초록 ▼

A refrigeration appliance includes a large capacity refrigeration system for developing a flow of cold air that is impinged, preferably through top and side nozzles, upon food items placed within an internal cavity of the appliance to quickly freeze or chill the food items. An additional small capac

A refrigeration appliance includes a large capacity refrigeration system for developing a flow of cold air that is impinged, preferably through top and side nozzles, upon food items placed within an internal cavity of the appliance to quickly freeze or chill the food items. An additional small capacity refrigeration system is provided to maintain a desired temperature within the cavity when the rapid cooling is not needed. Preferably, an impingement air diffuser arrangement is provided to direct the air flow and includes partition members to divide the internal cavity into subspaces for different food packages, with varying cooling rates being permissible between the various sub-spaces. A vertically adjustable shelf is provided which cooperates with blocking plates which move up and down with the shelf and function to block air flow through nozzles arranged below the shelf such that all of the developed air flow is used for direct impingement on the food product.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A refrigeration appliance comprising:a housing including an internal cavity having an open portion for accessing the internal cavity from outside the housing; a fluid flow assembly including first, second and third passages, said first and second passages being interconnected by said third passag

1. A refrigeration appliance comprising:a housing including an internal cavity having an open portion for accessing the internal cavity from outside the housing; a fluid flow assembly including first, second and third passages, said first and second passages being interconnected by said third passage; a plurality of fluid entry ports leading into the internal cavity from the first passage; at least one fluid exit port leading from the internal cavity into the second passage; a first, large capacity refrigeration system for developing a flow of and rapidly cooling a fluid medium, said fluid medium being directed into the first passage of the fluid flow assembly, the internal cavity through the plurality of fluid entry ports for impingement upon a food item placed in the internal cavity, the second passage through the at least one fluid exit port and back to the first passage through the third passage; and a second, small capacity refrigeration system for maintaining a desired temperature environment within the internal cavity through the fluid medium.