BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bottom end of a prior art refrigerator that has its machine compartment located at its top end.
FIG. 2 is a front view of a refrigerator that implements one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bottom end of a refrigerator in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the top end of a refrigerator in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a pan which encapsulates and covers a pump and valves.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
One embodiment of the present invention is a condensation removal system for a refrigerator that has a top mounted machine compartment. Condensation is pumped from the bottom to the top of the refrigerator, where the existing machine compartment components can be used for evaporation.
FIG. 2 is a front view of a refrigerator 10 that implements one embodiment of the present invention. Refrigerator 10 includes a freezer section door 12 and a refrigerator section door 14, shown in closed positions. Freezer door 12 includes a through the door ice and water dispenser 18. Dispenser 18 includes levers 17 and 16 that can be pressed via an object such as a drinking glass. Pressing on lever 17 initiates delivery of ice (cubed or crushed) to the drinking glass. Pressing on lever 16 initiates delivery of water to the drinking glass. Refrigerator 10 is a built-in type of refrigerator, and has a machine compartment located on its top end.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bottom end of refrigerator 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Refrigerator 10 includes a pump 22 and an attached motor 20. In one embodiment, pump 22 is a peristaltic pump that does not require priming. Motor 20 is coupled in parallel to the defrost heater (not shown) of refrigerator 10, so that motor 20 is activated electrically at the same time as the defrost heater. In another embodiment, the pump is activated by a control source independent of the defrost heater.
Refrigerator 10 further includes an input tube 26 and an output tube 27 coupled to pump 22. Input tube 26 is coupled to the drain tube of refrigerator 10, and receives all condensation drained from refrigerator 10. Condensation received on input tube 26 is pumped by pump 22 to output tube 27, which runs through a channel 23 along the back of refrigerator 10 to the top end of refrigerator 10.
Refrigerator 10 optionally includes a condensate tube 25 that provides heat to eliminate moisture gathered at the bottom of refrigerator 10. Additional components of refrigerator 10 include water valves 28 and 29 for providing water to dispenser 18, and wheels 30 for aiding in moving refrigerator 10.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the top end of refrigerator 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. As disclosed above, the machine compartment of refrigerator 10 is located at this top end. The machine compartment includes a compressor 40, a condenser 42 and a condenser fan 41. Compressor 40, condenser 42 and condenser fan 41 are standard components on prior art refrigerators having a top mounted machine compartment.
Refrigerator 10 further includes a pan 45 coupled to output tube 27 that is received from the bottom end of refrigerator 10. Condensation from output tube 27 accumulates in pan 45. The heat from compressor 40, condenser 42, and the warm air blown from compressor fan 41 causes the condensation in pan 45 to evaporate.
Pan 45, because of the additional clearance on the top end of refrigerator 10, can be much larger than prior art pan 52. In one embodiment, pan 45 has double the capacity of pan 52. Further, the condensation system of FIG. 4 is more efficient than the prior art condensation systems because pump 22 only operates during a defrost cycle. In contrast, in the prior art system fan 55 is continuously running.
In one embodiment, output tube 27 is connected to an additional water heat exchanger that exchanges heat with the condenser 42 before being inserted into pan 45. In this embodiment, the water in tube 27 circulates through condenser 42 to help cool condenser 42 and therefore increase the efficiency of refrigerator 10.
In one embodiment, a pan is coupled to the bottom of refrigerator 10. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the pan 60 which encapsulates and covers pump 20 and valves 28 and 29. Pan 60 collects water condensation and water that may leak from valves 28 and 29 and the associated tubing and valves. Pan 60 includes two cavities 70 and 72, and further includes water valve inlets and outlets 62, water spillover outlet 64 and condensate pump inlet 68 and outlet 69. Output tube 27 (not shown) is coupled to condensate pump outlet 69 and carries water to the top of refrigerator 10 as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3. Pan 60 further includes a float switch 66 which activates pump 20 when the water level in pan 60 exceeds a predetermined amount. Therefore, in contrast to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 where pump 20 only operates during a defrost cycle, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 pump 20 operates when triggered by float switch 66.
As disclosed, embodiments of the present invention utilize a pump to transport condensation to the top of the refrigerator, where it is evaporated by existing machine compartment components.
Several embodiments of the present invention are specifically illustrated and/or described herein. However, it will be appreciated that modifications and variations of the present invention are covered by the above teachings and within the purview of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and intended scope of the invention.
Patent Application
20080092579
