US4023947A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ambient air assist for a refrigerator unit
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-01-27
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Granted: 1977-05-17
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Expires: 1996-01-27
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for simultaneously monitoring the temperature within a refrigerated enclosure and the temperature of the ambient air exteriorly of the enclosure which functions to shut down normal compressor operations and selectively activates one or more primary and auxiliary ambient air inlet supply units dependent upon the temperature of the ambient air when the ambient air temperature is below the temperature within the enclosure.
Inventors
- 👤 Everett B. Ferry
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 14:34
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25D; F25D1/00; F25D2700/00; F25D2700/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
An apparatus for use in supplying ambient air to a refrigerated enclosure comprising a primary and at least one auxiliary ambient air supply means, said primary and auxiliary ambient air supply means being selectively operable to supply ambient air into the refrigerated enclosure when the ambient air temperature is below a first temperature but above a second temperature, said auxiliary ambient air supply means being operably disconnected from said primary ambient air supply means to stop the supply of ambient air therethrough into the refrigerated enclosure when the ambient air temperature is below the second temperature, whereby the rate of flow of ambient air into the refrigerated enclosure is reduced as said auxiliary ambient air supply means is disconnected in response to colder ambient air temperatures.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
126 words
An apparatus for use in supplying ambient air to a refrigerated enclosure comprising a primary and at least one auxiliary ambient air supply means, said primary and auxiliary ambient air supply means being selectively operable to supply ambient air into the refrigerated enclosure when the ambient air temperature is below a first temperature but above a second temperature, said auxiliary ambient air supply means being operably disconnected from said primary ambient air supply means to stop the supply of ambient air therethrough into the refrigerated enclosure when the ambient air temperature is below the second temperature, whereby the rate of flow of ambient air into the refrigerated enclosure is reduced as said auxiliary ambient air supply means is disconnected in response to colder ambient air temperatures.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The invention of claim 1 in which each of said primary and auxiliary ambient air supply means includes air duct means disposed through a wall of the refrigerated enclosure, fan means mounted on said air duct means, and means for connecting each of said fan means to a common ambient air distributor header means disposed within the refrigerated enclosure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention of claim 2 in which said air duct means are downwardly inclined along their length extending outwardly from the refrigerated enclosure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
179 words
Apparatus for refrigerating a zone which is insulated from ambient medium whose temperature varies from above to below that desired for the zone, comprising refrigeration means in heat exchange relation with the zone, primary and auxiliary means for cooling the zone using the ambient medium when the ambient temperature is below that desired in the zone, first temperature responsive means within the zone, second and third temperature responsive means within the ambient medium, said primary means operative to supply ambient medium to the zone when said second temperature responsive means indicates a temperature below that desired in the zone and said first temperature responsive means indicates a temperature above that desired in the zone, said auxiliary means being operative to supply ambient medium to the zone simultaneously with said primary means except when said third temperature responsive means indicates a temperature below a predetermined value below that desired in the zone, and said refrigeration means being operative to cool said zone when both said second and third temperature responsive means indicate a temperature above that desired in said zone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
179 words
Apparatus for refrigerating a zone which is insulated from ambient medium whose temperature varies from above to below that desired for the zone, comprising refrigeration means in heat exchange relation with the zone, primary and auxiliary means for cooling the zone using the ambient medium when the ambient temperature is below that desired in the zone, first temperature responsive means within the zone, second and third temperature responsive means within the ambient medium, said primary means operative to supply ambient medium to the zone when said second temperature responsive means indicates a temperature below that desired in the zone and said first temperature responsive means indicates a temperature above that desired in the zone, said auxiliary means being operative to supply ambient medium to the zone simultaneously with said primary means except when said third temperature responsive means indicates a temperature below a predetermined value below that desired in the zone, and said refrigeration means being operative to cool said zone when both said second and third temperature responsive means indicate a temperature above that desired in said zone.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
268 words
An apparatus for supplying ambient air to a refrigerated enclosure having a mechanical refrigeration means and an enclosure temperature responsive means, comprising a primary and at least one secondary ambient air supply means having primary and secondary ambient air supply control means, respectively, said primary ambient air supply control means including a first ambient air temperature responsive means connected to a first switch means, said first switch means being selectively connected between the enclosure temperature responsive means and one of said primary ambient air supply means and the mechanical refrigeration means, said first ambient air temperature responsive means being responsive to a first ambient air temperature to operatively connect said primary and secondary ambient air supply means to the enclosure temperature responsive means when the ambient air temperature is below said first ambient air temperature and alternatively operatively connect the refrigeration means to the enclosure temperature responsive means when ambient air temperatures are above said first ambient air temperature, said secondary ambient air supply control means including second ambient air temperature responsive means, said second ambient air temperature responsive means being responsive to a second ambient temperature below said first ambient air temperature to operatively disconnect said secondary air supply control means from said primary air supply control means when the ambient air temperature is below said second ambient air temperature, whereby the flow rate of ambient air into the enclosure which is initiated in response to the enclosure temperature responsive means when ambient air temperature is below said first ambient air temperature is reduced in response to lower ambient air temperatures below said second ambient air temperature.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
268 words
An apparatus for supplying ambient air to a refrigerated enclosure having a mechanical refrigeration means and an enclosure temperature responsive means, comprising a primary and at least one secondary ambient air supply means having primary and secondary ambient air supply control means, respectively, said primary ambient air supply control means including a first ambient air temperature responsive means connected to a first switch means, said first switch means being selectively connected between the enclosure temperature responsive means and one of said primary ambient air supply means and the mechanical refrigeration means, said first ambient air temperature responsive means being responsive to a first ambient air temperature to operatively connect said primary and secondary ambient air supply means to the enclosure temperature responsive means when the ambient air temperature is below said first ambient air temperature and alternatively operatively connect the refrigeration means to the enclosure temperature responsive means when ambient air temperatures are above said first ambient air temperature, said secondary ambient air supply control means including second ambient air temperature responsive means, said second ambient air temperature responsive means being responsive to a second ambient temperature below said first ambient air temperature to operatively disconnect said secondary air supply control means from said primary air supply control means when the ambient air temperature is below said second ambient air temperature, whereby the flow rate of ambient air into the enclosure which is initiated in response to the enclosure temperature responsive means when ambient air temperature is below said first ambient air temperature is reduced in response to lower ambient air temperatures below said second ambient air temperature.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
226 words
An apparatus for use in supplying ambient air to a refrigerated enclosure which enclosure has a mechanical refrigeration means and an enclosure temperature responsive means comprising, a primary and at least one auxiliary ambient air supply means, said primary and auxiliary ambient air supply means being selectively operable to supply ambient air into the refrigerated enclosure when the ambient air temperature is below a first temperature but above a second temperature, said auxiliary ambient air supply means being operably disconnected from said primary ambient air supply means to stop the supply of ambient air therethrough into the refrigerated enclosure when the ambient air temperature is below the second temperature, said primary air supply means including primary ambient air supply control means having first ambient air temperature responsive means connected to a first switch means, said first switch means operatively connecting one of said primary ambient air supply means and the refrigeration means to the enclosure temperature responsive means, said first ambient air temperature responsive means being responsive to the ambient air temperature to cause said switch means to connect said primary ambient air supply means to the enclosure temperature responsive means when the ambient air temperature is below said first ambient air temperature and to alternatively connect the refrigeration means to the enclosure temperature responsive means when ambient air temperature is above said first ambient temperature.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
226 words
An apparatus for use in supplying ambient air to a refrigerated enclosure which enclosure has a mechanical refrigeration means and an enclosure temperature responsive means comprising, a primary and at least one auxiliary ambient air supply means, said primary and auxiliary ambient air supply means being selectively operable to supply ambient air into the refrigerated enclosure when the ambient air temperature is below a first temperature but above a second temperature, said auxiliary ambient air supply means being operably disconnected from said primary ambient air supply means to stop the supply of ambient air therethrough into the refrigerated enclosure when the ambient air temperature is below the second temperature, said primary air supply means including primary ambient air supply control means having first ambient air temperature responsive means connected to a first switch means, said first switch means operatively connecting one of said primary ambient air supply means and the refrigeration means to the enclosure temperature responsive means, said first ambient air temperature responsive means being responsive to the ambient air temperature to cause said switch means to connect said primary ambient air supply means to the enclosure temperature responsive means when the ambient air temperature is below said first ambient air temperature and to alternatively connect the refrigeration means to the enclosure temperature responsive means when ambient air temperature is above said first ambient temperature.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
70 words
The invention of Claim 6 in which said auxiliary ambient air supply means includes auxiliary ambient air supply control means having second ambient air temperature responsive means connected to second switch means, said second switch means being connected to said first switch means when the ambient air temperatures are above said second ambient air temperature and being disconnected therefrom when ambient air temperatures are below said second ambient air temperature.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-05-16 | 1980-11-15 | 1981-05-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-05-16 | 1984-11-15 | 1985-05-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-05-16 | 1988-11-15 | 1989-05-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |