초록 ▼

A refrigerator for storing products includes a sensor container configured to position at least one temperature sensor within a refrigerated interior in a cabinet of the refrigerator. The sensor container includes a main body portion enclosing a hollow interior space configured to receive a ballast

A refrigerator for storing products includes a sensor container configured to position at least one temperature sensor within a refrigerated interior in a cabinet of the refrigerator. The sensor container includes a main body portion enclosing a hollow interior space configured to receive a ballast liquid, and a plurality of dry wells which each extend generally horizontally between a closed end within the hollow interior space and an open end. The temperature sensors positioned in the dry wells are surrounded by ballast liquid but are not in direct contact with refrigerated air within the cabinet or the ballast liquid. The temperature measurements therefore approximate the thermal response of products (such as blood) stored in the cabinet without necessitating submersible sensors or a risk of liquid leaks. The temperature measurements may be sent to elements such as a chart recorder, and a display and alarm device associated with the refrigerator.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A sensor container for positioning at least one temperature sensor within a refrigerated interior of a refrigerator cabinet having a cabinet opening closeable by a door, the sensor container comprising: a main body portion including a plurality of walls enclosing a hollow interior space configure

1. A sensor container for positioning at least one temperature sensor within a refrigerated interior of a refrigerator cabinet having a cabinet opening closeable by a door, the sensor container comprising: a main body portion including a plurality of walls enclosing a hollow interior space configured to receive a ballast liquid, the main body portion also including a plurality of openings located in at least one of the plurality of walls;a plurality of dry wells configured to receive a temperature sensor, each of the dry wells including a tubular body inserted into the main body portion so as to extend between a closed end located within the hollow interior space and an open end permanently coupled to the main body portion at one of the plurality of openings, the open ends of the plurality of dry wells forming a seal so as to prevent fluid communication between the hollow interior space and the refrigerated interior at the plurality of openings, wherein the tubular body of each of the plurality of dry wells extends generally horizontally within the hollow interior space when the sensor container is installed within the refrigerator cabinet;a fill port formed in the main body portion and configured to selectively provide communication between the hollow interior space and an external environment outside the sensor container, such that the ballast liquid can be drained and/or refilled when necessary; anda fill cap coupled to the fill port to prevent fluid communication through the fill port when the sensor container is filled with ballast liquid, wherein the fill cap is removably coupled to the fill port, and the fill port is provided proximate to a top end of the hollow interior space when the sensor container is installed within the refrigerator cabinet,wherein when the at least one temperature sensor is inserted into the plurality of dry wells, the ballast liquid within the hollow interior space surrounds the at least one temperature sensor without contacting the at least one temperature sensor, thereby isolating the at least one temperature sensor from direct contact with refrigerated air in the refrigerated interior and also dampening sensor response to temperature fluctuations in the refrigerated air within the refrigerated interior, andwherein the plurality of openings is provided along a single one of the plurality of walls, and the fill port is provided in a different one of the plurality of walls located on an opposite side of the main body portion from the plurality of openings, so as to have the fill port face away from the cabinet opening and the door when the sensor container is installed within the refrigerator cabinet. 2. The sensor container of claim 1, wherein the main body portion further comprises: a plurality of neck portions projecting outwardly from one of the plurality of walls to thereby define the plurality of openings, each of the neck portions including an end surface; andwherein each of the plurality of dry wells further comprises:a flange projecting radially outwardly from the tubular body at the open end thereof, the flange positioned in an abutment with the end surface of a corresponding one of the plurality of neck portions when permanently coupling the plurality of dry wells to the main body portion. 3. The sensor container of claim 2, wherein the tubular body of each of the plurality of dry wells is welded to the corresponding one of the plurality of neck portions adjacent the abutment of the flange and the end surface in order to permanently couple these elements together. 4. The sensor container of claim 1, wherein the plurality of openings include first, second, and third openings, and wherein the plurality of dry wells include first, second, and third dry wells. 5. The sensor container of claim 4, wherein at least one of the first, second, and third dry wells is sized large enough to receive temperature sensors containing Peltier elements. 6. The sensor container of claim 5, wherein each of the first, second, and third dry wells includes a retainer cap removably inserted into the corresponding open end to thereby prevent air flow into the corresponding dry well when a temperature sensor smaller in size than the open end is inserted into the corresponding dry well. 7. The sensor container of claim 1, further comprising: first and second temperature sensors positioned in two of the plurality of dry wells, the first and second temperature sensors providing temperature measurement signals to at least one of: a display and alarm device on the refrigerator cabinet; anda chart recorder for recording temperature over time in the refrigerator cabinet. 8. The sensor container of claim 7, wherein the first and second temperature sensors are not connected to a refrigeration system associated with the refrigerator cabinet, such that the temperature measurement signals are not used to control the temperature within the refrigerated interior. 9. A refrigerator, comprising: a cabinet having a refrigerated interior;a refrigeration system for circulating a refrigerant and for removing heat energy from the refrigerated interior; anda sensor container for positioning at least one temperature sensor within the refrigerated interior, the sensor container further comprising: a main body portion including a plurality of walls enclosing a hollow interior space configured to receive a ballast liquid, the main body portion also including a plurality of openings located in at least one of the plurality of walls; anda plurality of dry wells, each including a tubular body inserted into the main body portion so as to extend between a closed end located within the hollow interior space and an open end permanently coupled to the main body portion at one of the plurality of openings, the open ends of the plurality of dry wells forming a seal to prevent fluid communication between the hollow interior space and the refrigerated interior at the plurality of openings;wherein when at least one temperature sensor is inserted into the plurality of dry wells, the ballast liquid within the hollow interior space surrounds the at least one temperature sensor without contacting the at least one temperature sensor, thereby isolating the at least one temperature sensor from direct contact with refrigerated air in the refrigerated interior and also dampening sensor response to temperature fluctuations in the refrigerated air within the refrigerated interior,wherein the tubular body of each of the plurality of dry wells extends generally horizontally within the hollow interior space when the sensor container is installed within the cabinet, thereby enabling insertion and removal of the at least one temperature sensor to and from the plurality of dry wells without such movement being occluded by a top wall of the cabinet, andwherein the refrigerated interior is accessible through a cabinet opening and a door located along the cabinet opening, the plurality of openings in the main body portion of the sensor container are provided along a single one of the plurality of walls which faces towards the cabinet opening and the door, and the sensor container further comprises:a fill port formed in the main body portion and configured to selectively provide communication between the hollow interior space and an external environment outside the sensor container, such that the ballast liquid can be drained and/or refilled when necessary, the fill port being provided in a different one of the plurality of walls located on an opposite side of the main body portion from the plurality of openings, so as to face away from the cabinet opening and the door. 10. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the refrigerated interior defines a storage space located inside a plurality of sidewalls, a top wall, and a bottom wall of the cabinet, and the sensor container is coupled to one of the plurality of sidewalls at a location proximate the top wall, such that the sensor container does not substantially interfere with use of the storage space defined within the refrigerated interior. 11. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the main body portion of the sensor container further comprises: a plurality of neck portions projecting outwardly from one of the plurality of walls to thereby define the plurality of openings, each of the neck portions including an end surface; andwherein each of the plurality of dry wells of the sensor container further comprises:a flange projecting radially outwardly from the tubular body at the open end thereof, the flange positioned in an abutment with the end surface of a corresponding one of the plurality of neck portions when permanently coupling the plurality of dry wells to the main body portion. 12. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the sensor container further comprises: a fill port formed in the main body portion and configured to selectively provide communication between the hollow interior space and an external environment outside the sensor container, such that the ballast liquid can be drained and/or refilled when necessary; anda fill cap coupled to the fill port to prevent fluid communication through the fill port when the sensor container is filled with ballast liquid and in use. 13. The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein the fill cap is removably coupled to the fill port, and the fill port is provided proximate to a top end of the hollow interior space when the sensor container is installed within the cabinet. 14. A refrigerator, comprising: a cabinet having a refrigerated interior;a refrigeration system for circulating a refrigerant and for removing heat energy from the refrigerated interior;a sensor container for positioning at least one temperature sensor within the refrigerated interior, the sensor container further comprising: a main body portion including a plurality of walls enclosing a hollow interior space configured to receive a ballast liquid, the main body portion also including a plurality of openings located in at least one of the plurality of walls; anda plurality of dry wells, each including a tubular body inserted into the main body portion so as to extend between a closed end located within the hollow interior space and an open end permanently coupled to the main body portion at one of the plurality of openings, the open ends of the plurality of dry wells forming a seal to prevent fluid communication between the hollow interior space and the refrigerated interior at the plurality of openings;wherein when at least one temperature sensor is inserted into the plurality of dry wells, the ballast liquid within the hollow interior space surrounds the at least one temperature sensor without contacting the at least one temperature sensor, thereby isolating the at least one temperature sensor from direct contact with refrigerated air in the refrigerated interior and also dampening sensor response to temperature fluctuations in the refrigerated air within the refrigerated interior,first and second temperature sensors positioned in two of the plurality of dry wells of the sensor container; andat least one of: a display and alarm device on the cabinet; anda chart recorder for recording temperature over time in the cabinet,wherein the first and second temperature sensors are connected to and provide temperature measurement signals to the display and alarm device and/or to the chart recorder, and wherein the first and second temperature sensors are not connected to the refrigeration system, such that all temperature measurement signals received from temperature sensors in the sensor container are not used to control the temperature within the refrigerated interior.