Title of Invention

REFRIGERATORS WITH EVAPORATORS

Abstract Refrigerator with at least one evaporator (4, 4*, 4**, 104) and at least one preservation compartment (1), in which the evaporator is formed from extendable spiral-wound tube of engineering polymer (Figure 1).
Full Text

REFRIGERATOR WITH EVAPORATOR OF VARIABLE DIMENSIONS
The present invention relates to a refrigerator provided with an evaporator (or evaporators) in accordance with the introduction to the accompanying main claim.
In traditional refrigerators the evaporator, however constructed, is of defined, i.e. unmodifiable, size and location. It follows that possible cold deficiencies or excesses cannot be compensated during refrigerator use. In forced-air refrigerators these unbalances can be modified, but only partly, by operating the flaps or other members by which the direction and throughput of the forced air acting as the cold carrier are changed. An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator having a evaporator which, when in use, is able to assume different locations and sizes based on the practical utilization requirements of the refrigerator. Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator with its evaporator formed of synthetic material.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator having both a conventional evaporator and an auxiliary evaporator (selectively excludable if necessary) which can assume a different size and/or location depending on the requirements of the current user. These and further objects which will be more apparent from the ensuing detailed description are attained by a refrigerator with an evaporator in accordance with the technical teachings of the accompanying claims. The invention will be more apparent from the description of preferred embodiments thereof given hereinafter by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of the preservation compartment of a refrigerator according to the invention incorporating an evaporator formed from a spiral-wound, i.e. substantially helically-extending, flexible tube; Figure 2 is a more complete schematic side view of the evaporator region of the refrigerator of Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows schematically a possible solution for modifying the size of the evaporator of the preceding figures;
Figure 4 shows schematically an extendable evaporator incorporated within a chamber closed by a shutter or roll shutter, and projecting into the refrigerator preservation compartment;
Figure 5 shows schematically an extendable evaporator incorporated into a re-entering chamber of the refrigerator preservation compartment; Figure 6 shows schematically a telescopic chamber mounted in the refrigerator compartment and incorporating the extendable evaporator. Prior to the ensuing detailed description, it should be noted that the essence of the invention lies in the use, as the evaporator of a preferably domestic refrigerator, of a reinforced or non-reinforced plastic tube which is spiral-wound (in the sense of being formed from for example helical turns) such as to be able to be elastically lengthened, i.e. in the manner of a spring. This enables the user to obtain a required (for example different) temperature distribution within the refrigerator.
With regard to the drawings, and in particular Figures 1-3, the reference numeral 1 indicates the preservation compartment of a refrigerator. A chamber 3 is provided in the rear wall 2 of this compartment. Within this chamber there extends the extendable evaporator, indicated overall by 4, in the form of a spiral-wound tube presenting, in this example, two vertical

parallel portions 4a, 4b and a lower horizontal portion 4c between these
latter. The upper ends 4d of the two vertical portions 4a, 4b are
connected to a conventional refrigeration circuit in known manner.
In this example, which is non-limiting, rack formations 5 are shaped on or
applied to the two facing side walls of the chamber 3, to act as stops
enabling the evaporator to be (removably) fixed thereto with the size
desired by the user, to obtain the required but different temperature
distribution within the refrigerator chamber 1.
More particularly, the horizontal portion 4c of the evaporator is traversed
by a rod 6. At one end of this rod there is mounted a slidable (retracting)
tooth 7 which cooperates with a sprung counteracting member 8. The
tooth 7 is retracted by the user who for this purpose acts on a projection 9,
rigid with the tooth 7 and projecting from an opening 10 in the rod 6. At its
other end the rod is provided with a fixed tooth, not shown.
The lowest thin blade 12a of a series of parallel blades 12 forming a
movable wall of Venetian blind type is connected to the rod 6 by arms 11,
the various blades being connected together for example in the manner of
a Venetian blind.
The highest blade is connected to the upper wall of the chamber 3.
By unhooking the rod 6 from one position on the rack and hooking it to
another position, the size of the vertical portions 4a, 4b and the opening of
the chamber 4 towards the compartment 1 can be modified to obtain a
different temperature distribution within this latter.
Figure 4 shows a variant in which the chamber, here indicated by 3*, is
provided in a part 20 projecting from the rear wall 2* of the refrigerator
compartment and provided with lateral apertures 21. In this variant, the

extendable evaporator is indicated by 4* and presents two lateral portions and a lower intermediate portion 4*c. This latter is connected to a roll shutter 22 windable about a roller 23 and guided along the sides in guide grooves 24 present in the side walls of the part 20. The variant of Figure 5 can be considered very similar to the solution of Figures 1, 2, 3. The difference lies in the fact that the chamber (here indicated by 3**) containing the extendable evaporator can be intercepted totally or partly by a shutter or roll shutter (here indicated by 22**) which when moved also moves the evaporator (here indicated by 4**). The roll shutter 4** is guided in lateral guides 24**, it winds onto (unwinds from) a roller 23** and is operated by a handle 25.
A further variant is shown in Figure 6. In this variant the evaporator, here indicated by 104, is contained in the interior of a telescopic body 200 formed for example of three sections 201a, b, c. The lower portion of the evaporator is fixed to the lower section 201a; the ends of the two extendable sections are fixed to the upper section which represents the fixed section, i.e. that rigid for example with the upper wall of the refrigerator compartment.
A fan 203 can be housed in this section 201c to provide a flow of air which variously leaves from adjustable apertures 204 present in the three sections 201a, b, c and which are preferably of parallelepiped form. The constituent plastic tube of the invention can be of nylon or its derivatives, or acetal resin, this list not however placing a limitation on the invention.

The evaporator can comprise several portions in parallel or in series or series/parallel; it can constitute an excludable auxiliary evaporator; the turns of the tube can be flattened or oval in form.






Documents:

470-CHE-2004 AMENDED CLAIMS 20-01-2014.pdf

470-CHE-2004 AMENDED CLAIMS 04-10-2013.pdf

470-CHE-2004 AMENDED CLAIMS 12-07-2013.pdf

470-CHE-2004 AMENDED PAGES OF SPECIFICATION 04-10-2013.pdf

470-CHE-2004 AMENDED PAGES OF SPECIFICATION 12-07-2013.pdf

470-CHE-2004 CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 20-09-2013.pdf

470-CHE-2004 CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 20-01-2014.pdf

470-CHE-2004 CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 29-08-2012.pdf

470-CHE-2004 EXAMINATION REPORT REPLY RECEIVED 04-10-2013.pdf

470-CHE-2004 EXMINATION REPORT REPLY RECEIVED 12-07-2013.pdf

470-CHE-2004 FORM-1 12-07-2013.pdf

470-CHE-2004 FORM-3 12-07-2013.pdf

470-CHE-2004 OTHER PATENT DOCUMENT 12-07-2013.pdf

470-CHE-2004 OTHERS 12-07-2013.pdf

470-CHE-2004 POWER OF ATTORNEY 12-07-2013.pdf

470-che-2004-abstract.pdf

470-che-2004-claims.pdf

470-che-2004-correspondnece-others.pdf

470-che-2004-description(complete).pdf

470-che-2004-drawings.pdf

470-che-2004-form 1.pdf

470-che-2004-form 26.pdf

470-che-2004-form 3.pdf

470-che-2004-form 5.pdf

470-che-2004-other documents.pdf


Patent Number 258604
Indian Patent Application Number 470/CHE/2004
PG Journal Number 04/2014
Publication Date 24-Jan-2014
Grant Date 23-Jan-2014
Date of Filing 19-May-2004
Name of Patentee WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
Applicant Address 2000 M 63, BENTON HARBOR, MI 49022, USA.
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 SOLDINGER RICCARDO VIA MARZORATI 71/D, I-21100 VARESE, ITALY.
2 MONTICELLI ENRICA VIA MARZORATI 71/D, I-21100 VARESE, ITALY.
3 BERNASCONI ROBERTA VIA TOLMINO 10, I-21100 VARESE, ITALY.
PCT International Classification Number F25D7/00
PCT International Application Number N/A
PCT International Filing date
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 MI2003A001021 2003-05-21 Italy