WO2011154423A2

WO2011154423A2 - A cooling device

Info

Publication number: WO2011154423A2
Application number: PCT/EP2011/059430
Authority: WO
Inventors: Serdar Kocaturk; Husnu Kerpicci; Seyhan Uygur Onbasioglu
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2010-06-08
Filing date: 2011-06-08
Publication date: 2011-12-15
Also published as: EP2580550B1; EP2580550A2; WO2011154423A3; PL2580550T3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling device (1) comprising a body (2) wherein foods and beverages are placed, a crisper (3) which is placed in the body (2), a cover (4) which is placed on the crisper (3) and separates the crisper (3) from the inner volume of the body (2), at least one air inlet (5) which provides cold air passage into the crisper (3) and at least one air outlet (6) which provides air discharge from the crisper (3).

Description

A COOLING DEVICE

The present invention relates to a cooling device comprising a crisper wherein humidity level is controlled.

Cooling devices comprise a freshfood compartment wherein foods and beverages are stored, a freezer compartment that provides foods to be stored by being frozen, and a crisper that is disposed in the freshfood compartment and wherein foods such as vegetables and fruits are stored. As a result of experimental studies, it is known that the optimum storage condition for the fruits and vegetables placed in the crisper is a relative humidity rate of 90% and a temperature between 2 and 10 C degrees. Cooling the crisper is provided by means of partially directing the cold air in other compartments into the crisper. When the foods inside the crisper directly contact the cold and dry air, the relative humidity rate in the crisper remains below the optimum storage conditions, and hence the foods wither by losing moisture and spoil in a shorter period of time. Therefore, the crisper is separated from the freshfood compartment inner volume by a cover disposed thereon and thus, the air flow between the crisper and the freshfood compartment is provided to remain limited. Accordingly, a temperature difference occurs between the crisper and the freshfood compartment inner volume albeit small. Depending on the temperature difference, condensation occurs on the lower surface of the cover that separates the freshfood compartment inner volume and the crisper. The condensation occurring on the lower surface of the cover causes water drops on the foods stored in the crisper and this causes the foods to rot by adversely affecting their storage lives.

Various methods have been developed in the state of the art for sending the cold air into the crisper in a controlled manner and preventing condensation from occurring by adjusting the humidity balance in the crisper.

In the state of the art European Patent Document No. EP1936302, a refrigerator is described, comprising a movable drawer type crisper that has a humidity sensor and wherein humidity control is realized in accordance with the data acquired from the humidity sensor.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooling device wherein the amount of humidity in the crisper is controlled.

Another aim of the present invention is to prevent condensation from occurring on the inner surface of the crisper cover due to the temperature difference between the inner volumes of the crisper and the cooling device.

The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a cover on the crisper, at least one air inlet that provides air passage to the crisper from the body and at least one air outlet that provides air discharge from the crisper.

The cooling device, furthermore, comprises a level sensor that is located inside the crisper and determines the instantaneous fullness rate of the crisper by detecting the upper level of the foods inside the crisper, and a control unit that adjusts the amount of relative humidity in the crisper according to the data acquired from the level sensor. Thus, according to the instantaneous fullness rate of the crisper, the amount of relative humidity of the crisper is kept at the optimum food storage conditions and hence, the foods are provided to be stored without losing freshness for a longer period of time.

A first valve is located on the air inlet that provides air intake to the crisper and a second valve is located on the air outlet. The opening rate of both valves is controlled by the control unit. The control unit calculates the maximum relative humidity rate in the crisper by using the data acquired from the level sensor. The optimum interval of maximum relative humidity that is determined by the experimental studies performed by the producer, that is recorded in the memory of the control unit and that has a lower limit and an upper limit corresponds to the optimum storage conditions for the vegetables in the crisper. The control unit controls whether or not the calculated maximum relative humidity amount is in the maximum relative humidity interval. If the calculated maximum relative humidity amount is not in the optimum interval of maximum relative humidity amount, the control unit provides the relative humidity amount in the crisper to be adjusted by changing the opening rate of the first valve and/or the second valve. Thus, the relative humidity amount in the crisper is automatically adjusted according to the amount of food loaded therein. By storing vegetables at optimum humidity conditions, their freshness is preserved for a longer period of time.

By means of the present invention, sweating is prevented from occurring on the lower surface of the cover and foods stored in the crisper are prevented from rotting by water dropping thereon, hence the storage lives of foods in the crisper are provided to be increased.

A cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 – is the schematic view of a cooling device and a crisper therein.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Cooling device
Body
Crisper
Cover
Air inlet
Air outlet
Level sensor
Control unit
First valve
Second valve

The cooling device (1) comprises a body (2) wherein foods and beverages are placed, a crisper (3) which is placed in the body (2), a cover (4) which is placed on the crisper (3) and separates the crisper (3) from the inner volume of the body (2), at least one air inlet (5) which provides cold air passage into the crisper (3) and at least one air outlet (6) which provides air discharge from the crisper (3).

Some of the air directed to the crisper (3) is directed into the crisper (3) by means of the air inlet (5) and some of it is directed to the outer periphery of the crisper (3). The cold air is both provided into the crisper (3) and circulated around it. Thus, suitable temperature and humidity conditions are provided inside the crisper (3) without condensation being formed.

The cooling device (1), furthermore, comprises at least one level sensor (7) that is located inside the crisper (3) and determines the instantaneous fullness rate of the crisper (3) by detecting the upper level of the foods inside the crisper (3), and a control unit (8) that provides the amount of relative humidity (RH) in the crisper (3) to be adjusted according to the data acquired from the level sensor (7).

By adjusting the humidity amount (RH) in the crisper (3) according to the data acquired from the level sensor (7), the optimum storage conditions are provided for the situation that the crisper (3) is loaded in different amounts. Keeping the humidity, which occurs as a result of the aspiration of the foods, in the crisper (3) in a controlled manner not only increases the storage life in the crisper (3) but also provides the amount of frost accumulated on the evaporator surface to be reduced. Thus, the defrost frequency is reduced and energy saving is obtained.

The cooling device (1), furthermore, comprises a first valve (9) which is located on the air inlet (5) and the opening rate of which is adjusted by the control unit (8), and a second valve (10) which is located on the air outlet (6) and the opening rate of which is adjusted by the control unit (8). The control unit (8) calculates the maximum relative humidity amount (RHmax) in the crisper (3) by using the data acquired from the level sensor (7) and compares whether or not the calculated maximum relative humidity amount (RHmax) is in the optimum interval of maximum relative humidity amount (DRH) that is determined by the producer and that remains between a lower limit (RH_l1) and an upper limit (RH_l2); and if the calculated maximum relative humidity amount (RHmax) is not in the optimum interval of maximum relative humidity amount (DRH), the control unit (8) adjusts the opening rate of the first valve (9) and/or the second valve (10) in order that the maximum relative humidity amount (RHmax) is in the optimum interval of maximum relative humidity amount (DRH).

The level sensor (7) detects the upper surface of the vegetables and fruits inside the crisper (3) and determines the instantaneous fullness rate of the crisper (3). The control unit (8) calculates the maximum relative humidity amount (RHmax) in the crisper (3) by means of a relation determined by the experimental studies of the producer by using the data of the instantaneous fullness rate, the crisper (3) height and the flow of air blown into the crisper (3) through the air inlet (5). Furthermore, in the memory of the control unit (8), the optimum interval of maximum relative humidity amount (DRH) is saved which is determined by the producer and which has a certain lower limit (RH_l1) and a certain upper limit (RH_l2) for storing vegetables for a long period of time inside the crisper (3) without losing freshness. The control unit (8) controls whether or not the calculated maximum relative humidity amount (RHmax) is in the optimum interval of maximum relative humidity amount (DRH). If the calculated maximum relative humidity amount (RHmax) is in this interval, the control unit (8) determines that the vegetables are stored under optimum storage conditions and provides the cooling device (1) to continue operating under current conditions. If the calculated maximum relative humidity amount (RHmax) is not in this interval, the control unit (8) changes the flow rate of air entering into the crisper (3) by changing the opening rate of the first valve (9) and/or the second valve (10). In this case, the control unit (8) calculates the maximum relative humidity amount (RHmax) in the crisper (3) and compares whether or not it remains in the optimum interval of maximum relative humidity amount (DRH). Until the maximum relative humidity amount (RHmax) being calculated that way remains in the optimum interval of maximum relative humidity amount (DRH), the opening adjustment of the first valve (9) and/or the second valve (10) is performed by the control unit (8). Thus, optimum storage conditions are created for the foods inside the crisper (3) and the foods are provided to stay fresh for a longer period of time.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (8) decreases the opening rate of the first valve (9) if the calculated maximum relative humidity amount (RHmax) is less than the lower limit (RH_l1) of the optimum interval of maximum relative humidity amount (DRH).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (8) increases the opening rate of the first valve (9) if the calculated maximum relative humidity amount (RHmax) is more than the upper limit (RH_l2) of the optimum interval of maximum relative humidity amount (DRH).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the level sensor (7) is disposed on the lower side of the cover (4). Thus, the level sensor (7) is provided to determine the instantaneous fullness rate of the crisper (3) in a correct manner.

By means of the cooling device (1) of the present invention, the humidity control of the crisper (3) is efficiently provided. By means of the level sensor (7), the maximum relative humidity amount (RHmax) in the crisper (3) is adjusted according to the amount of food placed in the crisper (3). Thus, the storing conditions of the foods are improved and the foods are provided to be stored without losing freshness for a longer period of time.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed above and a person skilled in the art can easily introduce different embodiments. These should be considered within the scope of the protection postulated by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

A cooling device (1) comprising a body (2) wherein foods and beverages are placed, a crisper (3) which is placed in the body (2), a cover (4) which is placed on the crisper (3) and separates the crisper (3) from the inner volume of the body (2), at least one air inlet (5) which provides cold air passage into the crisper (3) and at least one air outlet (6) which provides air discharge from the crisper (3), characterized by at least one level sensor (7) which is located inside the crisper (3) and determines the instantaneous fullness rate of the crisper (3) by detecting the upper level of the foods inside the crisper (3), and a control unit (8) which provides the amount of relative humidity (RH) in the crisper (3) to be adjusted according to the data acquired from the level sensor (7).
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a first valve (9) which is located on the air inlet (5) and the opening rate of which is adjusted by the control unit (8).
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized by a second valve (10) which is located on the air outlet (6) and the opening rate of which is adjusted by the control unit (8).
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the control unit (8) which calculates the maximum relative humidity amount (RHmax) in the crisper (3) by using the data acquired from the level sensor (7) and compares whether or not the calculated maximum relative humidity amount (RHmax) is in the optimum interval of maximum relative humidity amount (DRH) that is determined by the producer and that remains between a lower limit (RH_l1) and an upper limit (RH_l2); and if the calculated maximum relative humidity amount (RHmax) is not in the optimum interval of maximum relative humidity amount (DRH), which adjusts the opening rate of the first valve (9) and/or the second valve (10) in order that the maximum relative humidity amount (RHmax) is in the optimum interval of maximum relative humidity amount (DRH).
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the Claims 2 to 4, characterized by the control unit (8) which decreases the opening rate of the first valve (9) if the calculated maximum relative humidity amount (RHmax) is less than the lower limit (RH_l1) of the optimum interval of maximum relative humidity amount (DRH).
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the Claims 2 to 4, characterized by the control unit (8) which increases the opening rate of the first valve (9) if the calculated maximum relative humidity amount (RHmax) is more than the upper limit (RH_l2) of the optimum interval of maximum relative humidity amount (DRH).
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the level sensor (7) which is disposed on the lower side of the cover (4).