초록 ▼

An improved refrigerator that combines means for directing cooling to a fresh-food compartment and a freezer compartment with a variable-capacity compressor. During fresh-food cooling the compressor volumetric capacity is reduced to match capacity of the expansion device. The means for directing coo

An improved refrigerator that combines means for directing cooling to a fresh-food compartment and a freezer compartment with a variable-capacity compressor. During fresh-food cooling the compressor volumetric capacity is reduced to match capacity of the expansion device. The means for directing cooling may be a multiple evaporators. Another option is a single evaporator with a reversing fan and flaps that respond to the direction of air flow to direct air flow between the evaporator and each compartment. Another embodiment comprises a natural-convection evaporator with dampers for directing air flow. This last embodiment also allows automatic defrost with a natural-convection evaporator.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A refrigerator with a freezer compartment cooling mode and a fresh-food compartment cooling mode, comprising:a) a compressor for pumping refrigerant vapor;b) a condenser that receives compressed vapor from said compressor and cools it to produce refrigerant liquid;c) a

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A refrigerator with a freezer compartment cooling mode and a fresh-food compartment cooling mode, comprising:a) a compressor for pumping refrigerant vapor;b) a condenser that receives compressed vapor from said compressor and cools it to produce refrigerant liquid;c) a first evaporator that evaporates said refrigerant liquid to produce refrigerant vapor and provides said refrigerant vapor to said compressor;d) a flow path between said condenser and said first evaporator that provides an approximately constant flow area during both the fresh-food and freezer cooling modes and that receives refrigerant liquid from said condenser and reduces the pressure of the refrigerant flowing into said first evaporator;e) means for controllably directing cooling produced by the evaporating refrigerant to said fresh-food compartment and said freezer compartment; andf) control means for reducing the volumetric capacity of said compressor during cooling of said fresh-food compartment relative to its volumetric capacity during cooling of said freezer compartment so as to match the refrigerant flow capacity of said flow path.