Refrigeration appliance with optional storage module

Abstract

A distributed refrigeration appliance system for use in a residential kitchen and other locations in a dwelling and includes multiple separate refrigeration appliance modules, a central cooling system and a cooling circuit. The system can include one or more satellite stations having a heat exchanger for supplying chilled air to one or more refrigeration appliance modules. One or more refrigeration appliance modules can include a thermal cascade cooling device to cool the module to lower temperatures than the cooling circuit can attain. One or more refrigeration appliance modules can be refrigeration/storage modules that can provide refrigerated, unconditioned or heated storage space. The central cooling system can be a vapor compression system having a refrigerant circuit connecting the modules. Alternately, the central cooling system can cool a secondary cooling medium circuit. The refrigeration system can have more than one refrigeration machine providing cooling to the secondary refrigeration loop.

1 . A distributed refrigeration appliance system constructed and arranged for use in a residential kitchen and other locations associated with a dwelling having at least one of upper and lower storage cabinets comprising:
 a freestanding refrigeration apparatus having:
 an insulated cabinet within which is established at least one refrigerated compartment; 
 a cooling unit including a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator arranged in a refrigeration circuit; 
 a temperature selector to set desired temperatures for the at least one refrigerated compartment; and 
 a refrigeration apparatus controller linked to the cooling unit and the temperature selector and arranged to control the temperature in the at least one refrigerated compartment, the freestanding refrigeration apparatus positioned adjacent, but spaced from the at least one of the upper and lower storage cabinets; 
   at least one refrigeration/storage module incorporated in one of the at least one of upper and lower storage cabinets and located beside the freestanding refrigeration apparatus adjacent the at least one refrigerated compartment and having a storage compartment, the at least one refrigeration/storage module arranged to selectively provide refrigerated, conditioned or unconditioned storage in the storage compartment including:
 a temperature selector/controller to select a desired temperature for refrigerated, conditioned or unconditioned storage in the storage compartment including a compartment temperature sensor exposed to the storage compartment to sense the temperature in the storage compartment when refrigerated or conditioned storage is selected; 
 a control circuit connected to the temperature selector/controller including a power cord to provide electric power to the control circuit independent of the refrigeration apparatus: 
 a first insulated air duct to supply chilled air to the storage compartment from the adjacent at least one refrigerated compartment and a second insulated air duct to return air from the storage compartment to the adjacent at least one refrigerated compartment; and 
 at least one automatic damper positioned in one of the first and second insulated air ducts and connected to the control circuit and the temperature selector/controller to permit circulation of chilled air through the first and second insulated air ducts from the adjacent at least one refrigerated compartment to the storage compartment when the at least one automatic damper is positioned to allow chilled air to flow through the first and second insulated ducts under control of the temperature selector/controller based on the temperature sensed by the compartment temperature sensor. 
   
     
     
         2 . The distributed refrigeration appliance system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second automatic damper positioned in the other of the first and second insulated air ducts and connected to the control circuit and the temperature selector/controller to permit circulation of chilled air through the other of the first and second insulated air ducts from the adjacent at least one refrigerated compartment to the storage compartment when the at least one and second automatic dampers are positioned to allow chilled air to flow through the first and second insulated air ducts. 
     
     
         3 . The distributed refrigeration appliance system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a circulating fan positioned in the other of the first and second insulated air ducts and connected to the control circuit and the temperature selector/controller to permit circulation of chilled air through the other of the first and second insulated air ducts from the adjacent at least one refrigerated compartment to the storage compartment when the at least one automatic damper is positioned to allow chilled air to flow through the one of the first and second insulated air ducts and the circulating fan is operated by the temperature selector/controller. 
     
     
         4 . The distributed refrigeration appliance system according to  claim 2 , further comprising a circulating fan positioned in one of the first and second insulated air ducts adjacent one of the at least one and second automatic dampers and connected to the control circuit and the temperature selector/controller to enhance circulation of chilled air through the first and second insulated air ducts from the adjacent at least one refrigerated compartment when the first and second automatic dampers are positioned to allow chilled air to flow the first and second insulated air ducts and the circulating fan is operated by the temperature selector/controller. 
     
     
         5 . The distributed refrigeration appliance system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one refrigeration/storage module farther includes a heating element connected through the control circuit to the temperature selector/controller for selective operation of the heating element to selectively heat the contents of the refrigeration/storage module above ambient temperature. 
     
     
         6 . The distributed refrigeration appliance system according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature selector/controller comprises a switch operated by the temperature sensor that can be adjusted by a user to select the temperature in the storage compartment. 
     
     
         7 . The distributed refrigeration appliance system according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature selector/controller comprises an electronic temperature controller connected to the temperature sensor having a temperature selector that can be adjusted by a user to select the temperature in the storage compartment. 
     
     
         8 . A distributed refrigeration appliance system constructed and arranged for use in a residential kitchen and other locations associated with a dwelling comprising:
 a freestanding refrigeration apparatus including a cabinet having at least one refrigerated storage space having;
 a cooling unit including a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator arranged in a refrigeration circuit: 
 a temperature selector to set a desired temperature for the at least one refrigerated storage space; and 
 a refrigeration apparatus controller linked to the cooling unit and the temperature selector arranged to control a temperature in the at least one refrigerated storage space: 
   at least one refrigeration/storage module located adjacent one of the at least one refrigerated storage space at a position spaced from the freestanding refrigeration apparatus and having a storage compartment, the at least one refrigeration/storage module arranged to selectively provide refrigerated, conditioned or unconditioned storage in the storage compartment including:
 a temperature selector/controller to select a desired temperature for refrigerated, conditioned or unconditioned storage in the storage compartment including a compartment temperature sensor exposed to the storage compartment to sense the temperature in the storage compartment when refrigerated or conditioned storage is selected; 
 a control circuit connected to the temperature selector/controller including a power cord to provide electric power to the control circuit independent of the freestanding refrigeration apparatus; 
 a first insulated air duct to supply chilled air to the storage compartment from the adjacent at least one refrigerated storage space and a second insulated air duct to return air from the storage compartment to the adjacent at least one refrigerated storage space; and 
 at least one automatic damper positioned in one of the first and second insulated air ducts and connected to the control circuit and the temperature selector/controller to permit circulation of chilled air through the first and second insulated air ducts from the adjacent at least one refrigerated storage space to the storage compartment when the at least one automatic damper is positioned to allow chilled air to flow through the first and second insulated ducts under control of the temperature selector/controller based on the temperature sensed by the compartment temperature sensor. 
   
     
     
         9 . The distributed refrigeration appliance system according to  claim 8 , wherein the at least one refrigeration/storage module is located above the refrigerated storage space. 
     
     
         10 . The distributed refrigeration appliance system according to  claim 8 , wherein the at least on refrigeration/storage module is located below the refrigerated storage space. 
     
     
         11 . A distributed refrigeration appliance system constructed and arranged for use in a residential kitchen and other locations associated with a dwelling comprising:
 at least one refrigeration appliance module including an insulated cabinet having at least one compartment and an appliance module evaporator for cooling the compartment:   a cooling unit connected to the evaporator;   a refrigeration appliance system controller and a temperature selector arranged to control a temperature in the at least one refrigeration appliance module through operation of the cooling unit;   at least one refrigeration/storage module including a cabinet which is distinct from and located at a position spaced from the insulated cabinet of the at least one refrigeration appliance module and having a storage compartment arranged to selectively provide refrigerated, conditioned or unconditioned storage in the storage compartment, said at least one refrigeration/storage module including:
 a temperature, selector/controller to select a desired temperature for refrigerated, conditioned or unconditioned storage in the storage compartment including a compartment temperature sensor exposed to the storage compartment to sense the temperature in the storage compartment when refrigerated or conditioned storage is selected: 
 a control circuit connected to the temperature selector/controller including a power cord to provide electric power to the control circuit independent of the refrigeration appliance system: 
 a first heat exchanger for cooling the storage compartment when refrigerated storage is selected, said first heat exchanger connected in heat exchange relationship with the cooling unit; and 
 a device to control transfer of heat between the first heat exchanger and the cooling unit to refrigerate the storage compartment under control of the temperature selector/controller based on the temperature sensed by the compartment temperature sensor, or prevent transfer of heat between the first heat exchanger and the cooling unit for unrefrigerated storage in the storage compartment. 
   
     
     
         12 . The distributed refrigeration appliance system of  claim 11 , further including a secondary cooling medium circuit comprising:
 a second heat exchanger in heat exchange relationship with the evaporator;   insulated conduits connecting the first and second heat exchangers; and   wherein the device to control transfer of heat comprises a pump for circulating liquid coolant in the secondary cooling medium circuit to refrigerate the storage compartment under control of the temperature selector/controller based on the temperature sensed by the compartment temperature sensor, or preventing the circulation of liquid cooling medium for unconditioned storage in the storage compartment.   
     
     
         13 . The distributed refrigeration appliance system of  claim 12 , wherein at the least one refrigeration/storage module comprises a first refrigeration/storage module and at least a second refrigeration/storage module, and wherein the distributed refrigeration appliance system further includes:
 a first insulated air duct to supply chilled air to the second refrigeration/storage module from the storage compartment and a second insulated air duct to return air from the second refrigeration/storage module to the storage compartment; and   at least one damper positioned in one of the first and second insulated air ducts to permit circulation of chilled air through the first and second insulated air ducts from the storage compartment to the second refrigeration/storage module when the at least one damper is positioned to allow chilled air to flow through the first and second insulated ducts.   
     
     
         14 . The distributed refrigeration appliance system of  claim 13 , wherein the at least a second refrigeration/storage module further includes:
 a temperature selector/controller to select a desired temperature for refrigerated, conditioned or unconditioned storage in the at least a second refrigeration/storage module including a refrigeration/storage module temperature sensor exposed to the refrigeration/storage module to sense the temperature in the refrigeration/storage module:   a control circuit connected to the temperature selector/controller including a power cord to provide electric power to the control circuit independent of the refrigeration appliance system; and   a heating element connected to the control circuit, and wherein the temperature selector/controller is arranged to operate the at least a second refrigeration/storage module to selectively refrigerate the contents to a below ambient temperature, store the contents at ambient temperature or heat the contents to an above ambient temperature.