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EP 1 549 891 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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25.11.2009 Bulletin 2009/48 |
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Date of filing: 25.09.2003 |
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International Patent Classification (IPC):
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International application number: |
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PCT/TR2003/000078 |
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International publication number: |
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WO 2004/029527 (08.04.2004 Gazette 2004/15) |
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TEMPERATURE CONTROL MECHANISM
TEMPERATURREGELMECHANISMUS
MECANISME DE CONTROLE DE TEMPERATURE
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Designated Contracting States: |
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AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PT RO SE SI SK TR |
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Priority: |
30.09.2002 TR 200202265
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Date of publication of application: |
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06.07.2005 Bulletin 2005/27 |
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Proprietor: Arçelik A.S. |
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34950 Istanbul (TR) |
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Inventors: |
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- Dingec , Haldun
26540 Eskisehir (TR)
- Bayiz, Nihat
26540 Eskisehir (TR)
- Özcan, Ismail
26540 Eskisehir (TR)
- Atilla, Yüksel
26540 Eskisehir (TR)
- Ercan, Veysi
26540 Eskisehir (TR)
- Dincer, Ahmet
26540 Eskisehir (TR)
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References cited: :
EP-A- 0 352 475 US-A- 3 908 392 US-A- 4 009 591 US-A- 4 920 758
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GB-A- 1 104 348 US-A- 4 009 590 US-A- 4 614 092 US-A- 6 094 932
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Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
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[0001] The present invention is concerned with a temperature control mechanism used in controlling
temperature in preferably two compartment refrigerators.
[0002] In refrigerators with fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment, various methods
of control are used to secure that such freezer and fresh food compartments remain
at desired temperature ranges. In refrigerators where the desired temperature is provided
by distributing cool air between various compartments, working periods of the compressor
are adjusted in accordance with temperature sensed through thermostatic control device
in fresh food compartment or freezer compartment and shutters, mechanic shutter, lids,
gates and similar mechanisms are used to adjust air flow by reducing or widening the
passage opening between the compartments. In general, adjustment of air passage opening
between compartments is carried out by means of thermostatic control at distinct points.
In the state-of-the art, there are also refrigerators where the control of air flow
and the thermostat is effected from a same point but in such refrigerators additional
connection elements located between the adjustment button and shutters to shut air
passage opening as well as adjusting the same simultaneously are used. Furthermore,
even if the adjustment of both thermostat and of air flow is carried out at the same
point to ensure precise in adjustment, shutters are to be regulated by means of a
second check.
[0003] In the
US patent 3630046 , the air flow duct between the freezer and fresh food compartments and damper which
is opened or shut by an adjustment button is controlled and the thermostat adjustment
is provided by a separate button.
[0004] In the
US patent 3656314 , air flow is regulated by means of a shutter in the form of letter L located into
air passage opening. Control of the shutter and thermostat is ensured at distinct
points.
[0005] In the
US patent 3866437, air flow is controlled by means of a shutter having the form of letter T located
inside the air passage opening. The shutter and thermostat control is carried out
at distinct points.
[0006] Another temperature control mechanism is known from
US 4009590.
[0007] In the
US patent 4296611, shutters located into the air passage way have been divided into two groups at the
side of freezer and that of fresh food compartment and opening and closing of dampers
and adjusting the thermostat is possible by a single button simultaneously. Connection
means between the dampers set at the side of the fresh food compartment and control
button exist in the mechanism and a separate adjustment button for dampers is provided
at the side of the freezer compartment.
[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide a single temperature control mechanism
both to provide a thermostat control to adjust the temperature of the freezer and
fresh food compartment and to control the air flow between those compartments and
also to provide a precise adjustment as well.
[0009] Temperature control mechanism realized to attain the object of this invention has
been shown in drawings attached herewith, where:
Figure 1 is a schematic view of a refrigerator.
Figure 2 is an exploded view of a temperature control mechanism.
Figure 3 is a schematic fully covered view of a temperature control mechanism.
Figure 4 is a schematic half opened view of a temperature control mechanism.
Figure 5 is a schematic fully opened view of a temperature control mechanism.
Figure 6 is a schematic view of a temperature control mechanism in fast freezing position.
Figure 7 is a sectional view of a temperature control mechanism mounted on a refrigerator.
Figure 8 is a schematic view of a temperature control mechanism comprising a motion
transmission means.
[0010] Parts shown in the drawings numbered one by one as follows :
- 1. Refrigerator
- 2. Fresh food compartment
- 3. Freezer compartment
- 4. Temperature control mechanism
- 5. Thermostat
- 6. Air passage opening
- 7. Thermostat holder
- 8. Shutter valve
- 9. Adjustment button
- 10. Slit
- 11. Thermostat shaft
- 12. Shutter valve shaft
- 13. Shaft bed
- 14. Motion transmission means.
[0011] Refrigerator (1) comprise a fresh food compartment (2) to preserve food, a freezer
compartment (3) to store food by freezing, a temperature control mechanism (4) to
adjust the temperature of the freezer (3) and fresh food (2) compartments.
[0012] The temperature control mechanism (4) comprises a thermostat (5) which adjusts the
temperature of the fresh food compartment (1), an air passage opening (6) to ensure
air passage between the freezer (3) and fresh food (2) compartments, a shutter valve
(8) to adjust the air passage opening (6) according to the desired air flow, a thermostat
holder (7) that accomodates the thermostat (5) and the said shutter valve (8), an
adjustment button (9) for the rotation of the shutter valve (8) at the same time with
regulating thermostat (5), a shaft bed (13) located at the centre of the adjustment
button (9), a shutter valve shaft (12) to transmit the motion taken from the shaft
bed (13) to the shutter, a thermostat shaft (11) to transmit the motion generated
by the shutter shaft (12) to the thermostat (5).
[0013] The circular motion generated by the adjustment button (9) is transmitted without
using any auxiliary transmission means to the shaft bed (13) placed on the same axis
from the said shaft bed (13) to shutter valve shaft (12) and from this latter to thermostat
shaft (11).
[0014] While rotating, the shutter valve (8) is in the form of a helical cam to adjust the
air passage opening (6) to a desired size.
[0015] The shutter valve (8) comprises a slit (10) which ensures a limited amount of air
from the freezer compartment (3) to the fresh food compartment (2) when the refrigerator
needs to consume less power for instance in the vacation mode.
[0016] While the shutter valve (8) is turned via the adjustment button (9) to adjust to
the highest allowable temperature degree of the fresh food compartment (2) in vacation
mode, the thermostat (5) is adjusted to the minimum position to allow minimum cooling.
In this position shutter valve (8) completely closes the air passage opening (6),
by means of the slit (10) minimum amount of air passes through the fresh food compartment
(2) from the freezer compartment (3). (Figure 3).
[0017] For adjusting fresh food compartment (2) to the lowest allowable temperature value,
the shutter valve (8) is rotated via adjustment button (9) to allow maximum air flow
from the freezer compartment (3) to the fresh food compartment (2) which makes the
air passage opening (6) fully opened, while at the same time the thermostat (5) is
adjusted to a value that enables the cooling close to maximum (Figure 5).
[0018] When in the freezer compartment (3) fast freezing is to be performed while the thermostat
(5) is adjusted to a threshold value to ensure maximum cooling, at the same time the
shutter valve (8) is positioned to partially close air passage opening (6) to ensure
fast cooling of the freezer compartment (3) and thus to prevent food that are present
in the fresh food compartment (2) to be frozen due to the decrease of temperature
in the fresh food compartment more then desired. (Figure 6).
[0019] In another embodiment of the invention, the temperature control mechanism (4) comprises
a motion transmission element (14) to locate the thermostat (5) and the shutter valve
(8) at distinct places inside the refrigerator (1) to control the performance of the
thermostat (5) and the shutter valve (8) from a single point and to transmit the motion
created by the adjustment button (9) to shutter valve (8) by connecting the shaft
bed (13) which transmits the motion direct to the thermostat shaft (11) in the same
time to the shutter valve shaft (12) (Figure 8).
[0020] Adjustment of the thermostat (5) and air flow from the freezer compartment (3) to
the fresh food compartment (2) from a single point provides easiness and low cost
wise manufacturing process. On the other hand, the special form of the shutter valve
(8) allows a precise adjustment of the air flow.
[0021] The temperature control mechanism (4) according to this invention provides the refrigerator
to operate efficiently in vacation mode or in fast freezing positions.
1. A refrigerator (1) comprising a fresh food compartment (2), a freezer compartment
(3) and a temperature control mechanism (4), said temperature control mechanism (4)
comprises a thermostat (5) to provide adjustment of temperature in the fresh food
compartment (2), an air passage opening (6) to provide air passage between the freezer
(3) and fresh food (2) compartments, a shutter valve (8) to adjust the air passage
opening (6) according to a desired air flow, a thermostat holder (7) to accommodate
the thermostat (5) and the shutter valve (8), an adjustment button (9) to rotate the
shutter valve (8) with the thermostat (5), a shaft bed (13) located at the centre
of the adjustment button (9), a shutter valve shaft (12) to transmit the motion from
shaft bed (13) to the shutter valve (8) and a thermostat shaft (11) to transmit the
motion generated by the shutter valve shaft (12) to the thermostat (5) said temperature
control mechanism (4) being characterized in that the shutter valve (8) is in the form of a helical cam to adjust the air passage opening
(6) to a desired size while a circular motion is performed around a centre.
2. A refrigerator (1) as in claim 1, characterized in that the circular motion generated by the adjustment button (9) is transmitted to shaft
bed (13) situated on the same axis from the said shaft bed (13) to shutter valve shaft
(12) and from this latter to the thermostat shaft (11), without using any auxiliary
transmission means.
3. A refrigerator (1) as in claim 1, characterized in that the shutter valve (8) comprises a slit (10) which ensures a limited amount of air
from the freezer compartment (3) to the fresh food compartment (2) when the refrigerator
(1) needs to consume less power as when in vacation mode.
4. A refrigerator (1) as in claim 1, characterized in that when fast freezing is required in the freezer compartment (3), the thermostat (5)
is adjusted to a threshold value for maximum cooling, in the same time, the shutter
valve (8) is positioned to partially close air passage opening (6) for fast cooling
in the freezer compartment (3) and thus to prevent food present in the fresh food
compartment (2) to be frozen as a result of decreased temperature in the fresh food
compartment (2) unnecessarily.
5. A refrigerator (1) as in claim 1, characterized in that the temperature control mechanism (4) comprises a motion transmission means (14),
to accommodate the thermostat (5) and the shutter (8) control of the at distinct places
inside the refrigerator (1) to provide performance of the thermostat (5) and the shutter
valve (8) from a single point and to transmit the motion created by the adjustment
button (9) to shutter valve (8) by connecting the shaft bed (13) which transmits the
motion direct to the thermostat shaft (11) in the same time to the shutter valve shaft
(12)
1. Kühlschrank (1), umfassend ein Fach für frische Lebensmittel (2), ein Tiefkühlfach
(3) und einen Temperatursteuermechanismus (4), wobei der Temperatursteuermechanismus
(4) ein Thermostat (5) umfasst, das die Einstellung der Temperatur im Fach für frische
Lebensmittel (2) erlaubt, eine Luftdurchlassöffnung (6), die einen Luftdurchlass zwischen
dem Tiefkühlfach (3) und dem Fach für frische Lebensmittel (2) ermöglicht, ein Absperrorgan
(8), das die Luftdurchlassöffnung (6) entsprechend einer gewünschten Luftströmung
einstellt, eine Thermostathalterung (7) zum Unterbringen des Thermostats (5) und des
Absperrorgans (8), einen Einstellknopf (9) zum Drehen des Absperrorgans (8) zusammen
mit dem Thermostat (5), ein Wellenlager (13) in der Mitte des Einstellknopfes (9),
eine Absperrorganwelle (12) zum Übertragen der Bewegung vom Wellenlager (13) auf das
Absperrorgan (8), und eine Thermostatwelle (11) zum Übertragen der Bewegung, die von
der Absperrschieberwelle (12) erzeugt wird, auf das Thermostat (5), und wobei der
Temperatursteuermechanismus (4) dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Absperrorgan (8) die Form eines schraubenförmigen Nockens aufweist, um die Luftdurchlassöffnung
(6) auf eine gewünschte Größe einzustellen, wobei er eine Kreisbewegung um einen Mittelpunkt
herum vollzieht.
2. Kühlschrank (1) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Kreisbewegung, die von dem Einstellknopf (9) erzeugt wird, auf das Wellenlager
(13) auf derselben Achse wie vom Wellenlager (13) zur Absperrorganwelle (12) übertragen
wird, und von dieser auf die Thermostatwelle (11), ohne dass zusätzliche Übertragungsmittel
verwendet werden.
3. Kühlschrank (1) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Absperrorgan (8) einen Schlitz (10) umfasst, der sicherstellt, dass eine begrenzte
Menge an Luft vom Tiefkühlfach (3) zum Fach für frische Lebensmittel (2) gelangt,
wenn der Kühlschrank (1) weniger Energie benötigt als im Urlaubsmodus.
4. Kühlschrank (1) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass im Falle einer Schnellgefrierung im Tiefkühlfach (3) das Thermostat (5) auf einen
Schwellenwert für maximales Kühlen eingestellt ist, wobei gleichzeitig das Absperrorgan
(8) derart angeordnet ist, dass es zwecks Schnellkühlung des Tiefkühlfachs (3) die
Luftdurchlassöffnung (6) teilweise verschließt, und auf diese Weise verhindert, dass
Lebensmittel im Fach für frische Lebensmittel (2) aufgrund einer gesenkten Temperatur
im Fach für frische Lebensmittel (2) unnötig gefroren werden.
5. Kühlschrank (1) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Temperatursteuermechanismus (4) ein Bewegungsübertragungsmittel (14) umfasst,
das die Steuerung des Thermostats (5) und des Absperrorgans (8) an bestimmten Orten
im Inneren des Kühlschranks (1) aufnimmt, um die Leistung des Thermostats (5) und
des Absperrorgans (8) von einem einzelnen Punkt aus bereitzustellen, und um die Bewegung,
die vom Einstellknopf (9) erzeugt wird, auf das Absperrorgan (8) zu übertragen, indem
das Wellenlager (13), das die Bewegung direkt auf die Thermostatwelle (11) überträgt,
gleichzeitig mit der Absperrorganwelle (12) verbunden wird.
1. Un réfrigérateur (1) comprenant un compartiment de denrées fraîches (2), un compartiment
congélateur (3) et un mécanisme de contrôle de température (4), ledit mécanisme de
contrôle de température (4) comprend un thermostat (5) pour permettre l'ajustement
de la température dans le compartiment de denrées fraîches (2), un orifice de passage
de l'air (6) pour fournir un passage d'air entre le congélateur (3) et des compartiments
de denrées fraîches (2), un clapet d'obturation (8) pour régler l'ouverture du passage
d'air (6) selon le débit d'air souhaité, un porteur de thermostat (7) pour recevoir
le thermostat (5) et le clapet d'obturation (8), un bouton de réglage (9) pour faire
pivoter le clapet d'obturation (8) avec le thermostat (5), un lit d'arbre (13) situé
au centre du bouton de réglage (9), un arbre de clapet d'obturation (12) pour transmettre
le mouvement du lit d'arbre (13) au clapet d'obturation (8) et un arbre de thermostat
(11) pour transmettre le mouvement généré par l'arbre de clapet d'obturation (12)
au thermostat (5), caractérisé en ce que le clapet d'obturation (8) est sous la forme d'une came hélicoïdale pour ajuster
l'ouverture du passage de l'air (6) à la taille désirée lorsqu'un mouvement circulaire
est effectué autour d'un centre.
2. Un réfrigérateur (1) selon la Revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le mouvement circulaire généré par le bouton de réglage (9) est transmis au lit d'arbre
(13) situé sur le même axe que celui dudit lit d'arbre (13) à l'arbre de clapet d'obturation
(12) et que celui de cette dernière à l'arbre de thermostat (11), sans utiliser aucun
moyen auxiliaire de transmission.
3. Un réfrigérateur (1) selon la Revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le clapet d'obturation (8) comprend une fente (10) qui assure une quantité limitée
d'air provenant du compartiment congélateur (3) pour le compartiment des denrées fraîches
(2) lorsque le réfrigérateur (1) a besoin de consommer moins d'électricité que lorsqu'il
en mode vacances.
4. Un réfrigérateur (1) selon la Revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que en ce que lorsque la congélation rapide est nécessaire dans le compartiment congélateur (3),
le thermostat (5) est ajusté à une valeur seuil pour le refroidissement maximum, en
même temps, le clapet d'obturation (8) est bien placé pour fermer partiellement l'ouverture
de passage de l'air (6) pour le refroidissement rapide dans le compartiment congélateur
(3) et donc pour éviter que les aliments présents dans le compartiment des denrées
fraîches (2) soient gelés en raison de la diminution de température dans le compartiment
des denrées fraîches (2) inutilement.
5. Un réfrigérateur (1) selon la Revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le mécanisme de contrôle de la température (4) comprend un moyen de transmission
de mouvement (14), pour accueillir contrôle du thermostat (5) et de l'obturateur (8)
aux lieux distincts à l'intérieur du réfrigérateur (1) pour fournir des performances
du thermostat (5) et du clapet d'obturation (8) à partir d'un seul point et pour transmettre
le mouvement créé par le bouton de réglage (9) du clapet d'obturation (8) en reliant
le lit d'arbre (13) qui transmet le mouvement direct à l'arbre du thermostat (11)
en même temps à l'arbre de clapet d'obturation (12).
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only.
It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has
been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and
the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description