may include the swivel pad 506 discussed above to maintain a flush contact between the movable tray 400 and the springs. As discussed above, however, alternate mechanisms may be provided to maintain a flush connection such a ball joint.
The plate 808 may span the width of the non-refrigerated space and be attached to mounting brackets 402 and 404, which in this embodiment are not attached to the side walls 104a and 104b. Thus, by operation of the handle 800, the mounting brackets may be raised or lowered such that the movable tray 400 is raised or lowered. This embodiment provides additional benefits of reducing the number of individual items that must be manipulated in order to raise or lower the movable tray 400. While only two springs are discussed above, three or more may be provided in addition to corresponding connecting rods.
In yet another alternative embodiment, a plurality of wedges formed from an elastic material may be provided between the bottom wall 150 of the non-refrigerated space 30 and the movable tray 400. The plurality of wedges are configured to move with respect to each other, and engage each other such that a combined structure biases the bottom of the movable tray 400. The wedges may be arranged and disposed on the bottom wall 150 of the non-refrigerated space 30 in numerous positions. Furthermore, the plurality of wedges may engage other structures provided in the non-refrigerated space 30. These other structures may bias the movable tray 400 directly or indirectly in conjunction with, or in place, of the plurality wedges. The motion of the other structures, however, is dependent upon the motion and relative relationships of the plurality of wedges.
In one embodiment, the plurality of wedges may be interconnected by a threaded screw, which extends to the exterior of the mobile refrigeration cabinet 10. The plurality of wedges may be disposed in tracks provided on the bottom wall 150 of the mobile refrigeration cabinet 10, which allow the plurality of wedges to move in a direction orthogonal to the vertical direction. By manipulating the threaded screws from the exterior the plurality of wedges may be advanced relative to each other. If initially one of the plurality of wedges is displaced vertically with respect to the other, then the advancement of the plurality wedges towards each other will cause them to engage in manner which forms a block structure that increases in height as the distance between the plurality of wedges is decreased. As a result, by manipulation of the threaded screws, the movable tray may be biased in the vertical direction.
In another embodiment, a mounting plate is provided onto which the movable tray is mounted. The mounting plate includes a plurality of vibration damping isolators disposed near its corners. In this embodiment, the movable tray includes mounting arms that are configured to engage mounting depressions formed on vertical edges of the mounting plate. The movable tray is also provided with a handle that includes a cam foot. When the handle is rotated, the cam engages an interior portion of the mounting plate, thereby causing the movable tray and the mounting plate to separate. As a result, the mounting arms are dislodge from the mounting depressions, allowing the movable tray to be removed.
As discussed above, another feature of the exemplary embodiment is that the refrigeration system 300 may be configured to run in a plurality of modes, including a refrigeration mode and a battery-powered mode, which may be selectable by a user or automatically activated. As described above, the refrigeration system 300 is connected to a control unit 320, shown in
Refrigeration System Control
The control unit 320 also includes a temperature controller 3306, a fan controller 3308, and a thermometer 3310. As one of ordinary skill will appreciate, the temperature controller 3306 and fan controller 3308 may also be a single controller. The thermometer 3310 is connected to a thermocouple 3312 which measures the temperature of the refrigerated space 20. The temperature information is sent to the fan controller 3308 and the temperature controller 3306 which, in the refrigeration mode, drives the evaporator fan 310 and refrigeration element 3314, respectively, in accordance with the determined temperature. In one embodiment, when the power control switch 114a is toggled, the refrigeration system defaults to an automatic control mode where the refrigeration system 300 is cycled according to the temperature in the refrigerated space and a desired temperature set by the user.
In the automatic control mode, the fan controller 3308 may automatically detect the loss of AC power, and switch the refrigeration system 300 to a battery-powered mode. In a user mode, the refrigeration system 300 may be set to a battery powered mode regardless of the source of power.
When the fan controller 3308 detects the loss of AC power, or the user sets the refrigeration system 300 to a battery powered mode, the fan controller draws power from the battery 318 to run the evaporator fan 310. In a battery powered mode the evaporator fan 310 is preferably set to run at a reduced rate compared to a refrigeration mode, while the refrigeration system 300 does not produce refrigerated air. In an alternate embodiment, however, the user may regulate the speed of the evaporator fan 310, especially when AC power is supplied.
Driving the evaporator fan 310, allows for air within the refrigerated space 20 to be circulated, even though the refrigeration system 300 is not operating, thereby preventing the detrimental effects of stratification discussed above. As a result, the overall temperature within the refrigerated space is relatively homogenous, thus allowing items to be stored within refrigerated space 20 for a longer period of time.
While various example embodiments of the invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example, and not limitation. It is apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) that various changes in form and detail can be made therein. Thus, the disclosure should not be limited by any of the above described example embodiments.
In addition, it should be understood that the figures are presented for example purposes only. The architecture of the example embodiments presented herein is sufficiently flexible and configurable, such that it may be utilized and navigated in ways other than that shown in the accompanying figures.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/171,188 filed on Feb. 3, 2014. This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Appln. No. 61/760,391, filed Feb. 4, 2013, and U.S. Provisional Patent Appln. No. 61/792,558, filed Mar. 15, 2013, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. The entire disclosure(s) of (each of) the above application(s) is (are) incorporated herein by reference.
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| Parent | 14171188 | Feb 2014 | US |
| Child | 15286724 | US |
