초록 ▼

The invention consists of a unit 10 including a two-piece, snap together housing made of elements 40 and 50 which forms the orifice seat and the transitions which direct moisture away from the seat area and prevents the accumulation of moisture in the seat area. Left-Hand (LH) housing 50 contains a

The invention consists of a unit 10 including a two-piece, snap together housing made of elements 40 and 50 which forms the orifice seat and the transitions which direct moisture away from the seat area and prevents the accumulation of moisture in the seat area. Left-Hand (LH) housing 50 contains a blind journal and right-hand (RH) housing portion 40 contains a through journal for support and location of the gate 60. Also integral to the RH housing portion 40 are bosses for attaching the snap action switches 80, which determine gate orientation and mounting a gear motor 90, and can generally be referenced as "gate position sensors". Such switches could also be replaced with other gate position sensors such as know in the art such as hall effect switches, magnetic switches, optical devices, etc. The gear motor provides the driving torque to the gate 60 through a cam-coupling 70, which has four switch detents 71, oriented to an internal shaft indexing means. Insulation members 20, 30 minimize condensation in the housing portions 40, 50 by separating the cold air flowing through housing from the warmer air which surrounds the damper assembly 10. In operation, a temperature sensing device/system senses the compartment temperature and energizes the gear motor 90, rotating the gate 60 into the open or closed position. The position of the gate 60 is determined by the combination of the states of the two switches 80. When used with mechanical controls the gate will rotate 90 degrees per cycle. When used with an electronic control system, the gate 60 can be rotated to any desired position and then stopped.

대표청구항 ▼

That which is claimed: 1. A combination refrigerator/freezer unit, said unit comprising: A) a refrigerator portion; B) a freezer portion; and C) a valve in between said refrigerator portion and said freezer portion, said valve comprising: a housing portion defining an air passageway hole having an

That which is claimed: 1. A combination refrigerator/freezer unit, said unit comprising: A) a refrigerator portion; B) a freezer portion; and C) a valve in between said refrigerator portion and said freezer portion, said valve comprising: a housing portion defining an air passageway hole having an air passageway hole axis extending through said air passageway hole, and further defining a land area, said land area defining a peripheral surface portion extending substantially about the periphery of said hole, said peripheral surface portion facing inwardly towards said air passageway hole axis, said housing portion defining a tapering portion adjacent at least a portion of said land area peripheral surface portion such that air flow is more constricted when passing said land area; a gate pivotable about an axis substantially perpendicular to said air passageway hole axis, said gate capable of: substantially closing said air passageway hole, and knocking off ice formed on at least part of said land area. 2. The combination refrigerator/freezer unit of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said land area is arcuate. 3. The combination refrigerator/freezer unit of claim 1, wherein said gate is mounted within said housing portion such that it can pivot through 360 degrees about said axis transversing said air passageway hole. 4. The combination refrigerator/freezer unit of claim 3, said valve further comprising electronics configured to: determine a first position of said gate; and facilitate a positioning of said gate to a second position, said second position being selected from a plurality of positions ranging between a fully closed position and a fully open position. 5. The combination refrigerator/freezer unit of claim 1, said valve further comprising an insulating portion for insulating at least a portion of said housing portion. 6. The combination refrigerator/freezer unit of claim 1, said valve further comprising gate position sensors configured to provide feedback on the position of said gate. 7. The combination refrigerator/freezer unit of claim 1, wherein said gate pivots about an axis that transverses said passageway hole at approximately the center of said passageway hole. 8. A combination refrigerator/freezer unit, said unit comprising: A) a refrigerator portion; B) a freezer portion; and C) a valve in between said refrigerator portion and said freezer portion, said valve comprising: a housing portion defining an air passageway hole having an air passageway hole axis extending through said air passageway hole, and further defining a land area, said land area defining a peripheral surface portion extending substantially about the periphery of said hole, said peripheral surface portion facing inwardly towards said air passageway central hole axis, said housing portion further defining angular tapering transitions on either side of said hole, said transitions each configured to each taper towards said hole such that air flow passing through said housing portion is gradually increasingly constricted as it passes through a first angular transition before passing through said hole, and then gradually decreasingly constricted as is passes through a second angular transition after passing through said hole; a gate pivotable about an axis substantially perpendicular to said air passageway hole axis said gate capable of: substantially closing said air passageway hole, and knocking off ice formed on at least part of said land area, such that said knocked off ice tends to be diverted away from proximate said land area upon contacting one of said angular tapering transitions. 9. The combination refrigerator/freezer unit of claim 8, wherein at least a portion of said land area is arcuate. 10. The combination refrigerator/freezer unit of claim 8, wherein said gate is mounted within said housing portion such that it can pivot through 360 degrees about said axis transversing said air passageway hole. 11. The combination refrigerator/freezer unit of claim 10, said valve further comprising electronics configured to: determine a first position of said gate; and facilitate a positioning of said gate to a second position, said second position being selected from a plurality of positions ranging between a fully closed position and a fully open position. 12. The combination refrigerator/freezer unit of claim 8, said valve further comprising an insulating portion for insulating at least a portion of said housing portion. 13. The combination refrigerator/freezer unit of claim 8, said valve further comprising gate position sensors configured to provide feedback on the position of said gate. 14. The combination refrigerator/freezer unit of claim 8, wherein said gate pivots about an axis that transverses said passageway hole at approximately the center of said passageway hole. 15. A valve for use in a combination refrigerator/freezer unit, said unit including a refrigerator portion and a freezer portion, said valve configured for regulating air between said refrigerator portion and said freezer portion and comprising: a housing portion defining an air passageway hole having an air passageway hole axis extending through said air passageway hole, and further defining a land area, said land area defining a peripheral surface portion extending substantially about the periphery of said hole, said peripheral surface portion facing inwardly towards said air passageway hole axis, said housing portion further defining angular tapering transitions on either side of said hole, said transitions each configured to each taper towards said hole such that air flow passing through said housing portion is gradually increasingly constricted as it passes through a first angular transition before passing through said hole, and then gradually decreasingly constricted as is passes through a second angular transition after passing through said hole; a gate pivotable about an axis substantially perpendicular to said air passageway hole axis said gate capable of: substantially closing said air passageway hole, and knocking off ice formed on at least part of said land area, such that said knocked off ice tends to be diverted away from proximate said land area upon contacting one of said angular tapering transitions. 16. The valve for use in a combination refrigerator/freezer unit as claimed in claim 15, wherein at least a portion of said land area is arcuate. 17. The valve for use in a combination refrigerator/freezer unit as claimed in claim 15, wherein said gate is mounted within said housing portion such that it can pivot through 360 degrees about said axis transversing said air passageway hole. 18. The valve for use in a combination refrigerator/freezer unit as claimed in claim 17, said valve further comprising electronics configured to: determine a first position of said gate; and facilitate a positioning of said gate to a second position, said second position being selected from a plurality of positions ranging between a fully closed position and a fully open position. 19. The valve for use in a combination refrigerator/freezer unit as claimed in claim 15, said valve further comprising an insulating portion for insulating at least a portion of said housing portion. 20. The valve for use in a combination refrigerator/freezer unit as claimed in claim 15, said valve further comprising gate position sensors configured to provide feedback on the position of said gate. 21. The valve for use in a combination refrigerator/freezer unit as claimed in claim 15, wherein said gate pivots about an axis that transverses said passageway hole at approximately the center of said passageway hole.