REFRIGERATOR WITH MOISTURE ADSORBING DEVICE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a cabinet forming a fresh food storage compartment and a freezer compartment, at least one door for opening and closing the cabinet, and an adsorbing device containing a desiccant material for collecting moisture from air inside the cabinet, wherein the adsorbing device is mounted inside the cabinet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described in more detail, by referring to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a freezer according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a freezer according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of a refrigerator having a freezer compartment in the lower portion of the cabinet, according to a further embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a detail of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of a refrigerator having a freezer compartment in the upper portion of the cabinet, according to a further embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a detail of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a table showing the results of the two embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 3; and

FIG. 10 is a plot showing results from a freezer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet forming a fresh food storage compartment and a freezer compartment;at least one door for opening and closing the cabinet; andan adsorbing device containing a desiccant material for collecting moisture from air inside the cabinet,wherein the adsorbing device is mounted inside the cabinet.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the adsorbing device is mounted inside the freezer compartment.

3. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the desiccant material comprises at least one of the following: silica gel, clay, zeolites, and mixtures thereof.

4. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the adsorbing device comprises a box-shaped enclosure having inlet and outlet apertures to allow passage of air.

5. The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein the adsorbing device comprises an enclosure having a plurality of openings.

6. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising at least one fan for forcing air through the desiccant material.

7. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the adsorbing device is mounted on a door and connected to external ambient air through an opening in the door.

8. The refrigerator of claim 7, further comprising a valve at the opening of the door to control flow of air through the adsorbing device.

9. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising an evaporator.

10. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the adsorbing device is mounted on a door and is connected to external ambient air through a first opening and to the freezer compartment through a second opening.

11. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein a mullion separates the fresh food storage compartment and freezer compartment and the adsorbing device is provided in the mullion.

12. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the adsorbing device is placed in contact with the evaporator.

13. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the adsorbing device is mounted at the bottom of the freezer compartment.

14. The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein the adsorbing device is mounted to the evaporator using a removable support system.

15. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the adsorbing device is removably mounted to the refrigerator.

16. An adsorbing device comprising: an enclosure; anda desiccant material,wherein the adsorbing device is mounted within a refrigerator and the desiccant material adsorbs moisture from air inside the refrigerator.

17. The adsorbing device of claim 16, wherein the enclosure is box-shaped and has openings to allow passage of air through the desiccant material.

18. A method of defrosting an evaporator in a refrigerator having a food storage compartment and an adsorbing device by adsorbing moisture from air inside the food storage compartment.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the adsorbing device further adsorbs frost present on the evaporator.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of: removing the adsorbing device;regenerating the device; andreturning the device to the refrigerator.