초록 ▼

A device for rapidly chilling containers in a refrigerator includes a base portion, an outer body portion and a carriage. The outer body portion includes an outer shell defining a central cavity. The carriage is rotatably supported in the central cavity and spaced from the outer shell so as to defin

A device for rapidly chilling containers in a refrigerator includes a base portion, an outer body portion and a carriage. The outer body portion includes an outer shell defining a central cavity. The carriage is rotatably supported in the central cavity and spaced from the outer shell so as to define an air channel. The carriage includes a support wall that defines an article receptacle. The support wall includes a plurality of openings that open to the air channel. A fan is provided to establish a cooling airflow that is directed through the air channel into the carriage. A motor is employed to selectively rotate the carriage. A plurality of rollers, at least one of which is driven by the motor, support and drive the carriage to rotate through the cooling airflow to rapidly lower the container temperature.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet defining a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment; a door for selectively closing at least one of the fresh food and freezer compartments; and a rapid chiller device arranged in one of the fresh food and freezer compartments including: a b

We claim: 1. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet defining a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment; a door for selectively closing at least one of the fresh food and freezer compartments; and a rapid chiller device arranged in one of the fresh food and freezer compartments including: a base portion; an outer body portion extending from the base portion and defining a central cavity; a carriage rotatably supported in the central cavity at a position spaced from the outer body portion such that an air channel is defined between the outer body portion and the carriage, said carriage having a support wall that defines an article receptacle, said support wall including a plurality of openings that are in fluid communication with the air channel; a motor operatively coupled to the carriage, said motor selectively rotating the carriage within the central cavity; and a fan mounted to the base portion, said fan establishing a cooling airflow that is directed into the air channel to rapidly chill an article placed in the receptacle. 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the rapid chiller device includes a drive member operatively connected to the motor and abutting the carriage, said drive member being selectively driven by the motor to rotate the carriage. 3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the drive member frictionally engages the carriage for rotating the carriage within the central cavity. 4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the drive member constitutes a roller. 5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the rapid chiller device includes an idler shaft provided with at least one idler roller, said idler roller providing rotational support to the carriage. 6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the rapid chiller device includes a support bearing positioned at a front portion of the carriage, said support bearing providing a forward support for the carriage. 7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the support bearing is constituted by a ring formed in a front portion of the outer body portion. 8. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising: a duct leading into the fresh food compartment from the freezer compartment, said duct having an outlet accessible within the fresh food compartment, said rapid chiller device receiving a flow of cooling air from the outlet. 9. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein the rapid chiller device is mounted to the outlet, said fan including an inlet portion fluidly connected to the duct. 10. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a chiller box mounted in the fresh food compartment, wherein the rapid chiller device is arranged in the chiller box. 11. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the openings in the support wall of the carriage are constituted by nozzles which direct a cooling airflow substantially perpendicular into the carriage. 12. A rapid chiller device for cooling a container in a refrigerator comprising: a base portion; an outer body portion extending from the base portion and defining a central cavity; a carriage rotatably supported in the central cavity at a position spaced from the outer body portion such that an air channel is defined between the outer body portion and the carriage, said carriage having a support wall that defines an article receptacle, said support wall including a plurality of openings that are in fluid communication with the air channel; a motor operatively coupled to the carriage, said motor selectively rotating the carriage within the central cavity; and a fan mounted to the base portion, said fan establishing a cooling airflow that is directed into the air channel to rapidly chill an article placed in the receptacle. 13. The rapid chiller device according to claim 12, further comprising: a drive member operatively connected to the motor and abutting the carriage, said drive member being selectively driven by the motor to rotate the carriage. 14. The rapid chiller device according to claim 13, wherein the drive member frictionally engages the carriage for rotating the carriage within the central cavity. 15. The rapid chiller device according to claim 14, wherein the drive member constitutes a roller. 16. The rapid chiller device according to claim 12, further comprising: an idler shaft provided with at least one idler roller, said idler roller providing rotational support to the carriage. 17. A method of rapidly chilling an article placed in a refrigerator mounted rapid chiller device including a base portion, an outer body portion extending from the base portion and defining a central cavity, and a carriage having a support wall that defines an article receptacle comprising: placing an article in the carriage; guiding a cooling airflow from a freezer compartment into an air channel defined by a space located between the outer body portion and the carriage; rotating the carriage about an axis of rotation in the central cavity; directing the airflow through openings provided about the carriage onto the article placed therein to create a disturbance in a thermal layer about the article in order to rapidly bring about a temperature reduction in the article. 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising: guiding the airflow substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the carriage onto the article. 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: rotating the carriage through operation of a drive member including at least one roller in frictional engagement with the carriage. 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: rotatably supporting a portion of the carriage on an idler roller carried by an idler shaft.