US4130997A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Refrigerator
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
•
Filing: 1976-12-08
•
Granted: 1978-12-26
•
Expires: 1996-12-08
Abstract
Abstract A refrigerator comprises a refrigerating cycle in which a refrigerant is charged and which includes a cooler for a freezing compartment, a closed loop which is branched from the refrigerating cycle and includes a cooler for a refrigerating compartment, and a heating device provided in the closed loop which supplies the refrigerant to the closed loop by means of vapor bubble pumping action, to thereby control the refrigerant flow in the closed loop.
Inventors
- 👤 Toshitsugu Hara
- 👤 Yoritsune Abe
- 👤 Katsuji Ootuka
- 👤 Yasushige Kashiwabara
- 👤 Hiroichi Oshiyama
- 👤 Michio Yanadori
- 👤 Eisaku Kato
- 👤 Kichizaemon Okazaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 04:38
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B5/00; F25B41/00; F25B2400/00; F25B2400/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A refrigerator comprising: refrigerating cycle means including first cooling means and a liquid tank for charging a working fluid from said first cooling means; at least one closed loop means branched from said refrigerating cycle means and including an inverted U-type tube in which working fluid flows from the inlet to the outlet by means of a vapor bubble pumping action, a first connecting tube for supplying the working fluid from said liquid tank to the inlet of said inverted U-type tube, a heating means disposed around the inlet of said inverted U-type tube, a second cooling means to which the working fluid is supplied from the outlet of said inverted U-type tube, and a second connecting tube for directly returning the working fluid from said second cooling means to said liquid tank.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A refrigerator comprising: refrigerating cycle means including first cooling means and a liquid tank for charging a working fluid from said first cooling means; at least one closed loop means branched from said refrigerating cycle means and including an inverted U-type tube in which working fluid flows from the inlet to the outlet by means of a vapor bubble pumping action, a first connecting tube for supplying the working fluid from said liquid tank to the inlet of said inverted U-type tube, a heating means disposed around the inlet of said inverted U-type tube, a second cooling means to which the working fluid is supplied from the outlet of said inverted U-type tube, and a second connecting tube for directly returning the working fluid from said second cooling means to said liquid tank.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
A refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said refrigerating cycle means includes a compressor for compressing the working fluid, a radiator for condensation of the working fluid compressed by said compressor and for supplying the condensation working fluid to said first cooling means, a connecting tube for feeding back the vapor evaporated by said first cooling means to said compressor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A refrigerator according to claim 1, in which the height of the top portion of said inverted U-type tube is higher than that of the top surface of the working fluid in said liquid tank.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A refrigerator according to claim 1, in which said closed loop means further includes a third connecting tube for connecting the top portion of said inverted U-type tube with a portion of said second connecting tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A refrigerator according to claim 1, in which said closed loop means further includes a pressure-equalizing tube for connecting the top portion of said inverted U-type tube with said liquid tank.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A refrigerator according to claim 1, in which said closed loop means further includes a liquid trap being connected between said inverted U-type tube and said second cooling means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A refrigerator according to claim 1, in which said at least one closed loop means comprises a plurality of closed loops.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A refrigerator according to claim 1, in which said first and second cooling means are provided in a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment, respectively.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A refrigerator according to claim 1, in which said first and second cooling means are provided in a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment, respectively.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
137 words
A refrigerator comprising: refrigerating cycle means including first cooling means for circulating a working fluid therein and a liquid tank for charging the working fluid from said first cooling means; at least one closed loop means branched from said liquid tank of said refrigerating cycle means and including second cooling means and means for directly returning the working fluid from said second cooling means to said liquid tank; and at least one heating means provided in the closed loop means for controlling the volume of the working fluid supplied to the closed loop means; wherein said closed loop means includes an inverted U-type tube between said liquid tank and said second cooling means; and wherein said at least one heating means is adjacent the inlet of said inverted U-type tube for effecting a vapor bubble pumping action.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
137 words
A refrigerator comprising: refrigerating cycle means including first cooling means for circulating a working fluid therein and a liquid tank for charging the working fluid from said first cooling means; at least one closed loop means branched from said liquid tank of said refrigerating cycle means and including second cooling means and means for directly returning the working fluid from said second cooling means to said liquid tank; and at least one heating means provided in the closed loop means for controlling the volume of the working fluid supplied to the closed loop means; wherein said closed loop means includes an inverted U-type tube between said liquid tank and said second cooling means; and wherein said at least one heating means is adjacent the inlet of said inverted U-type tube for effecting a vapor bubble pumping action.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
164 words
A refrigerator comprising: refrigerating cycle means including first cooling means for circulating a working fluid therein; at least one closed loop means branched from said refrigerating cycle means and including second cooling means; and at least one heating means provided in the closed loop means for controlling the volume of the working fluid supplied to the closed loop means, wherein said refrigerating cycle means includes a liquid tank for charging the working fluid, and wherein said at least one closed loop means includes an inverted U-type tube connected between said liquid tank and said second cooling means, and a first connecting tube for returning the working fluid evaporated by said second cooling means to said liquid tank, said at least one heating means being provided between said liquid tank and said inverted U-type tube, and wherein said closed loop means further includes a second connecting tube for connecting the top portion of said inverted U-type tube with a portion of said first connecting tube.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
164 words
A refrigerator comprising: refrigerating cycle means including first cooling means for circulating a working fluid therein; at least one closed loop means branched from said refrigerating cycle means and including second cooling means; and at least one heating means provided in the closed loop means for controlling the volume of the working fluid supplied to the closed loop means, wherein said refrigerating cycle means includes a liquid tank for charging the working fluid, and wherein said at least one closed loop means includes an inverted U-type tube connected between said liquid tank and said second cooling means, and a first connecting tube for returning the working fluid evaporated by said second cooling means to said liquid tank, said at least one heating means being provided between said liquid tank and said inverted U-type tube, and wherein said closed loop means further includes a second connecting tube for connecting the top portion of said inverted U-type tube with a portion of said first connecting tube.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2640327A
Cited
US2871679A
Cited
US2750757A
Cited
US2780072A
Cited
US3081607A
Cited
US3067590A
Cited
US3680324A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-12-25 | 1982-06-26 | 1982-12-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-12-25 | 1986-06-26 | 1986-12-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-12-25 | 1990-06-26 | 1990-12-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |