Dual mode air screen refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator operates in a single mode and a dual mode. A plurality of sides defines a storage compartment. At least one door provides access to the storage compartment via an opening in at least one of the sides. At least one outlet vent expels air across the at least one opening towards at least one inlet vent configured to receive at least a portion of the expelled air. A first cooling circuit is fluidly coupled to at least the storage compartment. A second cooling circuit is fluidly coupled to at least one of the outlet vent, the inlet vent, and at least one air screen inlet vent. The refrigerator operates in the single mode when the door is closed during which the first cooling circuit operates. The refrigerator operates in the dual mode when the door is open during which the first cooling circuit and the second cooling circuit operate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a plurality of sides configured to define a storage compartment;   at least one opening in at least one of the plurality of sides, the opening being configured to provide access to the storage compartment, the opening being defined by a perimeter;   at least one outlet vent and at least one inlet vent set within the perimeter of the opening;   at least one door adapted to open and to close to provide access to the storage compartment via the at least one opening;   a first cooling circuit that includes at least a first compressor, the first cooling circuit being fluidly coupled to at least the storage compartment;   a second cooling circuit that includes at least a second compressor, the second cooling circuit being at least fluidly coupled to at least one of the at least one outlet vent, the at least one inlet vent, and the at least one air screen inlet vent;   a door switch configured to generate an open signal representative of an open state of the at least one door and a closed signal representative of a closed state of the at least one door; and,   a controller coupled to the door switch, the first cooling circuit, and the second cooling circuit, the controller being configured to (a) operate the first cooling circuit when the controller receives the closed signal and to (b) operate the first cooling circuit and the second cooling circuit when the controller receives the open signal.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to wait a period of time after the controller receives the open signal before the controller operates the first cooling circuit and the second cooling circuit. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein the period of time is configured to be adjustable. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one outlet vent is set substantially opposite from the at least one inlet vent within the perimeter of the opening. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one outlet vent includes a plurality of outlet vents positioned within the perimeter of the opening and the at least on inlet vent includes a plurality of inlet vents within the perimeter of the opening. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional outlet vent set inwardly from the at least one outlet vent set within the perimeter and at least one additional inlet vent set inwardly from the at least one inlet vent set within the perimeter. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one additional outlet vent and at least one additional inlet vent are set within the storage compartment within at least one of the plurality of sides. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one additional outlet vent is set in one of the plurality of sides substantially opposite from the at least one additional inlet vent set in another of the plurality of sides. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least one outlet vent and the at least one inlet vent is in a shape of one of a slot and a hole. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the second cooling circuit is coupled to the at least one outlet vent and at least one of the at least one air screen inlet vent the at least one inlet vent. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first cooling circuit and the second cooling circuit further comprises at least one evaporator and at least one fan. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one evaporator is positioned on a top side of the plurality of sides and at least one of the at least one first compressor and the at least one second compressor is positioned below the storage compartment. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one temperature sensor coupled to the controller, the at least one temperature sensor being configured to generate a temperature signal representative of a temperature within the storage compartment, wherein the controller is further configured to receive the temperature signal and to operate at least one of the first cooling circuit and the second cooling circuit in response to the temperature signal. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , when the first cooling circuit is in a parallel configuration relative to the second cooling circuit. 
     
     
         15 . A refrigerator configured to operate in a single mode and in a dual mode, the refrigerator comprising:
 a plurality of sides configured to define a storage compartment;   at least one opening in at least one of the plurality of sides, the opening being configured to provide access to the storage compartment;   at least one outlet vent configured to expel air across the at least one opening towards at least one inlet vent configured to receive at least a portion of the expelled air;   at least one door adapted to open and to close to provide access to the storage compartment via the at least one opening;   a first cooling circuit that includes at least a first compressor, at least a first evaporator, and at least a first fan, the first cooling circuit being fluidly coupled to at least the storage compartment;   a second cooling circuit that includes at least a second compressor, at least a second evaporator, and at least a second fan, the second cooling circuit being at least fluidly coupled to at least one of the at least one outlet vent, the at least one inlet vent, and the at least one air screen inlet vent; and,   wherein the refrigerator is configured to (a) operate in the single mode when the at least one door is closed during which the first cooling circuit is configured to operate and to (b) operate in the dual mode when the at least one door is open during which the first cooling circuit and the second cooling circuit is configured to operate.   
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator of  claim 15 , further comprising a controller coupled to the first cooling circuit and the second cooling circuit, the controller being configured to operate the first cooling circuit in the single mode and to operate the first cooling circuit and the second cooling circuit in the dual mode. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 16 , further comprising a door switch coupled to the controller, the door switch being configured to generate an open signal representative of an open state of the at least one door and a closed signal representative of a closed state of the at least one door, wherein the controller is further configured to operate the refrigerator in the single mode and in the dual mode in response to the closed single and to the open signal, respectively. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator of  claim 15 , further comprising at least one temperature sensor coupled to the controller, the at least one temperature sensor being configured to generate a temperature signal representative of a temperature within the storage compartment, wherein the controller is further configured to receive the temperature signal and to operate at least one of the first cooling circuit and the second cooling circuit in response to the temperature signal. 
     
     
         19 . A method of operating a refrigerator in a single mode and a dual mode, comprising:
 obtaining the refrigerator, which includes:
 a plurality of sides configured to define a storage compartment, at least one opening in at least one of the plurality of sides, the opening being configured to provide access to the storage compartment; 
 at least one outlet vent configured to expel air across the at least one opening towards at least one inlet vent configured to receive at least a portion of the expelled air; 
 at least one door adapted to open and to close to provide access to the storage compartment via the at least one opening; 
 a first cooling circuit that includes at least a first compressor, at least a first evaporator, and at least a first fan, the first cooling circuit being fluidly coupled to at least the storage compartment; 
 a second cooling circuit that includes at least a second compressor, at least a second evaporator, and at least a second fan, the second cooling circuit being at least fluidly coupled to the at least one outlet vent and to the at least one inlet vent; 
   operating the first cooling circuit in the single mode when the at least one door is closed; and,   operating the first cooling circuit and the second cooling circuit in the dual mode when the at least one door is open.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 maintaining an integrated average temperature of the storage compartment at 38 degrees Fahrenheit plus or minus 2 degree Fahrenheit;   and one of the following:
 (a) consuming a maximum daily amount of energy in kilowatt-hours per day less than or equal to (0.1×a volume of the storage compartment+0.86), wherein the at least one door is vertically closed and transparent; 
 (b) consuming a maximum daily amount of energy in kilowatt-hours per day less than or equal to (0.05×a volume of the storage compartment+1.36), wherein the at least one door is vertically closed and solid; 
 (c) consuming a maximum daily amount of energy in kilowatt-hours per day less than or equal to (0.06×a volume of the storage compartment+0.37), wherein the at least one door is horizontally closed and transparent; and, 
 (d) consuming a maximum daily amount of energy in kilowatt-hours per day less than or equal to (0.1×a volume of the storage compartment+0.86), wherein the at least one door is horizontally closed and solid. 
   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the steps of maintaining and consuming are performed according to a test procedure set forth in Title 10 US Code of Federal Regulations Section 431.66—Appendix B (2016).