Bottle Cooler Defroster And Methods

Abstract

A bottle cooler system ( 20, 70, 100 ) includes a compressor ( 22 ), a first heat exchanger ( 24 ) and a second heat exchanger ( 28 ). In a cooling mode of operation, the second heat exchanger is downstream of the first heat exchanger and upstream of the compressor to cool contents of an interior volume. In a defrost mode of operation, refrigerant in the second heat exchanger is used to defrost an ice build-up on the second heat exchanger.

1 . A cooler system ( 20 ;  70 ;  100 ) comprising:
 a compressor ( 22 ) for driving a refrigerant along a flowpath ( 32 ;  72 ;  100 ,  112 ) in at least a first mode of system operation;   a first heat exchanger ( 24 ) along the flowpath ( 32 ;  72 ;  100 ,  112 ) downstream of the compressor ( 22 ) in the first mode;   a second heat exchanger ( 28 ) along the flowpath ( 32 ;  72 ;  100 ,  112 ) upstream of the compressor ( 22 ) in the first mode to cool contents of an interior volume of the system; and   means ( 50 ;  78 ;  102 ) for defrosting an ice buildup on the second heat exchanger using refrigerant in the second heat exchanger.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the means comprises:
 a controller ( 50 ) programmed or configured to run a first fan ( 40 ) to drive a first air flow ( 44 ) across the first heat exchanger in the first mode and, in a second mode, shut the first fan ( 40 ) off to increase a temperature of the refrigerant passing through the second heat exchanger to defrost the build-up.   
   
   
       3 . The system ( 70 ) of  claim 1  wherein the means comprises:
 a valve ( 78 ) along a bypass flowpath from a first location along the flowpath between the compressor and the first heat exchanger to a second location between an expansion device and the second heat exchanger, the valve openable to switch the system into a bypass mode where at least a portion of a compressor outlet flow passes along the bypass flowpath and to the second heat exchanger and is in sufficient quantity to heat the second heat exchanger to defrost the ice buildup.   
   
   
       4 . The system ( 100 ) of  claim 1  wherein the means comprises:
 a reversing valve ( 102 ) actuatable to put the system in a second mode wherein flow through the first ( 24 ) and second ( 28 ) heat exchangers is reversed.   
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the means further is means for heating the cooler interior volume to prevent freezing of the contents when an outside temperature falls below a threshold. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  being a self-contained externally electrically powered beverage cooler positioned outdoors. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first ( 24 ) and second ( 28 ) heat exchangers and compressor ( 22 ) are removable from a housing of the system as a unit without need to previously empty contents of the system.   
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the refrigerant comprises, in major mass part, CO 2 ; and   the first ( 24 ) and second ( 28 ) heat exchangers are refrigerant-air heat exchangers.   
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the refrigerant consists essentially of CO 2 ; and   the first ( 24 ) and second ( 28 ) heat exchangers are refrigerant-air heat exchangers each having an associated fan ( 40 ,  42 ), a first mode air flow ( 44 ) across the first heat exchanger ( 24 ) being an external flow and a first mode airflow ( 46 ) across the second heat exchanger ( 28 ) being a recirculating internal airflow.   
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1  in combination with said contents which include:
 a plurality of beverage containers in a 0.3-4.0 liter size range.   
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10  being selected from the group consisting of:
 a cash-operated vending machine;   a transparent door front, closed back, display case; and   a top access cooler chest.   
   
   
       12 . A method for operating a cooler system ( 20 ;  70 ;  100 ) comprising:
 in at least a first mode of system operation, operating a compressor ( 22 ) to compress and drive a refrigerant along a flowpath ( 32 ;  72 ;  100 ,  112 );   in the first mode, rejecting heat from the refrigerant in a first heat exchanger ( 24 ) along the flowpath ( 32 ;  72 ;  100 ,  112 ) downstream of the compressor ( 22 );   in the first mode, absorbing heat to the refrigerant in a second heat exchanger ( 28 ) along the flowpath ( 32 ;  72 ;  100 ,  112 ) upstream of the compressor ( 22 ) to cool contents of an interior volume of the system; and   in a second mode of operation, means defrosting an ice buildup on the second heat exchanger using refrigerant in the second heat exchanger.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein a transition between the first mode and the second mode is performed by:
 a controller ( 50 ) programmed or configured to run a first fan ( 40 ) to drive a first air flow ( 44 ) across the first heat exchanger in the first mode and, in the second mode, shut the first fan ( 40 ) off to increase a temperature of the refrigerant passing through the second heat exchanger to defrost the build-up.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein a transition between the first mode and the second mode is performed by:
 a valve ( 78 ) along a bypass flowpath from a first location along the flowpath between the compressor and the first heat exchanger to a second location between an expansion device and the second heat exchanger, and wherein the valve is opened to switch the system into said second mode where at least a portion of a compressor outlet flow passes along the bypass flowpath and to the second heat exchanger and is in sufficient quantity to heat the second heat exchanger to defrost the ice buildup.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein a transition between the first mode and the second mode is performed by:
 a reversing valve ( 102 ) actuated to put the system into the second mode wherein flow through the first ( 24 ) and second ( 28 ) heat exchangers is reversed.