Airflow control system in refrigerators and freezers

Abstract

An airflow control system in refrigerators and freezers, which comprise: a refrigerating compartment ( 10 ; an air cooling compartment ( 20 ) lodging an ( 21 ) and a fan ( 22 ); and an air distributing plenum ( 23 ), receiving a forced airflow from the fan ( 22 ) and having a front wall ( 24 ) provided with air passages ( 25 ) through which the forced airflow is supplied to the interior of the refrigerating compartment ( 10 ), at least part of the air passages ( 25 ) provided in the front wall ( 25 ) of the air distributing plenum (23) being operatively associated with respective closing means ( 40 ), which are selectively displaced to different operative positions, in which they maintain the air passages ( 25 ) with a free area dimensioned as a function of the intensity of the forced airflow to

1 . An airflow control system in refrigerators and freezers, which comprise: a refrigerating compartment ( 10 ; an air cooling compartment ( 20 ) lodging an evaporator ( 21 ) and a fan ( 22 ); and an air distributing plenum ( 23 ), receiving a forced airflow from the fan ( 22 ), and having a front wall ( 24 ) provided with air passages ( 25 ) through which the forced airflow is supplied to the interior of the refrigerating compartment ( 10 ), characterized in that at least part of the air passages ( 25 ) provided in the front wall ( 25 ) of the air distributing plenum ( 23 ) is operatively associated with respective closing means ( 40 ) which are operatively displaced to different operative positions, in which they maintain the air passages ( 25 ) with a free area dimensioned as a function of the intensity of the forced airflow to be supplied to the refrigerating compartment ( 10 ).  
   
   
       2 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the closing means ( 40 ) are automatically displaced to the different operative positions by a respective driving means ( 60 ), which is operatively associated with a function selector ( 50 ) operated by the user.  
   
   
       3 . The system as set forth in  claim 2 , characterized in that the driving means ( 60 ) is defined by a solenoid.  
   
   
       4 . The system as set forth in  claim 2 , characterized in that the driving means ( 60 ) is defined by an electric motor.  
   
   
       5 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the closing means ( 40 ) are defined by respective plate portions, which are displaced internally and parallely to the front wall ( 24 ) of the air distributing plenum ( 23 ).  
   
   
       6 . The system as set forth in  claim 5 , characterized in that the plate portions of the closing means ( 40 ) are formed in a single plate, which is displaced, superiorly and inferiorly, seated on rails ( 27 ) provided in the front wall ( 24 ) of the air distributing plenum ( 23 ).  
   
   
       7 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the closing means ( 40 ) are selectively displaced to a first operative position, in which they maintain the respective air passages ( 25 ) with a free area dimensioned to supply the refrigerating compartment ( 10 ) with a project nominal forced airflow; at least one second operative position, in which they maintain the air passages ( 25 ) with a free area larger than that of the first operative position; and at least a third operative position, in which they maintain the air passages ( 25 ) with a free area smaller than that of the first operative position.  
   
   
       8 . The system as set forth in  claim 7 , characterized in that the closing means ( 40 ) present different third positions, one of which completely blocking the respective air passages ( 25 ), and different second operative positions, one of which providing to said air passages ( 25 ) the largest free area thereof.  
   
   
       9 . The system as set forth in  claim 7 , characterized in that the front wall ( 24 ) of the air distributing plenum ( 23 ) is provided with air passages ( 25 ) not associated with closing means ( 40 ) and presenting a free area dimensioned to supply the refrigerating compartment ( 10 ) with a project nominal forced airflow equal to that supplied by the other air passages ( 25 ) when the closing means ( 40 ) are in the first operative position.  
   
   
       10 . The system as set forth in  claim 9 , characterized in that the closing means ( 40 ) are automatically displaced to an operative position, in which they completely block the respective air passages ( 25 ) and the other air passages ( 25 ) when the refrigerating compartment is submitted to a defrost operation.