Refrigerating or Freezing Apparatus with Vacuum Compartment

Abstract

A refrigerator or freezer apparatus comprising: a cabinet ( 1 ) at least a compartment ( 2,3 ) to store food, a box ( 5 ) firmly lodged in said cabinet and closable in a vacuum-tight manner, a drawer ( 6 ) apt to be extracted and inserted in said box, a vacuum pump ( 7 ) connected to said box in the back side of it, a vacuum valve ( 13 ) able to selectively equalise the internal pressure in said box, wherein it comprises locking means, and specially a tiltable handle in the front side of said drawer, able to connect or disconnect said drawer to/from said box; said vacuum valve and/or said vacuum pump are operated by the tilting movement of said handle or by the closing movement of said drawer ( 6 ).

1 . A refrigerator and/or a freezer apparatus comprising a cabinet ( 1 ) with at least a compartment ( 2 ,  3 ) to store food, a box ( 5 ) firmly lodged in said compartment and closable in a vacuum-tight manner, a drawer ( 6 ) able to be extracted and inserted in said box, a vacuum pump ( 7 ) connected with a pipe ( 8 ) in a known way to a proper portion of said box and a vacuum valve ( 13 ) able to selectively equalise the internal pressure in said box, 
 characterised in that    said drawer comprises a front wall ( 10 ), and locking means ( 15 - 18 ) able to connect or disconnect said drawer to/from said box, said locking means including a movable handle ( 15 ) pivoted in the front side of said drawer on pins ( 16 ) placed on opposed sides thereof.    
   
   
       2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said vacuum valve ( 13 ) and/or said vacuum pump ( 7 ) are operated by a tilting movement or by a horizontal movement of said handle ( 15 ).  
   
   
       3 . An apparatus according to  1  or  2 , characterised in that said vacuum pump ( 7 ) and/or said vacuum valve ( 13 ) are operated by the closing movement of said drawer ( 6 ) into said box ( 5 ).  
   
   
       4 . An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said handle comprises an extension link ( 17 ), and that said box comprises engagements means ( 18 ), said extension link and said engagement means being able to be connected and disconnected with the operation of said handle ( 15 ).  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that one or more electrical switches ( 19 , 19 A) are placed outside said box, said switches being able to be activated by said extension link ( 17 ) when said drawer ( 6 ) is closed into said box ( 5 ).  
   
   
       6 . An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that one or more electrical switches ( 19 A) are placed outside said box, said switches being able to be activated by the thrust of members ( 10 ,  12 ) of said drawer ( 6 ) when the same is closed into said box ( 5 ).  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims characterised in that one or more of said electrical switches ( 19 , 19 A) are connected to said vacuum pump ( 7 ) and/or said vacuum valve ( 13 ).  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a sealing gasket ( 14 ) is provided between the outer edge ( 11 ) of said box ( 5 ) and the corresponding back surface ( 12 ) of the front closing wall ( 10 ) of said drawer ( 6 ).  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that in standing conditions, i.e. vacuum pump stopped, box ( 5 ) evacuated, and drawer ( 6 ) closed inside said box ( 5 ), the vacuum valve ( 13 ) is operated in order to let outside air enters into said box ( 5 ) and then to close the air flow from outside to said box, the vacuum pump ( 7 ) is activated in order to create vacuum conditions inside said box ( 5 ).  
   
   
       10 . An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a wall ( 40 ) on which a dispenser ( 41 ) is applied, said dispenser consisting of a prolonged member provided with an hollow conduit ( 42 ), open to outside with a mouth ( 43 ) and to the opposite side with a respective inner mouth ( 44 ), which is apt to be hermetically connected to a duct ( 46 ) leading to a buffer tank ( 25 ).  
   
   
       11 . An apparatus according to  claim 10 , characterised in that said dispenser ( 41 ) is pivotally mounted to said wall ( 40 ) by means of an hinge element ( 45 ), and that said hollow conduit ( 42 ) is connected to said duct ( 46 ) only when said dispenser is placed in a selected position.  
   
   
       12 . An apparatus according to  claim 10 , characterised in that said dispenser is mounted so that said hollow conduit is connected to said duct only when the dispenser in forced in one direction in parallel with the airflow.  
   
   
       13 . An apparatus according to any of the claims  10 - 12 , characterised in that it is provided with a liquid trap comprising a container ( 51 ) having first and second openings ( 52 ,  53 ) at different levels, said first opening ( 52 ) being connected to the part of said duct ( 46 ) bound to said dispenser ( 41 ), said second opening ( 53 ) being connected to said buffer tank ( 25 ).  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus according to  claim 13 , characterised in that a second valve ( 55 ) is provided inside said container ( 51 ) and close to said second opening ( 53 ), so arranged that it closes said second opening when the liquid level inside said container reaches the level of said second opening.  
   
   
       15 . An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a control valve ( 28 ) is placed in the pipe connecting said buffer tank ( 25 ) to said box ( 5 ).  
   
   
       16 . An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that control means ( 30 ) are connected to said vacuum valve ( 13 ), said vacuum pump ( 7 ), said control valve ( 28 ) and said switch ( 19 , 19 A).