Mounting arrangement for a refrigerator deodorizer

A refrigerator has freezing and cooling compartments, and a cooling device disposed in a space between those compartments. The cooling device includes a refrigerant-conducting pipe arrangement. Attached to that pipe arrangement is a deodorizer comprised of an odor adsorbing element and a heater for heating the odor adsorbing element. The deodorizer is suspended from pipe sections of the pipe arrangement so as to extend transversely relative to a direction of air flow through the cooling device. The cooling device includes a defrosting heater actuated simultaneously with the deodorizer heater so that both heaters perform a defrosting function.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a device for installing a refrigerator deodorizer 
mounted on an evaporator located in an intermediate compartment between 
the freezing compartment and the cooling compartment of a refrigerator, 
where the intermediate compartment is the place where air circulated 
throughout the interior of the refrigerator is concentrated. 
A refrigerator used for storing various kinds of fresh food which are 
susceptible to being easily spoiled is generally divided into freezing and 
cooling compartments in order to preserve foods at two different 
temperatures, which is achieved by the following method: air circulated by 
a blower fan in the refrigerator passes through an evaporator which is 
comprised of a great number of refrigerant pipes and cooling fins so as to 
chill the air; the chilled air is then supplied to the freezing and the 
cooling compartments. However, unpleasant odors emitted by various kinds 
of food stored in the compartments are inevitably circulated along with 
the air throughout the interior of the refrigerator, so that the odors 
impair the freshness of other foods, which is an undesirable effect 
arising from the use of the refrigerator. 
As shown in FIG. 5, a conventional art has been disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 
4,948,567 in which a deodorizer comprises a deodorizing element 3 which 
adsorbs odor components contained in the air. That element is placed under 
a vertical type evaporator 2 mounted on the backside of the freezing 
compartment, a heater 4 is provided for decomposing the adsorbed odor 
components by means of heating the deodorizing element 3, and a cover 5 
protects the above-listed parts from water generated on the surface of the 
evaporator 2 by the defrosting cycle. 
In the conventional deodorizer, the deodorizing element 3 adsorbs the odor 
components contained in the air circulated throughout the interior of the 
refrigerator by a blower fan 1, and then the heater 4, which is operated 
at constant time intervals, decomposes the adsorbed odor components with 
heat, and therefore the odor components are thereby removed from the 
deodorizer. 
But, the conventional deodorizer has disadvantages in that it requires a 
separate space for its installation in a refrigerator and also an 
additional space for protecting the adjacent surfaces from the heat 
generated by the heater 4. Furthermore, the deodorizing effect of the 
deodorizer is not efficient because the air passage where the air from the 
freezing compartment and the cooling compartment is blended into one 
stream is relatively large so that a large amount of the circulating odor 
components are not adsorbed by the deodorizing element. 
When the conventional deodorizer is installed in a refrigerator in which a 
horizontal type evaporator is located in the intermediate compartment 
between the freezing compartment and the cooling compartment, the 
aforementioned disadvantage exists due to the requirement of a separate 
space for the installation in the refrigerator and an additional space for 
protecting the adjacent surfaces from heat generated by the heater. 
An ozone deodorizer is another method used for removing the odors in a 
refrigerator. But, that method has disadvantages in that additional 
electric power is necessary and excessive noise is generated by the fan in 
the ozone deodorizer. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of this invention to provide a deodorizer which is 
installed in the region where air circulating throughout the interior of a 
refrigerator is centralized and thus odors generated by various kinds of 
food can be effectively adsorbed. 
It is another object of this invention to provide a deodorizer which is 
mounted on the inside of a horizontal type evaporator located in the 
intermediate compartment between the freezing and the cooling compartments 
in order that a separate installation space is not required. 
It is another object of this invention to provide a deodorizer in which a 
heater decomposes the odor components adsorbed by an adsorbent and also 
eliminates in a short time frost which forms on the surface of the 
evaporator in combination with a heater for defrosting. 
A deodorizer according to this invention is mounted on the inside of a 
horizontal type evaporator located in an intermediate compartment between 
a freezing compartment and a cooling compartment. 
The evaporator consists of many groups arranged in the direction of the air 
flow. Each group is comprised of refrigerant pipes forming several layers 
and a large number of vertical cooling fins which are densely arranged at 
regular intervals on the refrigerant pipes and connect each group in a 
body. 
Therefore, air circulated throughout the interior of the refrigerator by a 
blower fan is cooled when it passes through the space between refrigerant 
pipes and the cooling fins. 
This deodorizer is positioned in the space formed by removing a specific 
number of cooling fins in the rear groups. Accordingly, this deodorizer is 
also placed in a vertical position parallel to the refrigerant pipes in 
order to effectively perform the deodorizing function. 
This invention comprises a cooling means which is installed in the 
intermediate compartment between the freezing compartment and the cooling 
compartment in order to cool air which is circulated throughout the 
interior of the refrigerator, a deodorizing means including an adsorbing 
element for adsorbing odor components contained in the air and a heater 
for heat-decomposing the adsorbed odor components during the defrosting 
cycle and a cover to protect the adsorbing element and the heater from the 
water adhering thereon and a pair of securing projections which are 
disposed in both ends of the cover for receiving and securing the heater, 
and a securing means for securing the deodorizing means to the cooling 
means so as to be easily disassembled. 
The deodorizing means is secured by means of a pair of securing means in 
the form of hangers. Each hanger, which is formed in a "V" shape, 
comprises a pair of "U" shaped hooks formed in the top portions of the 
left and right arms facing each other in order to be inserted onto a pair 
of parallel pipes from which the cooling fins have been removed so as to 
create an open space, a rounded securing slot the top portion of which is 
opened and which is located at the base of the "V" form in order to 
receive and secure the securing projection of the deodorizing means, a 
pair of securing tabs which extend upward from the opened top portion in 
the securing slot so as to elastically separate from each other when the 
securing projection is inserted into or withdrawn from the securing slot, 
and a pair of stabilizing blocks which are disposed in the lower part of 
the left and right arms formed at an equal distance from each other. 
In addition, a second semicircle shaped hook is formed at the upper end of 
one of the two arms in order to hold a cable used for supplying electric 
power to the heater. 
A pair of the securing hangers configured as above are attached to the 
evaporator in a manner so that a pair of the hooks of each hanger are 
attached to a pair of refrigerant pipes parallel to each other in order to 
support the deodorizing means. 
A lengthy stabilizing ridge and a stabilizing tab are formed on the top and 
bottom respectively of the securing projection, and the former is fitted 
between the securing tabs and the latter is fitted between a pair of 
stabilizing blocks, so that the deodorizing means is surely held in the 
securing means. 
The deodorizer which is mounted on the inside of the evaporator as 
described above removes odor components from the refrigerator by 
repeatedly performing the following process: the adsorbing element adsorbs 
odor components contained in the cool air which is circulated throughout 
the interior of the refrigerator by the blower fan, and then the heater 
operating at a regular time intervals decomposes the adsorbed odor 
components into odorless components. 
Therefore, the deodorizer according to this invention is able to rapidly 
adsorb a greater portion of the odor components and it doesn't require an 
additional installation space because it is mounted on the inside of the 
evaporator located in the intermediate wall where the air, which is 
circulated throughout the interior of the refrigerator, is concentrated. 
Further, there is the effect that the defrosting action for the evaporator 
can be accomplished in a short time by the interaction of the heater used 
for decomposing the odor components and the heater used for defrosting. 
In addition, the deodorizer can be used indefinitely without being replaced 
because the adsorbing function of the deodorizer can be periodically 
revived due to the decomposing work of the heater.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
As shown in FIG. 1, the body 110 of a refrigerator is divided into an upper 
freezing compartment and a lower cooling compartment, and an intermediate 
compartment 100 is positioned therebetween. 
There are doors 120 and 130 at the front of the freezing compartment 80 and 
the cooling compartment 90 respectively. 
A horizontal type evaporator 10 is installed in the intermediate 
compartment 100, and a blower fan 60 is installed facing the evaporator 10 
in the rear passage where a duct 140 for the freezing compartment 80 and a 
duct 150 for the cooling compartment 90 join together. Thus, a portion of 
the air circulated throughout the interior of the refrigerator by the 
blower fan 60 is directed into the freezing compartment 80 after being 
circulated through the air outlet 160 of the freezing compartment 80 and 
then the evaporator 10. The residual air is directed into the cooling 
compartment 90 after being circulated through the air outlet 170 of the 
cooling compartment 90 and then the evaporator 10. 
FIG. 2 illustrates the horizontal type evaporator 10 on which a deodorizer 
70 according to this invention is mounted. As shown in the figure, the 
deodorizer 70 is installed in a vertical position in the space formed by 
removing the rear cooling fins 11 in the evaporator 10. 
FIG. 3 illustrates in detail the appearance of the evaporator 10 with the 
deodorizer 70 located therein. As shown in the figure, refrigerant pipes 
50 are formed longitudinally in a number of groups, and each group forms a 
number of vertically spaced pipe layers. 
The cooling fins 11 are densely attached to each group of the refrigerant 
pipes 50 in a manner that a number of the pipe layers are integrally 
connected by the cooling fins 11. This deodorizer 70 is installed in the 
space formed by removing the rear cooling fins 11 of the evaporator 10 
configured as described above. 
Accordingly, the air introduced into the intermediate compartment 100 
passes through the refrigerant pipes 50 and the cooling fins 11 and the 
deodorizer 70, and as a result it is changed into fresh air. A heater 40 
for removing frost is installed on the cooling fins 11. 
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of this invention. 
This invention largely comprises the evaporator 10, the deodorizer 70, and 
a securing means in the form of a pair of hangers 20 for attaching the 
deodorizer 70 to the evaporator 10. 
The deodorizer 70 comprises an adsorbing element 71, a heater 72 positioned 
under the adsorbing element 71, a cover 74 enclosing the adsorbing element 
71, and a pair of securing projections 73 attached to both ends of the 
cover 74 for securing the heater 72. 
The cover 74, which prevents water generated by the defrosting cycle from 
sticking to the adsorbing element 71 and the heater 72, encloses the 
adsorbing element 71 leaving some space therebetween so that the adsorbing 
element 71 is able to effectively adsorb odor components contained in air. 
Each securing projection 73 has a lengthy stabilizing ridge 73a and a 
stabilizing tab 73b which stabilize the deodorizer 70 in a securing slot 
23 in each securing hanger 20. Each hanger 20 is configured as follows: 
The interval between the left and right arms 21a and 21b increases as they 
extend from the base 21c, and a pair of "U" shaped hooks 22 are formed at 
the upper ends of the arms 21a and 2lb respectively. 
A round shaped securing slot 23 the top of which is opened, is disposed 
between the left and right arms 21a and 2lb which extend upwards, and a 
pair of securing tabs 24 the lower parts of which are parallel to each 
other and the upper parts of which angle away from each other, are formed 
to extend from the top of the securing slot 23. 
Further, in the base 21c a pair of stabilizing blocks 25 are formed at a 
constant interval, and a semicircle shaped second hook 22a is formed to 
extend upward on the right side of the first hooks 22. 
The securing hangers 20 configured as described above are attached to the 
evaporator 10 when a pair of the first hooks 22 are attached to a pair of 
the refrigerant pipes 50 which are parallel to each other. 
On the other hand, the deodorizer 70 is attached to the securing means when 
a pair of the securing projections 73 are inserted into the securing slot 
23 of the securing means 20. At this time, the stabilizing ridge 73a and 
the stabilizing tab 73b positioned at the top and bottom of the securing 
projection 73, are tightly engaged with the parallel parts of the securing 
tabs 24 and the stabilizing blocks 25 respectively of the base 21c, so 
that the deodorizer 70 doesn't move further in the securing hangers 20 
after the deodorizer 70 is secured. 
The second hook 22a holds a cable 51 used for supplying electric power to 
the heater 72. 
In addition, as shown in FIG. 2B, a heat-reflecting plate 30 is mounted on 
the top of the intermediate compartment 100 to uniformly radiate to the 
evaporator 10 the heat generated by the heaters 40 and 72. 
The adsorbing element 71 is made by spraying a metal catalyst such as 
platinum or vanadium on the surface of a porous substance such as 
diatomaceous earth etc. 
The cover 74, which is used to cover the adsorbing element 71 and the 
heater 72, is made of a heatproof and waterproof material such as 
aluminum, and it prevents water generated by the defrosting cycle from 
sticking to the adsorbing element 71 or to the heater 72. 
The deodorizing process by the deodorizer 70 mounted on the evaporator 10 
as described above will now be described in detail. 
When a refrigerator with this deodorizer 70 begins to operate, by means of 
the blower fan 60 the air in the freezing compartment 80 is directed into 
the intermediate compartment 100 through the air outlet 160 for the 
freezing compartment 80. At the same time, the air in the cooling 
compartment 90 is also directed into the intermediate compartment 100 
through the air outlet 170 for the cooling compartment 90, and thereby the 
air is combined in the intermediate compartment 100. 
The combined air is cooled to a low temperature while passing through the 
evaporator 10, and then a portion of the air is directed to the freezing 
compartment 80 through the duct 140 for the freezing compartment 80 and 
the residual air is directed to the cooling compartment 90 through the 
duct 150 for the cooling compartment 90. 
While passing through the evaporator 10, the combined air comes into 
contact with the adsorbing element 71 of the deodorizer 70 placed in the 
inside of the evaporator 10. As a result, odor components contained in the 
air are adsorbed by the surface of the adsorbing element 71, thus only 
fresh air is discharged into the freezing compartment 80 and the cooling 
compartment 90. 
The deodorizer 70, according to this invention, is able to more effectively 
adsorb the odor components in a refrigerator because the greater part of 
the air is introduced into the evaporator 10 through a small sectional 
area formed in the inlet of the intermediate compartment 100 because the 
intermediate compartment 100 is shallow. 
As the refrigerator is continuously operated, the moisture contained in the 
air condenses on the surface of the evaporator 10 and frost is formed. 
Where the frost accumulates to cover the entire surface of the evaporator 
10, the evaporator 10 does not sufficiently heat-exchange the air, and 
consequently the cooling efficiency is reduced. 
In order to remove the frost from the surface of the evaporator 10, when 
the operating time of the compressor(not shown) reaches a fixed value, the 
operation of the compressor and the blower fan 60 is stopped, and electric 
power is supplied to the defrosting heater 40 located in the upper and 
lower parts of the evaporator 10 in order to heat the surface of the 
evaporator 10 and to the heater 72 for decomposing the adsorbed odor 
components. 
At the same time, the heat generated by the heater 72 is transmitted to the 
adsorbing element 71 so that the odor components adsorbed by the adsorbing 
element 71 is oxidized and decomposed. 
Further, the adsorbing function of the deodorizer 70 is revived because the 
odor components in the adsorbing element 71 are removed for decomposing by 
the heater 72. 
After the defrosting cycle on the surface of the evaporator 10 has been 
completed, the refrigerator returns to the normal operating condition 
wherein the power supply to the heaters 40 and 72 is switched off and the 
blower fan 60 is operated again.