AN APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETECTING FREEZING OF A SUBSTANCE

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for detecting freezing of a substance.

Background

[0002] So-called frost-free refrigeration apparatus, such as freezers and refrigerators and the like, employ various complex methods for preventing a build up of ice. One example of such a method is periodically heating the freezer or refrigerator to melt any ice that may have formed inside. This process can be wasteful and inefficient.

[0003] JPS5820141U discloses a freeze-detecting switch mechanism in which a bellows contains water and displacement of the bellows due to the water freezing operates a switch.

[0004] DE29521065U discloses a device for defrosting evaporators for refrigerators, in which with the aid of a controller, ice formed on the evaporator is eliminated by temporarily increasing the temperature of the evaporator.

Summary

[0005] According to a first aspect disclosed herein, there is provided an apparatus for detecting freezing of a substance, the apparatus comprising:

a container, the container containing the substance which has a freezing temperature below which the substance is solid and above which the substance is liquid; characterised by:

a light source connected to the container;

an actuator, the actuator being arranged to move the container; and

a light detection component; the light detection component being arranged to detect light emitted by the light source;

the arrangement being such that, when the container is driven to move by the actuator, the amount of light detected by the light detection component varies depending on whether the substance in the container is in a solid state or a liquid state.

[0006] In an example, the light detection component comprises at least one light dependent resistor.

[0007] In an example, the apparatus comprises an electric motor for driving the actuator to vibrate the container.

[0008] In an example, the apparatus comprises a heating element, the arrangement being such that the heating element is triggered to heat when the amount of light detected by the light detection component indicates that the substance in the container is in a solid state.

[0009] In an example, there is provided refrigeration apparatus comprising apparatus as described above. The refrigeration apparatus may be for example a refrigerator or a freezer.

[0010] According to a second aspect disclosed herein, there is provided a method for detecting freezing of a substance, the method being characterised by:

driving a container to move by an actuator, the container containing the substance which has a freezing temperature below which the substance is solid and above which the substances is liquid; and

detecting, by a light detection component, light from a light source, the light source being connected to the container;

wherein the amount of light detected by the light detection component varies depending on whether the substance in the container is in a solid state or a liquid state.

[0011] In an example, the light detection component comprises at least one light dependent resistor.

[0012] In an example, the method comprises driving the actuator by an electric motor to vibrate the container.

[0013] In an example, the method comprises triggering a heating element to heat when the amount of light detected by the light detection component indicates that the substance in the container is in a solid state.

[0014] In an example, the method is carried out by a refrigeration apparatus the refrigeration apparatus may be for example a refrigerator or a freezer.

[0015] In an example the substance is water which in its liquid state is water or steam and in its solid state is ice.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] To assist understanding of the present disclosure and to show how embodiments may be put into effect, reference is made by way of example to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows schematically a side view of a first example of apparatus for detecting freezing of a substance; and

Figures 2A and 2B show schematically perspective views of the apparatus of Figure 1 in use.

Detailed Description

[0017] As mentioned previously, refrigeration apparatus, such as for example frost-free freezers and refrigerators and the like, prevent a build-up of ice, particularly on for example the heat exchanger, using relatively complex or inefficient methods. One such method is periodically heating a heater that is located on or near the heat exchanger to melt any ice that may have formed. Often these methods are wasteful, particularly if heaters are used excessively, and inefficient. These methods have no regard for whether ice has actually formed, and simply periodically heat the heat exchanger regardless.

[0018] According to examples described herein, an apparatus is arranged to detect the freezing of a substance, which may be for example water/ice. The apparatus comprises a container. The container contains a substance which has a freezing temperature below which the substance is solid and above which the substance is a liquid. The apparatus also has a light source. The light source is connected to the container. The light source may be connected directly to the container, for example by being mounted on or attached to the container. Alternatively, the light source may be connected indirectly to the container. The apparatus also comprises an actuator. The actuator is arranged to move the container. Further, the apparatus comprises a light detection component. The light detection component being arranged to detect light emitted by the light source. The apparatus is arranged such that, when the container is driven to move by the actuator, the amount of light detected by the light detection component varies depending on whether the substance in the container is in a solid state or a liquid state. Such apparatus may be used in a refrigeration apparatus, such as a refrigerator or a freezer or the like. Such apparatus may also be used in other applications where it may be useful to determine or detect that a substance has solidified.

[0019] Figure 1 schematically shows a side view of an example of an apparatus 100 for detecting that a substance has solidified. An actuator 102 is movable so as to drive a container 104 to move. In this example, the actuator 102 is connected to the container 104 by a rod 106. However, other components and methods may be used to cause the actuator 102 to drive the container 104 to move. A light source 108 is connected to the container 104. In this example, the light source 108 is shown directly connected to the container 104. Alternatively, the light source may be mounted indirectly to the container 104, for example by some linkage or the like. The light source 108 is arranged to emit light. The light source 108 may be for example an LED (light emitting diode). A light detector 110 is located so as to receive light emitted by the light source 108.

[0020] In use, a motor 112 moves the actuator 102 which causes the container 104 to move. In one example, the movement of the container 104 is a reciprocating or vibrational movement. This may be for example a back and forth movement of the container 104 or a side to side movement of the container 104 or both.

[0021] When the substance 114 is in a liquid state at the time the container 104 is driven to move, the substance 114 will move with the container 104 but will also tend to move within the container 104, typically in a somewhat irregular manner, i.e. the liquid substance 114 will tend to "slosh" around within the container 104. This additional movement of the liquid substance 114 in the container 104 tends to add an additional movement to the container 104 move. The additional movement caused by the liquid substance 114 may occur at the time when the actuator 102 is driving the container 104 to move. Additionally or alternatively, the additional movement caused by the liquid substance 114 in the container 104 may cause the container 104 to continue to move after the actuator 102 has stopped driving the container 104 to move.

[0022] In contrast, when the substance 112 is a solid, the movement of the container 104 will practically only be driven by the movement of the actuator 102.

[0023] Accordingly, the movement of the container 104 will be more irregular or chaotic when the substance 112 is in a liquid state than when the substance 112 is in a solid state.

[0024] The light source 108 is connected to the container 104. Therefore, when the container 104 is driven to move, the light source 108 also moves. A light detector 110 is arranged to receive light from the light source 108. The nature of the light signal detected by the light detector 110 will be indicative of the motion of the light source 108, and therefore of motion of the container 104.

[0025] Figure 2A shows a perspective view of the apparatus 100 of Figure 1 in use when the substance 114 is in a liquid state. The apparatus 100 is arranged such that a light signal from the light source 108 is detected by the light detector 110. When the substance 114 is in a liquid state at a time the container 104 is driven to move by an actuator 102, the liquid substance 114 will tend to move with the container 104 but will also move around in an irregular manner within the container 114, i.e. the liquid substance 114 will slosh around within the container 104, as described above. The additional movement caused by the liquid substance 114 will cause movement of the container 104, and therefore the movement of the light source 108, to be somewhat irregular or even chaotic. At this time, in one example the light detector 110 will receive a more irregular or chaotic light signal from the light source 108. The light signal will therefore be more spread out in space, typically with an irregular side to side movement which is superimposed on the more regular side to side movement brought about by the reciprocating movement of container 104 and light source 108. This is illustrated schematically in Figure 2A by an extended oval light pattern 116 which is received at the light detector 110.

[0026] Figure 2B shows a perspective view of the apparatus of Figure 1 in use when the substance 114 is in a solid state. When the substance 114 is in a solid state at a time the container 104 is driven to move by an actuator 102, the solid substance 114 will not tend to move within the container 104. The container 104 will therefore move largely according to the driving movement of the actuator 102, i.e. in a generally regular manner. Therefore, the light source 108 will also tend to move in the same regular manner as the container 104. At this time, the light detector 110 therefore receive a regular light signal from the light source 108. This is illustrated schematically in Figure 2B by a circular or slightly oval light pattern 116 which is received at the light detector 110.

[0027] The light detector may be or include at least one light-dependent resistor (LDR) 118. Figures 1 and 2 show the light detector 110 including a plurality of LDRs 118 arranged in a row. An LDR is a variable resistor for which the resistance changes in accordance with the light intensity which falls upon it.

[0028] Figure 3 shows an example electrical arrangement 300 for triggering a heating element 302 to heat an environment when a substance has solidified. The electric arrangement 300 comprises at least one LDR 304 which receives a light signal from a light source, and a reference resistor 306 for providing a reference for comparison of the light signal detected by an LDR 118/304. The arrangement 300 further comprises a power supply 308 to power the heating element 302, and a switch 310, which may be a transistor such as a MOFSET (metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor), to enable/disable the heating element 302.

[0029] When the substance 114 in the container 104 is a liquid, the container 104 and thus the light source 108 attached to the container 104 move irregularly. In such a case, at least some of the light from the light source 108 that is incident on the detector 110 may fall outside the bounds of the light detector 110. Alternatively or additionally, if there are plural LDRs 118, the light that is incident on the detector 110 will tend to spread over a larger number of LDRs 118/304. In any event, as a consequence, the resistance of the or each LDR 118/304 is somewhat low when compared with the resistance of the reference resistor 306. Therefore the switch 310 will not switch on the heating element 302.

[0030] On the other hand, when the substance 114 in the container 104 is in a solid state, the container 104, and thus the light source 108 attached to the container 104, move regularly. The light signal from the light source 108 will therefore be less spread out and will fall within the bounds of the light detector 110 as a whole and/or any particular LDR 118 receiving light will receive a higher intensity of light. As a consequence, the resistance of the LDR 118/304 receiving light is high when compared against the resistance of the reference resistor 306. The switch 310 will therefore switch on the heating element 302.

[0031] The electrical arrangement 300 avoids the need for a microcontroller to detect that a substance has solidified and to control operation of a heater. The electric arrangement 300 may be part of an electric circuit used within a refrigeration apparatus. In particular, the heater 302 is located and arranged to reduce or prevent build up of ice on one or more specific components in a refrigeration apparatus, such as the heat exchanger of a refrigeration apparatus.

[0032] The examples described herein are to be understood as illustrative examples of embodiments of the invention. Further embodiments and examples are envisaged. Any feature described in relation to any one example or embodiment may be used alone or in combination with other features. In addition, any feature described in relation to any one example or embodiment may also be used in combination with one or more features of any other of the examples or embodiments, or any combination of any other of the examples or embodiments. Furthermore, equivalents and modifications not described herein may also be employed within the scope of the invention, which is defined in the claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus (100) for detecting freezing of a substance (114), the apparatus (100) comprising:

a container (104); the container (104) containing the substance (114) which has a freezing temperature below which the substance (114) is solid and above which the substance (114) is liquid; characterised by:

a light source (108) connected to the container (104);

an actuator (102), the actuator (102) being arranged to move the container (104); and

a light detection component (110); the light detection component (110) being arranged to detect light emitted by the light source (108);

the arrangement being such that, when the container (104) is driven to move by the actuator (102), the amount of light detected by the light detection component (110) varies depending on whether the substance (114) in the container (104) is in a solid state or a liquid state.

2. An apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein the light detection component (110) comprises at least one light dependent resistor (304).

3. An apparatus (100) according to any of claims 1 or 2, comprising an electric motor (112) for driving the actuator (102) to vibrate the container (104).

4. An apparatus (100) according to any of claims 1 to 3, comprising a heating element (302), the arrangement being such that the heating element (302) is triggered to heat when the amount of light detected by the light detection component (110) indicates that the substance (114) in the container (104) is in a solid state.

5. An apparatus (100) according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the substance (114) is water which in its liquid state is water or steam and in its solid state is ice.

6. A refrigeration apparatus comprising an apparatus (100) according to any of claims 1 to 5.

7. A method for detecting freezing of a substance (114), the method being characterised by:

driving a container (104) to move by an actuator (102), the container (104) containing the substance (114) which has a freezing temperature below which the substance (114) is solid and above which the substance (114) is liquid; and

detecting, by a light detection component (110), light from a light source (108), the light source (108) being connected to the container (104);

wherein the amount of light detected by the light detection component (110) varies depending on whether the substance (114) in the container (104) is in a solid state or a liquid state.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the light detection component (110) comprises at least one light dependent resistor.

9. A method according to claim 7 or claim 8, further comprising driving the actuator (102) by an electric motor (112) to vibrate the container (104).

10. A method according to any of claims 7 to 9, further comprising triggering a heating element (302) to heat when the amount of light detected by the light detection component (110) indicates that the substance (114) in the container (104) is in a solid state.

11. A method according to any of claims 7 to 10, wherein the substance (114) is water which in its liquid state is water or steam and in its solid state is ice.

12. A method according to any of claims 7 to 11, the method being carried out in a refrigeration apparatus.

Ansprüche

1. Vorrichtung (100) zum Erkennen des Gefrierens einer Substanz (114), wobei die Vorrichtung (100) Folgendes umfasst:
einen Behälter (104); wobei der Behälter (104) die Substanz (114) enthält, die einen Gefrierpunkt aufweist, unterhalb dem die Substanz (114) fest ist und oberhalb dem die Substanz (114) flüssig ist; gekennzeichnet durch:

eine Lichtquelle (108), die mit dem Behälter (104) verbunden ist;

ein Betätigungselement (102), wobei das Betätigungselement (102) dazu angeordnet ist, den Behälter (104) zu bewegen; und

eine Lichterkennungskomponente (110); wobei die Lichterkennungskomponente (110) dazu angeordnet ist, Licht zu erkennen, das von der Lichtquelle (108) abgestrahlt wird;

wobei die Anordnung derart ist, dass, wenn der Behälter (104) von dem Betätigungselement (102) zur Bewegung angetrieben wird, die von der Lichterkennungskomponente (110) erkannte Lichtmenge in Abhängigkeit davon variiert, ob die Substanz (114) in dem Behälter (104) in einem festen Zustand oder einem flüssigen Zustand ist.

2. Vorrichtung (100) nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Lichterkennungskomponente (110) mindestens einen lichtabhängigen Widerstand (304) umfasst.

3. Vorrichtung (100) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 oder 2, umfassend einen Elektromotor (112) zum Antreiben des Betätigungselements (102), um den Behälter (104) zu rütteln.

4. Vorrichtung (100) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, umfassend ein Heizelement (302), wobei die Anordnung derart ist, dass das Heizelement (302) zum Heizen ausgelöst wird, wenn die von der Lichterkennungskomponente (110) erkannte Lichtmenge darauf hinweist, dass die Substanz (114) in dem Behälter (104) in einem festen Zustand ist.

5. Vorrichtung (100) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, wobei die Substanz (114) Wasser ist, das in seinem flüssigen Zustand Wasser oder Wasserdampf ist und in seinem festen Zustand Eis ist.

6. Kühlvorrichtung, die eine Vorrichtung (100) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5 umfasst.

7. Verfahren zum Erkennen des Gefrierens einer Substanz (114), wobei das Verfahren durch Folgendes gekennzeichnet ist:

Antreiben eines Behälters (104) zur Bewegung durch ein Betätigungselement (102), wobei der Behälter (104) die Substanz (114) enthält, die einen Gefrierpunkt aufweist, unterhalb dem die Substanz (114) fest ist und oberhalb dem die Substanz (114) flüssig ist; und

Erkennen von Licht von einer Lichtquelle (108) durch eine Lichterkennungskomponente (110), wobei die Lichtquelle (108) mit dem Behälter (104) verbunden ist;

wobei die von der Lichterkennungskomponente (110) erkannte Lichtmenge in Abhängigkeit davon variiert, ob die Substanz (114) in dem Behälter (104) in einem festen Zustand oder einem flüssigen Zustand ist.

8. Verfahren nach Anspruch 7, wobei die Lichterkennungskomponente (110) mindestens einen lichtabhängigen Widerstand (304) umfasst.

9. Verfahren nach Anspruch 7 oder 8, weiterhin umfassend ein Antreiben des Betätigungselements (102) durch einen Elektromotor (112), um den Behälter (104) zu rütteln.

10. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 7 bis 9, weiterhin umfassend ein Auslösen eines Heizelements (302) zum Heizen, wenn die von der Lichterkennungskomponente (110) erkannte Lichtmenge darauf hinweist, dass die Substanz (114) in dem Behälter (104) in einem festen Zustand ist.

11. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 7 bis 10, wobei die Substanz (114) Wasser ist, das in seinem flüssigen Zustand Wasser oder Wasserdampf ist und in seinem festen Zustand Eis ist.

12. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 7 bis 11, wobei das Verfahren in einer Kühlvorrichtung ausgeführt wird.

Revendications

1. Appareil (100) pour détecter du gel dans une substance (114), l'appareil (100) comprenant :

un contenant (104), le contenant (104) contenant la substance (114) dont la température de congélation se situe en deçà de laquelle la substance (114) est solide et au-dessus de laquelle la substance (114) est fluide ,

caractérisé par :

une source lumineuse (108) connectée au contenant (104) ;

un actionneur (102), l'actionneur (102) étant agencé de sorte à faire bouger le contenant (104) ; et

un élément détecteur de lumière (110), l'élément détecteur de lumière (110) étant agencé de sorte à détecter de la lumière émise par la source lumineuse (108) ;

l'agencement étant tel que, lorsque le contenant (104) est entraîné pour bouger par l'actionneur (102), la quantité de lumière détectée par l'élément détecteur de lumière (110) varie selon que la substance (114) contenue dans le contenant (104) se trouve dans un état solide ou dans un état liquide.

2. Appareil (100) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'élément détecteur de lumière (110) comprend au moins une résistance dépendante de la lumière (304).

3. Appareil (100) selon, soit la revendication 1, soit la revendication 2, comprenant un moteur électrique (112) pour entraîner l'actionneur (102) et ainsi faire vibrer le contenant (104).

4. Appareil (100) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, comprenant un élément chauffant (302), l'agencement étant tel que l'élément chauffant (302) est déclenché de sorte à chauffer lorsque la quantité de lumière détectée par l'élément détecteur de lumière (110) indique que la substance (114) contenue dans le contenant (104) se trouve dans un état solide.

5. Appareil (100) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, dans lequel la substance (114) est de l'eau qui, dans son état liquide, est de l'eau ou de la vapeur, et qui dans son état solide est de la glace.

6. Appareil de réfrigération comprenant un appareil (100) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5.

7. Procédé pour détecter du gel dans une substance (114), le procédé étant caractérisé par :

l'entraînement d'un contenant (104), pour qu'il puisse bouger, par un actionneur (102), le contenant (104) contenant la substance (114) dont la température de congélation se situe en deçà de laquelle la substance (114) est solide et au-dessus de laquelle la substance (114) est fluide ; et

la détection, par un élément détecteur de lumière (110), de la lumière émise par une source lumineuse (108), la source lumineuse (108) étant connectée au contenant (104) ;

dans lequel la quantité de lumière détectée par l'élément détecteur de lumière (110) varie selon que la substance (114) contenue dans le contenant (104) se trouve dans un état solide ou dans un état liquide.

8. Procédé selon la revendication 7, dans lequel l'élément détecteur de lumière (110) comprend au moins une résistance dépendante de la lumière.

9. Procédé selon, soit la revendication 7, soit la revendication 8, consistant en outre à entraîner l'actionneur (102) par un moteur électrique (112) pour faire vibrer le contenant (104).

10. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 7 à 9, consistant en outre à déclencher un élément chauffant (302) pour qu'il chauffe lorsque la quantité de lumière détectée par l'élément détecteur de lumière (110) indique que la substance (114) contenue dans le contenant (104) se trouve dans un état solide.

11. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 7 à 10, dans lequel la substance (114) est de l'eau qui, dans son état liquide, est de l'eau ou de la vapeur, et qui dans son état solide est de la glace.

12. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 7 à 11, le procédé étant effectué dans un appareil de réfrigération.

Drawing