Rotary air damper with shutoff bypass

Abstract

A damper assembly for use in a refrigeration system having a temperature adjustable compartment is presented. The damper assembly comprises a housing and a damper door assembly rotatable therein. The housing includes a flange that cooperates with a semicircular flange of the damper door assembly to form two air flow channels in the housing. When the damper door is open, chilled air from the freezer compartment is allowed to circulate through the damper assembly and through the compartment to provide a quick chill mode of operation. The damper door is also rotatable to a closed position that allows air to circulate within the damper assembly and the compartment. A heater may be included to provide a quick defrost mode of operation.

1 . A damper assembly for use in a refrigeration system, the damper assembly comprising: 
 a housing defining a damper door aperture and having a vertical flange and a horizontal flange;    a damper door assembly having a damper door and a blocking wall, the damper door assembly insertable into the damper door aperture and rotatable to alternatively:    position the blocking wall relative to the vertical flange such that the damper door, the blocking wall, the vertical flange, and the housing form a first air flow aperture and a second air flow aperture; and    engage the door with the horizontal flange such that that the damper door, the vertical flange, and the housing block the first air flow aperture, block the second air flow aperture, and form a conduit between the first air flow aperture and the second air flow aperture.    
     
     
         2 . The damper assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first air flow aperture accepts refrigerated air and the second air flow aperture expels refrigerated air when the first air flow aperture and the second air flow aperture are formed.  
     
     
         3 . The damper assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit provides a path for circulation of heated air.  
     
     
         4 . The damper assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the damper assembly further comprises a motor to rotate the damper door assembly.  
     
     
         5 . The damper assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerated air provided to the first air flow aperture is from a freezer associated with the damper assembly.  
     
     
         6 . The damper assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the circulated air expelled from the second air flow aperture is delivered to an evaporator associated with the damper assembly.  
     
     
         7 . The damper assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the circulated air expelled from the second air flow aperture is delivered to a freezer associated with the damper assembly.  
     
     
         8 . A temperature adjustment system comprising: 
 a damper assembly comprising: 
 a housing with a front portion and a back portion, the housing defining a damper door aperture and having a vertical flange and a horizontal flange;  
 a damper door assembly having a damper door and a blocking wall, the damper door assembly insertable into the damper door aperture and rotatable to alternatively: 
 position the blocking wall relative to the vertical flange such that the damper door, the blocking wall, the vertical flange, and the housing form a first air flow aperture and a second air flow aperture; and  
 engage the damper door with the horizontal flange such that that the damper door, the vertical flange, and the housing block the first air flow aperture, block the second air flow aperture, and form a conduit between the first air flow aperture and the second air flow aperture;  
 
   a temperature adjustment drawer proximate the back portion of the housing; and    a heater disposed within the temperature adjustment drawer.    
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first air flow aperture accepts refrigerated air and the second air flow aperture expels refrigerated air when the first air flow aperture and the second air flow aperture are formed to cool at least one of a food and a product.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the conduit provides a path for heated air to heat at least one of a food and a product.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the system further comprises a motor for rotating the damper door assembly.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the system further comprises an evaporator.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the evaporator receives the circulated air from the second air flow aperture.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the system is incorporated into an appliance.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the appliance supplies the refrigerated air to the first air flow aperture.  
     
     
         16 . A method of alternatively heating and cooling a drawer using a damper assembly having a rotatable damper door, the method comprising the steps of: 
 opening the damper assembly by rotating the damper door;    permitting refrigerated air to flow into the damper assembly and the drawer;    circulating the refrigerated air through the drawer;    expelling the circulated refrigerated air from the drawer and the damper assembly;    closing the damper assembly by rotating the damper door to seal the damper assembly and the drawer;    heating air within the drawer; and    circulating the heated air through the drawer and the damper assembly.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the steps of opening, permitting, circulating the refrigerated air, and expelling follow the closing step.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises the step of repeating each of the steps of opening, permitting, circulating the refrigerated air, expelling, closing, heating, and circulating.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a step of cooling at least one of a food and a product follows the step of circulating the refrigerated air.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a step of defrosting at least one of a food and a product follows the step of circulating the heated air through the drawer and the damper assembly.