EP 1030137 A1 20000823 - Controller and method for controlling a defrost operation in a refrigerator
Title (en)
Controller and method for controlling a defrost operation in a refrigerator
Title (de)
Steuervorrichtung und Verfahren zum Steuern des Abtauvorganges in einem Kühlschrank
Title (fr)
Dispositif de commande et procédé pour commander l'opération de dégivrage dans un réfrigérateur
Publication
Application
Priority
EP 99102741 A 19990219
Abstract (en)
The present invention relates to a controller and a method of controlling a defrost operation in a refrigerator. The duration of a refrigeration period is determined by the amount of time needed for defrosting the evaporator of the refrigerator. If the defrost duration deviates from a target defrost duration, the next refrigeration period is adjusted accordingly, to maintain the actual defrost duration close to the target defrost duration. According to the invention, the target defrost duration is determined based on the detection of a thermal dispersion of the refrigerator. A high ambient temperature results in a reduced target defrost duration while in low ambient temperature conditions the target defrost duration is larger. Preferably, the thermal dispersion is detected based on the ratio of a rate of fall of evaporator temperature when the compressor is on to a rate of rise of evaporator temperature when the compressor is off, on a continuous basis during the refrigeration period. <IMAGE>
IPC 1-7
IPC 8 full level
F25D 21/00 (2006.01); F25D 21/06 (2006.01)
CPC (source: EP)
F25D 21/008 (2013.01); F25B 2500/29 (2013.01); F25B 2500/31 (2013.01); F25B 2700/2117 (2013.01); F25D 2500/04 (2013.01); F25D 2700/02 (2013.01); F25D 2700/14 (2013.01)
Citation (applicant)
DE 2945691 A1 19800619 - AMF INC
Citation (search report)
- [DY] DE 2945691 A1 19800619 - AMF INC
- [YA] US 5533350 A 19960709 - GROMALA JOSEPH R [US], et al
- [A] US 3681933 A 19720808 - CHECK FRANK T JR
- [A] US 4850204 A 19890725 - BOS PETER J [US], et al
- [A] DE 3235642 A1 19840329 - 3 E ELEKTRONIK ELEKTRO ENERGIE [DE]
- [A] EP 0690277 A1 19960103 - BOSCH SIEMENS HAUSGERAETE [DE]
- [A] US 4528821 A 19850716 - TERSHAK ANDREW T [US], et al
- [A] US 5440893 A 19950815 - DAVIS KENNETH [US], et al
- [A] US 4689965 A 19870901 - JANKE DONALD E [US], et al
- [A] EP 0598612 A2 19940525 - WHIRLPOOL CO [US]
- [A] EP 0686818 A2 19951213 - MERLONI ELETTRODOMESTICI SPA [IT]
- [A] US 5046324 A 19910910 - OTOH TADAO [JP], et al
Designated contracting state (EPC)
DE DK ES GB IT
DOCDB simple family (publication)
EP 1030137 A1 20000823; EP 1030137 B1 20050202; AU 3424200 A 20000904; DE 69923531 D1 20050310; DE 69923531 T2 20060330; EP 1157245 A1 20011128; ES 2236975 T3 20050716; WO 0049350 A1 20000824
DOCDB simple family (application)
EP 99102741 A 19990219; AU 3424200 A 20000218; DE 69923531 T 19990219; EP 0001364 W 20000218; EP 00912486 A 20000218; ES 99102741 T 19990219