Abstract A refrigerator has a frozen food compartment maintained at subfreezing temperatures and a food-cooling compartment maintained at temperatures above freezing by circulation of chilled air through the compartments, the air being chilled by passing it over an evaporator operated at subfreezing temperatures in an air duct. A thermostatically actuated damper regulates the flow of chilled air into and through the foodcooling compartment according to the temperature in the cooling compartment. The damper comprises two face-to-face grilles each having a multiplicity of slots alignable with the slots of the other grille and one grille is shifted by a thermostatic element relative to the other to align more or less of the slotted areas. The thermostatic element is a vapor-filled bellows located in a housing in the chilling compartment and adjacent the air inlet. When the grilles are open air is aspirated from the compartment through the housing and in contact with the bellows and returned to the compartment with the chilled air.
A refrigerator having a compartment to be cooled, an air chilling unit and means to force air into heat exchange relation with the chilling unit and through an air duct having an opening communicating with the interior of said compartment, air flow control means in said opening and comprising, a structure defining an air flow path, air damper means associated with said airflow path and including a movable member for controlling the flow of air through said airflow path, a thermally responsive power element in said compartment operable to actuate said movable member, wall means forming an air channeling housing about said power element and including an air inlet from said chamber, and means forming a venturi opening between said air path and the interior of said air channeling housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
A refrigerator having a compartment to be cooled, an air chilling unit and means to force air into heat exchange relation with the chilling unit and through an air duct having an opening communicating with the interior of said compartment, air flow control means in said opening and comprising, a structure defining an air flow path, air damper means associated with said airflow path and including a movable member for controlling the flow of air through said airflow path, a thermally responsive power element in said compartment operable to actuate said movable member, wall means forming an air channeling housing about said power element and including an air inlet from said chamber, and means forming a venturi opening between said air path and the interior of said air channeling housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A refrigerator as defined in claim 1 further characterized by said wall means comprising a housing attached to said frame, and said power element comprising a bellows in said housIng having a vapor fill, and a lever interconnecting said bellows and said damper.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A refrigerator as defined in claim 2 further characterized by said housing and said venturi opening comprising a slot extending across the top wall of said housing, and said housing being open at least at one end.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A refrigerator as defined in claim 3 further characterized by said housing comprising a channel-shape member having air inlet openings in opposite ends.