Patent ID: 6701729
Filing Date: 2004-03-09
Classification: F25B

Abstract:
A device, comprising:a compressor comprising an inlet and an outlet; a condenser, comprising an inlet and an outlet, wherein the condenser inlet is operatively coupled to the outlet of the compressor; a metering means, comprising an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet of the metering means is operatively coupled to the outlet of the condenser; an evaporator, comprising an inlet, an outlet and an evaporative surface, wherein the evaporator inlet is operatively coupled to the outlet of the metering means and the outlet of the evaporator is operatively coupled to the inlet of the compressor; a hot gas bypass means, comprising an inlet, an outlet, an open position and a closed position, wherein the hot gas bypass means inlet is operatively coupled to the outlet of the compressor and the hot gas bypass means outlet is operatively coupled to the inlet of the evaporator or to an inlet of a manifold, wherein: the manifold comprises an inlet and a plurality of outlets, each outlet being operatively coupled to a different one of a plurality of inlets at different locations on the evaporative surface; the hot gas bypass means also being operatively coupled to a controller; one or more means for detecting the initiation of ice formation on the evaporative surface, each means being operatively coupled to the evaporative surface wherein if there is more that one, each is operatively coupled to a different location on the evaporative surface, and to the controller; a controller operatively coupled to each means for detecting the formation of ice on the evaporative surface and to the hot gas by-pass means; and, a refrigerant that circulates from the compressor to the condenser to the metering means to the evaporator and back to the compressor in a refrigeration cycle.