Vehicle Refrigeration Equipment Having a Vapor Cycle System

Abstract

According to an embodiment, a refrigeration system that cools a compartment includes a compressor, a condenser, a condenser fan, a condenser fan motor, an evaporator, an evaporator fan, an evaporator fan motor, and tubing adapted to transport refrigerant through the refrigeration system in a circulation order from the compressor to the condenser to the evaporator and back to the compressor again. The evaporator fan may be positioned in an air inlet path to the evaporator. The evaporator fan motor may be outside a chilled air circuit of the evaporator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigeration system for cooling a compartment comprising:
 a compressor;   a condenser, condenser fan, and condenser fan motor;   an evaporator, evaporator fan, and an evaporator fan motor to drive the evaporator fan,   the evaporator fan being located outside and adjacent the intake to the evaporator; and   tubing to circulate refrigerant through the refrigeration system from the compressor to the condenser to the evaporator and back to the compressor.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1  in which the system includes a chilled air circuit passing through the evaporator fan, evaporator, evaporator air ducting and returning to the evaporator fan and the evaporator fan motor is located outside of the chilled air circuit. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1  in which the evaporator fan motor is located outside of the evaporator and spaced away from the evaporator intake. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigeration system of  claim 3  in which the spacing of the evaporator fan motor from the evaporator fan is established by an evaporator fan drive chosen from the group consisting of: a fan belt, a drive shaft, and a gear drive. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1  including air ducting at the outlet of the evaporator to transport chilled air from the evaporator to a compartment chosen from the group consisting of a food and beverage trolley, a food cart, and a refrigerator. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigeration system of  claim 5  in which the refrigeration system is located in an enclosure positioned above an aircraft galley, the refrigeration system is coupled to the aircraft galley air recirculating system, and the outlet is on a bottom of the enclosure to reduce the pressure drop in the aircraft galley due to operation of the refrigeration system. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1  in which the evaporator and condenser fan motors are separately controlled. 
     
     
         8 . A refrigeration system for cooling a compartment comprising:
 a compressor;   a condenser, condenser fan, and condenser fan motor;   an evaporator, evaporator fan, and an evaporator fan motor to drive the evaporator fan,   the evaporator fan being located outside and adjacent the intake to the evaporator;   tubing to circulate refrigerant through the refrigeration system from the compressor to the condenser to the evaporator and back to the compressor; and   the evaporator fan motor is located outside of the evaporator and spaced away from the evaporator intake.   
     
     
         9 . The refrigeration system of  claim 8  in which the spacing of the evaporator fan motor from the evaporator fan is established by an evaporator fan drive chosen from the group consisting of: a fan belt, a drive shaft, and a gear drive. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigeration system of  claim 8  including air ducting at the outlet of the evaporator to transport chilled air from the evaporator to a compartment chosen from the group consisting of: a food and beverage trolley, a food cart, and a refrigerator. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigeration system of  claim 8  including air ducting at the outlet of the evaporator to transport chilled air from the evaporator to a compartment chosen from the group consisting of: a food and beverage trolley, a food cart, or a refrigerator. 
     
     
         12 . A method of cooling a compartment in response to a start-up demand for chilled air to the compartment comprising:
 providing a refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser, a condenser fan, a condenser fan motor, an evaporator, an evaporator fan, separately controlled evaporator and condenser fan motors, and tubing to circulate refrigerant through the refrigeration system from the compressor to the condenser to the evaporator and back to the compressor;   powering up the compressor and the condenser fan motor on reception of the start-up demand, to compress vapor from the refrigerant and to provide cooling to the condenser to cool while leaving the evaporator fan idle to reduce warm air recirculation from the evaporator; and   when the cooled compressed liquid coolant enters the evaporator, powering up the evaporator fan to provide chilled air to the compartment.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  in which when the demand for chilled air terminates, the power to the evaporator fan and compressor are cut off but the condenser fan continues to be powered for a sufficient period to provide compressor over-heat protection. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  in which the evaporator fan motor is located outside of the evaporator and spaced away from the evaporator intake. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  in which the spacing of the evaporator fan motor from the evaporator fan is established by an evaporator fan drive chosen from the group consisting of: a fan belt, a drive shaft, and a gear drive. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  including air ducting at the outlet of the evaporator to transport chilled air from the evaporator to a compartment chosen from the group consisting of: a food and beverage trolley, a food cart, and a refrigerator. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  in which the refrigeration system is located in an enclosure positioned above an aircraft galley, the refrigeration system is coupled to the aircraft galley air recirculating system, and the outlet is on a bottom of the enclosure to reduce the pressure drop in the aircraft galley due to operation of the refrigeration system. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12  in which the evaporator and condenser fan motors are separately controlled.