Patent ID: 9140478
Filing Date: 2015-09-22
Classification: F25B,F25D

Abstract:
1. A method of operating a refrigerator appliance having a refrigeration compartment, a freezer compartment, a refrigeration compartment fan, a freezer compartment fan, a condenser, a compressor and an evaporator in thermal communication with the refrigeration and the freezer compartment, comprising the steps: measuring a refrigeration compartment temperature in the refrigeration compartment as a function of time; measuring a freezer compartment temperature in the freezer compartment as a function of time; providing a freezer compartment and a refrigeration compartment set point temperature; synchronizing cycles of cooling the freezer and refrigeration compartments to temperatures approximately equal to their respective compartment set point temperatures, wherein the cycles of cooling the compartments are alternated by operation of one or more of the compressor, the refrigeration compartment fan and the freezer compartment fan; providing a freezer compartment upper and lower threshold temperature respectively above and below the freezer compartment temperature set point; and wherein the step of cooling the temperature in the freezer and refrigeration compartments further comprises cooling the temperature in the refrigeration compartment during a cycle of cooling at substantially the same time as the temperature in the freezer compartment reaches the freezer compartment lower threshold temperature, and cooling the temperature in the freezer compartment during a cycle of cooling at substantially the same time as the temperature in the freezer compartment reaches the freezer compartment upper threshold temperature by operation of one or more of the compressor, the refrigeration compartment fan and the freezer compartment fan; providing a refrigeration compartment upper and lower threshold temperature respectively above and below the refrigeration compartment temperature; and wherein the step of cooling the temperature in the freezer and refrigeration compartments further comprises controlling a rate of cooling in the freezer compartment such that the temperature in the freezer compartment during a cycle of cooling reaches the freezer compartment lower threshold temperature at substantially the same time as the temperature in the refrigeration compartment reaches the refrigeration compartment upper threshold temperature by operation of one or more of the compressor, the refrigeration compartment fan and the freezer compartment fan.