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US4296611A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Household refrigerator air flow control and method

Assignee: General Electric Co
•
Filing: 1980-03-24
•
Granted: 1981-10-27
•
Expires: 2000-03-24
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Abstract

Abstract A refrigerator having a freezer compartment on top and a fresh food compartment below with an air duct connecting the two compartments. A temperature control system and method of controlling is provided and includes a temperature sensing element located at the top of the fresh food compartment and shielded from the stream of cold air being directed into the fresh food compartment. The temperature sensing element changes the temperature in both the freezer and fresh food compartments without changing the constant ratio of those respective compartment temperatures. An air flow assembly divides the cold air entering the fresh food compartment through the connecting air duct between the top of the compartment and the bottom. The air flow control assembly is arranged to divide the cold air stream such that the ratio of the difference in the freezer and fresh food compartment temperatures is changed. By this air flow system and method, the interaction between the cold air flow control and the temperature sensing element provides that the temperature in the freezer compartment may be adjusted up or down while the fresh food compartment temperature remains relatively constant.

Inventors

  • 👤 James R. Griffin
  • 👤 Raymond M. Schreck

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 14:46
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25D; F25D17/00; F25D17/04; F25D17/06; F25D17/062; F25D17/065; F25B; F25B2500/00; F25B2500/31; F25D17/042; F25D17/045; F25D2317/00; F25D2317/06; F25D2317/061; F25D2317/065; F25D2317/0653; F25D2400/00; F25D2400/04; F25D2700/00; F25D2700/12

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 164 words
The method of controlling the temperature in a refrigerator having a freezer compartment and a fresh food compartment separated by a partition comprising: (a) flowing a stream of cold air into the fresh food compartment, (b) locating a temperature sensing element at the top of the fresh food compartment, (c) shielding the temperature sensing element from the stream of cold air being directed into the fresh food compartment, (d) controlling the temperature in both the freezer and fresh food compartments without significantly changing the constant ratio of those respective compartment temperatures by utilizing the temperature sensing element, (e) dividing the stream of cold air entering the fresh food compartment into two streams, one going to the top of the fresh food compartment, and the other going to the bottom of the fresh food compartment, and (f) controlling in equal ratio the amount of air flowing in the two streams to thereby change the ratio of the temperatures in the freezer and fresh food compartments.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 164 words
The method of controlling the temperature in a refrigerator having a freezer compartment and a fresh food compartment separated by a partition comprising: (a) flowing a stream of cold air into the fresh food compartment, (b) locating a temperature sensing element at the top of the fresh food compartment, (c) shielding the temperature sensing element from the stream of cold air being directed into the fresh food compartment, (d) controlling the temperature in both the freezer and fresh food compartments without significantly changing the constant ratio of those respective compartment temperatures by utilizing the temperature sensing element, (e) dividing the stream of cold air entering the fresh food compartment into two streams, one going to the top of the fresh food compartment, and the other going to the bottom of the fresh food compartment, and (f) controlling in equal ratio the amount of air flowing in the two streams to thereby change the ratio of the temperatures in the freezer and fresh food compartments.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 40 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the ratio of the cold air stream going to the top of the fresh food compartment relative to the stream going to the bottom of the fresh food compartment is approximately two to one.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the stream of cold air going to the bottom of the fresh food compartment is impinged upon a meat keeper pan.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the freezer compartment is on top and the fresh food compartment is below the freezer compartment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein controlling in equal ratio the amount of air flowing in the two streams is by rotating dampers to cause the air flowing in both streams to be increased and decreased in equal ratio.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 21 words
The method, according to claim 5, wherein the dampers are fixed to a rotatable axle and the rotating is accomplished manually.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method, according to claim 6, wherein moving a dial accessible from inside the fresh food compartment and connected to the axle is utilized for rotating the dampers.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2241108A Cited
US3107502A Cited
US3093981A Cited
US3320761A Cited
US3403533A Cited
US3364694A Cited
US4009589A Cited
US4122687A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1984-10-26 1985-04-27 1985-10-27 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1988-10-26 1989-04-27 1989-10-27 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1992-10-26 1993-04-27 1993-10-27 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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